Accessible Lewes

Lewes Town, by its nature, is an old and hilly town with narrow pavements and many inaccessible buildings. These guidelines are by no means comprehensive and the venues mentioned have not been formally checked or vetted so please use these guidelines with care.

If you know of any good welcoming places in the town not included here please let the Tourist Information Centre know on 01273 483448 or email lewes.tic@lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk

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Access is not just about wheelchairs the Lewes Area Access Group is a group of disabled people who are actively working to improve access for disabled people in the town. They work with the local authorities to identify issues and suggest improvements. They meet every two months at the Depot Cinema contact via laag406@gmail.com or 01273 480997. They are working on a local Access Guide for Lewes.

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Depot Cinema is the prize-winning accessible cinema that features some films with subtitles, hearing described and special showings for people with dementia or autism.

Pinwell Road, Lewes BN7 2JS 

01273 525354 

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Accessible toilets
RADAR keys are available from the Tourist Information Centre, priced £3.96. Public WCs with accessible toilet can be found at Market Lane (back of the Market Hall); Grange Gardens (not winter) and Greyfriars (by car park back of Premier Inn).
There is an accessible toilet (RADAR key required) by the waiting room on Platform 3 of Lewes Station.

Situated in Friars Walk car park, the new changing places toilet can be accessed via a key fob scheme which will include the changing places toilet on Eastbourne Seafront.  Changing Places toilets are larger, accessible toilets for people who cannot use standard disabled toilets and require additional essential equipment such as hoists.  Keys for this toilet are available from Lewes District Council Office,6 High Street, Lewes.  The office is open from 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday.

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Disabled parking in Lewes
Disabled Blue Badge holders may park free of charge in any Lewes District Council Pay and Display car parks for a limited period. A current badge must be clearly displayed and all conditions of issue must be adhered to. Most of LDC car parks have designated Disabled Bays but any bay can be used without charge if these are all occupied or none are designated.
Some car parks are run by other organisations eg NCP so check before you park for any restrictions.
On-street parking is free for Blue Badge holders and there are some designated parking bays, for example at the bottom and top of Station Street.

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Hotels and B&Bs
The hotels that advertise as having a disabled accessible room in Lewes are:

Pelham House Hotel, St Andrew's Lane, Lewes, BN7 1UW

01273 488600

White Hart Hotel, 55 High St, Lewes, BN7 1XE

01273 476694. (Contact them direct to check their facilities)
The Premier Inn in Lewes has a lift and is universally accessible. They have one room advertised as fully accesible. 

The Old Courthouse, Court Road, Lewes BN7 2PG

0871 527 9524

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Venues, Pubs, Cafes and Restaurants
Fuego Lounge

The Old Courthouse Friars Walk, The Old Courthouse, Lewes, BN7 2FS

01273 476554
John Harvey Tavern

(Has level access and an accessible toilet Bear Yard)

Cliffe High St, Lewes, BN7 2AN

01273 479880
Bill’s Restaurant

(Is level access but has no accessible toilet, the John Harvey tavern is almost next door)

56 Cliffe High St, Lewes, BN7 2AN
The Volunteer pub

(Accessible toilet)

12 Eastgate Street, Lewes, BN7 2LP

01273 476357
Caffe Nero

61B-62 High Street, Lewes, BN7 1XG

01273 487270

Costa

215 High St, Lewes, BN7 2AF

01273 475425 
Trading Post coffee shop

(Has an accessible toilet with access by ramp from the car park at the back)

18 Cliffe High St, Lewes, BN7 2AJ

01273 483331
Pizza Express

15 High St, Lewes, BN7 2LN

01273 487524

Ask

186 High St, Lewes, BN7 1XX 

01273 479330 
Cote Brasserie

(Has level access and an accessible toilet)

82 High Street, Lewes, BN7 1XW.

01273 311 344

All Saints Centre is accessible and Lewes Town Hall is accessible via Fisher Street, ask staff for advice.

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Places to visit in the town

The Priory Ruins are level with ramps and walk ways, there is a garden café at Anne of Cleves House not too far away where a ramp can be provided to get to the toilets.
Or there is a tea hatch in the Southover Grange Gardens open in the Summer with a couple of steps, ask for help.

The Railway Land Nature Reserve has level paths and easy access routes.

Top level shops of the Needlemakers may be accessible but there are stairs to the bottom level

The Lewes Library has a ramped access. Assistance dogs are welcome. Each library has a computer with a large screen, large print keyboard and access to an on screen keyboard, screen magnifier and accessibility settings for the mouse.

RNIB Sensing Culture project of Lewes Castle and Barbican House
This project aims to improve access and opportunities on site for blind and partially sighted people. New resources include audio interpretation and multi-sensory activities, holiday morning explorer sessions and much more.

Pells Pool open air swimming pool (open Summer and Autumn only)
There is a ramp and fully accessible changing area at the pool

01273 472334