Overview

The Box Office adjioined to the theatre is fully wheelchair accessible, with a low counter that staff are happy to switch to when it's your turn in the queue. The theatre itself has a set of automatic doors in front of a ramped entrance, unfortunately most of the times these doors are locked and it takes some awkward manouvering to go through the open doors next to them because the ramped entrance is only as wide as the automatic doors and the building's on a slight incline. There are two disabled toilets - One on the 3rd floor and one on the ground floor. I've only used the one on the ground floor. It is to the right of the entrance and bar. It is a standard accessible toilet, but the door is quite heavy - old - there is a decent amount of space for small to average sized wheelchairs but as of the time of writing this review, the red cord is over to the far right of the toilet and is about a foot too short to lay on the ground. There is a lift at the far end of the building, to the left of the entrance, to take you up to the third floor. Assistance is available for the doors though they tend to latch them open once people are allowed in, and the inner doors are automatic. There is then an inclined ramp in to the theatre to the wheelchair spaces. Here's the good points:- The views of both sets of wheelchair spaces, both in the lower circle and the stalls, offer a great view. The Stalls obviously offer a closer view than the circle but you're not too high up in the circle that the acts on stage look like ants. There is a balcony in front of the circle seats that they warn may obstruct the view, but I sit very low in a small wheelchair, approximately 3 feet tall in my chair, and my view is not obstructed. The only issue with circle seating is if you have footplates that stick out, you block the "walkway", as it where, for other people to walk pass when they wish to leave the theatre. I've never had a problem with hearing anything from these seats either. The last event I saw from the circle was a musical with live music and speech. The wheelchair spaces at the back of the stall seats are brilliant, with enough space above the heads of people in front to see over them, the only issues are carers need to sit in front if you're not lucky enough to buy adjacent stall seats next to stall seats found at either end of row U, and in events where poeple might stand up, your view of the stage is completely blocked. I've found the sound from the stalls have been fine from here outside of technical difficulties. The last event I saw from these seats, the event this review is based on, was a musical with a live band and speech. There is staff available around the stalls during performances if assistance is needed, but for refreshments during the interval, it can be difficult to order something. There's a card system where you can hold up an order card and staff come to you to take your order, but wheelchair spaces don't have order cards available to them. But there's now a nifty digital system where you download the ATG App on your phone, if you have a smart phone, and put your performance and seat number details in and place an order from the menu available on the app. During the interval, staff bring you your order and you pay them on arrival. I recommend this above the card system, and downloading the app before you go because the internet can be spotty in the theatre. The merchandise stand can be a crush but I've found staff very helpful and patient. There is no low counter but the size of the counter isn't that high, there's just not much room in between the merchandise stand and the bar. I've never had a problem when asking for help or assistance.

Transport & Parking

There are no parking facilties at the thetare. I don't have a car myself but taxis can drop off outside the venue, the nearest bus stop is just a few feet away from the theatre's entrance and there are two nearby train stations. Lime Street Station, if you're coming on the main rail network, is right next door, and that has a lift to come out of the entrance and go around, or you can go out the side door which faces the Empire and cross over. The second station is Central and is approximately a 10 minute "walk" from there to Lime Street, with a fully accessible step-free route.

Access

Signage is a bit small, but for wheelchair access with no additional needs, it's quite good. There are signed performances and audio described performances available, and assistance dogs are welcome but I've not experienced these myself. The website says infrared hearing necklaces are available on request.

Toilets

There's two. The ground floor toilet seems wide enough but the door is quite heavy. I think the red cord is in the wrong place. The soap dispenser is at a good height and easy (for me) to push and the hand dryer is also at a good height.

Staff