Weekly Wrap – Accessible Clothes & Coco Chanel, 1984 Is Here & An A List Restaurant That Caters For Disability…….

I’ve just bought the most stylish pair of easy wear trousers from the High Street……….Crepe Track Pants from Whistles no less, an elasticated waist is de rigeur. Thank goodness they’re still in fashion along with big shirts, leggings and ‘sweats’. All good if getting dressed is a nightmare.

Easy to wear clothes that are fashionable – the fashion industry must have listened to Coco Chanel as she quoted in 1928……………

“Fashion has become a joke. The designers have forgotten that there are women inside the dresses. Most women dress for men and want to be admired. But they must also be able to move, to get into a car without bursting their seams! Clothes must have a natural shape.” 

Did she foresee the need for stylish clothes for people with mobility/dexterity issues??

Talking about foretelling the future, I and the Musical Lieutenant went to see 1984 at The Playhouse Theatre. Access was fine as the staff were very ‘on the ball’ with the portable ramp, used to get up the 3 steps at the entrance. It was a little steep but the guy who pushed me up was strong even though he looked alarmingly ‘slight’. The wheelchair spaces are in the stalls and there’s a disabled toilet on this level along with a bar. It’s the main entrance so it can get crowded as it’s a small foyer. Luckily, you can wait outside where there’s an ample awning to protect you from the elements.

The play was dark, as it should be, just like the book. However, I was surprised to hear that this was no longer a book read in school as the Lieutenant asked ‘is that where the idea of Big Brother and Room 101 came from’???? It was written in 1949 and is still relevant today with references to Newspeak (shortened vocabulary or Text Messages), Air Strip One is Great Britain ( Heathrow, Gatwick etc. the world’s major airline hub), manipulation of facts by the Ministry of Truth (WMDs in Iraq), and Big Brother a party leader with divine/celebrity/cult status!! It was very well acted and staged and is certainly worth taking anyone who’s not read the book.

Worshipping the cult of celebrity, I went to the Chiltern Firehouse the latest place to eat and feel part of the ‘in crowd’. A property from Hungarian hotelier Andre Balazs whose ethos is an ‘unwavering commitment to answer the core needs of every guest’ ……..he certainly did that as the staff awareness of disability and the facilities were exemplary. The chef is Nuno Mendes previously of Viajante and el Bulli; I’ve always wanted to eat his food, even though it meant I may bump into celebs like Rod Stewart or even worse Kelly Hoppen of Dragon’s Den. I needn’t have worried, no celebs were evident yet the staff treated us as if we were. The access was good and the ‘greeting’ staff ,who helped me out of the taxi, knew exactly how to get me inside with a minimum of fuss. The entrance is completely flat, even the exterior pavement, there was just a small downward incline in the floor as you entered the restaurant.

There are rugs/runners in the corridors but they seem well attached to the wooden floor.The disabled toilet is downstairs via a lift and is excellent, there’s even someone there to help if needed!? Luckily I had my new Track Pants so I didn’t need help getting them off!! As for the food it was really good especially the Strawberry Sundae Dessert. There’s also a very accessible courtyard and the whole place was completely full (you need to book well in advance) but there was still room for my wheelchair.

A definite 3BBS Ticks highly recommended but take a fat wallet, it’s not cheap but well worth the money for a great experience.

Off to try and foretell the future, shame I only live for the moment! See you next week after I’ve inspected the Ham Yard Hotel  and found some accessible Burlesque venues. Have  a great Bank Holiday.