An illustration of the proposed Buttery design. [Credit: Churchill College] 
A photo of the bar from the 1960s. As part of the project, the far wall was
knocked down to make space for the wheelchair ramp. [Churchill College]
The Buttery is one of the main social hubs of College. Previously, the main
seating area was only accessible from the main concourse via steps. [Credit: Churchill College]
The staged seating area was removed using a digger inside the Buttery. [Credit: Tom
Boden]
The main seating area in the Buttery is now level and, thus, more easily
accessible. [Credit: Rebecca Heath]
Wheelchair access to the Buttery has been improved by the construction of a wheelchair ramp to the bar and by the removal of the staged seating area, which were completed as part of the ongoing Buttery redevelopment project.
Tom Boden, Head of Estates at Churchill, said that the Buttery redevelopment project was primarily motivated by accessibility concerns. He added, “This work is part of a much wider project to make sure everyone has equal access to all of our social spaces to make sure these can continue to be the focal point of the College community.” This reflects the College’s ethos that accessibility should not be an afterthought.
Prior to the project, large parts of the Buttery were difficult for wheelchair users to access. The bar and the main seating area were on an elevated stage that was only accessible from the main concourse via steps. Although lift access was possible from the Fellows’ Corridor, this was disruptive and forced disabled students and staff to enter via a different entrance.
One student claimed that the previous disabled access route was “not obvious” and was “inconvenient and out of the way.”
The new wheelchair ramp connects the bar to the main concourse near the coffin. It will be the main entrance to the bar from the Storey’s Way College entrance.
Part of the bar has also been dropped to improve accessibility.
The staged seating area was removed using a digger inside the Buttery to make the main seating area level.
The construction of the ramp and the removal of the staged seating mean that the whole of the Buttery is now easily wheelchair accessible.
Churchill strives to be at the forefront of accessibility. If any students have suggestions on how the College can further improve accessibility, they are encouraged to contact Tom Boden.
The Buttery redevelopment project will continue over the next few terms with the arrival of new furniture.