Access Statement
for
Porth Avallen Hotel
Introduction
The spectacular cliff top location and 180 degree sea view
over St Austell Bay make The Porth Avallen really special. Originally a private residence it was converted to a hotel in the mid 1960s and has gradually been extended to its current 28 bedrooms.
The Porth Avallen was built by the Howe’s family in 1928/29. Surrounded at that time by farmland and fields the area boasted many impressive apple orchards after which the house and local beach was named.
Many parts of the original house however do remain and the oak paneling in the lounge and unique stained glass window are special features. The magnificent view is still unchanged after 75 years and it is easy to understand why the Howe’s chose this particular location for their family home.
The hotel is situated in a quite, private road. The south west coastal path is just yards from the hotel entrance and one is able to walk for miles along the rugged coastline. The atmosphere is of a country house hotel with the focus on friendly service and good food freshly prepared using the very best local ingredients delivered daily. The hotel has won awards for its dining and beautiful garden and is particularly proud to be highly commended in the Best Hotel category of the 2004 Cornish Tourism award.
We offer ample free parking in our private car park, disabled access to all public areas and free high speed wireless broad band access.
Pre-Arrival
• For assistance prior to arrival please contact the reservations team on tel. 01726 812802 / fax 01726 817097/email:info@porthavallen.co.uk
• The town centre of St Austell is a 5 min drive away.
• The nearest train station is situated in the town centre of St Austell
• The nearest bus stop is at the end of sea road (a 5 min walk away) this bus does not run on a Sunday or bank holidays. The main bus station is in St Austell.
• Our brochures, sample menus and tariffs are all available online, and are also available in a larger font if requested
• You can contact the hotel by telephone, email, fax or in person. We are open 24 hours although reception cover is limited to the hours of 7am and 11pm.
Arrival & Car Parking Facilities
• All guests should use the main entrance of the hotel located on Sea road.
• The main entrance of the hotel is accessible via a disabled ramp, or via four small steps. There are hand rails at both entrances for your convenience. There are double doors at both main entrances.
• The car park is of a gravel/tarmac surface. The car park is rather steep.
• The main entrance of the hotel opens into the main corridor of the hotel, with the reception, restaurant, bar, lounge, Charlestown banqueting suite, disabled and public toilets all being on one level and completely accessible via a wheelchair.
• There are parking spaces for around 60 cars, two of which are marked as disabled.
• If you require assistance, equipment or guidance our reception team are on duty 24 hours.
Main Entrance & Reception
• There are no steps in the main hallway
• The front desk is immediately in front of you when entering via the two main entrances.
• The reception desk is 110cms (3’7”) registration can be completed whilst sitting in the lounge area and we have clipboards available for your convenience.
• There is a portable induction loop held at reception
• When you check into your room, please make yourself aware of the fire procedures, directions to the nearest exit are displayed on the back of every room door.
• The check-in forms can be enlarged if required
• The restaurant, bar, lounge, conservatory and public toilets are to the right of reception, and are all on one level, accessible via a wheelchair
• To the left of reception there are five steps which access rooms 20 to 22, to access rooms 23 to 26 on the second floor there are 15 steps in three sets of five
• To the right of reception the main staircase (20 steps) lead to the other bedrooms on the first floor (1,3,5,6,7,8,10,11,27,28,29,30) To access the rooms on the second floor there are two different Staircases. One leading to the rooms 14,16,17,18 with 16 steps in two sets of 8 and the other one leading to the rooms 31,32,33,34 with 12 steps (4, 3, 5), to access room 35 there are an additional 5 steps.
• Familiarization tours can be given where required
• We do not have a lift within the hotel
• All areas within the hotel are non smoking, in accordance with UK Law
• There are no public telephones in the hotel
• There are no lifts in the hotel
• Stairs are leading to the first floor, second floor and north wing
• Corridors and stair cases are all carpeted
• There are baby changing facilities in the disabled toilet on the ground floor
Public Areas - WC
• There are two ladies public toilets, one up five steps to the left of reception and another on your right hand side as you go down the main corridor (right of reception)
• The gentleman’s toilet is at the base of the main staircase
• Another set of toilets can be found within our Charlestown Banqueting Suite.
• The one disabled toilet is to the left of the main corridors ladies toilets. This toilet has an emergency pull cord, which activates a flashing light and also an alarm. There are hand rails and also lever taps for your added convenience. Restaurant / Dining Room, Bar & Lounge
• Restaurant / dining room
• The restaurant is situated 30feet down the main corridor, to the left of reception
• It has level entry and is open plan with wooden oak laminate flooring throughout.
• You shall be met at the reception door by a member of our staff
• For breakfast service take a seat on a table of your choice, help yourself to the buffet table and a member of staff shall take your hot food order
• For evening service, a member of our staff shall take your order from the lounge/bar area, and seat you in the restaurant once your starters are ready
• Evening Menus are available in font size 14, and breakfast menus in size 12, upon request both menus can be prepared in a larger font
• Lighting within the restaurant is mainly of natural light for breakfast/lunch service, and for evening service low lighting with candles on each table
• We are able to cater for varying dietary needs, please advise reception staff on booking
• We request that mobile phones are turned off whilst dining in our restaurant
• The restaurant is a non smoking area in accordance with UK Law
Bar
• The bar top is 104cms (3’5”) tall
• The bar is situated at the end of the main corridor, it has a level access.
• The bar offers both bar and table service
• There is a selection of tables and chairs available of variable heights
• Lighting is mainly natural light through out the day, with low level lighting during the evening, with candles on each of the tables
• Our bar is completely non-smoking in accordance with UK Law
Laundry
• Laundry service and dry cleaning is offered. Bags are available in bedrooms and are collected by 9am each day and returned later that day.
