Chelmsford City Racecourse

I've now been to Chelmsford City Racecourse three times. Once years ago when it was Great Leigh's and you had to walk across the racetrack (not very disabled friendly) and twice recently since its been Chelmsford City Racecourse.

I must say that access is really good apart from one area I noticed yesterday which was a bit frustrating but it wasn't a big issue.

On arrival you can show your disabled parking badge to the car park attendants/security and you are allowed in the car park area by the entrance. Spaces aren't marked out so I'd suggest that where possible to park with the disabled occupants car door next to a parked car so you can have a wide enough gap. The car park is not really concrete, it's a bit mud like so when wet be aware of muddy puddles (I misjudged and parked right next to one)

Due to distances, crowds and seating I went with my scooter. On my first visit a lovely gentleman walked us from the car to get our tickets and then opened the doors for us. On our second visit we knew what we were doing and just went about our business. 

It is a bit of a steep and long way to the main area, you go down a ramped path, under the racecourse (through a tunnel) and up another ramped pathway. If I was walking I'd find it a bit tiring I think. I did see some golf buggy vehicles so I'm not sure if needed you could ask to be taken on one of these. It may be best to ask ahead of going to check.

When you get to the racecourse you get to an area with picnic tables, food and drink stalls and the parade ring. When I went in August 2016 there were wires going across the main route in covered by a plastic bump thing which was a bit tricky to cross with my scooter, but the second time they had left a gap and covered with with a rubber mat which was much better (I didn't raise this, but a staff member was looking the first time I went and pre warned me and asked if I could manage it, so maybe they raised it. You can go inside the main building where the toilets, bar, restaurants and viewing areas are, this is a raised area but accessible via three (possibly 4) ramps at different points around the building. The main doors at the middle of the building are automatic which is helpful.

The toilets I visited, behind the sports bar, were clean and nicely sized. When I used it yesterday the first time it did have the cleaners mop and bucket but this didn't get in my way and was gone the next time I used it. The disabled toilet door opens onto the male and female doors so you do get some impatient people who still try and get passed while you're reversing out. There is also a disabled toilet by the ticket office but I didn't use that so I can't comment on its accessibility.

The viewing area I went to was outside the automatic double doors right by the finishing line. I've read there is a disabled viewing area but I'm not sure where this is but I was happy where I went. We mostly stayed outside in this area while the races were on and by positioning myself against the railings at the end by the stairs I could easily see the screen and finishing line. There are steps so you can go in front and nearer to the course if you like (about 2 metres closer) if you can manage steps (there are railings to hold onto and the steps during look too steep.)

The only access issue I had was yesterday during the countryside day. They had a craft fair in the marquee and during a gap in the racing my Mother-In-Law asked if we wanted to go and take a look. As we got near I noticed people stepping over a threshold to get in and realised there was no level entrance in and I would have struggled to step over it if I got out my scooter and walked. It didn't look brilliant anyway so I said I'd wait outside. When my mother in law came out she said I hadn't missed much (they were in there seconds)

Regarding placing bets, I did mine on my phone online with Ladbrokes while Lee used another app as I found it easier to select my horses in advance and I didn't have to worry about queuing to get winnings etc (or pronounce some of the horses names!) but my Father in Law places their bets in the inside area and found it easy enough, but the desks were a little too high for wheelchair users, however there are other betting areas outside without desks.

My horse picking method (which won me £46 in total in August and £18 in September) is to pick a Disney sounding horse, one related to a song I like, or one that sounds Irish (my Nan's method).

This is probably the last time I'll go to the racecourse this year as most of the races are now in the evening and it's getting cooler and I struggle with achy legs and feeling the cold so I'll probably wait until Spring/Summer next year.

It's a great day out and really accessible I found, and the staff are really helpful and friendly. 

Friends Fest - Hylands House / Park

Although Friends Fest at Hylands Park is now over, I thought I'd post my review in case they hold it again as there wasn't much information on the festival online, even for disabled guests.

