Dread Bass Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 Hi My g/f and I are going to London to celebrate our 3 years together. She has offered to buy my anniv present in london. My g/f uses a wheelchair and was just wondering if there are many shops we can actually get in for example id like to go to the gallery for the porn and vintage and rare for the effects. any help would be appreciated thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 Hmmm. I wouldn't even consider trying to get into The Gallery with a wheelchair. At Macari's, the basses are in the basement. Your best bet is Denmark Street. Most of the shops are on the ground floor, though there's usually a step up from the pavement, and you frequently have to negotiate a 90-degree turn as soon as you're through the door. Even in Denmark Street, there's often a floor-level change halfway through the shop, and of course they're always cramped for space. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe_bass Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 Congrats on 3 years mate. From memory & as Happy Jack has said this might be a bit tricky. It's situations like these that make me think about the disabled entrance to the reception of the 6th form college I went to: big ramp, auto doors etc. But no lifts or ramps in the actual college itself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimBobTTD Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 My brother used to work for an awareness charity thing, and it wasn't before he mentioned it that I had even considered how difficult just getting around London is. I haven't been back in London for a couple of years, but I don't recall seeing any lifts in tube stations at all. More on topic, I can't think of a single instrument shop in centralish London that doesn't have a narrow doorway and/or stairs and/or 90 degree turn. As said before, good luck and congratulations on three years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budget bassist Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 FYI i wouldn't go in the bass cellar, wheelchair or not! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodders Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 I have a disability (hence the avatar) and i've found getting around London difficult especially the tube stations but its something I'm going to have to get used to. going to the Institute next year Rodders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dread Bass Posted October 20, 2008 Author Share Posted October 20, 2008 Thanks for the responses Yeah i thought as much it does limit what we can do and where we can go and in this day and age its a real shame. Its difficult cause she wants to take me shopping and get me something i really like i.e. music stuff and im going to have to tell her that we cant go round the shops because she cant walk and that is hard it really really is. However we will make the most of it and we will do our best if i have to be trailed round Camden market again i am at least going to look in the windows of guitar shops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platypus Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 [quote name='Happy Jack' post='310535' date='Oct 20 2008, 03:56 PM']Hmmm. I wouldn't even consider trying to get into The Gallery with a wheelchair.[/quote] I'm not so sure that you couldn't get a chair into the Gallery - the upper level that is, there's a number of steps to the lower level, however, you could always take a bass up to the upper level to play. There's plenty of basses and amps on the upper level anyway. Maybe call Alex and check it out. If your going to be in Camden anyway...... P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 [quote name='Platypus' post='310813' date='Oct 20 2008, 09:37 PM']I'm not so sure that you couldn't get a chair into the Gallery - the upper level that is, there's a number of steps to the lower level, however, you could always take a bass up to the upper level to play. There's plenty of basses and amps on the upper level anyway. Maybe call Alex and check it out. If your going to be in Camden anyway...... P[/quote] Up two steps from the pavement, 90-degree left followed immediately by 90-degree right, and you're now in a room comprising a narrow corridor running between two lines of very expensive basses, with no room to turn a wheelchair around. Your call. NOT trying to put a damper on anything, and I love The Gallery, but realistically it's a no-brainer. That shop is a badly-converted Regency town-house (OK, maybe it's early Victorian) and it was never designed with disabled access in mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brummie Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 Hi, How are you getting down to London? If you're driving and coming down the M40 you could swing off at Ealing and go to Peter Cooks in Hanwell, I think it's wheelchair accessable, if you interested I could pop over 2morrow and double check, they have tons of stock but if you're after something special ring and check. You can get back onto the A40 into Central London quite quick from there. PM me if it's a consideration and I'll get better