FAQ’s

Where can I buy tickets?
Tickets are available online from www.citizenticket.co.uk

They can be bought in person at the FBTS Box Office, c/o NB Library, 13 School Road, North Berwick, EH39 4JU (Saturday 17th June – 3rd August, during library opening hours).

During the festival there will be a box office at The Lodge Grounds. The box office will be open daily during the festival from 10am to 10pm.

We do recommend booking in advance online as many events are expected to sell-out and there is no separate allocation for in-person box office sales, nor is there a difference in price between online or in person.

How do I present my online ticket?
Once you buy tickets through our ticketing partner Citizen Ticket, you will receive tickets as an e-ticket, which can be presented on your mobile device at the gate. Alternatively, print the e-ticket at home and bring it with you. If you buy multiple tickets, they will be contained within your Citizen Ticket account or wallet.

Can I get a replacement ticket if I’ve lost it or forgotten to bring it to the event?
You will be issued with an electronic ticket in advance, or with a paper ticket from the box office.  A replacement can be issued if necessary.

What can I do with a spare ticket on the night?
Sorry, but tickets are non-refundable unless an event is cancelled or moved to a different date.

Are tickets refundable?
Fringe By The Sea reserves the right to alter or cancel events. Tickets are non-refundable unless an event is cancelled. They can however be transferred to another person.

What happens if the event is cancelled?
If an event is cancelled for whatever reason, a full refund (minus booking fee) will be paid to the ticket buyer.

Can I buy tickets with cash/cheque?
Yes, but from the Box Office only.

Can I go on a waiting list for tickets?
You can sign up to waiting lists for tickets at the individual event pages on www.citizenticket.co.uk

Can I get a discount for group bookings?
Sorry, we are unable to offer discounts for group bookings.

Can I collect tickets on behalf of other guests on site?
Yes, providing you have authorisation and reference numbers.

If I make more than one booking, can you send all my tickets together?
All your tickets are kept in a digital ticket Citizen Ticket wallet.

Do I have to keep my ticket with me when inside the festival show/event?
If you leave the performance, you will be given a re-entry stamp which allows you access  to the festival show.

Do you have discounted tickets?
There are children’s concession tickets for certain performances.  No other discounts are offered.

Is there a booking fee?
All prices shown are inclusive of a booking fee which is included in the overall purchase price of the ticket.

Is there a lower age limit for the festival?
We are a family festival with a variety of shows suitable for all ages.  Any guidance on age suitability will be provided as part of the information for each event.

Can I buy children’s tickets?
Where applicable, concession tickets are available for children. Babes in arms go free. Please take note of age suitability of events, where stated.

Do you have any facilities for young children at the festival?
Yes.  We have a dedicated family area with children’s activities every day.  We also have a large number of events specifically for children and special food options available.

What time does Fringe By The Sea open / close?
The venue at The Lodge Grounds is open from 10.00am -11pm daily. Events are scheduled throughout the day. Please check the programme for full details.

What happens if the weather is bad/it rains?
Our festival venues – stretch tents, marquees, big-tops – have coverings. The sides may have to be left open for ventilation to comply with COVID-19 guidance. We advise that you check weather forecasts before attending and wear suitable clothing and footwear for outdoor venues on grass.

Can we bring food and drink into the festival site?
As the venues are licenced premise operations, we do not allow alcohol to be brought onto the festival sites.  Food is available to purchase at our Street Food hub. Hot and cold beverages and alcohol drinks will be available to purchase on site.

Are there cashpoints available?
Cashpoints are available at two locations on the High Street, but all of our venues accept credit/debit cards and Applepay.

Which payment cards do you accept?
Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards.  Sorry, no American Express.

Do you provide Hospitality Packages?
No.

Can I smoke at the Festival?
Smoking is only permitted outwith the confines of the covered structures.  Illicit drugs will not be tolerated, with users removed from the premises.

What Covid-19 measures are in place at FBTS?
We are continually monitoring Covid restrictions and will take all necessary precautions to mitigate the transmission of Covid-19 and to minimise the risk to everyone involved. This may involve revising audience numbers, removing the sides of tented venues and social distancing. We will work with East Lothian Council to implement appropriate measures and our plans will be adjusted in response to evolving public health guidance and measures.

How will I know what Covid-19 measures are in place?
All ticket holders will be sent a pre-event email with the most up to date advisory and important information about what to do before coming to FBTS and what to expect on arrival. This will be sent to the lead ticket holder. If you are the lead ticket holder, please check the latest communications on your email/on our website before you come along to the event, and share the information with other ticket holders in your group.

What happens if capacities are reduced due to Covid?
In the unlikely event that this means capacity should be reduced, those who purchased tickets first will be given priority.  If government allow capacities to be increased, we will, where possible make more tickets available.

Please see our section on North Berwick.

Do you allow latecomers to shows?
Generally yes apart from where this is explicitly stated for certain events. Please do aim to arrive ahead of show start time.

Can I bring a camera / recording equipment?
Any pictures or recordings made at the festival must be for personal use only and not for commercial purposes.

Are dogs allowed in your venues /  on site?

We love dogs at FBTS and well-behaved dogs on leads are indeed allowed on site and into venues for most shows. We don’t allow dogs into the headline shows in the Big Top as these are very busy. Please do contact info@fringebythesea.com if you would like more information.

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.

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.  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?
Yes we do.  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. There will be an accessibility access point indicated on the 2023 map which will be published on our North Berwick Event Information page.

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.

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. Please email info@fringebythesea.com ahead of the event for information or speak to a member of staff at the Box Office during the festival.

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. We are working 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. Read more about our approach to Accessibility at FBTS here.