Camden launches accessibility pledge to make licensed venues more inclusive
Camden Council is encouraging pubs, bars, clubs, live music venues and other licensed businesses to sign up to its Accessibility Pledge, helping to make the borough’s vibrant hospitality and entertainment scene more welcoming for everyone.
Launched on Tuesday 20 October, the Camden Accessibility Pledge supports venues to improve access and inclusion for deaf and disabled people and others with access needs.
The pledge encourages venues to review physical access, improve staff awareness and provide clear online information about their facilities, helping customers plan their visits with confidence.
This could include reviewing entrances and toilets, training staff to support disabled customers and making information about available access arrangements easier to find.
While businesses have legal responsibilities to make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010, Camden is encouraging venues to go further and take practical steps to create more inclusive customer experiences.
Participating venues will receive guidance, complete an accessibility checklist, and be visited by council officers. Assessments will recognise that premises vary in size, layout and building type. Venues meeting the pledge’s requirements will be recognised on the Council’s website and receive a digital badge and physical sticker to display.
Camden is known for its exciting nightlife, historic pubs and vibrant entertainment venues – and we want to make sure everyone can access and enjoy this. While many venues go above and beyond to be accessible to all, we continue to hear from residents that spaces across the borough could do more to help break down barriers for disabled people, or those with access needs, and make everyone feel welcome.
Through this pledge, we’re supporting venues who wish to achieve this and recognising those who fulfil this commitment.
Developed in partnership with inclusion charity ‘Attitude is Everything’, the pledge draws on best-practice accessibility standards from its Live Events Access Charter.
Licensed businesses can find out more and sign up through the Camden Accessibility Pledge webpage.
Further information
The pledge is voluntary. It does not form part of Camden’s Statement of Licensing Policy, create additional licensing requirements, or replace duties under the Equality Act 2010. Participation will not be taken into account when determining licence applications, variations, reviews or enforcement decisions.