Access Statement for Sage Gateshead 2013 - This access statement does not contain personal opinions as to our suitability for those with ...

Access Statement
for Sage Gateshead
2013

This access statement does not contain personal opinions as to our
suitability for those with disabilities, but aims to accurately describe the
facilities and services that we offer to all of our visitors.

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1. Introduction

Sage Gateshead is one of the world's foremost venues for all types of
music. Our mission is to entertain, involve and inspire each and every
person we meet through engagement with outstanding music and
creative events. We run lots of classes, workshops, and sessions for
adults and children in our Learning and Participation programme both in
the building and around the region. We also host conferences, meetings,
weddings, and other private functions.

We are committed to a policy of accessibility for all to ensure that every
effort is made so that neither by action nor inaction will any individual or
group be unreasonably excluded from any activities, facilities, or
services offered.

We have won the North East England Tourism Gold Award 2012 and the
Visit England Silver Award in the Access for All category 2010

2. Pre-arrival information
It couldn’t be easier visiting Sage Gateshead, whether you arrive by foot,
bike, bus, car, motorbike, coach, taxi, train, plane or even limousine.

    We are located on Gateshead Quays between the Tyne and
     Gateshead Millennium Bridges. Our distinctive shape makes us
     impossible to miss.

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Public Transport
   Sage Gateshead is located on the south side of the River Tyne,
     0.6 miles from Gateshead Metro Interchange. The Tyne & Wear
     Metro
   All of our tickets entitle a customer to one free return journey on
     the Metro service.

On foot from Gateshead Metro
   Exit onto West Street. Turn left and walk down to the traffic lights.
     Turn right onto Askew Road, straight over the traffic lights at the
     end of the Tyne Bridge and then left at the next traffic lights onto
     Oakwellgate. Sage Gateshead is on your right. This walk takes
     about ten minutes.
For more information visit www.nexus.org.uk/metro

    Or you can travel from Gateshead Metro to Sage Gateshead via
     Quaylink bus.
     The Quaylink bus runs from Gateshead Metro Interchange to Sage
     Gateshead approximately every 15 minutes.
    All Quaylink buses have kneeling suspension and telescopic
     ramps for wheelchair access.
    Real time bus information is displayed at the West entrance and
     exit.

Other bus information is available from www.simplygo.com.

    For selected classical season concerts we provide a dedicated bus
     service over three routes: Hexham & Corbridge, and Alnwick &
     Morpeth via Felton, and Carlisle. Tickets cost £6.50 and should be
     booked in advance through our Ticket Office.

Driving
    From the A1(M) / A1:
      Take the exit signposted (from the South) Gateshead and
      Newcastle (Centre) A184 or (from the North) Gateshead A184.
      Keep in the left-hand lane of A184 signposted Gateshead town
      centre. At roundabout, take third exit, signposted Gateshead town
      centre. Go straight through two sets of traffic lights. Get into the
      right hand lane to go straight over at a third set of lights. At the
      fourth set of lights, turn left onto Oakwellgate and immediately right
      under the railway bridge up the steep slope into our car park, or
      second right to the drop-off point, or blue badge parking.

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 From Newcastle Centre:
    From the Tyne Bridge, go through the pedestrian traffic lights,
    under the railway bridge and straight across the next traffic lights.
    At the next lights, take the left signed Gateshead Quays and East
    Gateshead (NOT the loop signed Consett or Metro Centre).
    At the first lights with Mecca Bingo on your right, turn left onto
    Oakwellgate. Stay in the right hand lane under the railway bridge
    and take first right into our car park or second right to the drop-off
    point or blue badge parking.

   From the Swing Bridge:
    Go straight up Bridge Street, which turns into Cannon Street: as
    the road bears round to the right, go left for the drop-off point or
    blue badge parking or follow the road right into Oakwellgate and
    take the first left to our car park just before the railway bridge.
   There is a drop-off and collection point at the west door of Sage
    Gateshead.

