ACCESS USER GUIDES AND USEFUL LINKS
Below are easy read / large print versions of this page for you to download.
Click here to download a Word copy of our ACCESS POLICY
Click here to download a PDF copy of our ACCESS POLICY
Click here to download a copy of our VISUAL JOURNEY
Click here to download a copy of our LARGE PRINT WHAT’S ON GUIDE
We are grateful to be the recipients of a Bronze award from Attitude is Everything, who are helping us on our access journey.
Attitude is Everything improves Deaf and disabled people’s access to live music and the arts by working in partnership with audiences, artists and the music and arts industry. They also recruit mystery shoppers and volunteers. To find out more about them, visit their website by clicking here.
WANT TO HAVE YOUR SAY ON ACCESS? JOIN OUR ACCESS HUB!
Inclusion is very important to our ethos, so we have started an initiative to be led by and created for our wonderful access audiences. What works for you? What doesn’t work? Can you help us improve our access policy? Are you full of creative ideas? If you would like to be part of our Access Hub sign up by clicking here
CONTACT DETAILS
· Access Lead: Laura Scobie, click here to email Laura
· Online: Join our Access Register to book tickets online, click here to sign up
*Phone: 01273 201801, click here to phone The Old Market -Mon-Fri, 10:00-16:00 (excludes Bank Holidays).
· In person: Our Box Office is open Mon-Fri, 12:00-15:00 (excludes Bank Holidays) and is located at 11a, Upper Market Street, Hove, BN3 1AS.
What3Words location: ///cost.voted.hunt
· Response time: On weekdays, we aim to respond to access-related enquiries within 24 hours. We aim to respond to weekend / Bank Holiday enquiries the next working day.
ACCESS FACILITIES AND HOW TO BOOK
We have reasonable adjustments in place to make your customer journey simple and fuss-free, so please let us know if there is a form of communication that suits you best.
You can now book access tickets online if you have signed up to our Access Register scheme.
Click here to sign-up to the Access Register or call 01273 201801 to speak to us (our phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 10:00-16:00)
Click here for a ‘how to’ of how online bookings work
Companion tickets: The Old Market provides companion tickets across all our events for customers who would otherwise be unable to attend the venue. We accept this at face value and on a basis of trust (no proof required). You can book companion tickets online (after signing up for the Access Register), over the phone, or in person.
Compass Card scheme: Compass Card holders can get 15% off tickets on selected events by attaching their unique promo code to the cart. Available online, in person, or over the phone. Additional companion tickets can be added and processed as above.
SEATED EVENTS
Wheelchair spaces: We can allocate up to two wheelchairs and two companion spaces at our full-capacity seated events. These can be booked online, via phone or in person. These spaces are reserved on DD13-DD14 and HH16-HH17:
Wheelchair + PA spaces are highlighted in blue
For events with lower capacities (such as TOM’s Film Club), we can allocate up to two wheelchairs and two companion spaces on A13-A16.
Wheelchair + PA spaces are highlighted in blue
STANDING EVENTS
Wheelchair Spaces and Side Seats: Should you require a wheelchair space or a side seat at one of our standing events, we can accommodate up to three wheelchairs and three side seats maximum between both of our viewing areas. We cannot offer seats to accompanying companions, but they are welcome to stay nearby during the course of the event. Spaces and seats must be booked online, over the phone, or in person in advance of an event, but once you arrive at our venue, there may be an opportunity for you to pick the area that suits your needs the most (subject to availability):
1) Our first viewing area is located at the front of the auditorium (in front of the stage, near the side entrance doors). You will get a better view from here. This area is available on both our generic standing and ‘In The Box’ events.
Click here to view area 1
2) Our second viewing area is located just by the entrance to the auditorium (accessible from TOM's Bar). This is a safer, more contained area, but you won’t get as good a view from here. This area is only available on our generic standing events and is not available on any of our ‘In The Box’ events.
Click here to view area 2
· T&Cs: Available over the phone or counter (not currently available online). Must be reserved in advance of an event. Subject to availability. Please note; due to the nature of our multi-format venue, the set -ups may change.
TRAVEL AND ARRIVAL GUIDE
By Car or Taxi: The nearest car park with accessible parking bays is the NCP Regency Square Car Park, which is 0.5 miles away from the venue. There is also limited parking available right outside the venue, on the street, for blue badge holders (blue badge parking is located on double yellow lines, please arrive early to make sure you secure a space). Taxis are able to drop customers off right outside the main entrance of the venue.
By Train: Brighton station is the nearest train station to the venue and is 1 mile away.
By Bus: If travelling by bus from Brighton, the nearest bus stop is 160 metres away on Western Road. The stop is called Brunswick Place (outside the Farrow & Ball shop). If travelling by bus from Hove, the nearest bus stop is 170 metres away on Western Road. The stop is called Norfolk Square (outside the Co-op Supermarket). Bus services include: 1, 1A, 2, 5, 5A, 5B, 6, 46, 49, or (at night time) N1 and N5. The 700/ N700 Stagecoach bus also runs along this route.
VENUE DESCRIPTION AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARRIVE
· Before you get to us, if you require assistance (such as early entry), please let us know before your visit. We can let you in around 10 minutes before doors open.
· Box Office, TOM’s Bar and the performance space opening times are event specific. For most seated events, our doors open 45 minutes prior to start time, and for standing events, the door time is nearly always the same as the stated start time. Please check your booking confirmation for start times and keep an eye out for emails from us for more information closer to the time of an event.
· Upon arrival at the venue, please make yourself known to our Box Office or Front of House team, who will welcome you and be able to advise you where to go. As we have moved to e-ticketing for all our events, your downloaded e-ticket is all you’ll need to show us in order to gain entry. Please note, we may ask for photo ID at specific events. We will always let you know if that is that case in advance of the event.
· The Old Market has step free access from the street and throughout the venue, including access to the Box Office, TOM’s Bar and the Main House.
· Access to the lower level in the venue is either via 19 steps or via platform lift, which is 31” wide and 43” deep. This provides access to our toilets (including our accessible toilet).
· We also have a platform lift from our stage door to the backstage dressing rooms, which is 32” wide and “43” deep.
· If you wish to sit in our tiered seating area, please note that the seats are raised two steps per row, each step measures 43.5” wide, and we have a total of 22 steps.
TO ASSIST WITH YOUR VISIT
Toilets: We have an accessible toilet available within the venue. It is accessed via the platform lift, and is 12 metres away from the bottom of the platform lift. Radar keys are available to collect from Box Office. We don’t have a Changing Places toilet available at our venue. The nearest Changing Places toilet is located at Shelter Hall.
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 be sat next to you.
Strobe Lighting, Flashing Lights and Haze: We may occasionally have performances which contain strobe lighting, flashing lights and/or haze. Wherever possible, we will try and give customers this information in advance of booking. If you have any concerns, please call us to discuss further.
Breakout Spaces: We can provide a designated space as a breakout or sensory space. If you will require this, please contact us ahead of your visit.
Customers with Medical Requirements: We welcome any attendees who may need to bring medicine, food, drink or medical equipment with them to manage a medical condition. Please let us know at the time of booking if you need to bring any of this with you when you visit us so that we can let our teams know.
Assisted Performances: We are always striving to provide a number of different assisted performances to TOM, including Audio Described, British Sign Language Interpreted, Captioned and Relaxed performances. Please check our website event listings for all assisted performances.