Accessibility Guide

1. Welcome 

At Maldron hotel Shandon Cork we are committed to providing the warmest of welcomes to all our guests and visitors. 

This Access Welcome Guide provides information to help you get the most from your stay with us and explore our beautiful South part of Ireland. 

At Maldron hotel Shandon Cork we want all our guests to feel like at home and enjoy every minute of their stay. We take the greatest care to ensure that every aspect of your visit is memorable and enjoyable: whether it is sampling the delicious food in our bar or restaurant, relaxing in our leisure centre or exploring the city. 

Our dedicated team have the friendly approach and customer focused not only to meet but to exceed your expectations. We are committed to ensuring that we are accessible for a wide range of visitors and have put this Access Welcome Guide together to help you plan a stay which meets your individual needs. 

We hope that this Access Welcome Guide gives you the information that you need to plan your stay. If we have not covered your access needs in this document, please contact us on 353 (0) 21 4529200 or email us at: reservations.shandon@maldronhotels.com so that we can discuss your requirements. We would be delighted to offer our assistance wherever we can. 

We look forward meeting you and offering you the warmest of Maldron Shandon welcomes! 

Joe Kennedy 

Hotel General Manager

2. Contact Information 

To speak to a member of our friendly team, please get in touch with us via telephone or email and we will be happy to help. 

Contact us by telephone on: +353 (0) 21 4529200 

Contact us by email on: reservations.shandon@maldronhotels.com 

3. Getting Here 

By car: 

• If you are arriving by car using a Sat Nav, our Eircode is T23 A9TF
• Maldron Shandon Cork hotel has its own small private car park with two accessible parking spaces. 

By train: 

• The nearest railway station to the hotel is Cork Kent station which is 1.6 kilometres away
• All trains serving the station offer ramped access for wheelchair users.
• Passenger assistance must be booked in advance for railway journeys with ‘’Irish rail’’.
• Travellers who need this service are advised to contact +353(0)1 5756110 to book.

By Bus: 

• From (Cork city centre) bus station, the number 202 bus serves the hotel, dropping visitors at the bus stop opposite the hotel on the main road. All buses on this route offer level access for wheelchair users
• If you require assistance with luggage on arrival, please call us on +353 (0) 21 4529200 and a team member will meet you at the bottom of the drive to help you with your luggage.

By Taxi: 

• The taxi ranks are directly outside the stations and most of the taxis serving the stations are wheelchair accessible. There are also several local taxi companies, all of which have wheelchair accessible vehicles. These are:
• Lee cabs.
  • Email: office@leecabs.com
  • Tel: +353 (0) 21 439 39 77
• Satellite Taxis.
  • Email: bookings@satellitetaxis.ie
  • Tel: +353 (0) 21 480 80 80
• Cork Taxi Co-op.
  • Email: booking@corktaxi.ie
  • Tel: +353 (0) 21 427 22 22 

Nearest airport: 

The nearest airport to the hotel is Cork Airport, which is 8.5 km from the hotel. 

Ferry port: 

The nearest Ferry Port is at Rosslare 

4. Entrance & Reception 

Designated accessible parking 

Designated accessible parking bays are available within 3 metres of the main entrance. 

Step-free route with firm surface from car park to entrance 

There is a step-free route with a firm surface from the parking to the main entrance

5. Lift Access

There are lift(s) available to the bedrooms. An evacuation chair is available in case of an emergency.

6. Accessible Public Toilets

Wheelchair - accessible toilet in public areas 

A designated accessible toilet designed for wheelchair users, and others with visible and non-visible accessibility requirements, is available off the reception area. This has minimum: 

• Step -free access
• A manoeuvring space of 1130mm x 1300mm
• An outward opening door with a minimum width of 850mm
• A transfer space on at least one side of the toilet with a drop-down grab rail on the transfer side. Horizontal grab rail positioned on the wall adjacent to the toilet
• An emergency assistance alarm within reach from the floor.

7. Accessible Bedroom

Fridge in the bedroom 

A fridge is available on request in all bedrooms in which food, drinks or medication can be stored. 

Wheelchair - accessible bedroom 

There are two wheelchair-accessible bedrooms to accommodate wheelchair users and others with mobility impairments These have as minimum: 

• Step -free access
• An internal manoeuvring space of 1450mm x 2180mm
• A door with a minimum width of 750mm
• Emergency assistance alarm The bed height is 700 mm.
• The space underneath the bed (from floor to base) is 50mm.

Twin or double bed options in wheelchair-accessible bedroom 

All our wheelchair-accessible bedrooms can be made as twin bed configuration or as double bed. Please state your preference when booking

Wheelchair-accessible bedroom with an adjoining bedroom 

There is one wheelchair-accessible bedroom with one double bed and one single bed, but can be made to three single beds configuration, which has an adjoining family bedroom with one double and two single beds if required.

Furniture rearranged in bedrooms on request 

To create additional space, furniture can be rearranged on request. Please contact our friendly reception team to arrange.

8. Accessible Bathrooms/En-Suites

Standard bedroom(s) with an ensuite with a shower unit or level entry shower 

There are two standard bedrooms with a separate shower unit instead of a shower over a bath. 

Wheelchair - accessible bathroom with roll-in shower 

There are three wheelchair-accessible bedrooms with wheelchair-accessible bathrooms and they are with a level floor, including a roll-in shower. 