Car Parking
Sage Gateshead has its own car park with lift access situated directly
behind the building.

Car Parking Charges
     Under 30 minute stay FREE – go straight to the exit with your
     ticket.
     Arrival Before 5pm – £1.50 per hour, throughout your stay.
     Arrival After 5pm – £4 flat rate up to 6am.
     Pre-paid Parking
     If you arrive after 5pm, you can pre-pay your parking charges
     before your event to avoid any delays upon exiting.

Payment Instructions
   Payment machines are available at the top & bottom of the car
    park stairs.
    Payments can only be made in cash. The machines do provide
    change.
    Credit or debit cards are not accepted
   Further car parking is available within two to fifteen minutes
    walking distance from Sage Gateshead, in Gateshead and
    Newcastle centres.

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Blue Badge Holders
   There are a number of priority spaces for blue badge holders near
     to the West entrance and rear to Sage Gateshead as well as in our
     car park by the lifts

To the west of the building in the “Turning circle” used for public
transport and drop offs:
    There are 3 Blue Badge bays are located next to the west
      entrance of the building, these are the closest spaces with a short
      flat surfaced walk to the main doors (approx 40 average steps).

Immediately behind the building on level access:
   There are 34 blue badge bays immediately to the rear of the
    building, providing flat gently sloping path-ways to both the West
    and East entrances (Both entrances have accessible automatic
    doorways)

In the Sage Gateshead Car Park, drive up the ramp signed to P
(Parking)
    Blue Badge bays account for 15% of our car parking, in the main
      car park and parking is FREE for Blue Badge holders – just visit
      coats desk by the West Doors for FREE exit ticket.
    As the main Car Park is above ground level, you will need to use
      either steps or one of two lifts to travel to ground level.

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 There are lifts from the car park to ground level and have both
    visual and Braille signage.
   The walk down the stairs from the car park to Sage Gateshead are
    10 +7, 10 + 6, 10 + 7 + 10 steps from car park to ground floor.

   Level access to the building is available on the east and west
    sides, with a gentle gradient in places.
   Revolving doors and automated access doors are located at both
    the east and west entrances.

For other travel options visit our website page
http://www.sagegateshead.com/your-visit/visiting-coming-to-an-
event/getting-here

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3. Booking arrangements

You can book:
   Online at www.sagegateshead.com .
  On line you have the options of booking best available or “select your
  own seat” options.

Or

      In person at Sage Gateshead's Ticket Office, or by phone on 0191
       443 4661
       You are able to discuss any access requirements you may have
       with the friendly Ticket Office staff and they will be able to use their
       vast knowledge and expertise to ensure you have the best
       possible seat to ensure an excellent experience. The ticket office
       has lowered desks.
       Whilst booking tickets with the Ticket Office staff you can request
       additional assistance via the Welcome Desk.

4. Arrival and Facilities at Sage Gateshead

      Sage Gateshead is a public building and you are welcome to visit
       at anytime all Front of House areas. The building is open from 9am
       – 11pm show nights and 9am – 10pm non show nights.
      You have free access to all of our public spaces, our Hall One
       viewing gallery, cafe, bar and Brasserie.
      We also offer Free Wi-Fi access.

If you enter by the West entrance (the Tyne Bridge side) we have
immediate level access to the Welcome Desk, free Coats Desk, our
Cafe, Brasserie and Bar.

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To the East entrance you will come face to face with the Ticket Office
and the Shop.
All Halls, facilities and services are available via either door.

Sage Gateshead has 4 lifts to provide assistance to higher levels and to
gain entry to the halls for concerts.

Hall One
Hall One is a spectacular wood-panelled auditorium boasting world-class
acoustics and a seating capacity of up to 1,640. Hall One can
accommodate 20 wheelchairs over all three levels to ensure seats are
available in all price zones.

