Ramsgate Accessibility Window Sticker Campaign

Look out for Ramsgate’s new accessibility window stickers!

Exploring Ramsgate is becoming a little easier, thanks to a simple local initiative helping visitors identify accessible cafés, restaurants, shops and attractions at a glance.

The Ramsgate Accessibility Window Sticker Campaign has been developed by local accessibility campaigners Michael Willis and Lisbeth Tull, who run the Access Ramsgate Facebook community group. Following a successful pilot during last year’s visitor season, the scheme is now being rolled out more widely across the town, with the stickers funded by Ramsgate Town Council.

Mike Willis and Lisbeth Tull both use wheelchairs and bring lived experience to the project, which has helped shape the campaign from a practical, real-world perspective. In fact, the idea grew from Mike’s own experience of finding it difficult to know in advance which local venues were accessible.

The idea is wonderfully simple. Participating businesses display a clear accessibility sticker in their window, so wheelchair users, people with limited mobility, older visitors and families with pushchairs can see that a venue is accessible before they go inside.

For many people, a spontaneous coffee, meal or browse around the shops isn’t quite as spontaneous as it sounds. It can mean searching online beforehand, making a phone call or asking someone else to go ahead and check whether there are steps, enough room for a wheelchair or an accessible toilet.

The window stickers are designed to take away some of that uncertainty.

Look for the sticker

Before receiving a sticker, each participating venue is visited to check its accessibility. Depending on the type of premises, this includes step-free access or a suitable ramp, sufficient room for wheelchair users to move around and, where appropriate, an accessible toilet.

Already, 19 Ramsgate businesses and attractions in the town centre and around the harbour are taking part, including cafés, restaurants, bars, shops and visitor attractions. The Accessibility Google map shows lots more businesses that have been identified too and several self-guided trails are available, including the Harbour Heritage Trail exploring Ramsgate Royal Harbour. The harbour features wide paved walkways and step-free access throughout the main quayside areas.

Michael Willis said:

“Businesses we’ve approached have been extremely positive and welcoming. Many already provide good accessibility but were pleased to have a simple way of letting customers know before they even walk through the door.”

And that is particularly useful for visitors to Ramsgate. While online accessibility information is important, you don’t necessarily want to spend your day checking websites or apps. If you’re already wandering around the harbour or exploring the town centre, spotting a sticker in a window means you can simply decide to go in.

The hope is that more Ramsgate businesses will join the scheme over the coming months, making it easier for everyone to explore and enjoy our town with confidence.

Are you a Ramsgate business?

Hospitality venues, visitor attractions and suitable shops that would like to join the scheme can contact Mike through the Access Ramsgate Facebook page or contact Ramsgate Town Council at town.promoter@ramsgatetowncouncil.gov.uk.

MAP

You can also find accessible businesses and facilities on Ramsgate Town Council’s online Accessibility Map.

Map operation :