Overview

The Tower Theatre in Stoke Newington, North London, is the home of the Tower Acting Company, a non-professional company, producing a varied programme of eighteen to twenty shows a year. The theatre housed in a historic former Methodist chapel has step free access and an accessible toilet. Staff were extremely helpful. Please note this is my first review using my new rollator, after using a crutch for eight years, and I am still getting used to using it, hence the absence of photos.

Transport & Parking

There are excellent public transport to the theatre. The nearest station is Stoke Newington (London Overground Weaver Line) , which is a short 3 - 5 minutes level walk to the station, is not step free. Nearest step free underground station is Finsbury Park and then bus 106 which stops directly opposite the theatre. The following buses stop opposite the theatre on Northwold Road (Northwold Road / Stoke Newington Common stop) 67 – Southbound 73 – Northbound 76 – Southbound 106 – Eastbound 149 – Southbound 243 – Southbound 276 – Westbound 393 – Westbound 476 – Southbound The following buses stop on Stoke Newington High Street just around the corner from the theatre. The stop is called Stoke Newington Church Street apart from for route 393, which is Stoke Newington High Street/Garnham Street 67 – Northbound 76 – Northbound 106 – Westbound 149 – Northbound 243 – Northbound 393 – Eastbound 476 – Northbound

Access

ENTRANCE There is a single step with a wrought iron fence either side to hold onto leading to the entrance door. To the left of the step is a permanent metal ramp. The gate to the ramp was open, I have a larger than average rollator and I found it just managed to get through the gateway, see photo. There is a double entrance door but only one side of it was open. However, that was sufficient to get my rollator through. FLEXI-STEP Immediately through the doors you come to a short flight of stairs with a handrail on both sides. To the right there is a flexi-step. It is an usable staircase that can be converted into a platform lift. There were staff at the top of the staircase who operated the lift for me. It is the first time I've seen one and I was very impressed. It was fascinating to watch it convert into a lift, and it was quick and easy to use and the journey was comfortable. FOYER/ BAR AREA On the first floor there is the bar area. It was busy and I was being escorted to the lift, so did not check this out so sorry unable to comment. LIFT TO AUDITORIUM From the flexi stairs the lift is on the right hand side. Again the member of staff showed me where it was but we used it independently. It was nice that my friend was able to travel with me. The lift accommodated my rollator and four adults, with me sitting on my rollator going up. So the lift is a decent size. I'm sorry I didn't use or see the stairs from the bar to auditorium area. AUDITORIUM This is a small, compact theatre, with one large seating area. The front row is at the same height as the stage, see photo, and there are rows behind and the first couple are step free (I think) and there are some steps to the back rows.

Toilets

The accessible toilet is on the first floor where the bar and foyer are located. It is down a short, narrow-ish corridor that leads to all the toilets. Towards the end of the corridor the accessible toilet is on the right. The accessible toilet door opens out so I stood back so it would not open on me when the person came out, and in doing so blocked the entrance to the women's toilets. This meant I kept moving backward and forward until the person came out of the accessible toilet. This is why I marked the accessible toilet down, as most people were considerate and gave me time to move myself and rollator out of their way but one person pushed passed me and climbed over rollator's wheels to get into the toilet. She later apologised. The accessible toilet has a manual door. It does not require a key or code to open it. It was large enough for me to take in my rollator and turn it around to exit. However, I think the size and layout may make it a bit snug for some powerchair users. There were grab rails, see photo. There is a drop down right hand side grab rail and a horizontal grab rail to the right. The left hand grab rail is horizontal and nearer to the sink and mirror than the toilet. It worked for me. There is an emergency red cord alarm which reaches towards the floor. The toilet is clean, tidy and well maintained.

Staff

Outstanding. Staff were extremely friendly and helpful. They made us feel very welcome and checked that I had everything I needed. CONTACT PRIOR TO THE PERFORMANCE DAY On their website they ask wheelchair users to inform them in advance if they require a wheelchair space. I emailed about my rollator and got a very positive reply back within half an hour saying, that they could store my rollator for me during the show and bring it to me in the interval and at the end of the performance. They also arranged to reserve two front row, step free seats for us. PERFORMACE DAY There were no staff at the ground floor level but I was easily spotted and approached when I came inside and staff operated the flexi-step and showed us where the lift was. Two front row step, free seats had been reserved for us and we were just a few inches away from the stage. Staff took my rollator and asked if I needed it during the interval and they brought it to me at the end of the show. They accompanied us back to the lift and then operated the flexi-step for us.

Photos