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Access Information

Are You Listening? Festival is a music festival that raises money for Reading Mencap, a local learning disability charity. We are committed to making the event as inclusive as possible so that everyone can enjoy it with us.

If you have any ideas for improving access at the Festival, or if you have any issues, please get in touch. Running the Festival across multiple venues in the town offers many challenges but we’re constantly looking to improve our accessibility.

​Please contact us in advance if you have any questions or require any assistance, we will always be happy to help in any way we can. We aim to answer all access-related enquiries within five working days.

Our Contact Details

Our point of contact for all accessibility needs is Dave Maul
Email: info@heavypop.co.uk
Office Telephone: 0118 327 2050
Please note: due to the nature of our event, we may not always be available to answer but do try during office hours.
Postal Address: Accessibility Needs, Are You Listening? Festival, South Street Arts Centre, Reading RG1 4QU

Getting to Are You Listening? Festival

Box Office and Wristband Exchange
Our Box Office and Wristband Exchange is at the AYL? Hub which can be accessed without steps
Address: AYL? Hub, Market Place, Reading RG1 2EQ
Telephone: 0118 327 2050

Our Venues

Below is the venue information for all our venues, including arrival, stage view and toilet information. Our venues are all based in Reading town centre, and at their furthest point can be up to 0.7 miles apart.

AYL? Hub

Address: Market Place, Reading RG1 2EQ
Telephone: 0118 327 2050
Arrival: The venue is accessed without steps through the main entrance.
Stage: The performance space is on the ground floor and is accessible without steps.
Toilets: This is an outdoor pop-up venue and there are no toilets onsite. There is a specific disabled toilet at St Laurence Church, one minute away.

Face Bar

Address: Ambrose Place, Chatham Street, Reading RG1 7JE
Telephone: 0118 956 8188
Arrival: The venue is accessed without steps through the main entrance.
Stage: The performance space is on the ground floor and is accessible without steps.
Toilets: There is no specific disabled toilet.

Milk Bar

Address: 8 Merchants Place, Reading RG1 1DT
Telephone: 07399 849 888
Arrival: The venue is accessed without steps through the main entrance.
Stage: The stage is on the first floor, accessed by going up 11 steps from the ground floor. Unfortunately, Milk is not wheelchair accessible.
Toilets: There are two toilets which are accessed on the ground floor. There is no specific disabled toilet.

Oakford Social Club

Address: 53 Blagrave Street, Reading RG1 1PZ
Telephone: 0118 959 4267
Arrival: The venue can be accessed using the steps at the main entrance or using the permanent ramp 5m to the right of the main entrance.
Stage: The performance space is on the ground floor and is accessible without steps.
Toilets: There is a specific disabled toilet on the ground floor, near the performance space.

Purple Turtle

Address: 9 Gun Street, Reading RG1 2JR
Telephone: 0118 959 7196
Arrival: The venue is accessed without steps through the main entrance.
Stage: The performance space is on the ground floor and is accessible without steps.
Toilets: There is a specific disabled toilet on the ground floor, next to the stage.

Rising Sun Arts Centre

Address: 30 Silver Street, Reading RG1 2ST
Telephone: 0118 986 6788
Arrival: The venue is accessed without steps using the side door down the left side of the building.
Stage: The performance space is on the ground floor and is accessible without steps.
Toilets: There is a disabled friendly toilet on the ground floor, near the performance space.

St Laurence Church

Address: 30-31 Friar Street, Reading RG1 1DA
Telephone: 01189 571 293
Arrival: The venue is accessed without steps through the main entrance.
Stage:
The performance space is on the ground floor and is accessible without steps.
Toilets: There is a specific disabled toilet on the ground floor, near the venue entrance.

South Street Arts Centre

Address: 21 South Street, Reading RG1 4QU
Telephone: 0118 937 3456
Arrival: The venue is accessed without steps through the main entrance.
Stage:
The performance space is on the ground floor and is accessible without steps.
Toilets: There is a specific disabled toilet on the ground floor, near the venue entrance.

Sub 89

Address: 110-117 Friar Street, Reading, RG1 1EP
Telephone: 0118 959 5395
Arrival: The venue is accessed without steps through the main entrance.
Stage: The performance space is on the first floor, which can be accessed by steps up from the main entrance or can be accessed without steps using a lift accessed down the right side of the building. Please speak to the door staff at the entrance on arrival to use the lift.
Toilets: There is a specific disabled toilet accessed without steps from the performance space.

Bookable Access Facilities

Personal Assistants
Are You Listening? Festival are proud to provide a free ticket for a Personal Assistant. To secure a Personal Assistant ticket, please email us with confirmation of your ticket and we will add your Personal Assistant to our guestlist.

Assistance Dogs
We welcome assistance dogs. Please inform us ahead of the event so we can prepare staff to receive you and your dog.

Medicines
If you need to bring medicines, food or drink to manage a medical condition, or medical equipment you are welcome to do so. We don’t have any medical equipment at our venues.

Performance Access
We currently do not offer an auditory enhancement or assistance such as British Sign Language at this present time.

Strobe Lighting
Some performances may use strobe lighting or hazer (smoke machine). If this is an issue, let us know in advance and we will do our best to accommodate you, or let a member of staff know on arrival.

Viewing Platforms
We do not have any viewing platforms at our venues, but please speak to Are You Listening? Festival Volunteers at the venue who can help you find an accessible viewing space.