The Walled Garden Community Cafe — Restaurant in Crawley

DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION. Yesterday, I visited Tilgate park with my son (complex disability) and his school friends. There were four adults and four students. We wanted to sit in the shaded area of the walled garden cafe for lunch. My son has epilepsy and I seek shade wherever possible to prevent seizures. When we arrived there were six other customers present. One couple were just leaving, one family were ordering. There were at least 30 free seats. As we had four wheelchair users with us, we started to move the tables and chairs to accommodate our seating needs, as the tables were set up for ambulant walking folk and not with disabled people in mind. As we were doing so, a lady, who we later learned was the manager, came out to us and said very loudly ‘you do not have permission to move those tables and chairs and take up all the shaded area’. To say we were shocked was an understatement. I challenged her and asked how she proposed we sit in this area if we can’t access it. She replied “the noise they are making is scaring our customers away”. My son can’t speak, he uses his voice to express himself and communicate with others. I did not expect to be told he was ‘scaring people away’ by simply being himself. We were then told that we had no right to take up a third of the shaded area in case older people came along and wanted to use it ( please note there were no other customers in sight). At this point I felt quite tearful and extremely angry that somebody with these discriminatory views was allowed to be working with the public. I asked the manager if she had a superior that I could raise the complaint to and she said no. She refused to give me the information I needed to take this issue further. After some investigation, I discovered a route through the council to make the complaint but felt I needed to be clear about what had happened here to prevent further assault from this woman. I have worked with disabled people for over 20 years and come across some ignorant members of the public but never one as small minded and cruel as this manager. My son and his friends may not fit the ‘norms’ of society in her eyes but I would rather have a world full of disability and difference than a world full of bigots. Needless to say, I will take this as far as I can until I am assured she will receive the appropriate training to prevent this from happening to anyone else. If it were up to me she would...

Very busy with long queues at the weekend. Very nice setting though, slightly ruined by the massive inflatables over-shadowing the period-looking walled garden.

Outside seating laid out in such a way the minimises practicality - huge tables with only a few seats around each. Many tables without shade although there is a shaded area at one end.

Food is pre-packed paninis /burgers /nuggets etc., so minimum skill required in the kitchens.

I ordered a sausages panini with cheese. The bread was nice but there was only one sausage, sliced really thinly - how tight is that?! One sausage and a handful of chips, come on! The suggestion of salad was dry and looked like it had sat on a warming shelf for 10 minutes.

I think I could have forgiven everything else if they at least put a decent portion in the bread. One sausage, sliced so thinly they must have used a laser, or at least a razor-blade. One sausage!!!! Really???

We had a very basic lunch with a soft drink each - it came to over £35 for 2 adults and 2 kids. Save yourself the bother and pack a nice pic-nic and sit in the park, much nicer and no queuing. And you can then eat as many sausages...

Visit today for lunch with my husband and son, it was certainly busy but this didn't make a difference to the service and food quality. A very large outdoor seating area and we were taken to a table. Services was swift, there was lots of staff serving and clearing tables and it looked like a slick operation along with all being friendly! Omg the chips are chunky and to die for. Husbands panani was huge and so was my jacket potato! Food was out within 10mins and my sons sandwich was good too. Children's menu is large but can I make a suggestion to the management to look at adding children's lunch boxes please...my 4yr old wanted this and is common in most cafes. Like a 5 item box, drink, sandwich, chips, fruit and raisens or babybel etc? Also kids sandwich...Jam is always a hit with preschoolers. Will definitely return! Highly recommend big portions, large menu and...