Watergate Bay Hotel – an inclusive hotel for disabled families
Devon and Cornwall have long been my favourite UK holiday destinations – in fact my family have been holidaying in Devon for more than a decade.
But it isn’t just the long glorious golden beaches, the turquoise clear waters, and the big waves perfect for learning to surf that lure my family to Cornwall now...
Watergate Bay Hotel, a big hit with the rich and famous (celebrity guests include Prince William, actor Keira Knightley and McFly’s Tom Fletcher), appeals to my family not just because of its incredible prime location (nestled directly on a two-mile surfing beach on the North Cornwall coast) but because it is going the extra mile to accommodate disabled families – families like mine.
In fact, Watergate Bay Hotel might just be the most disability-friendly hotel in the UK.
I’m a mum-of-four and my daughter Annabelle has a rare genetic condition (foxp1) which has resulted in autism, cerebral palsy, ADHD and global development delay.
Going away with a disabled child is hard in the UK – Annabelle likes routine and struggles with going to new places. She is non-verbal autistic and can self-harm when she gets distressed. Her challenging behaviour includes headbanging, kicking and throwing if things don’t go her way. She needs attention at all times, and I am always on high alert.
UK hotels aren’t set up for large families like mine, let alone when you add disability into the mix. But this is where Watergate Bay Hotel comes into a league of its own. They have accessible rooms with a wet room, grab rails and wheelchair-widened areas, while the childcare facilities are headed up by a qualified SEN coordinator, who is trained in Makaton and who has also had suction and hoist training.
The kids zone is split across several rooms (children are allocated a room based on age) and the range of SEND resources in the kids zone includes picture exchange communication cards, visual timetables, now and next boards, sensory baskets, musical instruments and a sensory cafe with herbs and a range of colourful plants/flowers. There’s a painting area, sensory snug with beanbags and cushions and even a lego break-out room.
Annabelle and I visited Watergate Bay Hotel last summer to see for ourselves what was on offer for SEN children and to chat to Victoria and Tammy who work in the kids zone
We were impressed from the moment we arrived. Annabelle is wary of strangers but was immediately comfortable with both Tammy and Victoria. She loved the sensory baskets (particularly the pinecones, seashells and musical instruments) and enjoyed exploring the outside area and sensory cafe.
I noted now and next boards and communication boards with picture symbols of the various activities on offer such as cook/bake, art, water plants, sensory café and reading time.
Victoria explained to me that ‘the hotel’s accessibility and inclusive ethos has evolved organically, and we are extremely proud of our inclusivity.’ Watergate Bay Hotel have provided 1:1s for children in the past and are happy to do so going forward as long as they are aware beforehand so they can staff the childcare sessions accordingly. When the hotel knows in advance that there are guests with SEND coming, the team will make contact with the parents to go through how they can best support the children and to see if they need any extra resources.
Watergate Bay is an accessible beach, and the hotel also works closely with The Wave Project who launched their Adaptive Surf Hub two years ago.
I was definitely impressed by my visit – but what about Annabelle? I think her smile -and the fact she didn’t want to leave -speaks volumes!
Images - Kate Skelton - Victoria Bartle - Unsplash
