A steep push getting there—great front-row spot in the venue
4
4
Date of visit: August 2026
I am a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: accessing toilets, dexterity or coordination and moving around.
I use or have experience of: disabled toilet, powerchair, wheelchair
Overall Rating
Good
Edinburgh Fringe, 2026 - Venue 33 The Pleasance Courtyard is on the Pleasance road, close to the Royal Mile. For a manual wheelchair, it is a steep rise up from Cowgate/Holyrood Road to reach the venue (quite an effort for my carer to push). Once there, the venue itself was level. The staff allowed us priority entry and I was positioned in the centre of the front row of the audience. Unfortunately, just prior to the show starting there was a fire alarm and subsequent evacuation. Frustrating though it was, the evacuation was handled well by the staff. We were allowed back in after 30-40 minutes. Unfortunately other audience members didn’t heed the staff request for people to return to their original seats and took the opportunity to ‘improve their view’. We therefore had to move position but were able to see the show fine.
Disabled Access In and Around
Good
The venue itself looked like outside of the Fringe Festival it was a sports hall.
Accessible facilities: Single-level venue, Step-free entrance
Parking & Transport
I travelled to this place by walk or wheel
There may well have been the opportunity to drop-off in front of the venue but I don’t believe there was any disabled parking.
Accessible Toilets
Good
There was a large accessible toilet with grab rails and alarm just inside the entrance to the venue.
Facilities: Accessible toilet
Staff
Excellent
Handled our needs well, especially given the circumstances of the evacuation.
