Scilly has been heavily criticised by an online company, which tracks down restaurants with wheelchair access.
The Isles of Scilly has only one restaurant that the company rates on the website which is Tregarthan’s Hotel on St Mary’s.
Mary Dickson who created the website told Scilly News: “Scilly is about as bad as a place can be for Wheelchair uses. It is such a pity because Cornwall is excellent and if disabled people have to chose between there and the islands they are certainly going to pick Cornwall.”
Mrs Dickson started the website a year ago after she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. She found her only pleasure was going for a meal but when it came to visiting friends around the country she found that she couldn’t find out easily, which eating establishments she could visit. She decided to start the website, Your Level Best, which rates restaurants on the ability to get into it and whether they have disabled toilets.
She continued: “I don’t see why people like me should have the fight their way through the web and phone books just to find out basic information. I am fair, I don’t moan unnecessarily but I don’t understand how people who live and stay on the islands can go out for a meal.”
“I understand Scilly isn’t an easy environment but it at least a couple of pubs should make an effort.”
Some other restaurants on the islands have taken steps to accommodate the less able. The Scillonian Club on St Mary’s has a chair life up to the Restaurant and easy access to the building.