Camden Accessibility Pledge for Licensed Venues
If you run a licensed venue in Camden, the Camden accessibility pledge is an opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to accessibility, inclusion and responsible venue management.
By signing the pledge, you make a clear public commitment to improving access for disabled people and others with access needs, while helping to create a safer, more inclusive and more welcoming night-time economy across the borough.
What is the Camden Accessibility Pledge?
The Camden Accessibility Pledge is a voluntary commitment for licensed premises in the borough. It encourages venues to adopt a practical, proportionate and supportive approach to accessibility, with a focus on continuous improvement.
The pledge is designed to help venue operators improve access, communication, staff awareness and engagement with customers around accessibility needs.
It complements existing legal duties under the Equality Act 2010, but does not replace them.
Why join the pledge?
Our licensed venues are central to the borough’s cultural, hospitality and night-time economy. The pledge has been developed to support venues in strengthening accessibility as part of day-to-day operations and customer experience.
Joining the pledge helps you to:
- show customers, staff and the wider community that accessibility matters at your venue
- provide clearer information to disabled customers and others with access needs
- build staff confidence in delivering inclusive and respectful service
- identify practical improvements that support better access
- demonstrate leadership within Camden’s hospitality and night-time economy
What you’re committing to
When you sign the Camden Accessibility Pledge, your venue commits to four core standards.
1. Accessibility as standard practice
Accessibility should be embedded in the way your premises are managed, operated and reviewed. You should proactively identify barriers and, where reasonable and practicable, remove or reduce them so people can use your venue safely and with dignity.
2. Transparency and clarity
You should provide clear, accurate and up-to-date accessibility information, both online and on-site. Being honest about what your venue can and cannot provide helps customers make informed decisions before they visit.
3. Inclusive and respectful service
Your staff should be trained, supported and empowered to deliver respectful and inclusive service. Customers with visible and non-visible disabilities should be treated fairly, with dignity and understanding.
4. Leadership and accountability
Accessibility should be treated as a management responsibility, not an afterthought. Participating venues are expected to seek feedback, respond constructively and use learning to drive improvement over time.
Why this matters for operators
Feedback from disabled residents, visitors and advocacy groups shows that barriers still exist in licensed venues. These can include:
- physical barriers, such as steps, narrow entrances and inaccessible toilets
- communication barriers, such as unclear information, poor signage or limited staff awareness
- attitudinal barriers, including a lack of confidence or understanding among staff
The pledge gives operators a framework to address these issues in a practical way, while recognising that venues across Camden vary in size, layout and building type, including older and historic premises.
Who can take part?
The pledge is open to licensed premises operating in the London Borough of Camden, including pubs, bars, clubs, restaurants and other hospitality or cultural venues.
How the pledge works:
Step 1: Sign up
Licensed venues are invited to sign up voluntarily to the pledge.
Step 2: Complete a simple self-assessment
A straightforward self-assessment form or checklist will help you review your current accessibility arrangements and identify any areas for improvement.
Step 3: Council review and recognition
Where appropriate, officers may visit participating venues to assess and confirm the accessibility provisions in place. Venues that sign up may then be recognised through a Council website listing, window stickers, digital badges and promotional communications.
Recognition for participating venues
Venues that take part in the pledge may benefit from public recognition through:
- inclusion on the Council website
- window stickers for display at the premises
- digital badges for use online
- promotion through Camden communications
This gives operators a clear way to show customers and the wider community that accessibility is part of how their venue is run.
A practical, supportive approach
The pledge is intended to support good management practice and encourage early consideration of accessibility. It is designed to be collaborative rather than punitive, with a focus on improvement and constructive dialogue between the Council and operators.
Important information for licence holders
The Camden Accessibility Pledge is voluntary.
It:
- does not form part of Camden’s Statement of Licensing Policy
- does not create new licensing requirements
- does not replace or override duties under the Equality Act 2010
- will not be taken into account when determining licence applications, variations, reviews or enforcement decisions
The pledge provides a shared framework for promoting responsible management and inclusive access across Camden’s licensed sector.
Make accessibility part of your venue’s standard
By displaying the Camden Accessibility Pledge, you show that your venue is committed to accessibility as a core part of customer experience and responsible operation. You also demonstrate leadership within Camden’s hospitality and night-time economy.
How to sign up
Email the Licensing Team for more information on how to sign up at [email protected]