Heavy metal festival
2
2
Date of visit: November 2025
I am a disabled person and a carer or friend of a disabled person and a general supporter of disabled access. I have experience of challenges around: a hidden impairment, accessing toilets, dexterity or coordination and moving around.
Overall Rating
Poor
What used to be the highlight of the year for me now causes upset instead. Whilst there is dedicated access camping, viewing platforms, parking, charging and bathroom facilities, this is not accessible to everyone with needs due to very low capacity for disabled access. The festival itself is a 20,000+ capacity with day-ticket holders adding to this.
Disabled Access In and Around
Good
There are viewing platforms with safe-zone areas located around the festival. Oneis located inside the entrance to the Sophie Lancaster stage, two are located either side of the main stage, not far from the sound platform. However, there is not a viewing platform for the New Blood stage, nor the EMP stage. The platforms and safe-zone areas are by prior approval from the festival organisers and these facilities are severely limited meaning a lot of people with access needs will not get them. The same is true for the access campsite and the access overflow carpark. If you are unsuccessful for anything that you have applied for, you may be placed on a waiting list.
Accessible facilities: Step-free access to most areas
Parking & Transport
Average
I travelled to this place by personal vehicle
There are fields that are used for parking with access overflow parking located at the front of the 'car park'. Ticket holders with access camping have the ability to park on-pitch next to their tent in the access campsite. There are shuttle buses running from Thursday-Monday, however they are not equipped to take wheelchair users. If you have travelled via coach, the drop-off area for this is located close to the main entrance to the festival. If you have travelled via train there are shuttle buses and access to taxis to get to the festival.
Accessible facilities: Dedicated on-site parking
Accessible Toilets
Average
There are some disabled portaloo's located throughout the festival, however they are not always easily accessed as some have padlocks (new feature for 2025) that are very difficult to use or have broken baby-change units that hinder you accessing the portaloo. Some people reported that they were locked inside the portaloos by staff who hadn't checked that there was someone inside, so this can cause a lot of distress if you don't take the padlock into the portaloo with you or have someone keeping watch from outside to ensure this does not happen. Other people have reported being turned away from using the disabled portaloos at times due to not having the access lanyard to gain access to said portaloos.
Facilities: Accessible toilet
Staff
Good
The disabled access team were fantastic and more than helpful when I had to approach them at the info desk after being verbally assaulted and threatened by a member of the security team whom was clearly under-qualified for his position and incredibly aggressive towards myself and partner. This led to being overly anxious, feeling horribly uncomfortable and unwelcome at the festival after my 9 years of attending. There is a volunteer team of wonderful people in pink vests who are located at every access point to assist you in any way that they can. The security staff upon the entrance to the festival were excellent and fast-tracked my entrance after going through medication searches. Any time I have had to email the organisers over the years, I have had prompt, informative responses. There is a dedicated, fan-run disabled access Facebook page that can provide answers to any and all questions you may have in regards to the festival. The team and members are very friendly and knowledgeable about all things access. The access team are hard working and do their best every year to address any and all issues that disabled patrons may have.
