Dine-Ability North East

09/09/2026

Date – 14/07/26
Restaurant – The Dunes Sports Bar – South Shields
Time – 12:00

We visited The Dunes Sports Bar in South Shields. When we arrived, there was a ramp to enter the building. There were no automatic doors, but there were two large double doors that needed to be held open for wheelchair users to enter.

On entry, you have to walk through the amusements to get to the sports bar.

Entry to the sports bar was accessible. The bar was decorated with England flags for the World Cup, and there were sports tops all over the walls, including football tops, basketball tops, etc.

We could manoeuvre around with ease. There was plenty of space for our chairs, and we were able to choose any table. Our chairs fitted underneath a table with ease.

There was music playing in the background at a good level, and there were lots of TVs showing sport.

H: “This would be somewhere good to watch the match.”

The venue had not long been open, so it was quiet, with just us and the Dunes staff.

M: We had to go to the bar to order food. I went on my own and ordered independently. The barman was very friendly. We could pay by cash or card, and I was offered a receipt.

S: The bar was too high, so my support staff had to order my food for me.

We waited about 15 minutes for our food to arrive. It arrived hot and was very well presented, and the portion size was really big.

The barman was presentable. He looked very smart, friendly and helpful.

£7.00–£15.00 for a main meal. There was no set menu.

S: My meal looked nice when it arrived, with big portions for the price.

M: It was nice, and I would get it again. The portions were big and it tasted really good.

The restaurant accommodated our dietary needs and asked if anyone had any allergies.

There was no Changing Places toilet, but there was an accessible toilet inside the bowling alley. The bathroom comfortably fitted a power chair and two staff members. It was clean and had lots of room inside.

We didn’t feel rushed to finish our meal and would have stayed longer if we weren’t going bowling.

Paying was fine. We paid at the bar.

The venue was nice and clean.

Overall, the service,food and accessiblity was great.

10/10.

We will definitely be back

26/06/2026

Date – 29/05/26
Restaurant – The JollyBowman Battlehill
Time – 12.00

We visited The JollyBowman on Friday 29th May, the JollyBowman is quite local to LANE so we took the opportunity to walk.

We did arrive a little earlier then opening time, so sat in the garden at the front of the pub , a member of staff come outside to greet us and asked if wanted to come into the pub early.

The entry to the building was a double door that could be hooked open on both sides. It was flat with no step, but there were no automatic doors.

Inside the venue, it was very spacious with lots of room to manoeuvre round in our wheelchairs with plenty of choice to sit around any table which we all were able to sit round comfortably.

It wasn’t too busy, but it did get busy later on as we were getting ready to leave.

The lighting inside was great, nice and bright.

There was some good music being played in the background at a low volume, so we could still have a chat and enjoy the music playing at the same time.

The staff were presentable and very approachable and friendly , they took time to come over and speak to us at our table , told us all about the new renovation and the chef also come out to talk to us a few times.

We ordered our food at the bar, with easy access and the bar is a good height for us in wheelchairs so we could pay independently.

Payment options are cash or card.

We weren’t asked about dietary /allergens however, they changed everything we needed them to at no extra charge. The chef even came out to greet and talk to us before we ordered so was already aware of our changes prior to ordering to pay.

D - "Very friendly staff”
M - "Chef was lovely"

There is no set menu but lots of choice, they are also daily specials on certain days of week. We spent between £10- £15pp for our food and a drink and to add all the puddings were £4.00.

We only waited approximately 15 minutes for our food to arrive , the portion size was large and we were very happy when it arrived, it was very well presented and arrived hot.

The toilets were accessible, big enough for 2 people and wide enough for wheelchair access, there was also baby change in toilet. No changing places.

The venue was clean and we didn’t feel rushed to leave at all. The staff were really friendly and come to speak to us throughout our time there which we enjoyed.

We rate The Jolly Bowman -
Access – 7/10
Service – 10/10

We will definitely be back 😊

10/06/2026

Date - 15/05/26
Restaurant – Manjaros - Newcastle
Time - 12.00

We visited Manjaros in Newcastle, we did call ahead to check there was a ramp to access the restaurant. On arrival staff come straight out however once set up , the ramp was extremely close to the curb of the main road.

We felt really nervous using the assessable entrance due to not having a lot of room to manoeuvre onto the ramp.

Our support staff helped us drive safely in our power chars. We all agreed we wouldn’t have been able to access the restaurant without our support staff with us.

There is no automatic doors, just glass doors that open inward and it was a bit of a tight squeeze to get actually into the restaurant.

There was room to manoeuvre if you went round towards the kitchen however the other side of the restaurant you can’t manoeuvre round in a wheelchair very well at all. We did struggle to get into our table, seating felt quite squashed as its booth type seating on one side -

"There was just not a lot of room in general especially for us in wheelchairs"

The venue wasn’t busy just a few people inside and it look very clean.

