Search 4 A Venue:
(Aberdeen-Ipswich)
(Kendal-Rotherham)
(Salford-Yeovil)
267 venues now listed
New Venues added on a regular basis
Over 100 seating plans now included
A non-profit making incentive to inform disabled people about the facilities available at entertainment venues around the country
January 2006
Welcome to my website!
My name's Helen and I have always had to use a wheelchair due to Cerebral Palsy and hip dislocation.
Although over the last 20 years or so I have seen attitudes towards disability and general access improve - There is an area that seems to have been forgotten about.
That is the facilities offered to disabled people at theatres and entertainment venues around the United Kingdom.
The difficulty is, I find, that access and facilities vary considerably from venue to venue. Plus, when booking tickets over the telephone, it can be impossible to judge just how accessible a venue actually is when sometimes you are not necessarily always told the truth, mainly because the person on the line doesn’t understand what our needs are - so just over a year ago I began this website.
What was the catalyst for this? Well...
In 2004 a band I liked announced a rare tour of England, but Yorkshire, where I hail from, was not included in the tour itinerary, so I decided to try and purchase tickets for their concert in Manchester. When I enquired at the Box Office about access for disabled people, I was told that the venue was indeed able to accommodate me, and although I had no choice in where I could sit, if the audience took to their feet during the performance then I would be able to move forwards towards the stage in order to watch the show. With no other way to check out these comments I had to take the words at face value and booked my tickets.
However, on arrival at the venue I discovered that things were very different indeed.
Because there were 2 steps at the main entrance into the building I had to be ushered inside through a side door - only to then have to negotiate 2 others in order to collect my tickets from the Box Office. Once inside the hall itself I found my seats were just two rows from the back and I knew that there would be no chance of me seeing anything happening on stage once the audience took to their feet, so I went to speak with a member of the security team to check that I would be able to move. To my surprise his reply was a negative one so I requested to see the manager of the venue.
Unlike what I had been told over the telephone, it soon became apparent that I would not be able to move forward. The band in question came on stage and as I suspected I was unable to see anything. I left for home (after trying to alert the manager to my difficulties again) 15 minutes later, annoyed, upset, but determined to try to change things for the better - and this website was born.
You'll find over 250 venues listed here, detailing their facilities for disabled people - and I've received some positive feedback including:
"I have looked at your site and it looks excellent. I have been looking for an accessible music venue site for years. There are many sites however yours seems to be the most comprehensive! Congratulations once again on your website you're doing a great job" - Dominic Webb, Chairman of DisCASS (disabled citizens advice and support service)
"I would like to take this opportunity to wish you the best of luck with building your website - most ingenious and very positive, I have to say! Well done!" - Mark P Reed, Brentwood Theatre
"The website looks great and its nice to see more and more organisations joining it!" - David Dewhurst, Bristol Tobacco Factory Theatre
Oh and all4access leaflets can now be found @
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Cumbernauld Theatre
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Keswick Theatre by the Lake
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Ipswich New Wolsey Theatre
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Leicester The Y Theatre
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Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre
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New Milton Forest Arts Centre
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Leicester Haymarket Theatre
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Margate Winter Gardens
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Exeter Northcott Theatre
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Hull Truck Theatre
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Newark Palace Theatre
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Birkenhead Pacific Road Arts Centre
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London Bush Hall
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Abergavenny Borough Theatre
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Aberystwyth Arts Centre
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Washington Arts Centre
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Newcastle Upon Tyne Live Theatre
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Stirling Tolbooth
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Rotherham Arts Centre
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Rotherham Civic Theatre
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Radlett Centre
This website has also featured in the Newark Palace Theatre What's on Guide on many occasions
So let's keep this site growing! If you or anyone you might know is in a similar situation to mine, please, pass this information on. I am searching for fellow disabled people who are regular gig-goers to help review venues for inclusion on this site. You can also email me
here. If you represent a venue and are interested in being listed on site or advertising here please email me for details.You can now view my gig diary and learn more about me at http://www.myspace.com/glitterhippy
all 4 access is now listed on:
and
www.needaloo.org
Archive Introductions
October 2004 – December 2005
Helen’s the name and I have always had to use a wheelchair due to (cp) cerebral palsy and hip dislocation.
Although over the last 20 years or so I have seen attitudes towards disability and general access improve - There is an area that seems to have been forgotten about.
That is the facilities offered to disabled people at theatres and entertainment venues around the United Kingdom.
The difficulty is, I find, that access and facilities vary considerably from venue to venue. Plus, when booking tickets over the telephone, it can be impossible to judge just how accessible a venue actually is when sometimes you are not necessarily told the truth, mainly because the person on the line doesn’t understand what our needs are. And, although disabled people are supposed to be protected by the Disability Discrimination Act there are many ways in which buildings can avoid the issue of accessibility.
One such incident happened to me not so long ago…
A band I liked announced a rare tour of England last year, but Yorkshire, where I hail from, was not included in the tour itinerary, so I decided to try and purchase tickets for their concert in Manchester. When I enquired at the Box Office about access for disabled people, I was told that the venue was indeed able to accommodate me, and although I had no choice in where I could sit, if the audience took to their feet during the performance then I would be able to move forwards towards the stage in order to watch the show. With no other way to check out these comments I had to take the words at face value and booked my tickets.
However, on arrival at the venue I discovered that things were very different indeed.
Because there were 2 steps at the main entrance into the building I had to be ushered inside through a side door - only to then have to negotiate 2 others in order to collect my tickets from the Box Office. Once inside the hall itself I found my seats were just two rows from the back and I knew that there would be no chance of me seeing anything happening on stage once the audience took to their feet, so I went to speak with a member of the security team to check that I would be able to move. To my surprise his reply was, "No!" so I requested to see the manager of the venue.
Unlike what I had been told over the telephone, it soon became apparent that I would not be able to move forward. The band in question came on stage and as I suspected I was unable to see anything. I left for home (after trying to alert the manager to my difficulties again) 15 minutes later, annoyed, upset, but determined to try to change things for the better.
This is why I have decided to launch a new campaign.
all4access.com is a new way to find out if a venue or theatre is disability friendly. The venues listed here have been reviewed by disabled people and their friends, so therefore should give an honest overview of the facilities available. So if you are thinking of going out to a performance visit us before you go – be prepared!
The information compiled here is also to be included in a dossier on venues in the UK for people such as myself, which I plan to send to promoters, bands, managers and venues in order to bring awareness to the situation and thus achieve changes for disabled people in the future.
Don't get me wrong, as a disabled person I do not expect special treatment, but I do expect to be treated with respect and have my needs catered for – and so should yours.
If you or anyone you might know is in a similar situation to mine, please, pass this information on. I am also searching for fellow disabled people who are regular gig-goers to help review venues for inclusion on this site.
Help make venues accessible to everyone
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Finally, I would like to thank all of the venues listed here for all their assistance as I continue to build this site. My aim is not to highlight any failures - but to give people choices
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If you would like to get involved with all4access visit the using this site page
Alternatively, you can e-mail me
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You can now also view my gig diary and learn more about me at
http://www.myspace.com/glitterhippy