We stayed at Tattershall lakes for the Rock The Lakes weekend. We were really looking forward to it as we had heard such good things. Our party included three disabled people but as they had a disabled section we thought that isn’t an issue as they’ve made provision for this. The first obstacle we had was the lack of notice for changing the entrances. Security actually opened the door and said we had to go to the other entrance and refused to let us in; now that is not a problem for me as I’m on a mobility scooter but for one of our disabled people who has a crumbling spine this is not great at all. We then realised we had forgotten our disability wrist bands which had been issued so asked at reception if it’s possible to have them replaced; they refused so we had to go all the way back to where we were staying which was the furthest area away from the reception. I do understand that forgetting our wrist bands is not their fault but they did say they could replace them if needed when we collected them so we didn’t think it would be any trouble.
After getting through the crowds of people, tackling the disabled lifts and doors that do not open by themselves we found the disabled area. It was good viewing and there was a bar close by, for the toilets you had to tackle the lifts or take the stairs, however the disabled toilets were being used as a males toilet due to the men’s being out of use.
On the first evening we had owners of caravans/lodges causing problems as they had not made provision and wanted to be where we were, the hired security were great but couldn’t stop these owners from filming us. One particular owner created so much Away Resorts shortened the disabled area so they could get in too. We felt really intimidated.
I rang the reception the next morning to make them aware and was very hopeful they would talk to these owners when they came in that day with their videos to say this was not acceptable behaviour but I was wrong; “thank you for making us aware that our owners are not happy, we will have to relook at this”. After that I was very anxious how the second day was going to go as it had not been just one owner, there had been five or six. We arrived at the area to find we had been moved into the corner where you cannot see the stage properly or the screens; this was very upsetting. We were all amazed that people could be treated this way. We even had two of the owners from the night before point and laugh. When we complained to the manager we were told they would try and move us across a bit but later on; this never happened.
Day three
The area remained where it was in the corner and out of the way so everyone else could have a wonderful time. The hired security were no longer there either.
The times of the entertainment were altered to what was on the itinerary so we missed part of one of the acts.
On leaving we planned to go to an undercover area and have a seat to breakup the walk only to get to the gate and be told (Away Resorts Security) it is closed and had to go to the main entrance; now this may seem like a minor thing but it would take a fully able person ten minutes to walk this. We tried to appeal to their sense of humanity but there wasn’t any. By the time we got to the main entrance the person with a crumbling spine was in so much pain. She complained again to the security guard (Away Resorts security); he was not fazed at all, however on leaving the entrance the security person mocked the disabled person to an owner (we know this by their conversation) laughing at us and the discomfort they had caused.
Food left a lot to be desired. The ribeye steak one had gristle throughout it and the other had two massive lumps of fat (1/4 of the steak was fat) the rump steak came out burnt, dry and lukewarm, none of the chips ever came out hot. Everything else was passable e.g burgers, pizza. We all ate separately as none of them came out together.
I have to say I have never come across a holiday park so blatantly disablist in my life. Previously I had been looking at other Away Resort holidays but I will never go again to any of them.
I am an owner on a different holiday park and the other owners there would never treat me or other disabled people the way we were treated. I have never come across so many entitled, selfish people all in one place as I did here. If you or your party are disabled stay away. If you have any morals stay away. This place is not good. The wildlife and dogs were treated better than we were.