There was no music on in the background, no atmosphere and it was quite cold once we were sat at our table. There was no changing places in the restaurant but there is an accessible toilet.

Unfortunately there was furniture blocking the toilet entrance , high chairs, a table etc which our support staff had to move so we could access the toilet.

The accessible toilet was small, very cold and the toilet was leaking so one of our support staff did complain as the floor was wet to which the restaurant weren’t that bothered as it doesn’t really get used.

A member of staff come to our table to take our food and drinks order. The waiter didn’t really acknowledge us and spoke more to our support staff.

We found unfortunately that the staff were not very friendly. We felt like the staff didn’t know what they were doing -

“Like they hadn’t meet people with disabilities before”.

We were not asked about any allergy or dietary needs and when our support staff explained that one of us does have dietary needs the staff refused to accommodate.

We asked if one of us could swap the chips that came with a meal for a plain single wrap due to dietary needs. Everything was initially ok until we needed supplements to one meal.

The waiter went back and forward to the chef who repeatedly said no to any supplements.

So one of our support staff went to speak directly to chef to explain the dietary needs and finally got a supplement with an additional cost.

One of us ordered a pasta dish and when asked if we would like cheese the waiter said it would be an additional £1.00 for the cheese.

Although the service wasn’t the best we all agreed that the food was really nice and portion size was really good.

The bar was high and due to the lack of space our support staff had to pay for us , cash and card payments were accepted however, it was a struggle to pay separately , even though we did inform our waiter we would all be paying separately when our food order was being taken.

We didn’t feel rushed to leave however, due to our experience, we felt uncomfortable and left as soon as we finished our meal.

Overall, we rate Manjaros Restaurant -

*Access - 2/10
*Service - 1/10

Lifelong Ability North East - LANE

20/05/2026

Restaurant Review – Sambuca’s

Date: 26/03/26
Time: 12:30 pm

We visited Sambuca’s in Percy Main as a last-minute change to our lunch plans. We didn’t book in advance and simply turned up.

We were greeted at the main entrance by a member of staff with a portable ramp to help us access the restaurant. The doors are not automatic and they arent particularly wide enough for wheelchair access unless a member if staff holds the door open , one door can be hooked back against the wall.

We were able to manoeuvre around the restaurant in our wheelchairs quite easily. However, we felt that if the restaurant had been busy, it would have been more difficult to move around comfortably.
Luckily, it was very quiet, and despite not having a booking, the restaurant was very accommodating.

We were seated easily at a table with clear access, we did take up extra space however the waiter moved chairs out of the way so we could position ourselves comfortably.

There are accessible toilets in the restaurant; however, we did not use them, so we cannot comment further.

Staff came to our table to take our order and were able to hear and understand us clearly.

“They spoke to us and not our staff.” – M

“They focused on me when ordering.” – H

The staff were very friendly and accommodating when we asked if they could blend food. They did not hesitate and simply said, “Of course.” We were very impressed, as we have previously had to leave other places because they would not blend meals. It was great to find a local restaurant that is accommodating for everyone.

There is a lunchtime special menu offering 3 courses for £8.95, although you can also order anything from the main menu.

The writing on the menu was quite small and difficult to read without support from staff.

When ordering, our waiter was excellent.

“The staff made us feel very comfortable and relaxed.”

Staff asked about allergies and confirmed everything for the blended meal.

We waited around 10 minutes for our starters. We did not feel rushed at any point, and staff waited until we had finished before asking if we were ready for our mains.

Our meal was very nice, tasted fresh, and the portion sizes were good. Both the starters and mains were served hot. The venue itself was very clean, with standard lighting for Sambuca’s and background music playing. The music was not too loud, and we were still able to have a comfortable conversation.

Overall Ratings

* Access: 5/10
* Service: 10/10

We will definitely be back 😃

Sambuca Percy Main

12/05/2026

Lifelong Ability North East - LANE

Nominate a charity for a Movement for Good award now.

01/05/2026

Date: 24/04/2026

Venue: The Fire Station Wetherspoons
Whitley Bay
Time: 12:30

We visited The Fire Station Wetherspoon on Friday as part of our community day.

The venue is accessible from the outside with a beer garden area at the front that includes many tables and chairs near the entrance. There is a ramp leading to the main doors which are wide enough for wheelchair access. However, the doors are not automatic, so assistance is needed to open them if they are closed.

Inside, the space is accessible, but it was very busy during our visit. The large number of tables and chairs made it difficult to move around, and we initially struggled to find seating together. Staff were helpful and rearranged tables and chairs so we could sit as a group and manoeuvre more easily around our seating area.

The lighting inside is quite dim and there was no background music. This made the environment feel louder, especially when trying to have conversations.

The staff were very friendly and welcoming, letting us know we could ask for help at any time. Due to how busy it was, those of us using powerchairs asked our support staff to order at the bar, which is quite high. Payment can be made by cash or card.

One member of our group was able to order independently and found the process straightforward. Staff were helpful & friendly, dietary and allergy requirements were asked prior to ordering , payment of cash or card is available and staff offered a receipt at the end of payment.

