Last night, the Over 25 group headed to Frankie & Benny’s in Gunwharf Quays for a fun evening out. The restaurant proved to be welcoming, accessible and perfect for a relaxed social gathering. Accessibility was a strong point of conversation throughout the visit, these were our findings.
The restaurant is fully accessible from the ground level of the Central Square of Gunwharf Quays via a lift, escalator and steps, the restaurant itself is well-signposted from the Central Square of Gunwharf Quays and once in the restaurant, the layout is easy to navigate with spacious seating. The disabled toilet is generously sized and doesn’t require a radar key, ensuring convenience for all visitors. Lighting was excellent, and the background music stayed at a comfortable level, making conversation easy.
The team at Frankie & Benny’s went above and beyond with their service, proving why this restaurant chain is such a popular choice with many who visit the area. Staff asked about food allergies early in the visit, and the service from one of our group members’ sisters was particularly noted for being friendly and attentive. We were also joined by two of the mothers of our group members, making it a lovely family affair at one point! A reminder for everyone; parents, carers, volunteers and professionals are all welcome to join us for our social events – get in touch with James at Enable Ability to find out more.
Back to the accessibility report; pre-booking our table online was simple and helpful, as well as the option given to us on arrival to separate bills after the meal for each individual, this made dining in a group straightforward and stress-free.
Of course, the food itself did not disappoint. The group enjoyed a range of tasty dishes and drinks, with standout items including some delicious shakes and a chocolate fudge cake dessert. The open kitchen added an engaging touch to the experience, and the restaurant’s décor created a welcoming and vibrant atmosphere, bringing you to the heart of America in New York City, through the restaurant’s smart design and Italian dishes.
Beyond the restaurant, Gunwharf Quays offered plenty to do before or after dining, giving the group extra options before and after we met. With all of these factors combined, the outing was a great success, showing that Frankie & Benny’s is not only accessible but also a fantastic choice for group social events.
So to summarise;
- The venue is fully accessible from ground-level entry
- Spacious, comfortable seating and well-lit environment
- Attentive and welcoming service, including allergy-friendly options
- Tasty food and drinks, open kitchen and appealing décor
- Pre-booking and separate billing options for convenience
This visit shows that social dining can be both accessible and enjoyable, making Frankie & Benny’s at Gunwharf Quays a recommended destination for future Over 25 group outings. We are thrilled to be able to share with you what our accessibility reports will soon look like with your support. Enable Ability desperately need your donations to help fund future projects such as this, making venues such as Frankie & Benny’s more accessible for everyone. Through these extremely clever virtual tours, more specifically called the Enable Ability Inter Activ ‘What’s it Like?’ is a project conceived, created and tested by those living with anxiety and autism. The Over 25 group identified the need for this immersive technology to be used at every venue we visit, especially in these ever-challenging times where high levels of anxiety can cause some people to simply stay at home. The virtual tours allows people to access an immersive experience of a venue whilst planning their visit, helping them to feel comfortable in the knowledge that the venue is well equipped, easily navigated and an enjoyable place to visit, thus combating depression, mental health issues and loneliness. Both Casemates and Golden Hind have recently been filmed and are currently being edited, the link below provides you with a virtual tour of Gunwharf Quays, produced by the What’s it Like project a few years ago. Exciting times to come with plenty more virtual tours currently being edited and planned, due to be released in the near future. Watch this space!