These have as minimum: 

• Step -free access
• An internal manoeuvring space of 2000mm x 2000mm
• A door with a minimum width of 820mm  
• Roll-in shower with no obstacles
• A transfer space on at least one side of the toilet
• Grab rails by the toilet, shower
• Emergency assistance alarm 

Free standing shower chair 

A free-standing shower chair is available if required. Please contact main hotel reception to arrange it. 

Fixed shower seat 

There is a fixed shower seat in each of the three bathrooms with a roll-in shower.

9. Dining & Social Spaces

Step-free access to all areas 

There is step-free access from hotel entrance to the following areas: 

• Reception area
• Restaurant
• Bar
• Meeting rooms
• Leisure facilities (moderate slope)
• Accessible public bathrrom

Quieter table 

A table located in the quieter area is available, where noise is minimised

Tables service as standard or on request 

Table service is available as standard on lunch and dinner service. Breakfast is served as self-service buffet; table service is available on request.

Dietary requirements catered for 

We offer a selection of food for the following dietary requirements: 

• Gluten free
• Lactose free
• Vegan/Vegetarian 

Please discuss with serving staff who can assist you during your visit, or telephone in advance to discuss your requirements

Large-print information on-site 

We have the following information in large print: • An Accessibility Guide for the hotel • Menus If you would like us to send any of the above to you in advance of your visit, please let us know using contact details provided.

10. Assistance Dogs

Facilities for assistance dogs 

Facilities are available for assistance dogs. There are water bowls and poop bags available on request at main hotel reception.

11. Safety & Staff Training

Assistance available 24 hours 

There is 24 -hour guest assistance available

Disability awareness or equality training 

Disability awareness or equality training is provided for staff on a regular basis.

Free familiarisation visits 

Free familiarisation visits are available. You are welcome to arrange a visit ahead of booking or visiting to familiarise yourself or others with the venue at no additional cost. Please get in touch using the contact details in above page to arrange this

Emergency alarm with vibrating pillow pad 

There is a vibrating pad alarm to alert deaf & hard of hearing guests in an emergency. Please contact our main hotel reception to avail this

Sensory equipment 

Sensory equipment is available on request at main hotel reception and includes: Fibre Optic lights, Bath Salts, Push Pockets, Worry stones, Humidifier, Weighted blanket

Wheelchair loan 

Please see below links to various wheelchair suppliers: 

https://www.oflynnmedical.com ; 

https://www.mobilitydirect.ie/contact-us.html ; 

https://www.themobilityshop.ie/contact-us.html ; 

https://www.mobilityhire.ie/product-category/wheelchair-rental/ 

Wheelchair or scooter charging point 

There is a wheelchair or scooter charging point available in the main hotel lobby. Please ask one of our staff members for assistance if you would like to charge your wheelchair or scooter during your stay.

Emergency and medical information 

• The nearest hospital Emergency Department to the hotel is in Mercy University hospital, 1 kilometre away from the hotel. The contact number for the Mercy hospital is 021 4271971.
• The nearest GP Surgery is ‘’Medi group’’ 450metres away. The contact number for the surgery is 021 4305544.
• The nearest pharmacy is Deasy's Life Pharmacy, 99 Shandon St, Cork, T23 D3CN. The contact number of the pharmacy is 0214304535.
• If you require oxygen whilst on holiday, seek Health Service Executive (HSE) advice and talk to your oxygen supplier to ask if they can deliver to the hotel. Guests have previously had oxygen successfully delivered

12. Sensory Story

Our Sensory Story is also designed to help you familiarise yourself with our venue before your visit and may be particularly helpful for autistic visitors and others.

Maldron Hotel Shandon Cork is located on North side of Cork, just 10 minutes’ walk away from city centre and 5 min walk to Cork Opera house. Hotel has 101 bedrooms, 3 of them are fully accessible. By hotel entrance are two disabled car park spaces, just 3 metres from the hotel front door.

Hotel Staff: 

I will meet Hotel Staff during my visit. 

The Hotel Staff can answer questions I have about the Hotel facilities, surrounding areas and they are here to help me. 

If I am overwhelmed and need to go to the quiet space, I can ask one of the Hotel Staff to bring me there. 

All hotel Staff wear uniforms and name badges. 

Managers, housekeeping and Food and Beverage staff also wear lanyards.

Signs 

I see many different signs in the Hotel; I can ask the Hotel Staff if I do not understand a sign. 

These signs give me information about directions.

I arrive First sight of the hotel. 

I enter hotel into the hotel lobby and reception area. 

Receptionist will welcome and check me in. 

All the information about the hotel will be explained to me. 

 If I need any assistance to get to the room, somebody will assist me. 

If I need to use public bathrooms, they are around the corner from the main lift.

I will see two elevators. 

There are five floors in the hotel.

I go to Leisure Centre ‘’Club Vitae’’. 

Leisure Centre opening times are: Monday to Friday – 6.30am to 9pm Saturday – 8am to 7pm Sunday and Bank holiday – 9am to 7pm. 

Children can use leisure centre from 9am to 7pm. 

Last entry is 30 minutes prior to closing and all activity areas will close 15 minutes prior to closing time. 

Reception of the leisure centre located on Ground floor. 

There I will get the towels and access code for the changing rooms and gym. 

If I’m using swimming pool, I will have to have swimming cap. 

I can buy swimming cap at the leisure centre reception. It will cost €3.00.

I go for lunch and dinner to the hotel bar. I can ask to be seated at quite place, if I wish.

For breakfast I go to the Grain & Grill Restaurant. There is the breakfast buffet.

I could be seated in one of the three restaurant areas