Access Statement

for Quality Guest Accommodation

Birchwood House
33, St Andrews Road
Paignton
Devon
TQ4 6HA
Tel 01803 551323
Email: birchwoodhouse@aol.com

Introduction

Birchwood House is situated in a Residential Conservation area. The house is Edwardian and has a very homely feel to it. We are located on a hill in a very quiet area away from the hustle of the town but within easy reach of all amenities. We have eleven en-suite bedrooms, four ground floor rooms, five first floor rooms and two third floor rooms. We aim to cater for the needs of all our guests and endeavour to give them first class service for a relaxing and peaceful holiday. The following statement is a summary of our provision. If you have any questions please call or Email and we will endeavour to help you.

Pre-Arrival

You can contact us by telephone or Email. We are located on top of a hill. Paignton Railway Station is approximately ½ mile away about 10 to 15 minutes walk some parts are steep but easier routes can be taken. Paignton Bus Station is approximately ½ mile away about 10 to 15 minutes walk (as above). A bus service is available from the train station to the Big Tree where there is a ten minute walk to the Birchwood parts of which are steep. There is a Taxi Rank out side the Train Station, there are several local taxi services that have accessible vehicles. We can make a booking for you in advance, we sometimes offer to pick you up ourselves whenever possible. Paignton Town Centre is about ½ mile away, a 3 minute drive or a 7 to 10 minute walk, some part of St Andrews road is steep. Easier but longer routes can be taken.

Arrival and Car Parking Facilities

To ensure you room is ready we would ask guests to arrive after 2.00pm. Earlier arrival may be possible by prior arrangement. On arrival to the property you will see a long gravel drive leading to the car park at the rear of the premises. There are no marked parking bays but with considerate parking there is enough room for approximately 8 cars. The surface is level and flat with gravel however there is a strip of concrete footpath with a hand rail near to the back entrance for a dropping off point avoiding the gravel. There are no parking restrictions outside the property. We offer assistance with luggage. The front, drive and back are lit at night.

The Back Door Entrance

The Back Door is always locked and can only be opened with allocated room keys for security. There is a door bell on the right at 120cm high, the doorway width is 85 cm. Through the door way there is a large door mat area leading on to a short pile carpet the hall is 40 ft long and 100cm wide it is brightly lit in the day due to large windows, a security light is left on at night. Along this corridor there are two ground floor bedrooms all on the same level. The hall leads into the dining room through a doorway with a small wooden ridge to look out for painted white the door way is 69cm wide. The door way leads into the dining room.

The Main Entrance

The Pathway up to the front door consists of crazy paving. Starting with seven steps leading to a slightly sloping foot path with shrubs either side with a hand rail on the left going up to one single step slightly curved up to 7 curved steps leading to the front door
The first step is very small: 5cm high 36cm deep.
Second step: 13cm high 38cm deep
Third step: 8cm high 34cm deep
Fourth step: 15cm high 14cm deep
Fifth step has a slight bend
Sixth step: Last step 3cm high leading up a slightly sloping path 353cm long up to steps to the front door
Five steps altogether measuring at 15cm high, 36cm deep, the top step is about 100cm wide to the front door.
The Back door has easier access as it is level without any steps.

The Front Door Entrance

The front door has a door bell situated on the right hand side, at a height of 120cm. There is a small ridged step approx 10cm high into the entrance hall. The door way is 73cm wide. The Front door can be opened with the allocated room key but will lock as it is shut for security. On entry to our home there is a small lobby area with large door mat leading into the hallway which has quite a thick pile carpet . Registration /Reception is completed in the Bar /Dining room area, we always offer a complementary cup of tea or coffee on arrival, we then show our guests around so they can familiarise themselves with the accommodation we then show them their room and assist with any luggage if required.

Public areas

From the Front Hall there is access to the guest lounge, WC, bar/dining room and also 2 ground floor bedrooms. There is a rear exit through the dining room to the back hall leading to the back entrance to the car park. There are 13 stairs leading to a small landing, the stairs are 20cm high, 25cm deep, 89cm wide, the landing has small table and lamp which is constantly on for extra light there is also a low chair. There are a further 5 stairs to the first floor landing width 228cm which provides access to 3 bedrooms, then across this landing through a doorway 77cm wide leading to 2 more bedrooms. There are a further 11 stairs, 19cm high, 23cm deep, 72cm wide, through a doorway 72cm wide to a further 5 stairs up to a small corridor/ landing leading to 2 bedrooms, width of corridor 71cm. The hall stairs and landing are all carpeted. The accommodation is centrally heated throughout, some rooms have electric wall heaters as well as radiators for extra warmth if required.

