Accessibility Guide
SnowDome makes every effort to ensure that the venue is accessible to everyone. This guide will help you to understand how the SnowDome caters for those with specific needs and what activities are best suited for guests.
Bookings & Carers
The website provides a wide range of information for guests to plan their visit.
If you have any further enquires you can get in touch via live chat, send an email to guestservices@snowdome.co.uk or call 03448 000011.
Guests who have the following documentation are entitled to one free carer ticket. However, the guest with the disability and any further members of their party will pay full price. Please show the relevant paperwork at main reception when you collect your ticket.
- Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance award letter (dated within the last 2 years)
- Personal Independence Payment letter (dated within the last 2 years)
- Letter from GP or consultant (dated within the last 2 years) confirming the need for a full-time carer
Unfortunately, we will not be able to issue carers tickets without seeing the above documentation.
Carers spaces must be booked over the phone. Pre-booking of all activities is strongly recommended to avoid disappointment.
Car Park
There’s a number of spaces available on a first come, first served basis for those who have a blue badge identifying a mobility issue. The owners of the blue badge will need to be present in the vehicle when parking.
The disabled parking bays can be reached by turning left after entering the car park. The bays are located after passing by the hotel. The main entrance to the SnowDome is a short walk around the swimming pool. By parking here guests will be on the same level as the front doors and will avoid the steps.
Internal Access
The venue is built on three levels with lift access to all locations. Staff are available to assist in directing guests to the correct lifts to get to their activities.
All indoor areas are no smoking and no vaping. There are ash bins located outside the main entrance.
Throughout the building there is a variety of different flooring, including carpet, non-slip hard surfaces and of course snow and ice.
Toilets & changing
There are 8 toilet facilities around the building, all of which include disabled-access toilets and baby changing, apart from the ski hire changing areas. The nearest disabled toilets from this location include a changing bed and are signposted from ski hire.
Restaurants & cafés
The main restaurant at the venue is Aspen's Bar & Kitchen, offering a casual dining experience featuring campfire starters, bearhug burgers, snowboard pizzas and all the Alpine favourites. A full menu (which includes information on allergens and free from foods) for Aspen's Bar & Kitchen can be found here. There is also The Lifthouse Coffee Co on-site which serves hot drinks and lighter snack options. Both food and drink locations are based on the ground floor.
Guests can reserve tables for their visit in Aspen's Bar & Kitchen. Tables are also available for walk-in guests on a first come, first served basis.
Activities
The SnowDome is the ultimate snow, ice and leisure experience. Home to tonnes of snow to enjoy... every day of the week, all year round.
Skiing & snowboarding
Skiing & snowboarding are both active sports and are enjoyed by thousands of people every year. To learn to ski or snowboard through the SnowDome lessons scheme, guests must be able to stand unaided.
The SnowDome works closely with DSUK (Disability Snowsport UK), who are based at the venue and teach guests with specific needs to ski. Specially adapted equipment, which can be used to aid both stand up and sit down skiers, is provided by DSUK, along with specialist instructors.
For more information on learning to ski with DSUK at the SnowDome please call 08455 219338 or visit the DSUK website.
The SnowDome also works with Snowbility, who teach people with additional needs and mental health challenges to ski & snowboard. Find out more on their website.
Quiet times include:
- Weekdays during term time
- Weekends during June and September
Most popular times include:
- School holidays
- Christmas holidays
- February half term
Please note these are guideline times in which the venue will be at its most or least busy, these may be subject to change depending on volume and varying school holidays.
Ice skating
Ice skating at the SnowDome includes the main rink and the UK’s only ice track. Skating aids are available to hire at an additional cost and can be purchased online or over the phone, pre-booking skating aids is highly recommended.
Wheelchairs are allowed on the ice and there is a lift to access the area.
There are flashing lights and music playing during ice skating sessions.
Quiet times include:
- Weekdays during term time
- Weekends during June and September
Most popular times include:
- School holidays
- Christmas holidays
- February half term
Please note these are guideline times in which the venue will be at its most or least busy, these may be subject to change depending on volume and varying school holidays.
Snow Fun Park
Snow Fun Park is a dedicated real snow area with a playhouse and a giant snow slide.
There are flashing lights and music playing during snow fun park sessions.
Quiet times include:
- Weekdays during term time
- Weekends during June and September
Most popular times include:
- Christmas holidays
- February half term
Please note these are guideline times in which the venue will be at its most or least busy, these may be subject to change depending on volume and varying school holidays.
Climbing
SnowDome Climb features 15 different climb lines across both 6 and 10 metre climbing walls, children and adults of all ages can reach giddy new heights in a safe and fun environment. To take part in SnowDome Climb guests must be able to stand up and get into a harness unaided.
There is music playing during climbing sessions.
Quiet times include:
- Weekdays during term time
- Weekends during June and September
Most popular times include:
- Christmas holidays
- February half term
Please note these are guideline times in which the venue will be at its most or least busy, these may be subject to change depending on volume and varying school holidays.
Swimming
The swimming facilities at the SnowDome features a 25 metre pool, junior pool and toddler pool… plus the fantastic flume. There are male and female changing areas and family changing available on a first come, first served basis.
There is a chair hoist on poolside which offers access to the main pool.
Guests with additional learning needs will need to be accompanied by a carer or carers, per their own care requirements.
Flume & inflatable fun swim sessions take place on weekends and holidays throughout the year. Children must be over 1.2 metres in height to use the flume. The flume is accessed by a set of stairs. The large inflatable is in water up to 2 metres deep so non or weak swimmers must use armbands to use the inflatable safely. The smaller inflatable in the junior pool is for swimmers under 1.2 metres tall.
There is music playing during swimming sessions.
Quiet times include:
- Weekdays during term time
- Weekends during October, November, February & March
Most popular times include:
- School holidays
- Summer holidays
Please note these are guideline times in which the venue will be at its most or least busy, these may be subject to change depending on volume and varying school holidays.
Santa’s Winter Wonderland
Santa’s Winter Wonderland is the ultimate UK real snow Christmas adventure for the family. The activity features 30 minutes playing on real snow, a 20 minute show and an animal area to finish off the event.
This event is wheelchair friendly.
There are flashing lights and music playing during Santa’s Winter Wonderland sessions.
Relaxed sessions are an alternative option for families and groups that have members with additional needs.
Santa's Winter Wonderland relaxed sessions involve:
- Adjustments to sound levels on the snow trail
- Adjustments to sound and lighting levels in Santa’s theatre
- A relaxed and supportive atmosphere with fewer people on the session
- More wheelchair spaces
- Free carer spaces
Please call 03448 000011 for further information on relaxed sessions and to book. Subject to availability.
Feedback
The SnowDome is always looking for ways to improve the facilities where possible to help guests enjoy their visit. Please do pass on your comments about your visit or information that could be added to this guide by speaking to a team member at the venue or emailing guestservices@snowdome.co.uk