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Fully Certified
Scorpio Books
General Information
120 Hereford Street, Five Lanes, The BNZ Centre, Christchurch 8011
03 379 2882
Opening Times - Check before visiting as might change
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Overview
Scorpio Books is an independent bookstore with the best range of carefully curated books in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Our staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and eclectic readers, ready with recommendations. Shop our online store or come in and browse the shelves, where you can settle into a comfy chair, discover our staff favourites, the best new releases in fiction and non-fiction, and all manner of bookish delights. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, let us know. if it’s still in print, we’ll order it in especially for you.
Notes for Cardholders
Standing and Queuing
If there is a queue, please feel free to show your Hāpai Access Card, and a staff member will be happy to assist you to the front of the line.
Level Access
Our shop is located on the ground level and has level access throughout, including mobility on-street parking located 50 metres away on Hereford Street. In addition, there are nearby mobility parks available in The Terrace car park on Hereford Street. If needed, this car park has a lift. The ground floor of The Terrace car park, with lift and stairway access, opens onto a courtyard. Shands Lane leads from this courtyard to Five Lanes.
The best entrance to the shop is the main entrance off the Five Lanes central courtyard. The door is a manual, user-pull door. Staff are always stationed within sight of it and will prop it open for you (unless another helpful person beats us to it). The door measures 950mm wide and can be opened out to 2000mm. There is a 15mm lip between the courtyard and the interior flooring. If you are having difficulty moving within the store, as some of the aisles are as narrow as 860mm, please wave at one of our friendly staff to come and assist you. Many of our displays are on wheels and can be moved slightly.
Distances
The nearest mobility car park is on Hereford Street. In total, the journey from where you park to the store is around 50m. Other mobility car parks are available in The Terrace car park. Depending on where in the building you park, your journey from this car park to our store could be around 150m. The Christchurch Bus Interchange is two blocks from our store and a 350m walk, which includes crossing Colombo Street at the traffic lights. There are seats and benches in the Five Lanes courtyard outside our store. Inside, we have several armchairs and a couch.
Urgent Toilet Access
Access to our staff toilets is restricted by a 550mm gap between the back counters. If this 550mm is not a barrier for you, please inform a staff member, and they will be able to grant you access. These staff toilets consist of six standard unisex toilets and one accessible toilet, and we share them with other businesses.
The Five Lanes centre has public toilets located 40m away, off the lane that leads between the central courtyard and Hereford Street. There is one standard unisex toilet and one accessible toilet, located off a short corridor between TANK and the nail salon.
Disability Assist Dogs
We ask that you notify our staff upon your arrival so we can keep our dogs in the back office, allowing you to browse undisturbed. All disability assistance dogs and emotional support dogs are welcome. We are proud to be a dog-friendly business. Let us know if your dog needs a water bowl.
Essential Companions
Essential Companions are welcome to assist visitors in our store.
Difficulty Accessing Visual Information
Our staff can provide a personal verbal explanation of our store and products. We can guide you to a seat or to the toilets if required.
Difficulty Accessing Audible Information
Staff can modify how they communicate with you. This includes making sure you can see their face when speaking, speaking clearly, using pen and paper, and being patient.
Hidden Disabilities
Through training, our staff are aware of many hidden disabilities. Please speak to us about how we can assist in making your time with us extraordinary.
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