Waitrose Wallingford Oxon

Oh me oh my! Just popped into Waitrose to buy our lunch and use the loo.

It is the best supermarket loo I have ever been in!!

 

Thank you!!

Weekend in Manchester

A weekend away

Last weekend we travelled to Manchester. Our daughter was taking part in the Regional and National cadet of the year competition at the Greater Manchester Police training centre  Sedgley Park.

Our first stop was at the services on the M6 Toll Road. I always think of this as being new but it was constructed in 2002 and opened in 2003. So that explains why the loos are now looking rather tired! Although these pictures probably don't portrait that!

Now refreshed it was time to get to GMP Sedgley Park Training Centre and drop our daughter off and then book into our accommodation for the next two nights.

We had chosen the Premier Inn at Manchester Hyde

The room was one of their adapted rooms, we took with us my bath board so I could have a shower whilst there! The bathroom was one I could use independently. There were pull cords in both the bathroom and by the bed. If I had any issue at all, I found it very difficult to manage the bed without any grab rails to assist me and the mattress was quite soft so when trying to turn I just sunk!



Our first evening we chose to eat in the Fayre and Square next to the Premier Inn. This we felt was an excellent choice, not only was it excellent value for money (three courses & drinks £29.79 for two of us) but the service was really good as well, in fact we chose to eat there both nights.

The toilet facilities were not bad but I was baffled by the emergency pull cord as I was unable to fathom out how anyone sitting down in a wheelchair or had fallen would be able to reach it to call for help. Perhaps a little training on the purpose of them is required!

Trafford Centre

We chose to spend our first morning at the Trafford Centre.

Shopmobility is an excellent way of getting around the Trafford Centre. The scheme - now under management - allows people with limited mobility to hire from a fleet of electric scooters and electric wheelchairs, as well as manual wheelchairs. It means flexibility and freedom while shopping, enabling customers to use the vast range of facilities on offer in the Trafford Centre. That ability to remain mobile and independent can make a big difference.

Well I know shopping is not every bodies cup of tea but the Centre has other things to offer there is entertainment and eateries and above all the most modern of facilities after all this is what the blog is about! I am going to post pictures of the two I used the second of which I have never come across before in my travels. Not only did it have a height adjustable sink, but a ceiling hoist and a plinth if required this really was refreshing to see

Loo One!

Loo Two (with hoist)

After the Trafford Centre it was time to go into the City Centre!

Manchester City Centre:

Day Two:

Salford Quays

We really only had the morning as the presentation for the competition meant we needed to be back at GMP Training Centre at 2.00pm. We decided to head off to Salford Quarys and the Lowry Centre.

http://www.thelowry.com/

Set in a magnificent waterside location at the heart of the redeveloped Salford Quays in Greater Manchester, The Lowry is an architectural flagship with a unique and dynamic identity. Rising from the regenerated docklands, it is a welcoming building, designed to reflect the surrounding landscapes and flourishing waterways, in its glass and metallic surfaces.

 

The first loo I stopped off at was in the theatre itself:

 

Lowry Outlet:

Greater Manchester Police Training Centre - Sedgely Park:

Well that's the end of my Manchester weekend, I have to say everywhere we wend had good (and one amazing) accessible loos and there are some great deals available available after a bit of searching on the Internet.

On a personal note our daughter won the St John Ambulance SE Regional Cadet of the Year 2014 - so a great weekend all round!