I hadn't heard about Friend Fest this year until the first even was held in London and when I went to see if any tickets were available they were all sold out, so I signed up for info on future dates. A few days later I got an email to say more dates had been released so I booked a disabled and cared ticket for Hylands House on 10th September 2016. 

I've been to Hylands House itself before for work but not to the other side where the event was being held. 

On arrival I advised I was a blue badge holder and ideally needed hard flooring to get out rather than grass and was passed to someone else who advised me where the disabled parking was. I couldn't find it so just parked in the main car park which was stoney but ok (only after did I see the paved disabled spaces in the area next door! Whoops)

I'm glad I had my scooter as it was quite a distance from the car park to the festival and the staff saw me bumping over the uneven ground and said that on the way back Lee could drive up to the festival exit to collect me, but unfortunately he can't drive but I said I enjoyed the bumpiness. 

When we got in we got a time to visit Monica's apartment. This was the only bit you needed a time for. Everything had queues so we sat and waited for our time slot, got an ice cream, watched Friends clips onstage and Lee visited the gift shop, while I sat outside. The gift shop had a ramp but it was so small inside I had no turning space so I just sat outside looking in.

After waiting for our time slot we went to Monica's apartment tour. Due to the steep ramp to get in, we were advised to go to the guest entrance at our time rather than going in the main queue, this really helped. It would have been difficult to get up if I was walking (bit hairy on the scooter)

The first section was recreating the titles. As the sofa is low and Lee and I aren't hugely into random posing we decided to skip this, we went really to look at things rather than take photos of ourselves.

We then had to queue for the apartment which was sooooo hot with studio lights. The queue snaked and as it was so small I thought it best to park up and get out to walk. While standing in queue I noticed the tour round the apartment went sofa, balcony window, kitchen, door. The balcony bit involved getting up a step so we skipped that whole area and went straight to the kitchen as again I couldn't sit on the sofa easily. This is where it was a bit hard to get round as everyone chucked (really chucked) their bags on the floor so I couldn't get round (impossible in a wheelchair!) and people even chucked bags down as I was walking round in my way. Luckily the lovely staff member saw and moved the bags for me. Major health and safety issue due to people wanting photos without their bags....

We had photos in the tiny kitchen area and front door then went through to the smaller recreation of Joey and Chandlers to area. We didn't spend much time here as you were in the way of people posing in the chairs and canoe. It was hard on this tour to actually look at things, it was selfie central! Some people were asking staff to do photos on their phone/camera and then snapchat. 

We went to get some food next as I felt a bit lightheaded from the heat inside. We went to the Moonlight Diner and had a hotdog, pulled pork burger, chips and coke which came to £17! The theming of the diner was good and they had two characters dressed up and in character.

Next we went to the Chick and Duck bar and Lee got 'How you doin?' which was coconut rum, pineapple juice and chocolate bitters. £7.50 for a tiny drink but theming of the drinks were good and it came with an umbrella. 

It was really windy and starting to rain. My hair started off with mermaid waves and ended up like Monica when she had to plait her hair! Full on frizz.

We were going to go into Central Perk but the queue was at least an hour, and had a step to access it so knew we'd have to find someone to ask how to get in via the ramp too. It was about to pour with rain so we decided to leave and miss Central Perk. It was so tight in there too and again I wouldn't be able to get on the sofa.

Overall it was ok but was more geared towards people to wanted photos of themselves on set rather than being able to look round. I'm glad disabled tickets and carer tickets were half priced as due to a lot of photo opportunities being sat down, I couldn't participate in most of the photo opportunities. 

It felt very disorganised and I'm not sure why there were timeslots for Monica's apartment as they were running late anyway and then had huge queues for other things. It would have been better to have had a timeslot and all the sets in one line but I guess once you're in your a captive audience who will stop for food in between queuing. 

I wouldn't go again if they held another one and I'm not sure I'd recommend it. Having been to the Harry Potter tour I thought it may be similar but it really wasn't. 

The staff were brilliant though and I couldn't fault them.