Accessibility
Accessibility
BOAT is a relaxed venue, awarded the Bronze Access Award from Attitude is Everything. There is step-free access throughout the venue, from arrival at the entrance, to box office, the accessible toilet, and to the auditorium, though some slopes are quite steep
Contact us
The accessibility lead is Tanya Macleod. Our phone number is 07391 357542, and our box office phone line is open 12pm until 5pm, Monday to Friday. Please note we cannot issue you tickets over the phone, so we would prefer it if you could email us at hello@brightonopenairtheatre.co.uk for all contact with us. We will get back to you within 24 hours.
Visual guides and video tours coming soon!
Getting here
There are two disabled bays for Blue Badge holders on Dyke Road, opposite Fairways and near to Dyke Park Café. There is a bus stop at the Booth Museum, for buses number 27 and 77.
Arrival
There are smooth paths through the park leading from Dyke Road to our main gate. With the rose garden on your left, this path has a slight slope. With the rose garden on your right, past the children’s playground, the path is flat. There are green Brighton Open Air Theatre signs directing you to our entrance on both paths. The pathway through our main gate leads to the box office, which has a lowered counter. You will be welcomed at the main gate by one of our volunteers, who will show you to your seats and help you with anything you need.
Your visit
We have 8 wheelchair spaces, four on each side of the stage and at the end of the mid-tiered seating. They are all accessible by a smooth pathway, with a slight incline. Large wheelchairs and mobility scooters are able to access these spaces, however you may have to reverse out rather than turn, when you leave. Wheelchair tickets are available to book as your ticket for your show.
We can also reserve other access positions, like front row central for better sight or hearing, or end of row, for ease of access to and from the tiered seating. This position is particularly helpful for people with mental health concerns, or anxiety, or who are autistic.
Please also note that all our seating is on wooden sleepers (sitting as you would on a bench) and therefore has no back support.
Our bar is located in the southern corner of the site and does not have a pathway directly to it. The ground can become uneven as we go through the season, however, we have found that wheelchairs are OK to access all the site areas. Walking aids may be required if you would usually use one on grass areas. Please do ask for assistance from our front of house team, who will be happy to help you with your bar order should you need them.
Facilities
We have a new box office building you will see as you check in at the box office window. The path to the right of box office heads to the bar, and there is an accessible toilet here, on your left. There is a wall-mounted baby changing unit in this toilet. To your left of box office are the toilets. There are 4 cubicles and 2 urinals in here. These toilets are inclusive and mixed gender: just use whichever facility is for you.
Compass Card holders
Brighton Open Air Theatre is a Compass Card partner, managed by the charity Amaze, on behalf of Brighton and Hove City Council. Amaze offers a range of information, advice and support services to families of children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities, across Sussex. We also work with local learning disability heroes Carousel, and the charity Gig Buddies to improve our accessibility. Every performance at BOAT is a relaxed one, and so we are especially able to accommodate the needs of children and young people who are autistic. Please email us at hello@brightonopenairtheatre.co.uk if you would also like to book a pre-visit, so you and your family can familiarise yourself with the venue, and chat to us about how we can support you in the best way.
Personal Assistant Tickets
Complimentary Personal Assistant tickets are issued to carers who will support someone with a disability to enjoy a show. Once you have booked your concession (or wheelchair) ticket, please email us with the booking name and reference, and we will issue the carer ticket.
Assistance dogs
We welcome assistance dogs into the venue and will be more than happy to provide them with water for the duration of your visit. During a performance, an assistance dog would sit next to you. To secure a space for your assistant dog, please let our team know at the time of booking, by emailing us. It is really helpful for us if your assistance dog wears their harness to show they are a working dog. Dogs are not allowed at BOAT but lots of our customers want to bring them, so we would like everyone to see that any dog in our venue is an assistant dog only. Thank you for your understanding with this.
Loud noises, strobe, haze
If any of our shows contain loud noises, bright flashes of light, strobe, haze, smoke or anything we feel could trigger a medical condition, we will have clear signage to let you know as you arrive at box office. If you have concerns about any of these elements being in a performance that you are coming to see please get in touch.