The food was very reasonably priced, with plenty of deals available rather than a fixed menu. The meals were well presented, arrived within 10–15 minutes, and were served warm. Portion sizes were generous—three of us ordered pizzas, we were quite surprised at how big these were especially being apart of a deal with a drink which offered good value for money.

The accessible toilets were a downside. They are quite small and require a radar key. Once inside, it was difficult to manoeuvre powerchairs, and the lighting was poor.

🌟 Overall we rate The Fire Station:

Accessibility: 5/10

Food & Service: 8/10

We all agreed we would definitely return 😃

24/04/2026

Date: 17/04/26
Restaurant: Lindisfarne – Wallsend
Time: 12.15pm

We visited a local restaurant as a group last Friday, We did ring to prebook as there was quite a few of us from LANE attending on this particular day.

On arrival we found that the entrance to the restaurant is accessible, however the accessible entrance is around back of the building and its not very well signposted, but the staff did let us know when we rang to make a booking how to find the accessible entrance.

The entrance doors weren’t automatic, however the doors were already open and wide enough for our chairs to fit through. The staff were very accommodating, tables and chairs were moved for us to be able to manoeuvre with ease to our table and around the restaurant.

The venue wasn’t busy, and it was really clean throughout. There was music playing in the background at a perfect volume for us to still enjoy conversation.

Once seated, staff come over to take our order, We weren’t asked about dietary/allergy needs however because we rang ahead of time to book, this was discussed with one of our support staff prior. Staff spoke directly to us when taking our orders and not through our support staff.

The menu at the front of the restaurant was a bit hard to read due to the lighting, so it would have been better to have hand held to be able to use once we were all at our tables.

There was no set menu, but there is daily lunch deals on, Friday is 2 fish and chips for £15.00

All the food was reasonably priced between £5.00 - £11.00

The food was hot, very well presented and perfectly portioned. We waited approx. 20-30minutes for our food but we didn’t mind as it was all freshly cooked We all really enjoyed our meals and we will definitely be back.

The staff were very friendly. One staff member in particular “Dan”, was dressed up as a tomato sauce bottle which we all found funny, He came over and had a photo with us and joined us for conversation.

The toilets were accessible inside, no changing places, however LANE is across the road for us and there is a changing places at wallsend library approx. 5 minutes away from the restaurant.

Overall we rate The Lindisfarne:

🌟 Accessibility - 7/10
🌟 Food & Service - 10/10

17/04/2026

Exciting news at Dine-Ability North East 🍽

We were delighted to welcome BBC Radio Newcastle to Lifelong Ability North East, where they came along to meet the lads and learn more about what Dine-Ability is all about.

It was a brilliant opportunity for everyone to share their experiences, talk about the journey so far and showcase the confidence, skills and friendships that have grown throughout.

A huge thank you to BBC Radio Newcastle for taking the time to highlight our work and help spread the word about Dine-Ability North East.

The lads did themselves proud 👏🏻

Tune in to listen below 🎧

BBC News
Lifelong Ability North East - LANE

15/04/2026

Restaurant - Head of Steam (Quayside)
Date - Friday 6th March
Time -11.45

We visted the Head of Steam and found the main entrance to the venue was accessible, although there were no automatic doors. There was also a second entrance further up the street with similar outward-opening doors.

Inside, there was plenty of space to move around comfortably in our wheelchairs. However, the accessible toilet was quite small. The baby changing table did not stay up, which made it difficult to use the space and the tap in this bathroom only provided cold running water.

The staff were extremely friendly and accommodating. They kindly allowed us to enter the restaurant 15 minutes before opening. One staff member, Kate, went above and beyond by trying to find a ramp so we could access the pool table area, which unfortunately had no step-free access. She even went to a nearby bar and restaurant to see if she could borrow one, which we really appreciated.

The lighting was ideal, and we were seated next to a large window that provided plenty of natural light, making it a great spot for people-watching.

There was music playing in the background at a comfortable volume—loud enough to enjoy but quiet enough for conversation.

Ordering was easy, and the counter was at an appropriate height. The menu was clear, with large, easy-to-read text. We ordered chicken gyros and chips as part of a lunchtime deal for £10, which was very good value. The food took around 15–20 minutes to arrive and was freshly cooked, well-presented, and served at the perfect temperature.

Everyone enjoyed their meals 😃

The venue was quiet when we arrived but became busier around 12:30 pm. Despite this, we never felt rushed and found it to be a relaxed environment—somewhere we would happily return to for drinks and to unwind.

Paying was straightforward, with the option to use cash or card at the bar. The venue was also clean and well-maintained throughout.

Overall, we would rate the service 10/10 for its friendliness and attentiveness. Accessibility, however, would be rated 6/10 due to the issues with the toilet and limited access to certain areas.

The Head of Steam Quayside
Lifelong Ability North East - LANE