directions/details. cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 (edited) +1 on the Peter Cooks, but you should at least be able to get into Wunjo, Music ground, Rose Morris, Rockers and V&R. Might take a bit of wiggling, but should work out OK. Apart from that, if she fancies something different while you're GAS-ing, there's a big Borders round the corner, and Foyles opposite the West End of Denmark St on Charing X Rd has lifts to each floor. If you're driving, be aware that parking is mad expensive. One of the nearest cheaper car parks to Denmark St used to be under the YMCA in Tottenham Ct Rd, but things may have changed... If you leave your car further out and use the Tube, the nearest station for Denmark St is Tottenham Ct Rd, but check first to see if they've got a lift - don't think they do - so you might have to go to Goodge St on the Northern Line, but I think there's still at least one set of stairs up to the lifts - check the Transport for London web site - should be some info. Have a nice day out! Edited October 21, 2008 by skankdelvar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverfoxnik Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 [quote name='JimBobTTD' post='310581' date='Oct 20 2008, 04:33 PM']My brother used to work for an awareness charity thing, and it wasn't before he mentioned it that I had even considered how difficult just getting around London is. I haven't been back in London for a couple of years, but I don't recall seeing any lifts in tube stations at all. More on topic, I can't think of a single instrument shop in centralish London that doesn't have a narrow doorway and/or stairs and/or 90 degree turn. As said before, good luck and congratulations on three years.[/quote] +1 Lots of venues around the country are inaccessible too.. The music industry isn't very good when it comes to disability issues tbh.. Good luck though, have a great day & congratulations on the 3 years! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe_bass Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 Just wondered how you got in with the day mate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dread Bass Posted November 17, 2008 Author Share Posted November 17, 2008 Hi Mate thanks for asking We decided to leave the guitar shops. We walked down from st pancras to shaftsbuy av. We timed it wrong though and ended up going back through crowds of people outside the pub. Almost ended in a few skuffles. After that we just went back to the hotel and chilled out. The next day we went to Camden as my girlfriend Naomi loves gothic clothes. Next time we may check a few out. We will see I just found out HOTROX is in Nottingham so i think we are going to go there for my present. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dread Bass Posted November 17, 2008 Author Share Posted November 17, 2008 [quote name='silverfoxnik' post='310951' date='Oct 21 2008, 12:25 AM']+1 Lots of venues around the country are inaccessible too.. The music industry isn't very good when it comes to disability issues tbh.. Good luck though, have a great day & congratulations on the 3 years! [/quote] Yup when we go see Opeth at rock city this coming weekend we have to go up the fire escape in the parking lot bit degrading really but we are not that easy to stop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_the_bass Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 [quote name='metaltime' post='330506' date='Nov 17 2008, 10:59 AM']Hi Mate thanks for asking We decided to leave the guitar shops. We walked down from st pancras to shaftsbuy av. We timed it wrong though and ended up going back through crowds of people outside the pub. Almost ended in a few skuffles. After that we just went back to the hotel and chilled out. The next day we went to Camden as my girlfriend Naomi loves gothic clothes. Next time we may check a few out. We will see I just found out HOTROX is in Nottingham so i think we are going to go there for my present.[/quote] Hot Rox is ace - it's a tiny unit though and there's not a lot of space because he's got so much stuff in there, but you should be alright and you can park the car right outside the front door too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dread Bass Posted November 17, 2008 Author Share Posted November 17, 2008 [quote name='john_the_bass' post='330513' date='Nov 17 2008, 11:07 AM']Hot Rox is ace - it's a tiny unit though and there's not a lot of space because he's got so much stuff in there, but you should be alright and you can park the car right outside the front door too.[/quote] Cool thanks for the heads up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverfoxnik Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 [quote name='metaltime' post='330508' date='Nov 17 2008, 11:01 AM']Yup when we go see Opeth at rock city this coming weekend we have to go up the fire escape in the parking lot bit degrading really..[/quote] Sounds all to familiar! [quote name='metaltime' post='330508' date='Nov 17 2008, 11:01 AM']..bit degrading really but we are not that easy to stop.[/quote] That's a great attitude to have in those situations!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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