Melverley Heights is a guest house that provides bed & breakfast in an elegant Victorian house which was built over 100 years ago (1899). We have 10 guest bedrooms and whilst we aim to meet the needs of all our guests there are some period features which might make access difficult for people with limited mobility. There are steps into the house and all of the rooms bar one are up at least 1 flight of stairs.
The only room on the ground floor has narrow doorways and is of a shape that is not suitable for wheelchair users.
Pre-Arrival
* We are located close to the town centre. Around a 10minute walk away into town, a little longer coming back to the house as it is slightly uphill.
* The nearest shop is a local corner shop which is a 5 minute walk away towards the town centre.
* The nearest bus stop is just outside the house although the buses are very infrequent.
* The nearest railway station is Ipswich station - just the other side of the town centre. There is a taxi rank directly outside the station.
* We have 2 medium sized dogs therefore do not offer pet accommodation. Also people with allergies should bear this in mind. Our pets are not allowed in the guests rooms but do on occasion occupy the lounge.
* We regret we do not have facilities to prepare documents in Braille.
* Our website www.melverleyheights.co.uk provides pictures of our accommodation and further information about the services we provide.
* You can contact us by telephone or e-mail . Please see the Contact Information section of this document for full details.
Arrival & Car Parking Facilities
* We can check people in between 11am & 12pm or between 5pm & 7pm by prior arrangement only. Other arrival times can sometimes be catered for, but by prior arrangement only. * You will be asked on booking an approximate arrival time - this saves guests waiting around needlessly and also helps us to manage our time better. (Please do not arrive between 11 & 12 if you have booked to arrive between 5 & 7pm as your room will not be ready when you arrive.)
* We have a gravel car park at the front of the house which can provide spaces for around 10 cars. Please do not park in front of our gate.
* There are 4 steps from the car park to a gravel path that leads to the house & there are an additional 3 steps that lead into the main house. There is no handrail for any of the steps.
* We offer assistance with luggage.
Main Entrance & Reception
* There are 3 steps that lead into the main house. There is no handrail.
* The front door is always locked, you will need to ring the door bell located on the right hand side of the door to notify us of your arrival. It may take us a couple of minutes to get to the front door as it is a large house to get around.
Public Areas - General (Internal)
* The hallway is tiled & leads into the lounge & dinning room which are carpeted.
* There is small step over a large doorstop into every room in the house, including the lounge & the dining room.
* There are 13 carpeted steps, with a hand rail on one side, from the hallway up to the first landing then one additional step up to where the toilet for room 3 and the fire exit are located.
* There are 5 additional steps to the first floor where room numbers 2,3,4,5 ,7 & the shower room are located. There is a hand rail on one side of these stairs. The stairs are carpeted.
* An additional 16 steps (carpeted), off of the first landing takes you up to the top floor where bedrooms 8,9,10 & 11 are located. Room number 8 also has a toilet on this landing.
* We do not have a lift or ramps available for access to the upper floors.
* We have a hand rail on the stairs but do not have any grab rails in the house.
* The house is centrally heated on a timer so the heating will go on and off throughout the day, but temperatures of the radiators can be adjusted in each room to suit individual requirements when the heating is on.
Public - WC
Not available
Dining Room & Lounge
* The dinning room is accessed from the main hall - there is a door step at the entrance.
* The lounge is accessed from the main hall - there is a door step at the entrance.
* Guests are welcome to use the lounge.
* The lounge has two leather sofas & a chair, straight back chairs can be moved from the dinning room into the lounge if needed, but space is limited.
* A selection of local information, books & magazines are available in the lounge.
* Breakfast is served in the dining room.
Laundry
Not available
Bedrooms
* Tea and coffee facilities are provided in all rooms.
* We also provide a hair dryer.
* Our beds are made with synthetic duvets. All pillows are synthetic
* There is a wardrobe, chest of drawers and dressing table in each room.
* None of the rooms are interconnecting.
* Bedroom numbers 4 & 5 have additional seating and a coffee table as well as a fridge.
* There is a folder in each bedroom which contains further information about the house and details of emergency contacts including doctors and hospitals.
* We have 1 ground floor en-suite twin room. * We have 4 first floor single /double en-suite rooms
* We have 1 first floor single room with private toilet & shared shower
* We have 3 second floor single/double en-suite rooms
* We have 1 second floor single room with private toilet & shared shower
Bathroom, Shower-room & WC [Ensuite or Shared]
* Room numbers 1, 2, 4, 7, 9 & 10 have en-suite shower, toilet & hand basin facilities.
* Room numbers 3 & 8 each have their own private toilet & hand basin room as well as a hand basin in the room itself. These 2 rooms share 1 shower.
* Rooms 5 & 11 have ensuite shower, toilet & hand basin facilities although the showers are located over a bath. So you would need to step into the bath to be able to use the showers. The shower heads are fixed to the wall and not on a flexible hose.
* None of the toilet facilities have been adapted for disabled use. There are no handrails, grab rails, hoists or emergency pull cords.
Self-Catering Kitchen
Not available
Grounds and Gardens
* Gardens to the front of the house are open to residents to use year round - currently being redeveloped.
Additional Information
* There is a fire extinguisher in the entrance hall & at the top of the first flight of stairs, and another at the top of the second flight of stairs. There are also fire actuating points at the same locations as the extinguishers. If the fire alarm sounds the emergency lighting will come on automatically and the fire doors on the landings will automatically close.
* Please inform us if you have a hearing impairment and might not hear the fire alarms.
We operate a no smoking policy.
Hours of operation: Check-in times 11am - 12pm or 5pm - 7pm by appointment. All other times by prior arrangement only.
Emergency number: 999
Future Plans
* The front gardens are under development and they will offer relaxed seating in a semi-formal scented garden space when completed - hopefully in summer 2008.
* Room 11 will have it�s ensuite modernised & the bath will be removed. This will allow us to knock through into room 8 and make the room larger with its own ensuite facilities.
We welcome your feedback to help us continuously improve if you have any comments please email - enquiries@melverleyheights.co.uk
