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    Welcome

    Arts by the Sea is an inspirational eight-day festival of artistic and cultural experiences. Using Bournemouth's beautiful and unique town centre locations, we showcase a vibrant street arts programme, diverse music, dance, illuminated site-specific installations and exciting large-scale spectaculars. You can also participate in some of our performances too. 

    The majority of festival events are free and family friendly and the main venue for the festival is the Central Gardens, Town Square, Lower Gardens and Pier Approach. The main entrance to the festival is via the Town Square.

    Some events are ticketed and take place in indoor venues across the town.

    Arts by the Sea Festival

    Level access

    The main entrance has level access. The ramp is permanent.

    There is level access from the main entrance to:

    Lower Gardens Festival indoor venuesTown Hall car park

    There is level access from the car park to:

    Grass areas & Park Benches in the Gardens
    We have a viewing area for wheelchair users.

    Hearing

    All staff have disability awareness training.

    General

    We have a complimentary ticket policy for personal assistants.
    There is a public toilet for disabled visitors. The toilet is a Changing Places toilet.
    All staff have disability awareness training.

    Getting here

    Arts by the Sea Festival Map
    Festival entrance - Bournemouth Town Square
    Bournemouth
    BH2 6ED

    Travel by public transport

    You can get to Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival, 29th September - 6th October 2018 by bus and train.
    The closest bus stops are on Gervis Place, directly in front of Bournemouth Square. This enables direct access to the Central and the Lower Gardens, as well as the Town Square , Town Hall, Bournemouth Pier and Beaches. The bus stop is 0.1 miles / 0.2 km from Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival, 29th September - 6th October 2018.
    The nearest train station is Bournemouth. The train station is 1.5 miles / 2.4 km from Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival, 29th September - 6th October 2018.

    There is a bus station and a taxi rank outside the train station. Most buses will take you into the Town Centre via Bournemouth Square (Gervis Place).

    Travel by taxi

    You can get a taxi with United Taxis by calling 01202 556677. The taxi company has a wheelchair accessible vehicle.
    You can get a taxi with Star Radio Cars Ltd by calling 01202 391919. The taxi company has a wheelchair accessible vehicle.
    You can get a taxi with Mobile Radio Cars by calling 01202 518000. The taxi company has a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

    The main part of the festival will take place in the Central and Lower Gardens and the Town Square, which all have accessible routes. The Pier and Town Hall are less than 1 mile apart from each other and are connected by the Gardens and the Square. (Please note that the performance outside the Town Hall is not accessible from the Central Gardens, please follow Bourne Avenue for wheelchair friendly access).

    Parking

    There is parking near the venue. There are accessible parking spaces. The parking is less than 50 metres from the main entrance. Parking is not free.
    There is no drop off in the Town Square. Drop off points are: Pavilion car park (there is a lift with access to Pavilion Terrace and then Lower Gardens via a ramp), Bournemouth Pier bus stop (level access to Pier Approach next to the BIC).

    Most parts of Bournemouth are on a slope, however access from the Pavilion car park into the gardens is level (with 2 purpose built slopes behind the Pavilion). The new BH2 complex in the town centre has parking and is adjacent to the Lower Gardens with level disabled access into the Gardens.

    lift to pavilion terrace and cafe head straight on passing the cafe to your left ramp to pier approach or cafe at the back of the pavilion to the left ramp towards pier approach, beaches and the Lower Gardens Bournemouth Pier is flat and accessible by wheelchairs. Key West bar has an accessible toilet on the East side of the Pier Pier approach, flat/level surface, accessible cafes, seating Lower gardens,flat route through the gardens from pier,access from sides may be steep. Lift from pavilion or slope from Square. Bandstand in Lower Gardens, accessible from main route, benches, picnic/grass area, access through wide breaks in rail Bournemouth Square, level, slope to the Lower Gardens, surrounded by hills, direct access from buses. Central Gardens, wide path, benches, accessible from Bourne Ave., opposite Tesco and New Look on the Square, no Town Hall access Town Hall,accessible from Bourne Ave,slopes around the entire building,accessible crossings,no direct access to C.Gardens

    Arrival

    Path to main entrance

    From the street to the main entrance, there is level access.
    The path is sloped.

    Main entrance

    The main entrance has level access.
    There is a permanent ramp.

    The festival is centred in the Gardens, branching out to the Pier, Beaches and Town Hall. There is direct access from the Town Square to both Central and Lower Gardens. The Town Hall can be accessed via the Square, following Bourne Avenue (please note that the Town Hall is not accessible from the Central Gardens). The Pier and Beaches are accessible via the Lower Gardens. Most entrances have accessible slopes, however some can be steep. Best accesses are via the Pavilion lift or from the Town Square.

