Excellent accessibility
4.5
4.5
Date of visit: July 2014
I am a carer or friend of a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: moving around
Overall Rating
Excellent
Really good generally - can't fault the main hall. The Lantern (previously known as 'Hall 2') is not quite so good as there is a silly stairlift system and you have to navigate two of the slow kind of lifts to get to the loo.
Disabled Access In and Around
Good
The main hall is completely accessible. For seated concerts they have wheelchair spaces in front of the raked seating (behind the stalls flat seating, but there's an aisle in front, so good views). For standing gigs, they always put in a viewing platform downstairs. There are also wheelchair spaces on the balcony for either type of event. Hall 2/The Lantern is on the flat but you have to take a small lift down one set of stairs and then immediately take a wheelchair stairlift up another set, which is irritating. This is usually a seated venue and they sit wheelchairs at the back.
Parking & Transport
Average
No designated parking but we can always find a spot on the double yellow lines on Colston Street just up from the hall, with the blue badge. There is a multi storey car park over the road (I think blue badge holders have to pay) which is a short way down a steep road (Trenchard Street).
Accessible Toilets
Excellent
Toilets excellent but if in the Lantern you'd have to take the two lifts mentioned above, and go through a corridor (with a bit of a thick carpet) and past the bar which is a bit of a long way. If in the main hall downstairs there's a disabled toilet off the opposite side to the entrance which is not signed at all (and it's up a sloping corridor but still the quickest option).
Staff
Excellent
Staff very well trained.
Additional Information
Sorry but I can't comment from personal experience regarding disabilities other than mobility impairments. This is a council owned hall so they do have hearing loops etc.
