Buxton Opera House & Pavilion Arts Centre

suea

01 Nov 2021

Beautiful venue but old building means access is limited.

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Date of visit: November 2021

I have experience of challenges around: moving around

Overall Rating

Bad

Love this place and have visited and performed there over the years but this is my first visit as a disabled customer. The owners have done their best to make the venue as accessible as possible but are limited by the restrictions of the building. Visit if you can. It’s well worth it.

Disabled Access In and Around

Average

There are steps up into the theatre but there is a narrow disabled access to the left of the main entrance. This leads past an large accessible toilet. Access to the stalls is just around the corner. I believe there are dedicated wheelchair places and there is storage for walkers and wheelchairs. The seating slopes down towards the stage. All areas are quite narrow to negotiate. There is a stalls bar but I think it may have steps into it. There is no lift to the upper floors. The building is unsuitable for mobility scooters

Parking & Transport

Average

Drove to the venue but couldn’t locate any nearby disabled parking spaces. I was fortunate to find roadside parking adjacent to the theatre on Water Street - £2.50 for 4 hours.

Accessible Toilets

Good

The accessible toilet is next to the disabled entrance and has ample room. Unfortunately, the corridor outside is very narrow and it’s almost impossible to queue for the toilet, particularly as the ladies toilet is opposite and people are also queueing for this. I was in the way of people the whole time.

Staff

Good

I found the staff a bit mixed. Some were very helpful but others a bit impatient and dismissive.