Access Guide to Band on the WallBand on the Wall is a renowned centre for live music, situated in theheart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter.
The venue is designed to be as accessible as possible and this guideprovides information to help you plan and enjoy your visit. It isavailable on our website www.bandonthewall.org/access or you canrequest a hard copy by emailing access@bandonthewall.org
If you require larger text, most web browsers and PDF viewers will
enable you to enlarge the pages on your computer through holding CTRL
key (PC) or ⌘ key (Mac) and zooming in/out using the + and - keys.
We welcome feedback about this visitor and access guide or indeed
about any issues, particularly relating to access, that you may haveencountered when visiting the venue. Please email feedback toaccess@bandonthewall.org or post to:Band on the Wall, 25 Swan Street, Manchester

M4 5JZ

This document is also available as an audio guide or in braille, onrequest.

CONTENTS
1. Summary – Access Features
2. Ticket bookings
3. Location

3.1 In the City
3.2 Maps4. Transport and Parking

4.1 Bus
4.2 Train4.3 Metrolink
4.4 Taxi
4.5 Car
4.6 Car parking
4.7 Blue Badge parking
5. Getting in and Getting Around

5.1 Attendees at events in the main venue
5.2 Musicians/DJs performing in the main venue; info forwheelchair users
5.3 Visitors to education rooms or offices
5.4 Toilets
5.5 The lift
5.6 Seating
5.7 Strobe lighting
5.8 Assistance dogs
6. Means of Escape

1. Summary - Access Features

Band on the Wall seeks to maximise access for disabled people, whether
customers, performers, staff or participants. This guide provides
detailed information on various aspects of our venue accessibility but
in summary, there is level access to:● The main venue, ground floor (slight down-gradient asyou enter the main door)●The adjacent bar, ground floor●Education floor (via lift)

●The stage (via bar, ground floor)● Artists’ dressing rooms (via lift) with adjacentaccessible toilet & shower room
There is a step between the main bar ground floor and the main venue
ground floor; however, this can be avoided either by exiting from thebar and re-entering the main venue (blue door) or via the corridor tothe left of the main bar entrance.
●

There is an induction loop at the box office● There are accessible toilets on all floors apart fromthe mezzanine level●

There is a low-level counter in the main box office● There are low-level serving sections of the bar in themain venue and the adjacent main bar
If you require a personal assistant to attend with you, please contact
the venue for free access for your assistant. One week’s prior noticeis preferred. Band on the Wall aims to have all its staff trained toassist disabled people. Your feedback and queries are welcomed. Pleasecontact us for further information: Email: access@bandonthewall.org
Telephone: 0161 834 1786 (weekdays between 10:00 – 16:00)
Postal address: Band on the Wall,

25 Swan Street, Manchester M4 5JZ

2. Ticket Bookings

Tickets for all concerts can be bought directly from our website
www.bandonthewall.org or by phone through Ticketline 0161 832 1111.
There is a booking fee for this service.
Tickets can also be purchased in person at Band on the Wall’s box
office. Visit bandonthewall.org for current opening times.
There is no booking fee for tickets purchased with cash at our boxoffice. There is an assisted hearing facility at our box office.

The personal assistant of a disabled person is offered free admission.
This should be arranged in advance (ideally at least a week) byphoning the venue on 0161 834 1786 (weekdays between 10:00 - 16:00)
or emailing access@bandonthewall.org
3. Location
3.1 In the City

Band on the Wall and its adjacent bar are located on Swan Street in
Manchester’s Northern Quarter. We are 0.4 miles away from PiccadillyGardens, the main square of the City.
You can view an access route video from Manchester Piccadilly station
to Band on the Wall, detailing a flat route to aid those with mobility
requirements, here.
3.2 Maps

Our address is:Band on the Wall, 25 Swan Street, Manchester, M4 5JZ
View on a map and find out the distance between us and your location
by clicking here.
4. Transport and Parking
4.1 BusBand on the Wall is 0.4 miles from Piccadilly Gardens Bus Station and
0.2 miles from the Shudehill Transport Interchange.
• On foot from Piccadilly Gardens Bus Station, take Oldham Street andwalk to the end where it meets Great Ancoats Street (Frog & Bucket onyour right), turn left into Swan Street & Band on the Wall is 100yards on the left.
• On foot from Shudehill Interchange, walk up Shudehill and turn rightat the first set of lights (at the Crowne Plaza Hotel), into Swan
Street. Stay on the right hand side and Band on the Wall is 150 yards
on the right.
Accessible Buses

Nearly 60% of buses used in Manchester meet the design standards foraccessible buses, including low floor easy access. On some services
all the buses have this facility.
To find out the times of easy access buses:• Pick up a timetable at a TfGM Travelshop on main bus stations inGreater Manchester; or• Call TfGM customer services on 0161 244 1000
In some instances, travellers with disabilities are entitled to lower
fares and free travel in Manchester. For information on this – and forother information on bus and rail services visit
https://www.tfgm.com/accessible-travel
4.2 Train

