The Deep aims to provide an excellent service to all visitors and continually strive to improve, to provide a quality experience to all. The Deep is committed to providing accessibility for all its visitors and is currently able to offer:
Pre-Arrival
- Phone, fax and e-mail contact available. Telephone operators are experienced in handling operator led text-phone calls.
- Website accessible with ability to increase the size of text and change colour contrast.
- Printed literature can be produced in large print on request.
- Hull city centre location with good taxi links to main interchange. Freephone in reception to call taxis and reception will assist on request. Limited bus links to main interchange.
- The Deep’s busiest days are weekends and school holidays. Term time can be busy between 10am and 2pm with organised school groups.
Arrival and Car Parking Facilities
- Car park has 14 widened spaces (2.75 metres wide) designated for disabled parking.
- Disabled parking (for vehicles displaying a valid badge) is free of charge at all times.
- Designated disabled parking is nearest parking to the disabled entrance.
- Car park surface is tarmac and is well lit.
- Paths around the car park and building are wide and made from levelled concrete.
- Water can be provided for dogs on request. Only assistance dogs permitted entry to The Deep.
- There is a coach drop off point close to the entrance.
- There are fixed seat and table picnic benches near the disabled parking bays (indoor picnic area also available).
Main Entrance & Reception
- Hours of operation 10am to 6pm, with last entry to the attraction being 5pm.
- Essential carers are admitted free of charge.
- Disabled visitors may use the ‘Pre-booked/Group/Disabled’ entrance to the left of the building. There is therefore no need for those who may find queuing difficult to join the Main Entrance queue.
- Disabled visitors may also pre-book if they prefer to do so, either by calling at least 24 hours in advance for a pre-booking code (tickets then purchased on arrival) or by ordering tickets on-line (discount offers may sometimes apply to on-line purchases).
- Wide, automatic entrance doors.
- No steps to entrance.
- There is an induction loop installed at the ticketing counter. Portable induction loops may also be borrowed from reception to use around the attraction itself.
- Low level counter at ‘pre-booked/group/disabled desk’.
- Pad and pen available.
- Good lighting in ticketing area.
- Seating available in the reception/ticketing area.
- Handheld audioguides available (free of charge for visitors with visual disabilities) at reception.
- Transcript of audioguide and 3D film available free of charge to disabled visitors at reception on request.
- Wheelchairs (including one electric wheelchair), tri-walkers and rollator walking aids are available to borrow free of charge from reception, subject to availability.
Public Areas – General (Internal)
- There are two large main lifts (with audio advice on floor level) to the attraction entrance. Stairs are also available.
- Most of the attraction is on level or ramped ground. There is one set of stairs into ‘Deep Blue One’. A small disabled lift is available at this point. Larger electric wheelchairs may be too big for this lift and visitors who find this to be the case should make themselves known to a member of staff who will direct them to a larger lift.
- Guiding staff are positioned throughout the attraction (dressed in blue t-shirts or purple fleeces) and can offer help, direction and advice.
- Seating is available throughout the building.
- An indoor picnic area is available.
- Lighting is generally low throughout the attraction. There may be some flashing lights from audio visual displays.
- Some visitors may find the background noise from exhibition and other people to be loud.
Exhibition/Display
- Scheduled Quiet Day events through the year which include lighting turned on, background noise turned down and timed BSL signed presentations. See events listings for details.
- BSL signed tours available free of charge when pre-booked with reasonable notice.
- Guides can be pre-booked with reasonable notice to accompany blind or visually impaired visitors to deliver a descriptive/touch tour.
- Additional tactile exhibits are available on request from the guiding staff.
- The exhibition has been designed so that the information is displayed using a range of audio, visual and tactile content to be accessible to all.
Public Areas – WC
- There are four accessible toilets in the attraction: Ground floor/reception, ground floor/shop, 3rd floor/café and 1st floor/picnic area. All except the ground floor/shop have a baby changing facility. Each is fitted with an emergency alarm call system.
- A mobile hoist can be hired and supplied free of charge by prior arrangement with reasonable notice.
- A first aid room is available on request which some disabled visitors may find useful as a private area.
Observatory Café and Halfway Café
- The Observatory Café on the 3rd floor is open every day serving a full range of hot and cold drinks, food and snacks. Hot food is served until 3pm.
- The Halfway Café on the 1st floor is open on busy days serving drinks and snacks.
- There is a lift in the Observatory Café to the next floor where there is overflow seating and a viewing area.
- Both cafes are counter service but table service can be offered where needed, on request.
- Staff are available to assist where required.
- Chairs and tables are movable, some with a central support column, some with legs on each corner. Some tables are identified as being higher which can be easier for wheelchair access.
- The Deep is able to cater for dietary requirements. Please ask staff for advice and recommendations if necessary.
- Food can be blended on request.
- There is a ‘Baby Food Warming’ station in the Observatory Café which includes bottle warmers and a microwave which is free for all visitors to use if required.
- Good selection of healthy food options available, recognised by the Heartbeat Award.
- Good level of natural light in both café areas.
Two Rivers Restaurant
- Open every Friday and Saturday night.
- Pre-booking advisable.
- Table d’hote menu, a copy of which can be requested in advance or downloaded from the website.
- Large print copy of menu available on request.
- Dietary requirements catered for, with food cooked to your specification where required.
- Table service, with waiting staff on hand at all times.
- Two Rivers Restaurant main entrance has a set of 22 steps to the dining area. A door person is on hand to access a lift for any diners on request which is 28 metres away from this entrance.
- Wheelchairs or tri-walkers and rollators can be borrowed for the evening if required.
- Portable induction loops available on request.
Shop
- Open access on a level entry from the ticketing areas.
- Some items for sale may be out of reach, please ask staff for assistance.
- There is an induction loop installed at the counter.
- All ticket prices are displayed in a minimum of 24 point font size.
Education Visits
- Induction loops installed in the learning centre classrooms.
- Education sessions pre-booked with appropriate content agreed in advance with teaching staff.
- Moveable chairs and tables.
Additional Information
- The Deep has a full disability awareness training programme in place for front line staff.
- Assistance dogs are welcome and can be provided with bowls and water on request.
- The Deep has many staff trained in first aid and can offer assistance and first aid supplies as necessary.
- In the event of a building evacuation, a repeating tannoy announcement will sound, the audio visual displays will switch off, house lights come on and fire wardens ensure that visitors make their way to the nearest fire exits. Fire exits are clearly marked throughout the building. Lifts will return to the ground floor for visitors to exit, but then will cease to operate. Due to the attraction being over four floors some descent of stairs may be needed to exit the building. For visitors who cannot manage this descent refuge points area located at the fire exits. The green call points should be pressed to indicate that the refuge point is occupied so that building management staff and emergency services are aware of your location. Re-entry to the building will be arranged as soon as possible, in liaison with the emergency services.
Contact Information:
Telephone:
01482 381000 (Option 3 for general enquiries)
Staffed Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm.
Pre-recorded information available at all times.
Fax:
01482 381018
E-mail:
info@thedeep.co.uk
Website:
www.thedeep.co.uk
www.tworiversrestaurant.co.uk
Address:
The Deep
Running Deep Ltd
Tower Street
Hull
HU1 4DP
We welcome your feedback to help us continuously improve. If you have any comments please phone 01482 381000 (option 3) or e-mailinfo@thedeep.co.uk.
