Posted: 17th November 2023 | Back to news feed
The Home of British Horseracing is soon to be an Accessible Destination for all
Following Purple Tuesday this week (a day dedicated to promoting accessibility and inclusivity for disabled consumers), Discover Newmarket has announced a host of new measures that the home of British horseracing is introducing to become more inclusive and accessible. Among the ways in which they are striving to remove barriers for this sector of society, thanks to funding from the Suffolk Growth Partnership, is through: the creation of Access Guides for more than 20 local tourism businesses; and the production of a new information video about Newmarket as an Accessible Destination. Presented by Mik Scarlet, the well-known broadcaster and access and inclusion expert, the video will be previewed on 16 November at the launch of ‘Accessible Destination Suffolk’ in Ipswich.
In addition, Discover Newmarket is actively improving upon its existing facilities for disabled customers, as well as applying best practice on how to welcome visitors with accessibility issues, by:
- Designing a new streetscape guide that will show an accessible route between, for example, the station and car parks and other points of interest around the town; and
- Providing all members of Discover Newmarket with free e-training about responding to accessibility enquiries, both those front of house staff and the owners themselves.
Many hundreds of thousands of visitors are drawn to Newmarket annually which to this day remains the largest racehorse training centre in Britain and the undisputed 'Headquarters' of flat racing. It is also home to the world-famous Jockey Club, whose rooms are the epitome of Georgian elegance, and the fascinating National Horseracing Museum, and offers an amazing selection of exciting tours and unique experiences that create lasting memories.
Commenting, Tracey Harding, Tourism Manager of Discover Newmarket, said, “We’re working hard to make Newmarket a more inclusive and accessible place – we want everyone to have a fantastic time here. One in five of us in Britain has a disability or impairment, whether visible or invisible, that might affect our mobility, hearing, or sight, or our physical or mental health. So it seems only right to turn the whole of this week ‘Purple’. We are determined to ensure easy access to reliable information for disabled consumers and their families, as well as the necessary technical aids, and adapted environments, spaces and routes for all, ensuring that Newmarket offers a fantastic experience for every visitor.”
The historic town has also been working closely with Suffolk County Council and the national accessibility website AccessAble so that visitors can find plenty of helpful information about accessibility ahead of arrival in Newmarket. It might be concerning suitable local accommodation, places to eat and drink, the location of a Changing Places toilet or a free Shopmobility service, or accessibility details about public transport and car parks. Newmarket will also feature in accessibility itineraries being developed for visitors wishing to explore Suffolk more widely.
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