Suite dreams, an accessible sofa
Last month I discovered my dream lounge suite on Amazon. As I write, I’m laid-up on the sofa typing on my laptop – it’s firm, supportive and comfortable enough to fall asleep on! This particular set is in a navy velvet Chesterfield style by a brand called Bravich. It’s proving resistant to my two tabbies […]
ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL – Aberlady in Scotland
By Erica Crompton My partner Paul, a wheelchair user, and I have just returned from a trip where we spent a day out in Aberlady, on the Scottish coast. We found Craigielaw Golf Course hotel very accessible (we paid £72 for one night for two with a Scottish breakfast included) and it even boasts its […]
ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL – Meals on wheels in Scotland
~with VisitScotland.com By Paul Nicholls and Erica Crompton During a recent luxury stay at the Marine Hotel in North Berwick, Scotland, Paul and I found a wealth of wheelchair-friendly culinary wonders. Whether it’s a cut steak for Paul or neeps and tatties for me, bon bons or oysters to share – this lowland part of […]
Nomad Digital Are Creating a More Accessible Journey for Passengers
NOMAD DIGITAL are a world leading provider of passenger and fleet connectivity solutions and trackside networks. Nomad connects passengers, vehicles and organisations using their own robust and future-proofed solutions. Here they write for HOPEZINE.COM about how they’re making travel more accessible for all… The railway network is important to everyone throughout the UK, but it’s […]
Welcome to winter 2023 Hopezine!
Debt and money troubles can have a huge impact on mental health. And it’s a growing problem. In the UK, people owed a whooping £1,843.8 billion at the end of this summer. This is up by £37.3 billion last year, according to The Money Charity. I hope to address this in this cash-flow special edition […]
ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL – Quinta Do Lago, Portugal
By Paul Nicholls Erica and I returned from a wheelchair accessible winter sun break in the Algarve late last Thursday, booking the cheapest Ryanair flights we could afford to head to Faro (£70 return trip each). We stayed in Quinta Do Lago which we liked as it’s only a 50-years old resort, so all newly […]
Welcome to autumn 2023 Hopezine!
Editor’s letter Welcome to autumn’s Hopezine, an ode tothe animals we take care of.In this special issue, award-winning authorsfrom my publishers Victorina Press, pentheir own vignettes about the pets theylove. I’ve taken to bird twitching. And aProfessor of Psychology tells us all aboutthe benefits of taking care of a pet, forbetter mental health.The cover art […]
Accessible travel at Manchester United
By Paul Nicholls For this issue we visit a very special night of VIP hospitality,The Gallery Restaurant at Manchester United’s stadium,Old Trafford. The accessibility part of our evening was wellplanned by staff ahead of our visit and they arranged afar-reaching corner box for us to watch the game in. We ate allwe could in the […]
Summer Hopezine 2023 made with love with Unlock
With over 12 million people in the UK holding a criminal record, it’s time Hopezine handed over it’s pages to law-abiding citizens who have criminal records. This summer is the specialedition made with members of the charity, Unlock, for people with criminal records. Think it doesn’t apply to you? Tried cannabis in your teens or […]
Blairmore Farm’s accessible Orchard cottage is lush
Tucked at the bottom of a rolling hill and overlooking the Perthshire Scottish countryside, is the Orchard Cottage at Blairmore farm. It’s a delightful, quaint space with the fields dotted with wildlife and farm animals. As Hopezine’s Accessibility Consultant, I reckon this is my favourite spot to stay in Scotland as the self-catering accommodation is […]