Multi-arts venue ticks most boxes
3.5
3.5
Date of visit: August 2015
Overall Rating
Good
Summerhall, the former Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh now a creative hub for the arts with studio and workshop spaces. During the Edinburgh Festival Summerhall is Fringe Venue 26. We rated the venue 3.5 - there are some small changes that would improve accessibility.
Disabled Access In and Around
Good
Summerhall, the former Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh now a creative hub for the arts with studio and workshop spaces. During the Edinburgh Festival Summerhall is Fringe Venue 26. We attended a concert in the Red Lecture theatre as part of the Euan's Guide Review team. The venue is well signposted, with a ramped route than avoids the steps to the main entrance. The reception desk is cluttered, with a lowered counter at the back to enable w/c access. The building and courtyard bar area are complex, with some internal steps that can be bypassed by ramps.
Parking & Transport
0We did not drive, we walked to the venue from on street parking a few hundred yards away, so these were not checked.
Accessible Toilets
Good
The disabled toilet is on the ground floor, and is spacious and clean. There is no pull-cord or red button to summon assistance. The area includes a pull down baby-change table.
Staff
Excellent
Reception staff were helpful and appeared reasonably well-informed and trained.
Additional Information
The reception area and Red Theatre are not looped, with no obvious w/c access to the steeply stepped theatre apart from the external fire escape to the main stage area. There is no braille signage on the internal lift, though it does have a phone. Signage to e.g. access ramps is generally clear and large print. There are several changes of level, internal steps etc, that could be better highlighted for visually impaired visitors. The bar area in the courtyard does not have a low-level access counter.
