Accessible Hotel in St Andrews

A hotel for everyone

Meeting every need

At Rufflets St Andrews, we aim to ensure that all our guests enjoy comfortable facilities and are made to feel welcome. We aim to ensure that all guests, employees, and others who use, or assist in, the provision of our services are treated equally and according to their needs.

We have developed this access statement not only to address some of the more common issues that disabled people face but it is intended to provide practical additional information for all guests who wish to stay at the hotel or use its facilities.

Just let us know

We request that, when making an enquiry or booking, customers inform us of any special needs or disabilities that they may have in order for us to meet any personal requirements.

Rufflets is 5 minutes by car to the town of St Andrews. We have 23 en-suite bedrooms – 13 on the first floor and 6 on the second floor all accessed by stairs. We also have 2 bedrooms on the ground floor level in Gatehouse as well as 2 rooms in Rufflets Lodge with adjacent parking.

The public rooms, the Dining Room, Library and Drawing Room are all on the Ground Floor. The bar is on the ground floor and has 2 steps down to access.

Pre-Arrival

You can contact us via telephone, fax, email or post

The Hotel has a website describing our services and terms and an illustrated brochure

The Hotel is situated to the west of the town of St Andrews

There is no village shop or pub – the closest is in St Andrews (about 2miles)

The nearest pharmacy and doctor’s surgery is in St Andrews (about 2miles)

Due to our remote location there is limited public transport – a car is the most practical transport

The nearest train station is at Leuchars (about 7 miles)

Stagecoach buses Edinburgh, Glasgow and other locations stop in St Andrews (about 2 miles)

There is no bus stop at the property however buses passing on route to St Andrews will stop

There are a number of local taxi companies and we are happy to provide details on request

There are directions to find us detailed on our website.

Arrival & Car Parking Facilities

The tarmac drive slopes gently down to the private car park which is free of charge to guests

Parking spaces are marked with white marker lines

The car park surface is flat and has a tarmac surface. It is lit at night and there are security lights

We have onsite disabled parking bays and designated drop off area at front entrance and both Rufflets Lodge and The Gatehouse have designated parking.

The front entrance has no steps. The front door can be opened wide enough to facilitate wheelchair entry to the building.

We offer assistance with luggage if required

Main Entrance & Reception

Reception is open between 08.00hrs and 18.00 hrs

Out with these hours our Guest Services Team and a Night Porter is available

The front and back doors both lead to Reception, Library, Drawing Room and Dining Room, all of which are on the ground floor

The floor is level and carpeted or tiled throughout

The Reception desk is 1m high. There is seating adjacent to the Reception desk so check in can be carried out seated if required

Public Areas

Our corridors are well lit and carpeted

The Restaurant and lounges are accessible on one level and also carpeted

We do not have a lift to the first/second floor

There are public male and female WC’S on the ground floor with no steps and a large cubicle with grab rails

The fire alarm system is sonic and does not have flashing lights

Assistance will be given if evacuation is necessary

The Gardens are accessible via the West Orchard

Dining Room, Library, & Drawing Room

All bar drinks are served in the public rooms with full waiter service

Movable seating throughout

Most dining chairs are without arms although chairs with arms are available

There is low background music in the Restaurant and Bar areas

Full waiter service

The Drawing Room is made up of comfortable armchairs and sofas with low level, small coffee tables

There are 2 steps down to the bar however waiter service is in operation

Bedrooms

13 Bedrooms on the first floor accessible only by stairs

6 Bedrooms on the second floor accessible only by stairs

2 Bedrooms on the ground floor in The Gatehouse

2 Bedrooms on the ground floor in Rufflets Lodge

Our Gatehouse was fully redesigned and refurbished in 2017 to provide up-to-date, high quality facilities for guests who require more accessible accommodation. The Gatehouse offers ramped-access and automatic door opening and closing systems. Room 1, which is a Suite, has a well-appointed sitting room (with sofa-bed option) and a king-sized twin / double bedroom. The bathroom has a ‘wet room’ shower, a double-ended bath as well as the addition of grab rails in necessary places. The Suite also offers easy access to and from the designated car-park via a French door leading directly into the bedroom. Room 2 is also at ground floor level for simple access, and offers a larger floor space in the bedroom, and a bathroom with a low-profile shower.

All rooms are varied in their makeup of Baths and/or Showers

Bedrooms

The Garden Suite in on ground level and has both stairs and a ramp for access

The Garden Suite has automatic door at exterior entrance

Internal double doors from long gallery into main function suite

Male and Female WC on ground level

Separate Disabled WC on ground level

Flat external access to exterior terrace from main suite

Additional Notes:

We are committed to providing an exceptional level of customer service. Whilst the physical limitations of the existing building may impose some constraints on what the Hotel is able to do, we fully intend to comply with current regulations and good practice. Unfortunately the nature of the building means it is impossible to make access to upper floor bedrooms accessible without stairs.
If you require any further information relating to accessibility of the Hotel, please do not hesitate to contact us by phone, on: 01334 472594 or email: reservations@rufflets.co.uk or of course in person and we will do our best to help. We look forward to welcoming you.