Overview

I went to see Tom Ballard in Pleasance Upstairs at the Fringe. It's a very small venue, but surprisingly comfy and even more surprisingly accessible thanks to lift access.

Transport & Parking

There is on street parking outside Pleasance Courtyard, and Lothian buses service nearby streets. We walked here as we found it a bit easier to get directly where we wanted to go. Lots of people get dropped off in taxis outside Pleasance during the Fringe, so there's usually one ready and waiting to pick you up after a show.

Access

At first glance Pleasance Upstairs doesn't look accessible. It's up a steep set of metal stairs and is a very small venue! But it was good to see that the front row seats were all flip-up meaning there was room for wheelchair users or mobility scooter users. The lift access is via the entry to Pleasance Beneath, but make sure a member of staff knows you will be using this as they will unlock it and accompany you. Despite the small space, the room was kept cooler than we thought which was great. Seats were comfy and leg room wasn't overly restricted.

Toilets

I didn't use these so can't comment. Signage to toilets can be hard to spot, and navigating crowds over the cobbles may be tricky. But there are accessible toilets near the entrance to the courtyard.

Staff

I've found Pleasance staff to be very helpful and friendly. Everyone I've spoken to has answers to questions and seems to be very familiar with the venue.