Overview

I was so disappointed. This new venue has just opened after a very pricey expansion and remodel and boasts of fantastic accessibility, I even emailed and was reassured further that I’d have fantastic views and it’d all be rosey. It was not the case, the seating arrangement was so poorly thought out, the wheelchair seating was the worst I’ve ever experienced to date. The staff were clueless, the bathrooms were small and filthy and everyone was using them because none required radar keys. You can buy a bottle of juice but they don’t let you keep the lid which is no good. You also can’t have more than a carer sitting with you, so my friend and I couldn’t sit together- I partly understand this because the disabled seating was so bad- but they need to have a complete rethink of how they are accommodating their disabled customers

Transport & Parking

There is a great deal of parking in the park but its £10 so we chose to park free in a nearby street and it only took 5-10 mins walk from there. There appeared to be ‘golf buggies’ going from the car park to the entrance so that ‘d be good for those with mobility issues. There was also a bus stop and hotels

Access

I’m scoring this so low partly because I expected so much more. The signage was very poor, even the staff didn’t have a clue, some had maps but weren’t sure how to read them. There appeared to be no seating anywhere! I saw people with crutches sitting on the floor. When I got into the hall for the gig there were people everywhere and no staff so I had to weave my way in then ask staff where to go, showing them my ticket. I was then directed to a platform at the back and another member of staff looked at my ticket and began pointing me up the ramp, but I’d emailed to ask exactly where I was and knew I was at the front, I told them this and they just pointed to the front. More weaving around, I got to the front and was pointed to my seat. The worst view ever. All the wheelchair users I spoke to were so disappointed, our view was completely obstructed by high speakers and high sheets and we were so far at the side. I went to a member of staff at the front who was very dismissive, I then went to a young girl who seemed super stressed but was lovely and called her supervisor. He took me to the other side of the stage, equally as bad but just slightly better. They had the VIP ticket holders in the middle of us going along the length of the stage, as they were standing up, the tall ones were an additional issue to viewing the stage. I couldn’t see the stage, I went to see Alice Cooper who has a massive (very impressive I hear!) stage show with props, but we couldnt see it. Thankfully the band did spend most of their time at the very front of the stage which was the only bit we could see. Even if I was in the flatform, it was so far back and had rows of people on the same level so I doubt it would be better- it was also crammed full so not much room to manoeuvre.

Toilets

There were lots of toilets, but the disabled loos didn’t require a radar key so everyone was using them- lots of drunk men- so they were all very wet and dirty. They were also too small to turn in which is just shocking for a new venue. It meant I couldn’t do the door myself, but the toilet was really too small for a carer to be in as well. The bins had foot pedals too.

Staff

I felt really bad for the staff, lots of young women who were not well managed- not their fault. The VIP ‘area’ was not marked at all so people were constantly flooding past us and not knowing it was an accessible then VIP row, most wouldn’t listen to the poor girls either who tried desperately to shout the rules over the music. The supervisor seemed very stressed, there were collections of staff in quiet areas and a serious lack of them in isles where they were needed. Some were friendly, but they didn’t seem to know what they were doing and didn’t seem to be supporting eachother.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

They really need to completely change their seating for wheelchair users. I’d recommend the front row of every teir be used for wheelchair users, a more ‘semi circle’ design for the seating, no obstructions at the sides of the stage/ longer stage/ stage in the middle. A bigger raised platform nearer to the stage. More security, better signposting and much more of it, staff to work in teams, RADAR KEY toilets!!

Photos