Eddie Rocket's, Parnell Street

Eddie Rocket's
Parnell Centre, Parnell St., Dublin 1
www.eddierockets.ie

Eddie Rocket's is one of Ireland's greatest fast food joints. Even if the size and quality of their chicken goujons has sadly decreased in recent years, you can always rely on their chocolate malt.


What has it got?

Seating: It mostly has booths but there are a number of tables with moveable chairs that are easy to use.

Doors: The doors are wide and slightly heavy but give a good push and you can make a dramatic entrance.

Ground: It's a tiled surface so is a little Slippery When Wet.

Stairs: There are two entrances (front entrance from Parnell St. and back entrance from King's Inn St.) to this Eddie's and they both have a flat entrance. In the middle, there are two or three steps that split it. At the front part is the cashier and at the back part, there is the wheelchair bathroom.

Bathrooms: There is one wheelchair bathroom here. It's best to reverse into it as it is a little bit tight.

Spaciousness: If you sit at the back of this Eddie's, you will have more room. However, the pay desk is at the front so you're on your Tobler, you'll need to ask for help.

Helpfulness of Staff: They're very helpful here. Just ask for a hand if you need it and they will deliver.

Parking: There's is a wheelchair parking spot on King's Inn St., as well as plenty of street parking. There is also a car park, accessible by a lift, on Jervis Lane with a number of wheelchair spots. (Map here)


Rating: 8/10
Why did it lose points? The bathroom is tight and even though they have all their facilities in check, the split level is a nuisance but at least the staff will help you out. 

On Frankfort Avenue today...

A construction truck taking up not one but two wheelchair parking spots when there were plenty of spaces on the road.

In fairness, when we found the driver and asked him to move, he did.

This is a huge pain in the ass normally. You find people using the wheelchair spots if they're just "popping in" to a shop or you will often see taxi drivers treating them like ranks.

As well as a wheelchair user, I'm a driver. So if a wheelchair parking spot isn't available, it's not that easy to find an alternative place to park, especially in town.

There aren't enough wheelchair parking spots in Dublin to cater to the amount of people with blue badges so please don't do it.

I will definitely delve further into this topic another time.

St. Anne's Park, Raheny/Clontarf

St. Anne's Park
Coast Rd., Raheny, Dublin 5
www.dublincity.ie/recreationandculture/dublincityparks/visitapark/pages/stannespark.aspx

I took the pup for a jaunt there a couple of weeks ago. It's a mahoosive open space with a fairly decent café and plenty of nice walled gardens to wander around in. I didn't get to check out the playground facilities there but I will next time I visit.


What has it got?

Seating: There are plenty of benches placed around the park. Their café, Tír na nÓg, is found in the Red Stables area and it is a little tight to maneuver into tables but it is manageable.

Doors: I had no problems with the doors or gates around the park.

Ground: A lot of the paths are tarred over - lovely and smooth - and then some of the paths have a light gravel which is very easy to go over. It's mostly flat but if you're looking for a hill to roll down, you might be in luck there too.

Stairs: There's the odd step to be found in the Rose Garden and Walled Garden but they have a flat route  that you can take.  In their café, they have a flight of stairs inside but they have a wheelchair lift to bring you up.

Bathrooms: Wheelchair bathrooms are found in the Red Stables area and they are very easy to get in and out of.

Spaciousness: You're in a park. In fact, it's so big, it can't decide whether it's in Clontarf or Raheny.

Helpfulness of Staff: I didn't require help at any stage.

Parking: If you go to the car park near The Red Stables (link to map here), there is plenty of wheelchair parking. There is also a lot of street parking available in the area.

Rating: 10/10
Why did it lose points? It didn't. It's a perfect park.

Light House Cinema

Light House Cinema
Market Square, Smithfield, Dublin 7
www.lighthousecinema.ie

Dublin's Light House Cinema is a grand aul spot for a limited release film or, like me, you live in the past and like an old favourite (Cruel Intentions was my indulgence tonight).


What has it got? 

Seating: They have spaces available for wheelchair users in every screen.

Doors: Doors are light and easy to open.

Stairs: There are stairs but they have a lift which goes to every floor.

Ground: Wooden flooring and carpets.

Bathrooms: There is a wheelchair cubicle available on the ground floor, at level -2 and level -3. It is a little tight for space so I find it's best to reverse into it.

Spaciousness: If there's one thing Light House has, it's loads of space. Roomy and then some.

Helpfulness of Staff: I didn't need assistance because it was so easy to get around but I'm sure the staff are willing to give a hand when needed.


Parking: There is wheelchair parking beside the Maldron Hotel on Market Square and wheelchair parking in the car park beside the cinema.


Rating: 9.5/10
Why did it lose points? The wheelchair cubicles are just a teeny, tiny bit too tight but they are manageable. 

Getting my foot in the door

This is the first post on Legless. It's looking a little bit bare right now but I will update the blog on a very regular basis.


I will upload detailed posts on whatever establishments I visit that day and I will grade them in terms of wheelchair friendliness.

Because I am a wheelchair user, I will be mainly focusing on that but, hopefully, my reviews will be useful for people with visual, hearing and other mobile impairments, the elderly and, well, anyone at all.

I will appreciate any tips or guidance along the way because I am absolutely winging it right now.