Band on the Wall is located between Manchester’s main train stations,Piccadilly and Victoria. From Piccadilly Station it’s a walk of 0.7
miles and from Victoria 0.4 miles. Alternatively a taxi should costless than £6.
From Piccadilly Station - Turn right as you leave the station’s main
exit to London Road. Turn right on Newton Street and continue until
you reach the end crossing. Turn left ono Swan Street and continue.
Band on the Wall is two minutes away on your right hand side.
From Victoria Station - Turn left as you leave the main station
entrance, into Corporation Street. Walk 300 yards along Corporation
Street, cross the street and at the major junction turn right into
Miller Street. Walk up Miller Street for about 0.2 of a mile (past theCIS multi-storey building on your right). At the next major junction(at Shudehill) go straight across at the lights into Swan Street –past the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Walk up Swan Street and Band on the Wallis 150 yards along on the right.
National Rail Enquiries

Phone: 08457 48 49 50 Overseas: +44 (0) 20 7278 5240 Train Tracker:
0871 200 4950 Website: www.nationalrail.co.uk
Manchester is connected to the European rail network with a trainchange in London.
4.3 Metrolink

The nearest Metro stops are Market Street and Piccadilly Gardens –both by Primark in Piccadilly Gardens – and at Shudehill. All stops
are less than 0.4 miles from the venue. On foot from the Market Street
and Piccadilly Gardens stops, take Tib Street (at the side ofDebenhams) and go to the far end of Tib Street, then turn left into
Swan Street – Band on the Wall is just 100 yards on the left. On footfrom the Shudehill stop, turn left up Shudehill, cross the road and at
the second set of lights go right into Swan Street (at the Crowne
Plaza Hotel) – Band on the Wall is 150 Yards on your right.
Check www.tfgm.com for timetable information.
4.4 TaxiSeveral taxi firms serve Manchester city centre. Our door and box
office staff will be happy to assist in obtaining a taxi at the end ofthe night. A number of companies provide a wheelchair taxi service.
• Mantax (0161 230 3333) have an entire fleet of fully wheelchair
accessible taxis.
• Radiocars (0161 236 8033) advertise a ‘disabled-friendly’ service.
They can carry disabled passengers with fold up wheelchairs only.
4.5 CarTo plan your car route, visit www.theaa.com/routeplanner

4.6 Car parking

Band on the Wall does not have a car park. There are metered bays onthe adjacent Oak Street and on Swan Street. There is free car parking
after 20:00 on both sides of Swan Street (single yellows) where Bandon the Wall is located. There are also 24hr NCP car parks within 600
yards of the venue:• NCP Printworks Car Park - Shudehill M4 1EY (enter from Hanover
Street, off Shudehill). This has 44 disabled spaces. Telephone: 0845
050 7080• Arndale Centre - High Street M4 1EY (enter from High Street orShudehill/Wintergardens). Telephone: 0161 832 6471
From Band on the Wall, to get to Shudehill by car, take the left handlane on Swan Street and turn left at the first set of lights. The
Transport Interchange is then 300 yards on your right, car park justbefore the Interchange, sign-posted NCP Printworks Car Park.
The Arndale Centre is straight ahead down Shudehill, with the entrance
to the car park on the left just across the Metro line.
4.7 Blue Badge parking

Blue Badge holders may park with a badge and clock displayed for up tothree hours on a single or double yellow line (as long as no loading
restrictions are in force). The clock must be set to show the time ofarrival. This applies on Swan Street where Band on the Wall is locatedand in all surrounding streets, though parking at night inneighbouring side streets is not recommended as, although car crime
has reduced in recent years, it is still a factor in the area.
5. Getting in and Getting Around
5.1 Attendees at events in the main venue

Venue admission is by the main door. There are no steps at either
entrance or within the ground floor of each of the two venue spaces.

There is a single step in the corridor between the two venues;
however, level access can be achieved between the two spaces.
The main venue doors open outwards to the street and the floor slopes
slightly downwards in the foyer and is then flat for the rest of theground floor of the venue.
The balcony is the only part of the public areas that does not havelevel access.
From the foyer, as you enter the main venue through the door to theleft, the stage faces you and the bar is at the opposite end of theroom.

The accessible toilet is accessed on the right (as you face the stage)
and then immediately on the left. It is only a few yards from theauditorium.
There is a lower servery section on the left side of the bar in thevenue and to the right of the adjacent bar next door.
There is also an accessible toilet in the bar – on the right, justbefore the bar stage area.

