Overview

This is a wonderful local theatre that always has helpful, welcoming staff and provides a safe environment. The auditorium seats 350 people, with wheelchair spaces and seats available for transfer. The main auditorium wasn’t open on this particular visit as it’s undergoing some building work, but I have been before and always enjoyed the experience.

Transport & Parking

There is a small amount of on-street parking next to the theatre which includes some disabled spaces. These get full very quickly as the road is also a dead-end so the road can get quite congested. There is a large multi-storey car park 320 metres away from the theatre which has accessible parking bays and EV charging. There is a height restriction of 1.86m for those wanting to park here. The car park is open 24 hours and it’s a paid car park with charges starting from £1.20 for an hour when I visited. Ilford Station is 800 metres from the theatre and is an accessible station with Elizabeth line services running through it. You can read more about Ilford station here. There are a number of buses that stop just 100 metres from the theatre. This includes: 25, 86, 123, 128, 145, 147, 150, 167, 169, 179, 364, 366, 425, 462, 667, 677, 679, W19, N25 and N86.

Access

The main entrance to the theatre had two sets of double doors, which are very heavy. These are often left open when the theatre is open to the public, as long as it’s not too cold! However, there was also an accessible door which was much wider than the other sets and was controlled by a button on each side. If the venue is not expecting members of the public this door may be locked but there is a doorbell to let the staff know you’re there and the doorway is also undercover. The main foyer had a ticket office with a lowered counter for tickets and general enquiries. There was then a bar where you could buy snacks and refreshments. The bar didn't have a lowered section but the staff are always really helpful. They'll assist you if you need help, including taking your order elsewhere and bringing it to you. These sections had a smooth, tiled floor which was easy to navigate over. Further down there was a large seating area with tables and chairs. The chairs could all be moved to accommodate a wheelchair, pram or other mobility aid. There were also some plug sockets around the foyer. The seated section is carpeted and was still easy to push a manual wheelchair over with no obvious resistance. There was a large staircase in the foyer which went up to another bar and allowed access to the auditorium from the top as well. There wasn’t a lift to get upstairs but the facilities upstairs are replicated downstairs to ensure those who can’t manage stairs aren’t missing out on anything. The hallway to the auditorium and toilets had a slight incline with a grab rail on one side. The theatre has a hearing loop available and will also often do BSL interpreted shows and relaxed performances.

Toilets

The accessible toilet was found at the end of a hallway with a gradient. The hallway levels out as you reach the toilet door and there was a button to open the door on both sides. The door opened inwards and once the doorway was clear it automatically closes behind you. Once inside, the lock was activated by lifting up on the handle once the door had closed. The toilet was a bit narrow but it was longer, so while there may not be space to turn in a larger wheelchair or have a wheelchair and companion/carer side-by-side, there was space for them to be in front or behind. There were three vertically mounted grab rails and one horizontal grab rail located by the sinks and toilet. There was also one grab rail that could be raised and lowered. There was a small amount of space for a left-side transfer and a small back rest on the toilet that provided some support. There were two sinks that both have taps that were manually operated (no automatic sensors). One sink was lower down than the other but both were lower than sinks in a non-accessible toilet. There was also a wall-mounted paper towel dispenser which had a push button to dispense or you could pull down on the towel showing. The bin had a very light swing lid which moved without much pressure. The red emergency cord had previously been cut so while it was hanging freely, it didn't reach the floor. There was also a small shelf inside the toilet and baby-changing facilities. The non-accessible toilets were located at the other end of the same hallway. There was one step up with a grab rail on the wall to provide support. The step was painted red to make it stand out and there was a guard rail by the doors to the toilets for support and to protect people from missing the step as they leave the toilet.

Staff

The staff here have always been great, very welcoming and happy to assist however they can. For those that need wheelchair spaces or are only able to manage a few steps they’ve always been happy to find the right seats with me, via a phone call or in person. They discuss my needs and talk through the options to find the best tickets. At the venue itself, they’ve always been happy to help and there have always been plenty of staff around. It's always been easy to find someone if you need something and they make the effort to make sure everyone enjoys their visit.

Photos