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Hall Two
Hall Two is a distinctive ten-sided theatre designed to complement the
larger Hall One. This hall offers a more informal and intimate
environment. Hall Two has a standard of 4 wheelchair spaces, but can
accommodate more if required.
It is split over three levels, and has flexible performance layouts.

Northern Rock Foundation Hall
Northern Rock Foundation Hall is a stunning wood-panelled hall situated
in the centre of the building. It is the rehearsal space for our orchestra,
Royal Northern Sinfonia, and is sound isolated.
It is flat surface space.

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Barbour Room
The Barbour Room is situated behind Hall Two and is the primary
function room for conferences, events and banquets. This versatile flat
space is set back from the main body of the building. It has its own glass
balcony and toilet facilities.

Cafe / Brasserie
   Our cafe and Brasserie chairs do not have arm rests allowing for
     easy transfer from wheelchairs. Both catering areas offer a variety
     of food options including; vegan, Vegetarian, small portion options
     and a children’s menu.
   Nursing mothers are welcome to nurse in the Cafe, Brasserie and
     all Front of House areas.

Bars
   Bar facilities are available on concourse level as well as every
     level of Hall One and Level 1 of Hall Two.

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Music Education Centre
   The Music Education Centre is one level below ground floor and
     can be accessed by stairs or lift. We have 26 Music Education
     Class rooms.

The Greggs Children’s Room
   Is a safe workshop space for our family workshops and classes, it
     is immediately accessible via the west doors, there is space to
     park a pushchair directly outside the room. Changing facilities and
     toilets are available in the room.

Toilets
   There are 34 designated award-winning accessible toilet facilities
      throughout the building they can be found on every level of the
      building.
   WC facility is provided on level 1, with an overhead tracking hoist,
      changing table and a shower. The safe working load (SWL) of the
      overhead tracking hoist is 200kg or 440lbs
   Adult changing facilities with showers and hoist available.
      Customers who may require the use of the hoist are advised to
      bring their own sling.
   Unisex Baby Change facilities are available on every level of the
      building.

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Welcome and Coats Desk
   Our Welcome Desk is open from 9am – 5.30pm and offers a pre-
    bookable access assistance service you can contact them directly
    on 0191 443 4666 to book:
        • Infra-red Sennheiser hearing loop receivers,
        • Wheelchairs.
        • Staff Assistance from car park to building
    All equipment can be hired free of charge and can be collected
    from our Coats Desk.
   We offer a free Coats Desk facility

Shop
We have a fun and quirky gift shop, accessible directly via the East
doors on the flat level.
The shop is open during building opening times.

Signage
    There is permanent high-contrast building signage throughout.
    Braille signage can be found in the lifts, toilets and on the
     staircases inside the building

Emergency planning
   A building evacuation plan is in place. If this is a concern, please
    ask for further detail from the Duty Manager.
   Personal evacuation plans for customers with very specific access
    requirements are available. Please contact us in advance of your
    visit.
   In the event of evacuation we use Evac Chair INT LTD Model 300-
    H-MK 11 with a Max 136 KG load and Vimec 1-42045 LUZZARA
    stair climber, which takes a max load of 130 KG.
   We have two fire protected lifts for use in the event of evacuation,
    one for each Hall.

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Special Effects /extreme noise / Strobe Lighting
   These effects can be used during performances and will be signed
     on entrance to the Hall, Please ask if you require further
     information.

Additional information
   Assistance dogs are welcome at Sage Gateshead.
   The building is accessible to pushchairs, wheelchairs and electric
     scooters.
   Our events brochure is available in large print and audio versions.
     Customers can be placed on the mailing list for any format upon
     request.

5. Future plans

Our accessible facilities and services are constantly reviewed and where
appropriate or required, improved upon. Any changes will be shown
here.

6. Contact details

Sage Gateshead
St Mary's Square
Gateshead Quays
Gateshead
NE8 2JR
Telephone:
Welcome Desk : 0191 443 4666
Ticket Office: 0191443 4661

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