Accessibility

We work hard to ensure our events are accessible to as wide an audience as possible by considering accessibility at every stage from planning through to festival delivery.

We’ve tried to answer as many questions that you may have below.   We welcome requests and queries about accessibility ahead of the festival at info@fringebythesea.com.

Are Assistance Dogs permitted at the festival?
Assistance Dogs are permitted into 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).  Should your dog begin barking or misbehaving you may be asked to take the dog outside as it can be distracting for performers and audiences alike.

Do you have Disabled Access/special access for people with accessibility needs?
If additional assistance is required for an event, please contact info@fringebythesea.com or speak to a member of the on site event team at the Box Office. An accessibility drop-off point will be indicated on the 2024 map.

Can I hire a wheelchair on the night?
Sorry, we do not offer such a facility.  We do however have a close relationship with Beach Wheelchairs, a local charity who have a wide range of wheelchairs and equipment which are free to hire.  If you’d like to enquire, please contact them via their facebook page or email directly on info@beachwheelchairs.org  More information can be found here

Do I need a Blue Badge for Disabled Access Parking?
We do not offer any parking on the festival sites.  Public disabled parking facilities are available nearby. You can find information on parking nearby at https://northberwickparking.org.uk/

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 seats to be brought in and used inside venues however you are welcome to bring a foldable, carriable seat or stool and use this just outside the venues for resting, if required. Most of our headline acts in the Big Top and Lodge stage will perform sets of around 60-75 minutes.

Why are some of your events standing rather than seated?

We cover the cost of staging events through the income generated by ticket sales. The venues have larger capacities for standing compared to seated, enabling us to bring the acts we do to North Berwick. We would not be able to cover the costs of staging many of the headline acts if they were staged as 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.