A DISABLED holidaymaker has complained to a York restaurant over their lack of accessible facilities.

Kirsty-Ann Hughes, 20, suffers from a condition called hypermobility, which makes her joints dislocate under pressure. She cannot walk very far and struggles with steps, which can make her hip joints click out of place.

She and her family travelled to York on holiday in May, and visited Pizza Hut in Pavement. Following her meal, Kirsty-Ann asked staff where the disabled toilets were and was informed there were not any.

Kirsty said: “I asked for the manager and said this wasn’t acceptable.

“At the time, it was quite quiet and everyone knew what was going on and everyone was staring at me. I was really embarrassed, to say the least, and very upset, obviously.”

John Fowler, head of building control at City of York Council , said: “Even though the premise is a listed building this does not absolve the restaurant from any Disability Discrimination Act responsibilities.

“We have advised the customer to raise her concerns with the company’s head office.”

Kirsty-Ann, who is from Holywell in North Wales, contacted Pizza Hut, and said: “They said it wasn’t acceptable and offered me a gift card, which I sent back. It’s not the issue or solution – they don’t have a disabled toilet and they need one.”

A spokeswoman for Pizza Hut said: “The comfort of our guests is a top priority for us, and we have spoken to M Hughes on several occasions and apologised for her experience at our restaurant.

“We pride ourselves on being an inclusive business, which is why work is ongoing between us, our landlord and the council to gain permission to alter the property to include accessible facilities.”

The spokeswoman also said signs in the restaurant had been updated, and staff had been re-trained to advise guests with accessibility requirements to visit the Clifford Street branch, 300 metres from The Pavement, or the firm’s other two restaurants in York, which have step-free access to toilets.

Since October, 2004, the Disability Discrimination Act has placed a legal obligation on businesses to take all reasonable steps to make their premises fully accessible to disabled people.