Venue Accessibility

Viewing areas and other facilities for disabled guests.

Disability Discrimination Act

Aintree Racecourse is committed to making the course grounds available to as many people as possible meeting the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act and makes every effort to ensure its communications and facilities are accessible to those with special needs, including those with visual, hearing, cognitive and motor impairments.

On-site accessibility

With the introduction of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) in October 2005, Aintree Racecourse, in common with all premises offering access to the Public in England and Wales, assumed a mandatory obligation to provide easy access to all parts of its premises for people with Disabilities, wherever reasonably practicable. The Act recognizes, however, that full access is not always reasonably achievable in older existing buildings, and therefore states that in these cases people with disabilities should be able to gain easy access into the premises and that the services they require should be made available to them in close proximity to their entry point.

Aintree Racecourse comprises an interlinked grouping of multi-storey buildings on one site, some updated as recently as 2008 and with significant changes in floor levels both between and within individual buildings.

To meet the requirements of the legislation, we have made substantial practicable changes to our facilities that include:

• Inclusion of induction loops installed in suites and bars
• Braille being included on the majority of our signage
• Improvements to disabled viewing areas
• Suite doors being widened
• Lowering of Tote facilities to improve access for betting purposes
• Viewing balconies improved for wheelchair access
• The introduction of a disabled lift
• Changes to existing lifts to allow wheelchair operation
• Increasing disabled car parking access
• Widened car parking spaces and installed appropriate signage
• New and more centrally located disabled toilets
• Modification of existing toilets to allow ambulant disabled access (including widening cubicles, installation of grab rails, lengthening mirrors, adjusting flush mechanisms, adjustments to door locking facilites and washbasin and handles)
• Refuge areas constructed in case of fire (including the installation of a 2-way communication system with the on-site control room to each point)
• Additional Evac chairs
• Changes to health and safety procedures to protect disabled persons
• Changes in admissions policy in respect of disabled persons (ie, allowing carers in free of charge – on shoulder meetings – This excludes the Grand National)
• Disability specific training for key personnel

Aintree Racecourse is committed to improving access and movement through the buildings for people with physical, sensory and psychological disabilities and impairments through many ongoing upgrading and improvement programmes.

Disabled toilet facilities can be located in:

• Princess Royal Stand
• Lord Daresbury Stand
• Queen Mother Stand
• Earl of Derby Stand
• Lord Sefton Stand
• McCoy’s Bar
• Paddock Lodge
• Equestrian Centre
• Pure Gym Car Park
• The Media Centre
• The Weighing Room

Lowered services counters are available in the The Red Rum Bar, Hedgehunter Bar, Tattersalls, Stands and in the Tote. Induction Loops are available in all stands on the racecourse.