ACCESSIBILITY
At Fringe By The Sea, we’re committed to making sure everyone can join in the fun. From planning right through to festival day, we think about accessibility every step of the way.
We’ve put together answers to some of the most common questions below, but if you need anything else, feel free to reach out to us at info@fringebythesea.com before the festival—we’re here to help!
Are Assistance Dogs permitted at the festival?
Yes, Assistance Dogs are absolutely welcome at paid performances. Well-behaved dogs on leads are also allowed on site and into venues for most events (other than some Big Top standing events). Just a heads-up, if your dog starts barking or misbehaving, we might kindly ask you to take them outside so the performers and other audience members can enjoy the show.
Do you have Disabled Access/special access for people with accessibility needs?
Absolutely! If you require extra assistance, get in touch with us at info@fringebythesea.com or speak with a member of our event team at the Box Office. We’ve got a dedicated accessibility drop-off point at the south entry of the festival (St Baldred’s Road & Lady Jane Road junction), and there are Blue Badge parking spaces on St Baldred’s Crescent.
Can I hire a wheelchair on the night?
We don’t offer wheelchair rentals on-site, but we have a fantastic partnership with Beach Wheelchairs, a local charity that provides free-to-hire wheelchairs and equipment. You can get in touch with them via their Facebook page or email them directly at info@beachwheelchairs.org. For more info, check out their website here.
Do I need a Blue Badge for Disabled Access Parking?
While we don’t offer parking on-site, you can find Blue Badge parking spaces on St Baldred’s Crescent. For more parking info nearby, visit North Berwick Parking.
Do you have reserved seating for guests with accessibility requirements?
We have areas designated for seating for guests with accessibility requirements in the majority of our events, including standing events in the Big Top. for which there is a limited number of seats on the accessible seated platform. These are allocated on a first come, first served basis at the point of ticket purchase.
Can I bring my own seat into a venue?
We can’t allow extra seats inside the venues, but if you’d like a rest, feel free to bring a foldable, portable seat or stool and use it outside the venue between performances. Most of our headline shows at the Big Top and Lodge Stage are around 60-75 minutes long, so you can take a break in between!
Why are some of your events standing rather than seated?
We want to make sure we can bring you the very best acts, but staging large events comes with significant costs. Standing venues allow us to accommodate more people, which helps us keep ticket prices down and bring in big-name performances. Unfortunately, we wouldn’t be able to host some of these headline shows if we could only offer seated events.
Do you provide seats for Carers/Personal Assistants?
Yes. Complimentary Personal Assistant tickets are available. Please notify info@fringebythesea.com of your requirements a minimum of 48 hours before a performance or event.
What evidence do I need to provide for my request for a carer ticket?
We may ask you to provide evidence to support your request for a carer ticket, such as:
- Entitlement to Disability Living Allowance for children under 16 or DLA/Personal Independent
- Payments (PIP) for those aged 16-64, either in the form of a letter stating that the benefit has been awarded, or the actual Allowance book
- Attendance Allowance or Carer’s Allowance letter of award
- Incapacity Benefit books, or a letter notifying the recipient that the benefit has been awarded
- Incapacity Benefit or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- A valid Blue Badge
- In the case of visual impairment, a registration card known as the BD8 or a Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI)
- A local authority registration document which is local to the attraction where it is being submitted
- A recognised Assistance Dog ID Card
- Credibility’s Access Card
A carer must be over 14 years of age and capable of assisting the guest.
Do you have an Accessibility Policy?
We believe everyone should have the opportunity to experience the performances and events that are part of FBTS. Read more about our approach to Accessibility at FBTS here.