Overview

Cluny 2 access review. On Friday I managed to get photo passes for a fantastic band called Bigfoot playing the Cluny 2. I rang ahead to see what access was like and they said to give them a shout when I arrived. I went in a manual wheelchair with my partner pushing, luckily we got parked very close and although the side entrance was closed we did manage to get in through the main doors- however there was a difficult step for Michael to pull me up over and someone had to come and open the doors - only to be told we had to go back out again to get in one of the other entrances. Staff suggested pushing me down a very steep bank to their bottom door but we declined as going down steep hills is hard on the person in control of the chair. Instead we asked about the side door which they did open for us, this has a small bump to go up over - which may be difficult if self propelling, plus again the door needs physically opening and holding. One inside we were shown to a lift where you have to hold down the button until the lift arrives - takes a couple of minutes. The door into the lift is manual but stays open once pulled wide - but there is little room to manoeuvre if you are self propelling and doing it yourself. Once in the lift you have to keep holding the button until you reach the floor desired. On the bottom floor where the Cluny 2 is located, moving around is easy as it’s all flat. Once settled in there the only down side is they only sell a tiny selection of their drinks on that floor - able bodied customers generally pop upstairs to get their drinks but that would be impossible to do alone in a wheelchair carrying a drink. Maybe bar staff could help if enough staff present, luckily my partner popped back upstairs to get real ales for us. The disabled toilet is located on a different floor and I didn’t attempt to check it out as I didn’t want to lose my space at the front as I needed to take photos for a review. The staff were friendly and helpful but had little understanding of why going down a steep bank in a wheelchair is difficult. All in all it was a great night though For using Cluny 1 - his is accessible, but there are steps within that room, so only part of the room is accessible.

Transport & Parking

Buses dont run that close to the venue and it is located on a very steep bank, so could be difficult for some people to reach. Parking is limited and I did not see any disabled parking, although there may be some that I just did not pass or was full. A lot of the parking is on steep banks, we parked on Lime street. Buses do run from Newcastle city centre to about half a mile away the numbers 12, 39, 40, 62 - you need to get off the bus at the stop before the Tanners arms. It is supposedly a 7 minute walk according to google maps.

Access

one step on the main entrance which I needed help to get my wheelchair up. The side entrance has a very tiny step about 2-3 inches high. In the main pub you would need to go back out again and in the side entrance to use the lift to get access to the disabled toilets downstairs. This side door isn't always open so you would need to ask staff - I found them very helpful. The lift takes you to both gig halls. In the lift you have to keep your finger on the button until it arrives and to get to the desired floor. You need to manually open the lift door which can be awkward. There is a large seated area at the back of the hall, with tiered seats. If in a wheelchair you could sit right at the front easily - I did.

Toilets

I dd not use them, but was told they have accessible disabled toilets on the 2nd floor

Staff

Staff were helpful and friendly although had little understanding of how difficult manouevering a wheelchair down a hill and up a step is. I phoned ahead and was told to just ask for help when I arrived - however - had I gone alone I would not have been able to get in using the wheelchair to ask for help.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

I would use the venue again, but would ring ahead so they were prepared as it took them 5 minutes to help me and I was waiting outside in drizzle

Photos