Overview

ABBA are brilliant and so is their Arena. It really is the most accessible venue I have ever been to for two reasons. (1) The venue has been purpose built with accessible design at its heart. It has step free access into the building and foyer for everyone. There is an entire row of step free seating with wheelchair user spaces if required. To access this there are no stairs, no separate ramps, no lifts, no platform lifts, just brilliant accessible design. There are accessible toilets and a Changing Places toilet. (2) All staff were amazing, welcoming, understand accessibility and very enthusiastic. Thank you to all of them for making our day out such a pleasure. Big thank you to previous reviewers, I have not had the confidence to got to an arena to see a concert since acquiring my disability, your reviews gave me the confidence to go there.

Transport & Parking

The arena is directly across the road from step free Pudding Mill Lane DLR Station. Pudding Mill Lane on the Docklands Light Railway and 1 stop away from Stratford Tube and Train Station. I travelled on 205 bus from King's Cross and exited at Bow Church Station stop, and the DLR station was directly on the opposite side of the road. There is a lift to platform level. I then went one stop to Pudding Mill Lane, in the direction towards Stratford. The station has a step free access to platforms via a lift. On exiting the station the arena next to it, directly opposite. The route is step free and level. There is one road to cross but as the road has been blocked off, while I was there I didn't see any cars drive down it, see photo.

Access

Accessible, step free seats can be booked online. OUTSIDE THE ARENA Inside Pudding Mill Lane Station there are some benches without back support at street level, this area is roofed over so it's a good stop to wait if you arrive early and its raining and also there is a step free ABBA shop. Outside the arena there are some bench seating with back and arm support. ARENA ENTRANCE The entrance to the arena is entirely step free, just a very gradual, short slope leading up to entrance doors. Prior to admission people queue to go in. On the right-hand side is a taped off aisle. If you let yourself known to a member of staff, there are plenty around to welcome people, and explain, they will give you access to this aisle which means very minimal queuing time. We virtually walked straight in. There is a security bag check and ticket check before going inside. The arena door were already open. FOYER The foyer area is on the ground floor and is step free. Around the sides there are food stalls, bar, shop and accessible toilets .There is also limited seating. We found some by the toilet, which had back support. We managed to get a seat. The other option is that disabled visitors can go into the auditorium early and for this you just need to ask a member of staff. AUDITORIUM The auditorium is in the shape of a semi circle. At the front is the stage and directly behind this is the Dance Floor, which is a standing area. Behind that 3 rows of seats separated into blocks. Next come the step free seats and spaces for wheelchair users. They take up an entire row and stretch out along the entirety of the auditorium from Blocks A to E. The really nice thing is that they have been located with a lot of thought. They are raised above the seating area in front so give great views. When you enter the auditorium you will notice that the row is separated from rest of the block seating, which means that the area is extra roomy. You feel very much part of the show as you are near the front. Behind the step free seats are the blocks of seating, that have a handrail along one side of the end staircases but no handrail for the central staircase. Please note, Row A of the rear blocks are not step free as there are 2 steps to get to your seat, see photo. Edges of steps are clearly marked with a white line. The stage and the 2 very large screens are located high up, so it is easy to see what is happening. Please note the screens sometimes show different things so keep that in mind.

Toilets

There are 5 accessible toilet and a Changing Places toilet. They are spacious, clean, tidy and well maintained. They have plenty of grab rails and an emergency red cord. You will need a key for Changing Places toilet, which is kept in the nearby cloakroom. This is because the toilet is checked after each user to make sure it is ready for its next customer.

Staff

Staff are exceptional. Everyone was friendly, welcoming and helpful. Each one seemed to genuinely enjoy working there and some were chatty and asking us our favourite ABBA song, etc. It helped to create a very special atmosphere. Also if you need assistance you are invited to go to any member of staff. If they are not personally responsible for something they will radio through immediately to someone who is and it will be followed up straight away. We approached a few members of staff for different things and we got a consistent, pleasant and helpful response. nothing felt like too much trouble. If only the real world was as accessible as the ABBA Arena!

Anything else you wish to tell us?

I don't want to spoil anything by giving away any part of the show, but I will say it is so enjoyable, uplifting, fun, engaging, fascinating, spectacular. I have never seen anything like it before (and that's not just me being an old fossil) I've spoken to several friends, work colleagues, other people in the audience and everyone had said the same. I hope soon to return as I loved. Can't praise this enough for the show experience, its easy of accessibility and super helpful staff.

Photos