Our co-production group spent a fun evening at The Good Companion in Portsmouth to assess its accessibility and overall inclusivity. Here’s what we found during our visit:
What We Liked
We were greeted by friendly staff with great humour and the bar staff were attentive and willing to listen, always a good start to the evening. Service throughout was smooth and considerate.
The layout of the venue offered lots of space to move around easily and there are good access points on both sides of the pub. There’s also a spacious car park with designated disabled bays, this made getting in and out very straightforward.
We were pleased to see a proper ramp in place, and the app for ordering food and drinks worked well, proving accessible and simple to use. The lighting inside is bright and clear, which made reading the menu much easier. The menu itself was well designed, clearly written, and easy to follow.
Decor was cosy and welcoming, with fresh flowers giving a nice touch (though we did spot some droopy tulips!). We enjoyed the food and drink, the dessert came with a very generous helping of strawberry sauce, which didn’t go unnoticed.
Room for Improvement
There were a few things we feel could be improved to make the venue even more accessible and inclusive:
- The gents toilet had a door lock that wasn’t secure, which can be worrying for anyone who values privacy and safety.
- It was confusing that the ladies’ toilets were located separately from the gents and the accessible toilet. Clearer signage would really help visitors find their way.
- One cubicle in the ladies’ toilets had no working light, and the other was out of use – reducing options for female visitors and those with light sensitivity or sight issues.
- There are some great offers available, but not all of our group noticed them. Making these more visible or clearly advertised would help everyone benefit equally.
- While the quiet atmosphere was calming without any music, a bit of soft background music could have made the space feel more vibrant and inviting.
Final Thoughts
The Good Companion made a strong impression with its friendly service, well-lit interior and accessible facilities. With a few small fixes, especially around signage and toilet maintenance, this pub could offer an even better experience for disabled guests. We felt welcomed and relaxed during our visit and the generous dessert portions certainly helped!
