De Vere White's is first winner of AA Accessible Hotel award

De Vere White's hotel in Horwich, Greater Manchester, has become the first winner in the AA's Accessible Hotel Awards, a new scheme designed to raise awareness of the needs of disabled people in hotels.

De Vere White's general manager Rowland Ayling received a cheque for £1,000 to spend on equipment to improve the hotel's accessibility even more.

Baroness Wilkins, one of the judges and herself wheelchair-bound, said: "The layout of the bedroom and bathroom were excellent. The wardrobe space had accessible hanging space, which is often missing from hotel rooms."

Double-Gate Farm in Wells, Somerset, and the Huntingdon Marriott, Cambridgeshire, were highly commended.

From October 2004 under Part 3 of the Disability Discrimination Act hotels and restaurants will have to make "reasonable" adjustments to any barriers that might make it impossible or difficult for disabled people to use their services.