WC

The WC is located on the ground floor just off the hall way leading to a corridor, 70cm wide, the door way is 73cm wide. The floor space is 190x90cm. The WC is carpeted. The toilet seat height is 41cm.

Front Lounge

The doorway into the lounge is 67cm wide Guests are welcome to use the lounge at any time. The lounge has 2 sofas, 1 arm chair, we can always move any straight back chairs into the lounge if required from the dining room. The room has a 32 inch television with freeview, Teletext, and a DVD Player. The lounge has a short pile carpet with a thick pile rug near the fireplace, the room is very well lit.

The Bar/ Lounge and Dining Room

The doorway from the front hall into the Bar/Lounge area is 76cm wide. The bar area is 240cm wide 304cm in length. The height of the bar is 105cm. Natural light is limited. The bar lounge leads thorough two large archways to the dining room there are no steps. The whole area is carpeted with a short piled carpet.
Furniture is flexible and can be moved on request.
The dining room has 5 large dining tables to seat 4 people height 74cm.
The dining room has 2 small dining tables to seat 2 with height 72cm
Dining chairs are straight backed and armless seat height is 43cm.
All tables and chairs are flexible and can be moved to accommodate upon request.
The dining room is very well lit.
We cater for varying dietary needs.
We play background music in the bar/dining room.

Laundry

Not available

Shop

Not available

Leisure Facilities

Not available

Outdoor Facilities

Not available

Conference & Meeting Rooms, Banqueting, Clubs, Entertainment

Not available

Bedrooms

There are 11 bedrooms 4 on the ground floor, 5 on the first floor, and 2 on the third floor.
All bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms
All bedrooms are carpeted.
We provide hairdryers and clock radios.
All bedrooms have televisions, videos, tea & coffee making facilities.
All rooms have wardrobe/ chest of drawers.
All rooms have an information folder about the accommodation.

Room 1 Ground floor Double room

Door width 73cm
Double bedded room
There is approximately 43cm between the wall and each side of the bed.
119cm space at end of the bed to the furniture.
Double bed is 61cm High
Fitted short pile carpet
Stool 45cm high
En-suite bathroom:
Door width: 73cm, inward opening.
Free floor space: 124x140cm.
The shower cubicle edge/step is 28cm high
Sink basin is 78cm high
Toilet is 44cm high.
Well lit with natural light.

Room 2 Ground floor Twin Room

Door width: 73cm.
Twin bedded room.
Bed height: 61cm
Space between beds 40cm
Space at end of bed between furniture 60cm
Fitted short piled carpet.
Chair 35cm high.
En-Suite Bathroom:
Door width 74cm inward opening
Free floor space 105x155cm
The shower cubicle edge/step is 31cm
Sink basin is 78cm high
Toilet is 42cm high
Well lit natural light.
Stool height 45cm

Room 3 First floor Double Room

Door width 74cm
Floor space approx around bed: 130x135x120cm
Bed height 60cm
Dressing table stool height: 45cm, with leg room, 35 cm.
2 x chairs, height: 35cm.
Fitted, short piled carpet.
En-suite bathroom:
Small step into bathroom: 10cm.
Door width: 72 cm, outward opening.
Step up to toilet, 20cm.
Shower cubicle edge/step is 16cm.
Sink basin is 78cm.
Toilet is 40cm high.
Well lit with natural light.

Room 4 First Floor Double Room

Door width: 76cm.
Floor space from bed to wall 30cm,
Floor space from end of bed to the wall: 30cm.
Bed height: 60cm.
Dressing table height: 45cm.
Stool height 71cm.
En-suite bathroom
Door width: 73cm.
Small step into bathroom: 11cm.
Step to the toilet: 20cm.
Toilet height: 62cm.
Basin height: 78cm.
Shower edge/step: 17cm

Room 5 First Floor Family Room 1 Single 1 Double

Door Width: 68cm
Floor space: 230cmx660cm.
Double and single bed height: 60cm.
2X chairs height 26cm.
Dressing table height: 71cm.
Short piled carpet.
En-suite bathroom
Doorway: 68cm, opening outwards.
Shower edge/step: 26cm.
Sink attached to the wall: 76cm.
Toilet height: 42cm.
Floor space 80cm.
Artificial lighting.

Room 6 First Floor Double Room with King-size Bed

Door width:72cm.
Floor space:
Bed height: 40cm.
Dressing table height: 71cm.
Stool height: 45cm.
Low chair height: 39cm
Short pile carpet.
En-suite bathroom
Doorway: 68cm.
Shower cubical edge/step 26cm.
Sink height: 77cm.
Toilet height: 39cm.
Short piled carpet.
Floor space: 120cm.
Artificial lighting.

