The first purpose-built hotel for the blind and partially sighted has officially opened in Bognor Regis, West Sussex.

The £4m Russell Hotel, managed by Action for Blind People and funded by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, contains all the usual hotel facilities - including a gym and swimming pool - as well as features designed to make the hotel accessible to visually impared guests.

The 40-room hotel was designed by Bath-based Stubbs Rich with input right from the initial planning stages from a user group of 12 blind and partially sighted people to ensure that it met their needs.

James McGee, head of leisure services for Action for Blind People said: 'The Russell Hotel is contemporary and incorporates features for visually impaired people as an integral part of the design, not just bolted on as afterthoughts. We wanted the hotel to be as mainstream as possible and not an institution.'

Textured carpets guide guests towards the reception desk and Rooms are corridors and rooms are 10 per cent larger than industry standards to allow two people with guide dogs to pass comfortably. All rooms have powerpoints at waist height, and are equipped with talking clocks and radios and cassette and CD players so guests can listen to their own music and audio books.

The hotel has been designed using strong colour contrasts and has dado rails to help guests guide themselves around.

All staff have two days of visual awareness training, including how to guide people and all guests are given a guided tour of the hotel when they arrive.

Action for Blind People manages three other hotels for the blind and partially sighted in the UK; in Weston Super-mare, Devon and the Lake District. Details: Russell Hotel: +44 (0)1243 871300 Action for Blind People: +44(0)20 7635 4800