Do you know that if your restaurant is not accessible, you might lose about 25% of potential customers? Not only that, you can also say goodbye to those clients who accompany such consumers. In addition, an inaccessible eatery does not enjoy a good reputation in the eyes of clientele.
On the other hand, a disability-friendly restaurant can attract more customers and generate more revenue. The main question is how can your eatery be more accessible. First of all, begin by developing a restaurant concept that revolves around accommodating disabled individuals.
Secondly, make sure that your menu is also accessible so that people can feasibly read the texts. Are you eager to learn more? Keep reading the article, as it will shed light on how you can make your restaurant accessible.
Top 6 Ways to Make Your Restaurant More Accessible
In today’s world, offering an inclusive dining experience is not just a choice for eateries. Rather it has become a necessity. If you want to achieve a better brand image, you must ensure that your establishment is accessible. For this, you need to consider dietary restrictions, incorporate different seating arrangements, and focus on spacing. Let’s explore the top six ways to make your restaurant more accessible:
1. Develop a Relevant Restaurant Concept
The restaurant concept is a detailed plan that determines your eatery’s theme, operation, spacing, and everything else. Remember, it lays the foundation for your restaurant. For this reason, you must start working on accessibility right from the time of developing the concept.
Be clear about how would you provide the relevant seating arrangement, make spacing more efficient, and design an accessible menu. Also, mention the mode of mobility, accessible restrooms, and proper ambiance. Without the required expertise, you might not be able to create such a comprehensive plan. Entrepreneurs contact a reliable F&B consultant in UAE to achieve the milestone.
2. Offer Accessible Menu
Menu design is the most important thing when it comes to providing accessibility. Keep in mind that not all of your customers will be able to go through a conventional menu. Some might have vision impairments, making it challenging for them to see items and read names.
So, how can your menu meet accessibility requirements? The first thing that you should consider is to choose contrasting colors to make the text more legible. Use accessible font styles like Tahoma or Times New Roman. Write clear and uncomplicated descriptions before each meal.
3. Accommodate Dietary Restrictions
Dietary restrictions are a set of rules that some people follow while selecting dining options. The prime reasons behind these restrictions can either be a medical condition or personal choices. Whatever the cause is, you must be vigilant to accommodate different kinds of dietary restrictions.
It is another way to make your restaurant more accessible. Medical dietary restrictions usually include lactose intolerance, gluten sensitivity, and allergies to particular components. Examples of self-imposed restrictions are vegetarianism and veganism. Include dishes in your menu that cater to these preferences.
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4. Provide Seating Options
Seating arrangements have a great say in ensuring accessibility in your establishment. A suitable arrangement makes your restaurant more disability-friendly. This aspect of your restaurant usually affects wheelchair users. Remember, the structure of a wheelchair might be different than that of normal chairs.
Most wheelchairs are usually significantly low to the ground. Individuals sitting on these chairs might not be able to reach the traditional tables used in eateries. That is why make sure that you have different types of tables with varying heights. Incorporating adjustable tables and chairs is another option.
5. Focus on Spacing
Spacing is another critical factor that requires your attention while making your establishment accessible. Everything from parking to exterior, doorways, and interior must be adjusted accordingly. Consider the following instructions while deciding on the spacing of your eatery:
- Proper parking for disabled patrons
- Incorporate ramp and slopes on entry
- Use wider doors for wheelchair users
- Ensure enough space between two tables
- Separate restrooms for individuals with disabilities
You can also make the same restroom accessible to all. For this, emphasize ample space, grab balls, signage, and low sinks. Do never place furniture too close because it can make movement difficult for wheelchair users.
6. Consult an F&B Consultant
Achieving a perfectly accessible eatery is a hard nut to crack. After reading the above guidelines, you must have gotten the basic idea. But, is it possible for you to implement all these tips without proper skills? Unfortunately, it might not be. This is where an F&B consultant comes to your aid.
These are highly knowledgeable and skilled professionals with years of experience in the industry. They have the right skills to devise and implement a disability-friendly restaurant concept. However, you must acquire help from a trustworthy and reputable person. You can reach out to an esteemed F&B consultant at https://finisya.com/ to ensure your restaurant is accessible.
Read also: Opening a Themed Restaurant: Everything You Should Know
Make Your Eatery Accessible Now
Accessibility is no longer a choice, it is a must-have factor for restaurants. You can turn yours into an accessible establishment by designing a relevant menu, accommodating dietary requirements, and providing suitable seating arrangements. Contact a restaurant consulting firm now to make your eatery accessible.