Why You Should Run Regular Disability Audits for Your Food, Drink or Retail Premises

Is your business truly accessible to everyone? It’s easy to assume that a step-free entrance or a single disabled toilet is enough, but genuine inclusivity goes far deeper. That’s where regular disability audits come in.

Why this blogpost? My wife and I have found a new, very small pub, which doesn't have a toilet with disabled access, the toilets being up a steep flight of stairs.

Whether you run a café, pub, restaurant, shop or market stall, taking a proactive approach to accessibility isn’t just good practice, it’s a legal, commercial, and ethical must.

What Is a Disability Audit?

A disability audit is a thorough assessment of how accessible your premises and services are to disabled customers, staff, and visitors. It examines everything from physical access and signage to staff training and online services.

Importantly, a disability audit should be an ongoing process, not a one-off box-ticking exercise.

Why You Need to Conduct Them Regularly

1. Stay Legally Compliant

Under the Equality Act 2010, you are legally required to make “reasonable adjustments” to ensure disabled people are not disadvantaged. This includes access, layout, services, and communication methods. Regular audits help you spot issues before they become complaints—or legal challenges.

2. Accessibility Can Deteriorate

Buildings age, furniture gets rearranged, and maintenance slips through the cracks. A door that once opened smoothly may now stick. A handrail might be loose. A lift could be malfunctioning. Regular audits catch these issues early and prevent unintentional exclusion.

3. Needs and Expectations Evolve

Disability awareness and best practices are constantly developing. What was once considered acceptable might now fall short. Keeping up with current standards, such as installing hearing loops or offering neurodivergent-friendly spaces, ensures your venue doesn’t fall behind.

4. Improve Customer Experience

A well-executed audit leads to tangible improvements: clearer signage, accessible menus, easier navigation, trained staff. All of these enhance the customer journey—not just for disabled people, but for families, older guests, and anyone with temporary limitations (e.g. broken limbs or pushchairs).

5. Demonstrate Genuine Inclusivity

Customers are increasingly values-driven. Showing that you’ve gone beyond minimum compliance to create a welcoming space for all people earns loyalty, trust and positive word of mouth—online and off.

What Should a Disability Audit Cover?

A proper disability audit should look at:

Entrances and exits (are they step-free, clearly marked, automatic?)

Internal layout (can wheelchair users move freely? are aisles clutter-free?)

Toilets and changing facilities (are they truly accessible, not used for storage?)

Signage and lighting (is everything clearly visible and easy to understand?)

Menus and pricing displays (are there alternatives for blind or visually impaired people?)

Staff training (do staff know how to assist, communicate, and offer help without patronising?)

Emergency procedures (can disabled people evacuate safely?)

Online accessibility (is your website compatible with screen readers? Can people pre-book accessible seating or spaces?)

How to Get Started

Do an internal review using checklists available from the Equality and Human Rights Commission or local authorities.

Hire an accessibility consultant for a professional audit.

Involve disabled people, nothing beats real-life experience. Consider mystery shoppers with different accessibility needs.

Document and act on the findings, an audit only matters if you implement the recommended improvements.

Schedule regular follow-ups (at least once a year) and update your team accordingly.

Accessibility Is Good Business

Making your food, drink, or retail space more accessible isn’t just about ramps and regulations. It’s about showing that every customer matters. It’s about being part of a fairer society. And yes—it’s also about growing your reach. The spending power of disabled people and their households in the UK is over £274 billion a year, often referred to as the Purple Pound.

By running regular disability audits, you’re not just complying, you’re competing smarter, serving better, and creating a space where everyone feels welcome.

Ready to take the next step?

Start your audit today—and let your customers know your business is working hard to be a place where access is a right, not a favour.

Championing Fairness: Wetherspoon's Tim Martin's Campaign for VAT Equality

Tim Martin, the founder and chairman of JD Wetherspoon, has long been a prominent figure in the British pub industry. Over the years, he has built Wetherspoon’s into one of the most recognisable pub chains in the UK. 

But beyond his business acumen and the success of his pubs, Martin has become a leading advocate for a cause that resonates with many within the hospitality sector: the campaign to equalise VAT between pubs, restaurants, hotels, and supermarkets.

In a country where pubs are more than just places to grab a pint—they are community hubs, social gathering points, and a cherished part of British culture—the importance of ensuring their survival cannot be overstated. 

Yet, the current VAT system places pubs and restaurants at a significant disadvantage compared to supermarkets. While pubs are charged a 20% VAT rate on food and drink sales, supermarkets pay no VAT on food. At all. 

This discrepancy is not only unfair, but it also undermines the viability of the pub industry, particularly in a post-pandemic world where businesses are still fighting and struggling to recover.

Tim Martin’s campaign seeks to address this imbalance by calling for the equalisation of VAT rates across all food and drink sales, regardless of where they are sold. His argument is simple yet compelling: if pubs, restaurants, and hotels were to pay the same VAT rate as supermarkets, they would be on a level playing field, making it easier for them to compete and thrive. This change would not only benefit the hospitality sector but would also be a boon for consumers and the broader economy.

One of the strongest points in Martin’s favour is the potential impact on job creation. Pubs and restaurants are significant employers, especially of young people, and VAT equality would enable these businesses to hire more staff, invest in their premises, and contribute more to the local economy. 

In contrast, supermarkets, which operate with far fewer employees relative to their turnover, would not experience the same level of job creation. By pushing for VAT equality, Martin is advocating for a policy that supports employment and economic growth, particularly in communities where pubs are a vital source of jobs and social cohesion.

Martin's pubs also contribute to the profitability of smaller independent brewers with their twice-yearly real ale festivals and other initiatives including local collaborations, etc.

Moreover, Martin’s campaign highlights a broader issue of fairness. The current VAT system seems to favour large supermarkets, many of which are owned by multinational corporations with vast resources, over small and medium-sized businesses that are often family-owned and deeply embedded in their local communities. 

This disparity in tax treatment not only skews competition but also risks eroding the unique character of British high streets, which are increasingly dominated by chain stores and supermarkets at the expense of independent pubs and restaurants.

Tim Martin has faced his share of criticism, particularly for his outspoken views on other matters, but his campaign for VAT equality is one that deserves widespread support. 

It is a fight for fairness, for the preservation of British pubs, and for a more balanced and equitable tax system that does not disproportionately burden one sector over another. 

By levelling the playing field, we can ensure that pubs, restaurants, and hotels remain vibrant parts of our communities, contributing to the social fabric and economic well-being of the nation.

In conclusion, Tim Martin’s campaign to equalise VAT between pubs, restaurants, hotels, and supermarkets is not just about business; it’s about fairness, community, and the future of the British high street. 

His efforts deserve recognition and support from all who value the role that pubs play in our society. Let us hope that policymakers take heed of his call and move towards a more equitable VAT system that supports the continued success of our cherished pubs and restaurants.