5.2 Musicians/DJs performing in the main venue; info for wheelchair
users

There is level access to the stage and, via the lift, to the dressing
rooms and artists’ toilets/shower room.
5.3 Visitors to the World of Music learning floor or ICM offices

There is a buzzer for access to the building on the right side of thevenue entrance. Ring this during office hours (09.00 – 17.00 Mon-Fri)and a member of staff will come to let you in. If assistance isrequired please state this when you have made contact.
The offices and learning floor are situated on the first floor and areaccessed via the lift which can be reached from the bar entrance,
through the bar and on the left.
5.4 Toilets

The main public toilets are in the basement, accessed by stairs fromthe venue. However, there are four accessible toilets, all with level
access, in:-The main venue; accessed from the corridor on the right, as you
face the stage
The bar; on the right just ahead of the bar stage area
The basement, for the use of artists only, next door to thedressing rooms
The corridor on the first floor, for the use of staff and usersof the learning facilities (via lift)
The back corridor on the first floor, for the use of staff andusers of the learning facilities (via lift)

The entrances to all the accessible toilets are 92 cm wide and theinternal dimensions are 2m x 2m. All are fitted with grab rails andelectronic alarms. The internal dimensions of the accessible
toilet/shower room for artists are 3.3m x 2.3m.
5.5 The Lift

The lift is only used by staff, artists going to the dressing rooms
and visitors to the offices or learning. The entrance to the lift is
90 cms wide. Internally the dimensions are 1.2 metres wide by 1.5
metres deep. There is no requirement to turn in the lift as there areexits/entrances on two sides of the lift at the relevant levels.
5.6 Seating

There are several types of seating and the layout varies considerably
depending on the event. If you require more information about theseating for a particular event, please phone Band on the Wall on 0161
834 1786 (weekdays between 10:00 - 17:00) or email
access@bandonthewall.org
We do not offer a general seating reservation facility, but if a seatis an access requirement, please contact us in advance (ideally aminimum of one week) and we will arrange for you to have a seat. Even
when an event is advertised as ‘standing only’, there still is balcony
seating available. If stairs are a problem please get in touch toarrange ground floor seating.
We do not allocate a specific area for wheelchair users; we give theoption of where you wish to view the stage. However, if you requireassistance to find a viewing position, please ask a member of staff
and we will do our best to accommodate your request.
Height of seats

Loose chairs are 18 inches (46 cms) in height – seat base from floor.
On the balcony, which is not accessible by wheelchair users, the highstools are 30 inches (75 cms) in height and the low stools 18 inches(46 cms) in height. The stools are backless.
5.7 Strobe lighting

Strobe lighting is used during some performances as a visual effect.
A proportion of people with photo-sensitive epilepsy may be affectedby strobe lighting, and the effect may also produce undesirable
sensations amongst the general population.
Certain people with epilepsy and photosensitivity may suffer a seizure
if exposed to flashing or strobe lighting.

Please ask Band on the Wall’s staff if a strobe is in use prior toentering the venue, and they will be able to inform you. We will also
display signage in the bar area if strobe lighting will be used during
a performance.
5.8 Assistance Dog Policy

Assistance dogs are welcome in the venue and bar. The owner should
notify the venue of the intention to attend an event in advance wherepossible, please phone Band on the Wall on 0161 834 1786 (weekdays
between 10:00 - 16:00) or email access@bandonthewall.org
Staff are responsible for implementing cleaning protocols asnecessary. Staff are also asked to consider the requirements ofvisitors and their dogs as appropriate to the situation. This may bethat the dog is cared for outside of the auditorium and assistance isprovided to the owner if possible - the venue can be very loud anddetrimental to a dogs hearing, therefore the owner may be assisted bystaff into the venue leaving the dog in a suitable place in the bar orbox office.
Responsibilities of Assistance Dog Owners

The responsibility and care of the assistance dog is at all times thatof its owner.
6. Means of EscapeIn case of an emergency evacuation, please make your way out throughthe nearest exit. If you are in a non-public area of the building,there are refuges outside the lift entrances in the basement,
mezzanine and first floor levels. To evacuate, please:●Seek nearest lift point and press ‘CALL’ button●The status light will illuminate and a ring tone will

●The call will be answered●

Wait for the operator to finish speaking before replyingsound● Speak clearly in the direction of the unit - do notpress or hold the ‘CALL’ button during a call
● When the conversation finishes the status light willremain on. The operator is kept aware that you have made a callfrom this location and can contact you again● If you want to speak to the operator again press the‘CALL’ button.

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If you have any questions not addressed in this Access Guide pleasecontact us and we will be happy to assist. You can call us on 0161 834
1786 (weekdays between 10:00 - 16:00) or email
access@bandonthewall.org
We value your feedback - so please don’t hesitate to contact us if you
have any comments or suggestions as to how we can improve our service.