Room 7 First floor Double Four Poster Bed

Door width: 76cm
Bed Height: 71cm
2 x chairs height: 36cm
Small chest of drawers height: 71cm
Large chest of drawers height: 110cm
En-suite bathroom
Doorway width: 74cm opening inwards.
Step up to the toilet: 44cm
Toilet height: 42cm
Sink height: 78cm
Small step up to the Shower: 21cm
Edge of shower: 13cm
Floor space: 175x70cm
Short piled carpet.

Room 8 Second floor Family Room 1 Double & 2 Singles

Doorways into each room,
Door width:
Doorway 1: 65cm
Doorway 2: 75cm
Doorway 3: 70cm
Floor space:
Double and single bed heights: 62cm
Dressing table height: 70cm
En-suite bathroom
Door with sliding door width: 57cm
Height of sink attached to the wall 82cm.
Toilet: height 44cm.
This is an attic room, so head room is limited in some parts of the room, lowest point is 135cm high.
Short piled carpet.
Artificial light.

Room 9 Second Floor Family Room 1 Double & 1 Single

Door width: 71cm.
Double bed height: 65cm
Single Bed height: 62cm
Dressing table height: 81cm.
Stool height: 46cm.
En-suite bathroom
Door width: 75cm. opening outwards.
Edge/Step into Shower: 30cm
Sink height: 79cm.
Toilet height: 44cm.
Floor space: 157cm
Short piled carpet
Artificial light

ROOM 11 Ground Floor Double Room

Door width: 69cm.
Double bed height: 61cm
Chair height: 48cm.
Dressing table height: 83cm
Floor space around the bed: 62x61x57cm.
En-Suite bathroom
Door Width 73cm opening inwards.
Sink height: 79cm.
Toilet height: 45cm.
Edge of shower height: 20cm
Short piled carpet.
Artificial light.

Room 12 Ground Floor Twin Room

Door Width: 69cm.
Beds heights 62cm
Space between beds: 65cm. Bed to window: 16cm. Bed to unit: 45cm.
Stool height: 45cm.
Dressing table height: 71cm
Short piled carpet.
En-suite bathroom:
Door width: 71cm with a sliding door.
Bath height: 56cm.
Sink height: 79cm.
Toilet height: 44cm.
Floor space: 225x178cm
Sort piled carpet.
Artificial light.

Gardens

We have a front garden accessed by 2 crazy paving steps. (1x5cmx36cm and 1 13cmx38cm} It is laid mainly to lawn with shrubs on all sides also a large Birch Tree. Table and chairs are set out during the summer.

Additional Information

There are fire extinguishers in each hall and landing. We have a fire alarm system. In the event of a fire the alarm will sound. On arrival please inform us if you have a hearing impairment and might not hear the alarm. We will ensure you are evacuated safely. The building can be evacuated via the front door or through the dining room to the back entrance Guests should assemble at the Fire Assembly Point across the road on the pavement.
Assistance dogs are welcomed.
Mobile phone reception is generally good except in the bar area.
We do not permit smoking in the house, there is a smoking area at the back of the car park where a table and chairs are provided.
We are happy to refrigerate any medication also any perishables if required.

Contact Information

Contact Name: Dawn & Steve Bowbeer

Address:
Birchwood House,
33, St Andrews Road,
Paignton,
Devon
TQ4 6HA
Telephone: 01803 551323

When we are out this number is diverted to our mobile.
Email: birchwoodhouse@aol.com
Website: www.birchwoodhouse.net
We are generally open all year.

Local Public Transport

Torbay Cab Co: 01803 292292
Local Stagecoach information: 08457 484950
National Rail Enquiries: 08457 484950
National Express: 08705 808080
Nationwide bus times: 0870 6082608
Disabled persons helpline: 0121 4238479

Local Hire Companies

Torquay shop mobility, Lymington Road. 01803 380982
Paignton shop mobility, Victoria Car Park, Garfield Rd. 01803 521771
Torbay Mobility 01803 520386

Future Plans

The Fire Alarm System will be upgraded by 2009.
All the televisions will receive digital.
We are panning to redesign the En-Suite in ground floor room 12, from a bath to a level entry shower. {Winter2009}
Paint outside of house 2009.

We welcome your feedback to help us continuously improve if you have any questions or comment please phone 01803 551323 or Email birchwoodhouse@aol.com