• Dry cleaning does take a longer, as it takes place off the premises, unfortunately dry cleaning is not available on Sundays or bank holidays.
• Laundry bags are collected from the bedrooms
• There is a cabinet in main reception corridor which contains items for sale. These can be purchased through reception. Treatment room/s
• There are no treatment rooms in the hotel but in St Austell just 5 minutes away Leisure Facilities
• There are no leisure facilities in the hotel, but in St Austell is the public leisure center just 5 minutes drive away. Conference & Meeting Rooms, Banqueting, Clubs, Entertainment
• The Charlestown Banqueting Suite
• Used as both a function/ wedding suite and also a conference suite
• On the ground floor, at the end of the main corridor (next to the hotels public bar). This room has level access.
• This room has its own bar area, and outdoor terrace
• Lighting is mainly natural light, the lights in this room can be dimmed for an evening function. There are blinds at the windows to enable the use of conferencing equipment.
• There is a LCD Projector and Screen installed, other Equipment is available on request.
• There is a DJ position and speaker system installed.
• There are a set of toilets at the end of this room. The disabled toilet is situated on the main corridor.
• The Charlestown Banqueting Suite is Air Conditioned.
• Please notify conference organizers in advance if any additional services are required for conferences (i.e. speakers microphones, specific seating or staging) we do try to accommodate everyone’s needs where possible
• The Charlestown Banqueting Suite is a non-smoking area in accordance with UK Law
Bedrooms
• We have three luxury sea view rooms, which are accessible via the five steps by the side of reception, or via a disabled ramp to the rear of the building. These rooms were not designed for wheelchair use, but are accessible. These rooms contain handrails within each En-suite for your convenience. The doors to these rooms are 74cms wide (2’5”). The corridor leading to these rooms is 92cms (3’0”) wide
• The combination of rooms we have are as follows:
• 4 singles
• 8 standard double rooms
• 2 standard twin rooms
• 1 standard family room (suitable for a family of 3)
• 3 luxury sea view double rooms
• 3 luxury sea view double/twin rooms
• 4 superior sea facing double rooms
• 1 superior sea view double/twin room
• 1 superior side sea facing family room (suitable for a family of 5)
• Further information about our rooms, and their individual views are available from our reception team upon booking.
• The emergency procedures can be found on the back of every room door. It is the responsibility of the guest to make themselves familiar with these procedures once they have arrived in their room
• Room service operates within the hours of 7am and 11pm, although we do have a night porter working between 11pm and 7am
• Lighting levels are controllable and reading lamps are provided
• Televisions are in every room. If you require the use of a teletext television, please advise reception prior to your arrival
• Guest information folders are placed in every room, typed in font size 14. A copy can be provided in a larger font if requested.
• The furniture is flexible in the room, and items can be moved or removed upon request
• Some of our bedding is feather; please advise reception prior to your arrival if you have allergies.
• There is a direct line available to each bedroom, please speak to reception on arrival for further information
• To obtain an external telephone line from your room phone dial 9 then the area code and telephone number
• All of our rooms are non smoking in accordance with UK Law
Bathroom, Shower-room & WC [En-suite or Shared]
• All our rooms have got En-suite bathrooms
• There is the newest fire alarm system installed in the hotel and all areas are covered.
• The bathrooms are of a good size
• There are 12 bathrooms with carpet and 16 bathrooms with non-slip laminate.
• Most of our rooms contain handrails within the bathrooms; please enquire at reception on booking
• The bath/shower entry level is 50cm
Additional Information
• If you require any assistance during your stay please contact reception by dialing 0 from your room phone. The duty manager can also be contacted via reception.
• We have a set evacuation procedure for basic information - alarm bells are a continuous alarm. Someone will come to your room and help you evacuate the building if you require such assistance.
• There is good network coverage for mobile phones within the hotel and average coverage from hotel bedrooms.
• There is a free WiFi connection throughout the hotel
• There are 3 bedrooms with interconnecting rooms for carers
• There is the possibility to store medication or special dietary foods, please ask reception.
• Address: Porth Avallen Hotel
Sea Road, Carlyon Bay, St Austell, Cornwall, PL25 3SG
• Telephone: 01726 812802
• Fax: 01726 817097
• Email: info@porthavallen.co.uk
• Website: www.porthavallen.co.uk
• Hours of operation:
Reception operating between the hours of 7am and 11pm, with a night porter service operating between the hours of 11pm and 7am
• Local carers:
Cornwall centre for volunteers, St Austell 01726 71087
Community care A & D, St Austell 01726 883763
Forget me not Homecare service, St Austell 01726 77212
H.S.C. Mobility, Hayle 01736 755927
• Local public transport numbers:
Trains
www.nationalrail.co.uk
First great western www.firstgroup.com 0845 7 000 125
Virgin www.virgintrains.co.uk 0870 789 1234
-www.newquaycornwallairport.co.uk
-Tel. 01637 860600
Buses
Traveline www.traveline.org.uk 0871 200 22 33
First Group www.firstgroup.com 0845 601 8020
Taxis
Garys 01726 879045 or 07989 963372
Spot On 01726 68800
Fusion Cars 01726 77755
St Austell Private Hire 01726 72211
All or some of the vehicles used by this operators are understood to be wheelchair accessible. We recommend that you call to checkavailability and suitability before travelling.
Future Plans
-- Building of balcony in the centre of hotel on second floor (2010)
-- Renovating room 16 (2010)
-- Updating rooms in the North wing (2010)
We welcome your feedback to help us continuously improve if you have any comments please phone 01726 812802 or email: info@porthavallen.co.uk
Sea Road,
Carlyon Bay
St Austell
Cornwall
PL25 3SG
Tel 01726 812802
E: info@porthavallen.co.uk