Assembly Festival at Assembly Gordon Aikman Theatre

daisydoo

08 Aug 2018

Staff were super helpful!! Great night out...

4

4

Date of visit: August 2018

I am a carer or friend of a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: moving around

Overall Rating

Good

Staff made the visit for us... We were a group of 8 including a powerchair user... Rocked up to see the brilliant David O'Doherty - saw the queue outside and thought yikes! However - we made ourselves known to a member of staff that escorted us to the best entrance, then showed us where the lift was - radioing their colleague in the process who met us at the lift and showed us to our 'reserved' seats. Staff super helpful - at no time did we feel that we were being rushed. The only thing preventing this from being a 5* review? The lift - which is pretty tight - it's also quite tight to wheel out of when you reach the auditorium.

Disabled Access In and Around

Good

Generally ace - but see the earlier point about the lift... It's a little convoluted to actually reach the theatre itself - but you just have to look out for the ramps which are hidden amongst the stairs...

Parking & Transport

Good

Parking is ok - as long as you know where to find it! Understandably Edinburgh generally and the George Square area in particular is very very busy at this time of year. We managed to park on one of the surrounding streets.

Accessible Toilets

Excellent

Wowzers - we found the mobiloo!! I'd heard that there was a portable Changing Places in the area again this year - brilliant to see it... we didn't need to use it this time but it's so fantastic having it there... it means that it's accessible to so many visitors to all types of different venues nearby too... brilliant idea...

Staff

Excellent

Just fab! organised and made you feel very welcome. weren't phased at all. knowledgeable about where to go and helpful when you got there. probably worth mentioning the George Square Gardens staff too... we planned to go into the Gardens for a drink afterwards - the bouncer told us that there was step free access - but if it was a bit steep he advised us we could use the other entrance. All set to bypass the queue and enter.... and then thwarted! Turns out we had a teenager in our midst and minors aren't allowed in the garden after 9.... we'll remember that next time!! And didn't spoil our night as we had a beer at the corner bar instead...

Additional Information

Really impressed with the staff - as Edinburgh local go to lots of festival events every year and staff seem to get more knowledgeable and helpful. Obviously some buildings still have a long way to go - but feels like the fringe and other edinburgh festivals putting more effort into accessibility where they can.