Overview

My husband e-mailed twice about accessibility, but as we received no reply, we just turned up. There are no accessibility arrangements for this venue at all and the gig we had booked was on the top floor.

Transport & Parking

It's on a regular bus route and near several large car parks. We parked at the Aquatic Centre, which is 5 minutes away.

Access

Everywhere is up or down several flights of stairs, but as I'm a part time wheelchair user, security carried my chair up and they cleared the stairs of people for me to get up and down. They were really helpful but with the building, they were very limited with how they could help. They did listen to me when I explained what I needed. There is no lift, but there are places to sit down once you've climbed to the top floor.

Toilets

There are no disabled toilets. I couldn't even get near the ladies toilet in my chair due to the bar and sound booth creating a narrow space. Even if I had, the cubicles and washing area are tiny: I struggled with a stick. I think the men's was back down several flights of stairs, so we didn't see them.

Staff

They were nice, but immediately told me we should have e-mailed as soon as they saw me. Once we explained that we had e-mailed twice and they had not responded, they tried their best to help us as much as they could considering how inaccessible the building is. They didn't forget me at the end of the gig and someone was available to clear the stairs and carry the chair down. I did have a problem with people climbing over me in the venue, but this was the guests and band rather than Deaf Institute staff.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

We were supposed to show a covid passport to get into the gig, but no one checked ours. Then again, it was quite a trauma getting me in so they might have just wanted to get me in and out as fast as possible. No one was wearing masks apart from me and 2 other guests. I enjoyed the gig, but as getting in was painful and exhausting, I won't be visiting again. I'm not sure how this building can be improved without an expensive full renovation.