Inside the UK spa leading the way for accessibility

Everyone deserves to be pampered now and then. But for Disabled people, problems with accessibility can turn what was supposed to be a relaxing spa day into a deeply frustrating experience. As a wheelchair user, these setbacks can come in many forms, from a lack of basic wheelchair access around a property to massage tables that require a gymnastic performance to climb on. The barriers between Disabled people and a day of TLC can feel insurmountable.

Not so at Chewton Glen, a beautiful hotel and spa near England’s south coast. Here, no effort has been spared to ensure that access around the old building is smooth and hassle-free. Around the grounds, many of the spaces are step-free, and gentle ramps are either built-in or laid out for the duration of a wheelchair user’s stay. The bucolic grounds are also accessible, with many flat or fully paved pathways. The spa has a fully accessible bathroom and changing room with a roll-in shower.

Accessing the main spa is a little more complex (it is upstairs and there is no lift), but it is still doable for guests who can transfer into Chewton’s special stair-climbing wheelchair. Think of an airline aisle chair, but more comfortable, fitted with a fancy mechanism that the well-trained staff use to spirit you up to the treatment rooms. It works well but does create a bit of a spectacle, especially as most guests would be suited up in their swimming costume and bathrobe by this point). If you’d rather avoid this scenario, staff can set up a massage table in the privacy of your own room.

The supremely comfortable beds in the spa are all height-adjustable, making transfers easy. My massage therapist, Charlotte, was unfazed when presented with a body that works a little differently – she simply asked whether I had any pain she needed to be aware of and began the treatment. This was a refreshing change from other spa experiences I’ve had, where I’ve been handled as if I may disintegrate at any time. She was patient while I got myself comfortable and offered my PA a helping hand when I was rolled over, all without the awkwardness that can so often taint these experiences for Disabled people.

The massage itself was delightful – a full-body treat that melted the tightness in my shoulders and neck and only got better when Charlotte ran warm stones down my eternally cold legs. I had to fight the urge to drift off during the head massage portion of the treatment. It was a thoroughly relaxing experience that I will be dreaming of for some time.

So often, hotels and spas make certain efforts to be step-free but forget that a Disabled person might like to go for a dip. But at Chewton, pool access is built in with a comfortable hoist that staff are trained to use. I particularly loved how warm the water was – brilliant for sore muscles and for those like me who struggle to warm up – and the fact that the whole pool is one depth, perfect for those of us who need to stop and stand. If you need a bit of extra support, there’s an array of different floats to choose from. There isn’t a hoist for the outdoor pool, but the indoor one seemed much more inviting to me, anyway.

Indeed, choice is a key theme of the access provisions at Chewton. Both restaurants are step-free, and room service is available if that’s easier for you. Attention to detail is one of the most important parts of a luxury break, and I was touched and grateful when the staff offered to remove the bone from my chicken main course, making it much easier to eat.

Guests can choose to access the spa for the day or to stay overnight in the hotel. Even in the accessible room, choice is prioritised – there is one fully wheelchair-accessible room, but many of the other rooms are level access. There is ramp access out onto the terrace, and the light switches are at an accessible height. The bathroom has a bath and a roll-in shower, both equipped with grab rails in suitable places. There’s even a choice of shower chairs. The only slight issues were very low beds, which made transfers a little tricky, and a lack of grab rails in the separate WC, but when I pointed this out to Chewton’s general manager, Clive McNish, he promised to look into providing some more.

That ethos of asking what more could be done for Disabled guests pervades Chewton. Disability awareness and inclusion is baked into the experience. Every staff member was ready to help but never fussed over me or tried to assume what I needed, meaning I could relax without feeling like I was being watched. It was a very refreshing feeling, and one Disabled people don’t often get to experience, especially in the wellness industry, which can often feel exclusionary.

I asked Clive why Chewton had decided to focus so thoroughly on accessibility, given how rare it seems. The answer was as simple as it was true: everyone deserves a place to relax, and Disabled people can’t truly relax in environments that require effort to navigate. From the thoughtful amenities and well-trained staff to the zen, refreshed feeling I had on the journey back to London, it’s fair to say that Chewton Glen has succeeded in providing an inclusive, accessible spa experience everyone can enjoy.