Originally published November 2022 | Updated October 2026 by Georgina Grogan
Many businesses want to be more inclusive but don't know where to start. Purple Tuesday, held every November, is a good reminder that small changes to your venue and your service can remove real barriers for Disabled customers.
It's also good business. The Purple Pound (the combined spending power of Disabled households in the UK) is estimated at £446 billion a year. Yet according to Purple, 75% of Disabled people and their families have walked away from a UK business because of poor accessibility or customer service.
At Sociability, we map venues across the UK and see the same barriers come up again and again. Here are five areas every venue should look at.
1. Step-free access, described accurately
Step-free access is the most talked-about part of accessibility, but it's often described inaccurately. Venues get called "wheelchair friendly" even when there's a small step at the entrance.
A step that looks small can stop a powerchair, a mobility scooter or a pram. A level threshold or a ramp removes that barrier. If your entrance does have a step, say so and give its height. Customers can then decide for themselves whether it works for them, rather than finding out at the door.
That's why we describe features rather than give venues a rating. Read more in 3 reasons to stop using accessibility ratings.
2. Sensory environment
Access isn't only about physical space. Lighting, noise and smell can make a venue hard to be in, and they're some of the most overlooked barriers.
Lighting: bright or flickering lights can be a barrier for autistic people and people with migraines or light sensitivity. Dimmer areas or quieter times of day can help.
Noise: loud background music and hard surfaces make conversation hard for d/Deaf people, people with hearing loss and people with auditory processing disorder. Our guide to dinner table syndrome explains why this matters.
Smell: strong fragrances and cleaning products can be a barrier for people with asthma, allergies or sensory sensitivities.
Many of these barriers affect people with non-visible impairments, so they're easy to miss if you only think about wheelchair access.
3. Accessible toilets
Being able to use a toilet is a basic need, and it's where many venues fall down. An accessible toilet should have:
Turning space: a clear turning circle of at least 1500mm.
An emergency cord that reaches the floor: someone who has fallen needs to be able to reach it. Never tie it up or loop it over a rail.
Clear space under the sink: so a wheelchair user can get close enough to use it.
Visual contrast: toilet seats, grab rails and fittings in a contrasting colour to the walls help people with visual impairments.
Nothing stored inside: cleaning equipment, boxes and baby-change bins take up the space the toilet depends on.
For the full checklist, see what makes a public toilet accessible.
4. Information before the visit
Accessibility starts before a customer leaves the house. In the Click-Away Pound survey, 69% of Disabled people said they would leave a website they found difficult to use.
Share your access information: describe your entrance, toilets, seating and lighting on your website and on the Sociability app, with photos where you can. Accurate information lets people plan.
Make your website usable: make sure menus, opening times and contact details are easy to read, work with screen readers and aren't locked inside image-only PDFs.
5. Customer service
You can have a well-designed building, but if staff don't know how to help, the experience still falls apart.
Speak directly to the customer, not their companion or support worker.
Offer help, then wait for an answer. Don't jump in without asking.
Don't ask personal questions about someone's impairment. Our post on why it can be harmful to ask Disabled people "what happened to you?" explains why.
Know your venue: staff should know where the ramp, the accessible toilet and the quietest seating are, and how to use any lifts.
FAQ: Accessibility for venues
1. Why should my business care about the Purple Pound?
Disabled households in the UK have an estimated £446 billion a year in spending power. Accenture's research found that companies leading on disability inclusion had 1.6 times more revenue than other companies. Read our guide on how to build a business case for accessibility to find out more.
2. What's the most common accessibility mistake?
A tied-up emergency cord in the accessible toilet. It might seem tidier while cleaning, but if the cord doesn't reach the floor, someone who has fallen can't use it.
3. Does my venue need to be fully accessible to be on Sociability?
No. Accessibility looks different for everyone, and no venue works for every access need. What matters is sharing clear, accurate information about what you have, so people can decide for themselves. Find out more about claiming your business on Sociability.
Take the next step
Want to go further? Read about functional vs inclusive accessibility, or find out how Sociability for Business can help you map and share your venue's accessibility information.
Planning a trip? Download the Sociability app to find accessible cafés, bars, and restaurants that meet your specific needs in seconds. You can also join our community and follow us on Instagram for the latest inclusive spots!
To take your advocacy further, sign up for our free newsletter, Beyond Compliance. We provide practical tips to help you champion accessibility in your workplace and everyday life. We look forward to seeing you there!
Sociability
Sociability is a disability-led social enterprise dedicated to making the world more accessible through accurate, verified data. Our team combines lived experience with technical expertise to help individuals and organisations navigate and improve accessibility information across the UK.
