The last time I posted here was in 2014, ten years ago. My friend encouraged me to continue inspite of the gap – the previous restaurant does not even exist now. Reading Jay Rayner’s article in the Guardian where he spoke to Jamie Hale about the impossibility of finding out the accessibility of restaurants also made me realise blogging about the restaurants I go to as a wheelchair user would be useful for other wheelchair users.

So I start with Haidilao at the 02 Arena. I went there for my Sunday lunch with family and friends yesterday. You go there for hotpot, the Chinese hotpot (also known as Steamboat in Malaysia and Singapore), not a Lancashire hotpot. This is for communal eating, you sit at a table where there is a boiling pot of broth, which can be divided into a spicy and a non spicy variation. There should be an abundance of raw meat, seafood, tofu and vegetables where you dip into the broth to cook and fish out when you think they are done to eat. You should also have an array of dipping sauces. It is good fun as well as a culinary experience for those who have never been. And you care for each other to help them get the right morsels. You are the chef and the duty of the restaurant is to provide you with the freshest ingredients. It is healthy. The menu comes on an ipad and you must not forget to order after you have chosen – like I did and wonder why no food was coming! An important attraction for me is that they have free desserts at the end (hot and cold)!

Due to the popularity of hotpots, there are many now in London. Haidilao is an international chain with many branches. Why do I go back to this particular one? It has good service, the staff is unfailingly helpful and cheerful. When we were two disabled women on our own, they brought us everything we needed. It is accessible for wheelchair users. Yesterday, the noise was a bit loud but the place was full with families and kids. Oh, its child friendly. There is a nice accessible loo but also the 02 Changing Places toilet is close by.

They told me yesterday that they have room for a bigger crowd of wheelchair users if I need and even for karaoke (not tried). I want restaurants where I can bring more than one wheelchair user friend!

to book a table
address: The O2, London SE10 0DX

I was asked to add additional images of accessible facilities.