4
Lucky to have such a good local theatre
The Belgrade Theatre in Coventry is a great local theatre in the city centre and I have been going for many years. We went to see a touring production of The Full Monty and outside the theatre there is the drop off point for people with disabilities. This is close to the entrance but you have to walk from this part down a ramp and into the theatre. I was using my 3 wheel walker and the amount of walking was about my limit of 40m-50m.
Inside the theatre the ground floor is level and I did not experience any steps. Walkers and scooters can be left against the wall next to the door of the auditorium, but be aware that this appears to be a casual arrangement without any specific security. Inside the auditorium the aisles are wide and partly sloped, partly stepped. The steps are low and wide, so it is quite easy to step on one step at a time to get both feet on. I did not use the disabled toilet, but there is one.
The main problem is the lack of suitable seating in the foyer. When you are waiting for the performance to start, before you go into the auditorial there are some tables and chairs, but nowhere near enough and by the bar the seats are all high bar stools. It was very busy when we were there and no one offered me their seat, but I found a small place to perch on a foam block seating arrangement that encircled a pillar.
The other problem is the car parking. The theatre no longer has a car park and the main parking is a multi storey NCP car park nearby. It has blue badge parking, but it takes ages to get out of the car park. You can prebook a parking space, but not specifically a blue badge space.
I have an Access card and I'm registered with the theatre, so I was able to buy a discounted ticket and my husband had a free carer's ticket. We booked a 5 show subscription and the accessibility policy makes a trip to the theatre enjoyable and affordable. Next time I will take my 4 wheel walker so I have my own seat!
The Belgrade Theatre in Coventry is a great local theatre in the city centre and I have been going for many years. We went to see a touring production of The Full Monty and outside the theatre there is the drop off point for people with disabilities. This is close to the entrance but you have to walk from this part down a ramp and into the theatre. I was using my 3 wheel walker and the amount of walking was about my limit of 40m-50m.
Inside the theatre the ground floor is level and I did not experience any steps. Walkers and scooters can be left against the wall next to the door of the auditorium, but be aware that this appears to be a casual arrangement without any specific security. Inside the auditorium the aisles are wide and partly sloped, partly stepped. The steps are low and wide, so it is quite easy to step on one step at a time to get both feet on. I did not use the disabled toilet, but there is one.
The main problem is the lack of suitable seating in the foyer. When you are waiting for the performance to start, before you go into the auditorial there are some tables and chairs, but nowhere near enough and by the bar the seats are all high bar stools. It was very busy when we were there and no one offered me their seat, but I found a small place to perch on a foam block seating arrangement that encircled a pillar.
The other problem is the car parking. The theatre no longer has a car park and the main parking is a multi storey NCP car park nearby. It has blue badge parking, but it takes ages to get out of the car park. You can prebook a parking space, but not specifically a blue badge space.
I have an Access card and I'm registered with the theatre, so I was able to buy a discounted ticket and my husband had a free carer's ticket. We booked a 5 show subscription and the accessibility policy makes a trip to the theatre enjoyable and affordable. Next time I will take my 4 wheel walker so I have my own seat!