    Watch the video: Accessible Route
    Access from Town Square to the Lower Gardens Access to Town Square coming from the Lower Gardens Level access to the Central Gardens from Town Square Level Crossing from Central Gardens to Town Square Level crossing from Bourne Avenue to the Town Hall Lift access from Bournemouth Pavilion to Lower Gardens and Beaches Slope into Lower Gardens and Beaches from Pavilion Lift

    Getting around inside

    Lift

    We have 1 lift.
    You can get a lift to some floors.

    Pavilion lift

    The lift buttons have raised numbers or letters.
    This lift is situated down the side of the Pavilion and will take you from the Pavilion entrance on Westover Road down to the Pavilion Terrace. From here you can access the Lower Gardens and beach by crossing the terrace past Pavilion Dance South West, down a slope and under the flyover to Pier Approach. The lift is wide enough for one full size wheelchair but may not be wide enough for a large electric wheelchair or mobility scooter. The lift leads to the Pavilion Terrace, please be aware that there is a Cafe on the terrace. This is not directly accessible from the lift due to a small flight of steps. To access the cafe from a level route you will need to traverse along the full length of the terrace and use a slope at the back of the Pavilion. The cafe has a seating area outside the lift, please be aware of any tables and chairs that may obstruct your route to the slope (the Cafe staff is aware of this problem and will help to clear a route, if necessary).For more information on using the lift and accessible routes around the Pavilion, please visit their website or contact the venue: http://www.bournemouthpavilion.co.uk/tickets/accessibility/.
    Lift at the top, next to the Pavilion entrance Pavilion Terrace, with the slope at the back of the Pavilion Pier and Pier Approach, Pavilion aerial view

    Things to See and Do

    We have a complimentary ticket policy for personal assistants.

    Spectator/ Audience viewing areas

    There are stewards to help disabled visitors.
    We have a viewing area for wheelchair users.

    Town Hall: accessible viewing area

    From the main entrance to the viewing area, there is level access. Personal assistants and friends can sit with wheelchair users.

    There is an accessible viewing area for performances outside the Town Hall. Other locations do not have a designated area.

    Public toilet

    Lower Gardens

    There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.
    The toilet is a Changing Places toilet.
    From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access.

    The toilet is located in the Lower Gardens, opposite the old balloon field.

    It is very close to the Town Square and buses.

    There are more Accessible Toilet facilities throughout Bournemouth: 1.Debenhams, Town Square, 2.Bournemouth Central East Promenade, next to Harry Ramsden’s 3.Pier Entrance  4.Richmond Gardens, Floor 1 multi-storey car park,  5.Bournemouth Library, The Triangle 6.Bournemouth Station, next to the National Express ticket office

     

    Disabled Toilet and registered Changing Places facility, no Radar key needed

    Festival indoor venues

    From the main entrance to this area, there is level access.

    The Festival includes performances in several indoor venues. These are either unticketed, ticketed and free or require paid tickets. Please check the festival website or brochure for more information. For Accessibility information on these venues, please contact the venue or visit their website:

    Pavilion Dance South West: https://www.pdsw.org.uk/about-us/visit-us/

    Shelley Theatre: http://shelleytheatre.co.uk/article.php?sec=ABOUT&articleId=3567

    Halo: http://www.halobournemouth.com/contact/

    Russell-Cotes Museum: http://russellcotes.com/accessibility/

    Bournemouth Natural Science Society: http://bnss.org.uk/visit-us/

    St Peter's Church: http://www.stpetersbournemouth.org.uk/contact-us/

    Bournemouth Natural Science Society Accessible Entrance to Bournemouth Natural Science Society - to the left of the main entrance. Bournemouth Natural Science Society has a wide double door into the building and garden, with a stair lift for upper levels. Halo Halo Accessible Entrance St Peter's Church St Peter's Church Accessible Entrance, the path from the road is on a small slope The Shelley Manor / Theater Main Entrance to the Shelley Theatre, wide accessible doors with level access into the building. Russell Cotes Gallery Garden Entrance Russell Cotes Gallery Entrance

    Getting around outside

    Picnic Area

    Grass areas & Park Benches in the Gardens

    From the car park to the picnic area, there is level access. There is a lift.
    Some tables have space for wheelchair users. You can bring your own food to the picnic area.

    Please note that this is an outdoor festival. Visitors are welcome to bring their own food which can be consumed anywhere around the gardens, except the kiosk benches, which are reserved for customers only. Visitors can use the grass areas and park benches around the gardens, however there are other picnic and cafe areas from different businesses that may allow you to consume your own food at their tables.

    Town Hall car park

    From the main entrance to this area, there is level access.

    Customer care support

    Customer care support

    All staff have disability awareness training.
    Guide info
    Any information, comments and views made available to users via this Accessibility Guide are provided directly from third party business operators. VisitEngland and VisitScotland do not endorse or validate this information. Any reliance on this Accessibility Guide is at your own risk. This guide is not intended to be a substitute for users making their own checks, inquiries and investigations directly with the business operators prior to making any booking or visiting the venue.