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Home / TRAVEL GUIDES / London / London eateries that Lucy Edwards likes most and where guide dogs are welcome

London eateries that Lucy Edwards likes most and where guide dogs are welcome

2023-05-19  Diana Solomon

Lucy Edwards shares with us her top restaurants in London that welcome guide dogs with ease.

Lucy Edward a

How many of London's restaurants are appropriate for a guide dog and their handler? The city's streets are teeming with places to have a delicious meal. Despite anti-discrimination laws, Guide Dogs UK reports that 81% of guide dog owners have been refused entry into a business or service, indicating that many restaurant staff and owners are not trained to welcome assistance dogs.

While I hope that the hospitality sector starts catching up with the law sooner rather than later, I'm here to save you time and money so you may donate your hard-earned purple pounds to the cutest and friendliest establishments I've seen that have given me and my fuzzy eyes a nice time. Fortunately, there are many wonderful restaurants where you may celebrate your birthday or have your next business lunch without worrying about ableism. But first

 

Why is a restaurant designated as guide dog friendly?

I can attest from experience that there are numerous aspects to take into account when assessing if a restaurant is indeed guide dog friendly. I have relied on guiding dogs for over ten years. Here are a few broad guidelines that aid Miss Molly (my guide dog) in her work. Some of these may not apply to every blind person's experience.

The physical arrangement is quite important. Is there enough space for you both to pass between the tables and furniture? Can a trustworthy, knowledgeable waiter safely direct you to a normal table if there isn't one there?

The music comes next. Is it booming? To hear what your guide dog and the rest of the group are saying and doing, move away from the speakers and request that the staff lower the volume. For a restaurant to be guide dog friendly, the staff must recognize that this is important for a guide dog to perform their job. Workers should be flexible to your requirements. When I was at a bar, they fed my guide dog treats without my permission. It is not okay, because giving a working dog something without permission from the owner could put the blind person's life in danger.

The delivery of a dog bowl to the table along with beverages for the humans completes the excellent service. Additionally, it is a plus for me when a restaurant has a sign that reads, "No dogs allowed other than assistance dogs" because it minimizes any inconvenience for people who have service animals.

Find my top picks for guide dog access in London eateries below.

Niall Clutton b
BiBo

Shoreditch, BiBo

I went to this Shoreditch restaurant with pals and had an amazing time there. The patatas bravas were delicious. We were seated at a table distant from the ruckus after being welcomed by pleasant waiters after going down some steps. We were in the middle of eating when I asked the waitress where the handicapped restroom was, and she brought me there herself. It was wonderful since it allowed my fiance to keep up their conversation with the other members of our party while I was gone, which is unusual at a place I had never been to before. The handicapped restroom at this restaurant was the nicest because it was accessible with a guide dog and spacious enough for us to use together.

Address: BiBo Shoreditch, 45 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3PT

url: book.ennismore.com

 

 

The Shard, Bar 31, and London Bridge

It's a terrific pub with lots of space and a nice outside dining area. The server gave my dog a bowl, and the food was excellent. I've used a lot of dubious handicapped restrooms over the years, but this one felt significantly better since it was so roomy.

Address: 31 St Thomas Street, Ground Floor, Bar 31, London SE1 9QU

Web address: bar31.com

Kings Cross c
King's Cross, Franco Manca

King's Cross, Franco Manca

The server offered me a braille menu as soon as I sat down at this pizza joint. My guide dog had plenty of areas to roam about the tables, and I could have put her blanket and bone down there if we had been there for a longer period. When I ordered pizza, the waitress asked if I wanted it cut up. The fact that I didn't have to worry about chopping up my meal let me eat faster, so this was such a pleasant question and evidence that the restaurant had offered some accessibility training.

Franco Manca King's Cross is located at 62-68 York Way in London N1 9FA.

Internet address: francomanca.co.uk

Adam Lynk  d
Sale e Pepe

Knightsbridge's Sale e Pepe

Tucked away on a side street close to Harrods, this eatery makes up for its small size with excellent food and service. The pasta is some of the best I've ever had; it's all homemade classic Italian pasta; I had the ravioli al pomodoro, which was just fantastic. The waiters were kind and accommodating. Being disabled feels like winning half the war, therefore understanding this is crucial. My tolerance for a relatively crowded space depends on how helpful and friendly the employees are, and how safe and secure my guide dog is.

Sale e Pepe is located at 9-15 Pavilion Road in London, SW1X 0HD.

URL: saleepepe.co.uk

Jonathan Stewart e
The Ivy Asia, Mayfair

Mayfair's The Ivy Asia

I've gone here a few times, and I've never had an issue. If you want to shell out for a nice treat in Mayfair, here is where you should go. The waitstaff is outstanding, and there is a decent handicapped restroom. I enjoy the cutlery and the variously shaped glassware since they provide a great tactile sensation. It's considerably more spacious than the other Ivy restaurants I've tried, so my guide dog, who needs plenty of room to move around while we eat, has a much better time here than at the others.

Address: 8-10 N Audley Street, The Ivy Asia Mayfair, London, W1K 6ZD

URL: theivyasia.com

Rebecca Hope f
Kricket

Soho, Kricket

The paratha I had at Kricket in Soho was excellent; I can't believe I never had one before. The ideal position for us at Kricket was on one of the picnic benches so my service dog could sit at the end of the table even though there are many various sorts of chairs available. It worked for us, but there are a lot of possibilities if you'd need a bit extra room, so be careful to specify where you want to be. My dog had water right fast, and we both had room in the bathroom. The servers were fantastic at declaring the meals they brought to the table, which I thought to be incredibly useful because occasionally things are set down without telling me. Overall, the service was wonderful.

Address: 12 Denman Street, Kricket Soho, London, W1D 7HJ

URL: kricket.co.uk

Read about: Mexico City's Newest Art Deco Hotel Has Dog-Friendly Amenities

 

 


2023-05-19  Diana Solomon