Venue Description

The Eastgate Theatre and Arts Centre in the centre of Peebles is the busiest arts venue in the Scottish Borders, staging more than 200 events a year in the theatre – ranging across music, theatre, talks, mainstream and arts cinema, comedy and relays from Covent Garden and the National Theatre. The imposing building is on the town’s High Street, and has a large, free car park a couple of minutes walk from the front door. The auditorium, on the first floor, is the Eastgate’s main performance space. It can be set up theatre style with 230 seats, or with the raked seating retracted to provide either a cabaret style setting with tables and chairs or a clear space for dancing or workshops. The other arts space is the Anne Younger Studio on the ground floor. This adaptable space is in use every day for classes, workshops, rehearsals and meetings, and often displays exhibitions by artists from the Scottish Borders and further afield. Also at ground floor level is the welcoming cafe bar, the foyer and box office. The café is open from 9.30am every day except Sunday serving a selection of coffees, teas and cold drinks as well as scrumptious cakes and mouth-watering bacon rolls. At lunchtime it majors on soup and sandwiches, paninis and toasties and in the evening offers a wide selection of local beers, wines and spirits as well as non-alcoholic drinks.

Accessibility

We intend that everyone visiting the Eastgate has a happy and enjoyable experience. There are a number of facilities in place to ensure that disabled customers and performers have easy access and good support while they are at the theatre. These include: Easy one-level access to café bar, studio and toilets on the ground floor Passenger lift to auditorium on first floor Six spaces for wheelchairs in the auditorium Performers’ toilet and shower with wheelchair access Assist dogs are welcome Visitors with wheelchairs or push chairs can access the Eastgate by using the ramped entrance to the front of the building There is a push pad to open the front door

Accessibility Guide

Accessibility Guide Link: https://www.eastgatearts.com/accessibility

Access Statement

Access Statement Link: https://www.eastgatearts.com/accessibility

Accessible Performances

As a local community venue, our cinema and theatre offerings are generally more relaxed than large cinema complexes. For our programming in 2024, we plan to incorporate official relaxed-performances.

Awards List

Dementia-Friendly Cafe, Dog-Friendly

Toilets

Our disabled access toilet has a wide-entry sliding door with pull-cord light and personal safety alarm. Toilet and washing facilities have been designed with wheelchairs in mind and so there is space next to toilet for transfers, sink is then at seated height. Access to the toilet is from flat floor and thus completely accessible.

Staff

Our staff currently do not have specific training but are very comfortable in providing customer service support to a wide variety of audiences. Cafe staff in particular have a good understanding of dementia, Parkinsons, and general frailty. Organisational strategy is being developed to ensure that all staff have a standard level of knowledge about disabilities and accessibility.

Assistance dog facilities

Assistance dog exercise facilities

All dogs are welcome in the cafe area and assistance dogs can access the wider theatre. Water bowls are available and there is an outdoor space where owners can sit and enjoy refreshments from the cafe with their dogs on a hot day.