Plan Your Visit Find out how we will make your visit to the venue comfortable and welcoming. Portsmouth Guildhall Arrival Guide The Box Office is open: 9am-5pm, Monday- Friday, and at least half an hour before a show. If you have access needs, the security stewards will direct you to the accessible entrance when you arrive. If further assistance is required, please go to the Box Office who will be happy to assist. To pick up your tickets, you will need a form of identification – a payment card will be fine unless the performance information specifically states that you’ll need to produce photographic ID. You will also be asked to verify your postcode too. We only ask this to ensure we’re giving the tickets to the right people. You will not be asked for any ‘proof of disability’ to pick up your access tickets, though you or others in your party may be asked to provide proof of age to pick up any concessionary rate tickets or if there is an age restriction on the event. Once you’re inside, there will be a number of security staff as well as front of house staff. If you need any assistance or you have any concerns or questions, please don’t hesitate to ask any of them for assistance. Toilets Accessible toilets are available in the Basement and 1st floor areas and can be accessed by a lift. All fittings comply with Part M of the Building Regulations. Our new accessible toilet facilities including left and right transfers as well as an adult changing bed with hoist can be found in our basement area. The closest toilets to the wheelchair accessible platform are in the north side of the venue, which contains two small accessible toilets with a right transfer. The image below acts as a basic guide and our front of house team would be happy to guide you to the required accessible toilet. Customers with Medical Requirements Guide dogs and assistance animals are all welcome in our building. If you require an assistance dog whilst attending a show, please make us aware and ensure suitable seating is booked with Box Office. Facilities for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Patrons Our Box Office and auditorium have hearing loop systems in place. If you would like to use these, you will need to switch to the t-system on a hearing aid. Please note- it is recommended that, if you require use of the hearing loop system, that tickets are purchased in the Stalls or Upper Stalls area of the auditorium. Details of signed performances will be listed on individual production pages. Alternatively, you can search for British Sign Language in our search function on the website. If a performance doesn’t have any dates listed and you would be interested in using this service, please get in touch with us via access@portsmouthguildhall.org.uk and we may be able to arrange this. Venue Accessibility for Wheelchair Users We have lowered counter positions at our Box Office. We have a lowered bar counter available in our stalls bar for wheelchair users. Accessible toilet facilities can be found on the Basement level and 1st Floor. We have a number of wheelchair and companion spaces on our wheelchair platform in the Main Auditorium. Companions are required to sit behind the wheelchair user due to limited space. In our Studio, we have a number of wheelchair spaces that are reserved until the performance sells out, at which point they will be put on general sale. It is possible to put a chair back into the space if you decide you would like to transfer from your wheelchair into a seat, just let the Duty Manager know. Assistance Dogs Guide dogs and assistance dogs are all welcome in our building. If you require an assistance dog whilst attending a show, please make us aware and ensure suitable seating is booked with Box Office. Strobe Lighting Occasionally, performances will use Strobe Lighting. We will update the relevant Performance Information page on our website if we find out it is being used, as we understand this could impact people attending. If you have any concerns, please get in touch, and we will contact the relevant external production company to enquire. If strobe lighting is being used as part of a performance that you have purchased tickets to, we will of course offer a refund or exchange your tickets. We will also put a notice up if strobe lighting is being used for a performance in our front of house areas. With any performance, please feel free to get in touch with us if you need any information on an event to help you decide if it’s going to be right for you.