Accessibility

The Access Scheme is designed to ensure we are able to better serve our audience members who have specific, permanent access requirements whilst they are on site at our Festivals and events.

If you are a wheelchair user, please provide us with information about the size and specification of your wheelchair when you complete the access form. Space will be allocated specifically for your wheelchair with a seat for your Personal Assistant next to it. Please don’t get out of your wheelchair to sit in an alternative seat, as we are unable to store wheelchairs and must maintain clear entrances and exits to the event venue in order to comply with Health and Safety evacuation requirements.

Please provide information about the size and specification of your mobility scooter when you complete the access form. This is so that we can ensure we are able to accommodate it on the paths on site.

Mobility scooters cannot be driven into events as we are unable to store them safely, and we must maintain clear entrances and exits to event venues in order to comply with Health and Safety evacuation requirements.

Electric wheelchairs can be taken into events. Space will be allocated for both electric and manual wheelchairs with space for a Personal Assistant next to it.

In order to help us to maintain a safe site, please use the access form to make us aware of any mobility aids that are larger than a regular wheelchair.

If you are unable to attend any event or Festival without additional support, you can apply for a complimentary ticket via our Access Scheme so that a personal assistant / carer can accompany you.

Before applying for a personal assistant/carer ticket, please ensure the person with access requirements has already purchased their ticket. We will request a supporting document as evidence of your access requirements to support your application – this can be a PIP or DLA letter, or a medical/diagnosis letter.

A hearing loop may be installed dependent on the event or the venue. Please indicate on the Access Form if you require a hearing loop so we can make sure you are seated somewhere suitable if a loop is unavailable.

On-site parking at our venues may be limited. Additional multi-storey car parks and on-street parking are available within walking distance.

Disabled toilets are available at each of our venues. For more venue specific information, please view the corresponding venue guide below.

There may be flashing lights and strobe effects on all stages. Lasers may also be used.

If you are sensitive to flashing lights, please take care and let staff know if you feel unwell.

Venue guides for each of our venues can be found below.

For the Theakston’s Stage in the main event tent is located a short walk from the site entrance, up a small incline. There will be a separate access route up to the tent for Access Scheme members, which will be marked as Route A on the site map. This will be clearly signposted and is open only to Access Scheme members, Friends and VIPs (except for instances where other Festival goers need to reach an area along the access route for specific events). Please note that Route A is one way, so when you leave the main event tent, we kindly ask that you follow Route B, in order to leave Route A clear for those coming towards the main event tent.

Our Festivals and events can be busy and exciting environments. Whilst schedules are jam-packed with great events, you don’t need to see everything. If you need to take a break, The Stray and Valley Gardens are just minutes away from many of our venues for a calm and peaceful escape.

Assistance dogs are welcome at events. They must be kept on a lead at all times and cannot enter the restaurant areas due to hotel policy. Please indicate on the Access Form that you will be bringing an assistant dog so we can make sure you are seated somewhere suitable.

Please note that only assistant dogs are able to enter events, other domestic pets are not permitted.

We recognise that not all assistance dogs are registered with Assistance Dogs UK Members and assistance dogs can be trained by their owners.

We allow access to assistance dogs who are not formally trained by Assistance Dogs UK as long as they meet the Equalities and Human Rights Commission’s definition of an assistance dog.

This means your dog needs to have been trained:

• Not to wander around the premises or approach other customers.
• To only go to the toilet on command in a designated area of the event.
• To sit or lie quietly next to their owner.

Due to the crowded nature of our events and the low lighting conditions customers can experience, we request that your assistance dog wears a high vis jacket, even if they do not usually do so. This request is to ensure we meet customers’ access requirements while ensuring we also fulfil our legal obligation to provide a safe environment for all customers.

If your dog is wandering freely, approaching other customers, barking aggressively or going to the toilet outside of the designated area then we cannot consider it to be an assistance dog and will ask you to remove your dog from the premises.

Parking facilities vary for each of our Festivals depending on the venue. There are several car parks near each of our venues as well as some on-street parking at select venues. Find out more about parking options in Harrogate here.

Crown Place, Harrogate, HG1 2RZ

Located in Harrogate, close to Valley Gardens, overlooking Montpellier Gardens.

Google Maps – Find the venue on google maps here

There are limited car parking spaces available at The Crown Hotel. The hotel will charge a fee for using their car park. Please contact the venue directly if you wish to reserve parking. You can find additional multi-storey car parks and on-street parking available within walking distance. The nearest multi-stories for this venue are Montpellier Shoppers car park and Jubilee car park and they can be paid for with cash, credit/debit cards (exc. American Express) and AppyParking app.

Swan Rd, Harrogate, HG1 2SR

Google Maps – Find the venue on google maps here

Parking at the Old Swan Hotel is available and you may require a permit to be purchased from the hotel reception. If the car park is full, on-street car parking is available on the streets around the hotel on Sunday mornings. A disc may be needed.

Please note: parking facilities are not available at Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival. You can find additional multi-storey car parks and on-street parking available within walking distance.

Duchy Road, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1 2EY

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There are very limited car parking spaces available at St Wilfrid’s Church and these are preferred for disabled access. There is plenty of on-street parking available in the streets surrounding the Church within walking distance. You may need a disc to park on this street which can be collected from our Cheltenham Parade Box Office ahead of the event or our on-site Box Office on the day.

Wesley Chapel, 28 Oxford St, Harrogate HG1 1PP

Google Maps – Find the venue on google maps here

There is no parking at the Wesley Centre, but plenty of on street parking and car parks in Harrogate. The nearest multi-storey to this venue is Jubilee car park which can be paid for with cash, credit/debit cards (exc. American Express) and AppyParking app.

The Spiegeltent is located in Crescent Gardens, Crescent Road, Harrogate, HG1 2SG. You can find additional multi-storey car parks and on-street parking available within walking distance. The nearest multi-stories for this venue are Montpellier Shoppers car park and Jubilee car park and they can be paid for with cash, credit/debit cards (exc. American Express) and AppyParking app.

Ripon Rd, Harrogate HG1 2SY

Google Maps – Find the venue on google maps here

There is no car parking available at The Royal Hall but there is plenty of on-street parking available in the streets surrounding it within walking distance. The nearest multi-stories for this venue are Montpellier Shoppers car park and Jubilee car park and they can be paid for with cash, credit/debit cards (exc. American Express) and AppyParking app.