Overview

Hampstead Theatre is a mid-size, modern theatre with step free access, adjacent to Swiss Cottage Tube Station. The theatre has two performance spaces and this review is for its main theatre. Many of its shows have gone on to transfer to London's West End. I went to see David Suchet, Poirot and More A Retrospective. The theatre has excellent access.

Transport & Parking

The nearest tube station Swiss Cottage is adjacent to the theatre. However, it is not step free, with platform to ticket office via escalators and then stairs from ticket office to street level. The theatre's website doesn't state where the nearest step free tube station is to the theatre. When I enter this request into the TFL website, it gave me no tube options, only walking or cycling. One step free route option would be to travel to King's Cross and from there get the 46 bus to Swiss Cottage. Swiss Cottage is well served by several bus routes which stop near to the theatre.

Access

In front of the theatre are a couple of ridiculously low benches with no back support or arms. I do not know if the the theatre or the local council installed them but they will be too low for many disabled people with mobility impairments to sit on comfortably or transfer safely. The front door was open when I arrived for the performance. On the left hand side was the box office desk ( sorry I thought I had taken a photo of it but it seems to have not taken). From what I remember it was not high. On the right hand side is the bar and foyer area. The bar area mainly consisted of high tables with high bar stools, with back support but no arms, however I noticed a couple of dining chair height chairs and tables towards the back. The stalls are at ground floor entry level and there is a lift to the dress circle, where I was sitting, and to Downstairs, where the smaller of the two performance stages is located. The lifts are quite spacious, the have audio announcements, relief controls and braille lettering. The Dress Circle level has a corridor/ foyer. Here there are only tall bar stools with back support but no arms. The Dress Circle consists of three rows. I sat in A1, the first seat in the front row of the Dress Circle, which was approached by a single step. The other two rows increase in the number of steps the further back you go, see photo. I had a wonderful view of the stage and the rail in front of the seat helped me transfer. I was very happy with my seat. I also noticed at the sides of the Dress Circle there are four rows of single seats, which would be good for someone who is looking for a bit of space because they doesn't like sitting in a row with lots of other people.

Toilets

There are accessible toilets on all floors. I visited the toilets on the ground floor and Dress Circle level. Both were clean, tidy and well maintained. A key was not required to open them. They both have plenty of grab rails and an emergency cord that reached to the floor. The ground floor accessible toilet is approached via a short corridor which slopes down slightly. There are hand rails on both side. This corridor leads to all the toilets on this floor. The accessible toilet well equipped. However, and this is a personal view, I found the space quite cramped. It's a square shaped space is compact and cluttered with three bins and a radiator. The Dress Circle accessible toilet was much more spacious and contained only one bin.

Staff

Staff were outstanding and so helpful. There was a member of staff standing my the entrance door to welcome you. When went to the Box Office to comment on the number of bins in the accessible toilet and the problem it could be for wheelchair users transferring, immediately she called the manager to speak with me. The manager (sorry I have forgotten her name) was very supportive, actively listened and was going to check the toilet for herself to see what could be done to improve it once the crowds had gone in to watch the show. The member of staff at the Dress Circle checked my ticket and let me know where my seat was.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

Overall, this is a wonderfully accessible, step free theatre with lovely staff, which offers a changing programme of quality productions. Although it's not in London's West End many show transfer there. It's located at one end of Finchley Road, so there are several cafes, restaurants and pubs in the main road, so the surrounding area is quite lively, but not as busy or intense as the West End can be, so perfect for people who prefer a calmer atmosphere, but are looking for special night out. Hampstead Theatre offer an Access Membership Scheme offering seating at a reduced price. When booking online you can view where the wheelchair spaces are, but as the auditorium layout changes for different productions the website does not tell you which rows offer step free access, so I had to phone up to book. This was done very quickly and easily. Highly recommend visiting and look forward to returning.

Photos