Venue Description

The Atkinson is a stunning Grade II listed nineteenth century building which has been refurbished with a strong contemporary feel situated in the middle of Lord Street in Southport, and its mission is to be a regional centre for excellence and enjoyment of arts, culture and heritage. As well as its art gallery and museum, which regularly host major exhibitions, it has a theatre and two studio spaces where you can see performances from some of the UK's foremost musicians, actors and dancers. The Atkinson also has a shop selling a stunning selection of gifts and contemporary crafts from regional makers, and is home to Sefton library and a café called 'A Great Little Place', selling delicious hot and cold food, cakes and drinks. This café is a social enterprise by Autism Ventures, a subsidiary of the charity Autism Initiatives UK. The Atkinson offers an exciting and varied destination for families, cultural tourists and arts enthusiasts alike and we hope you enjoy your visit.

Accessibility

Access is at street level, the main entrance is a paved flat surface with a slight uphill gradient. There are two automatic doors at the main entrance. There is a lift to all floors i.e. first floor and second floor. Ramps allow for wheelchair access to the ground floor lift. Wheelchairs are available on site for visitor use if required. The shop and box office are on the left hand side of the main entrance and are step-free from the flat level entrance. The shop is suitable for a conventional manual wheelchair. A section of the shop counter is lowered for access. An induction loop is set up on our box office counter. A Great Little Place café is on the right hand side of the main entrance and fully accessible with no steps. The Performance Spaces The theatre is on the first floor. The auditorium has a hearing loop system. Please request assistance at the box office. Full infra-red emitters are in all our performance spaces. Wheelchair spaces are available on the ground level section of the auditorium. Wheelchairs enter the theatre from the first floor. There is a lift and a member of the team is always on hand to help. There are two studio spaces - one on the first floor and one on the second floor. There is a lift to each floor, with ramp access for wheelchairs to the lift, and a member of the team is always on hand to help. Wheelchairs enter the studio through the main doors – there are no steps. The Hideout The Atkinson has a 'calm space' called 'The Hideout' on the second floor, installed in an alcove, it features calming sensory projections, curtains to make the space more private, sensory toys and a reading area featuring learning and sensory books from Sefton library providing a space for SEND children and their families to enjoy. The Bars The theatre bar is on the first floor. It has no steps and the counter is lowered in the centre for access. The studio on the first floor has a bar within the actual performance space on the left hand side, and the counter is lowered for access. The Library The library is on the ground floor. There is ramp access for wheelchairs to the entrance. There is a lower level access point at the cash desk. All public use computers have software installed to increase text size. The computers are wheelchair accessible with adjustable table heights available. A large format colour coded keyboard and mouse are available on request. There is a portable hearing loop available on request. The Atkinson strives to provide for the needs of its visitors and is willing to accommodate requests from disabled visitors if at all reasonably possible. Carers are not charged for priced events when accompanying a disabled visitor. Assistance dogs are welcome.

Accessibility Guide

Accessibility Guide Link: https://www.theatkinson.co.uk/visit-us/accessibility/

Accessible Performances

The Atkinson strives to provide for the needs of its visitors and is willing to accommodate requests from disabled visitors if at all reasonably possible. Carers are not charged for priced events when accompanying a disabled visitor.

Awards List

The Atkinson is listed on Visit England and has been awarded a Certificate of Excellence by Trip Advisor (2016).

Toilets

Ground Floor On the ground floor there is an accessible toilet for disabled visitors in between the foyer and the library. This is opened with a radar key. If you don’t have one, please ask a member of staff at the box office for a key. The toilet has a horizontal rail to assist door closing, a coat hook, a higher toilet pan, vertical and horizontal grab rails, a drop down rail, disposal bin, a basin with a lever tap, soap dispenser, hand dryer and general waste bin. There is also an emergency alarm pull cord facility for assistance. First Floor On the first floor there is an adult changing facility with an accessible toilet for disabled visitors opposite the theatre bar. This is opened with a radar key. If you don’t have one, please ask a member of staff who will be happy to help and get one for you at the box office. The changing facility/toilet has a horizontal rail to assist door closing and is fully lockable. There is also an emergency alarm pull cord facility for assistance. The changing facility/toilet has a changing bed and hoist, shower handset and hose which can also be fixed to a slide rail, paper towel dispenser, vertical grab rail, privacy screen, disposal bin, 18 inch square mirror and coat hook. There is also a basin with a lever tap, soap dispenser, hand dryer and general waste bin. The toilet has drop down rails either side of the toilet pan and a higher toilet pan. Second Floor On the second floor there is an accessible toilet for disabled visitors opposite the 'calm space' called 'The Hideout'. This is opened with a radar key. If you don’t have one, please ask a member of staff who will be happy to help and get one for you at the box office. The toilet has a horizontal rail to assist door closing, a coat hook, a higher toilet pan, vertical and horizontal grab rails, a drop down rail, disposal bin, a basin with a lever tap, soap dispenser, hand dryer and general waste bin. There is also an emergency alarm pull cord facility for assistance.

Staff

The Atkinson has: • several trained Dementia Champions who facilitate an ongoing programme of Dementia friends training for staff, volunteers, partners and other stakeholders to attend; and • several Inclusion Volunteers trained to support SEND children and their families.