Kelvingrove Bandstand

Called this venue the day before a gig, asking about disabled facilities and specifically asked if there was a disabled toilet and was reassuringly told there was. I double checked having been there some time before and not recalling seeing one, and the girl I spoke with kept me on hold whilst checking with the manager of the venue and again told me there was a disabled toilet so I did feel reassured and bought a ticket afterwards. When I (female) arrived with my dad who is fully ambulant but has dementia and as such needs full assistance with toileting, i asked for the disabled toilet and was pointed to the respective ladies and gents toilets assumably because they have level access (and baby changing facilities.. at least in the women's, I wasn't in the men's). I then clarified and explained I needed a disabled toilet and the attendants looked at me as if I was speaking another language. When I advised them I felt unable to go into the men's and my dad obviously isn't female.. they advised I could take him in the female toilets and also approach them to skip the queue due to his incontinence so I appreciate they did what they could for us. They directed us to the baby changing toilet, which does have more space than a normal cubicle but as a physio who works with w/c users I'm fairly confident that a self propelling w/c would manage to turn in it, but that an electric wheelchair or attendant propelled user would struggle, but probably manage to come in forwards and reverse out. I appreciate the staff doing what they could with the facilities they had but my dad was never going to be comfortable going into the ladies, nevermind being happy to skip a queue of women to do so, so in the end we had to leave after 20 minutes and effectively wasted £150 on the tickets.

The disabled platform is not within the venue amphitheatre. I'm assured this is due to the listed nature of the building but i find it hard to accept that during its 2010s restoration full wheelchair access couldn't have been provided. The worst problem, however, is that in front of the viewing platform is the main thorough-fair. There is therefore a continual stream of people moving in front of the viewing area. I could see just above them but the distraction is constant. Additionally, security staff would attempt to stop patrons from standing still in this pathway and the back row of the amphitheatre. i could see over them without problem but staff would continually point me out as if my view was being impaired and that i was complaining. This led to understandable disbelief from these patrons who, on more than one occasion, had to ask me if their standing below me actually bothered me. These never-ending distractions made it impossible to concentrate on the concert. Avoid.

I really like this bandstand and setting, we make a point of going every year to a gig, seen Echo and the Bunnymen, Super Furry Animals and this year it was my hometown local hero Neil Hannon with The Divine Comedy. The gigs are normally in August (better chance of weather) and this August they have the likes of Texas, Seasick Steve, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the Pixies and Arab Strab. Something for everyone I reckon! It was a glorious Friday evening in May and the rain was nice enough not to visit. We arrived there about 7.30 and their was a long queue as everyone was getting searched. But people were patient and understood why. The atmosphere was brilliant, everyone in a good mood and Neil was on top form with his humour, first coming on dressed as Napoleon then his usual black tie attire half way through the set. The crowd was definitely older and therefore relaxed and respectful.