Warrens the butcher – case study
Some 30 – 40 disabled customers are shopping each week at Philip Warren & Son, the family butcher in Launceston, Cornwall. As Mr Warren says, it was not always like this: “before we made our shop accessible, disabled people had to sit outside. That is no good in this business – we are a visual business and people want to come in and pick out the sausages and other products they want.”
Warrens have made great efforts to make their 17th century building as accessible as possible. They have closed the old front door because it had several steep steps. Shoppers now use a long opening where a window once was. Although Warrens the butcher was unable to make this completely level access, as the shop is on a slope, the new door enables lots more people with mobility impairments to get into the shop. The new door has been particularly welcomed by older people. A rail assists people walking up and down the slope. There is also an online ordering service for those who cannot visit the shop.
Mr Warren adds: “I am pleased we made the shop accessible – it was a logical step for us as a business and we now have 30-40 disabled customers in the shop every week.”