Overview

I had a great experience here! My partner and I are both autistic, as well as him relying on crutches/mobility aids and me being a deaf wheelchair user - which as you can imagine can make going to the cinema difficult. However, this cinema gives an array of accessible viewings - such as dementia-friendly, relaxed, and hard of hearing screenings, as well as reduced costs to allow carers to come for free. It was a bit confusing about where to show our tickets as there was no one at the door of the show, but everything was very open plan and all doors being power-assisted made such a difference!

Transport & Parking

I don't drive, so I don't know what the parking is like - but from a quick search, the nearest blue badge spaces are in Nelson Street and Nun Street. There is also good access via the metro; monument is the nearest stop, less than one minute walk away. As I have a disabled bus pass, I went with my partner by bus. There is a direct bus that stops on the opposite side of the street directly opposite the cinema.

Access

As you come in, there is step-free access, with a slight ramp to get in - the door is power-assisted. There is a slight tight squeeze to get through the bar to get to the cinema - and although I managed, I have a small manual wheelchair so larger manual, scooters or powerchairs may struggle. From then on, all doors are power-assisted and there are also lots of grab bars nearby. The signage is relatively high up but is easily accessible and all signs are also in braille. There is an induction loop in the Box Office and Tyneside Bar. There is lots of comfortable seating in each room to take a rest on if needed (e.g. on each level by toilets, near the entrance of each screen etc.). The lift accesses all floors and is spacious enough, with a mirror and grab bar, as well as a foldable seat - which I imagine would be great for anyone who struggled with their mobility who didn't have a wheelchair or scooter.

Toilets

All accessible toilets had a changing place and had enough room for at least one carer to also be inside. To open the toilet, a radar key is needed and these toilets are on levels 1, 2 and 3 . They are extremely spacious and have lots of grab bars which can be easily reached and used due to their lightweight nature, and a red cord that hangs all the way down to the floor so again is easy to access. Toilets are easy to find as they are near the lifts on each floor as well as well signposted.

Staff

All staff were extremely friendly and helpful - I didn't have much contact due to being with my partner but everyone we met took on my access requirements (speaking directly face on so that I can lipread) and helping out as much as they could without being annoyingly overbearing (like lots of people can be!)

Anything else you wish to tell us?

I would definitely recommend this place to others! I was especially impressed by the lifts having foldable chairs available which definitely would have helped me prior to being a wheelchair user. We went to a subtitled performance which was really great and made such a difference!

Photos