A free gig at a grassroots music venue half an hour’s drive from home - what could go wrong? Read on!
BOOKING
On this occasion, the event was free and not ticketed. It was announced at short notice as a warm-up to introduce a new guitarist before a tour in the USA. It was just a case of turning up and getting in. It’s a very small venue, but we thought it was worth the chance and took a punt.
Tickets can be purchased through See Tickets for other events at the bar. Ticket prices are always very reasonable. Their website does not provide information about access facilities or companion tickets. Still, their contact details are listed, so it’s always worth getting in touch to ask any relevant questions before you book.
LOCATION AND GETTING THERE
The NE Volume Bar is just off Stockton High Street’s southern end. The area is undergoing a massive renovation to improve facilities and attract more visitors.
A short drive from the A66 and A19, road connections are good. Several local bus services serve the high street. Thornaby railway station is just a 15-minute walk or roll away, with train services on the LNER, Transpennine and Northern networks. Trains link to Saltburn on the coast, up to Newcastle, across to the central transport hub of Darlington and over the Pennines to Manchester.
There are multiple car parking options close by. There are numerous long- and short-stay council-run car parks. Charges apply to blue badge holders in all council off-street car parks. Short-stay pay-and-display on-street bays are free for blue badge holders. There are some disabled parking bays on some of the side streets which get busy during the day, but after 6pm, you’re likely to be lucky and grab one! Some locations include Dovecot Street, West Row, and The Square.
An additional parking option is the Wellington Square shopping area. The car park has several blue badge spaces, but charges do apply. The car park entrance is open until 7pm (8pm if there is a show at The Globe theatre), but you can leave at any time, day or night. Parking is free after 5pm for all visitors.
One thing I will make you aware of is that the footpaths are tricky! Away from the high street regeneration, some side streets are in a state of disrepair, and there are some very uneven slabs. If you have small front castors on a wheelchair or are unsteady on your feet, watch where you’re going - I had a bit of a near miss on the opposite side of the road to the bar!
The bar’s entrance is on Yarm Lane, close to a busy roundabout. Metal safety railings surround the footpath, and a designated crossing area is just along from the venue. There are no pedestrian crossings.
There are many bars, restaurants, and takeaways in the nearby streets, but many are not wheelchair accessible, so it’s always worth double-checking before you go.
GETTING IN
As you approach the venue, you’ll find a paved area at the front that serves as a small beer garden and smoking area. Metal safety railings surround part of the area to protect it from the busy road junction. When the weather is nice, several tables and chairs are out here.
The large glass double doors open inwards and have a small step up into the venue. Just inside the door, a doormat is sunk into the floor, and the rest of the flooring is wooden and level.
FACILITIES
The venue consists of a single main room, divided into areas:
The end of the room nearest to the door had tables and chairs. On the walls were ads for events and photos of local singers.
To the left is a small segregated area for the sound desk. In front of the desk, a table with band merchandise was set up.
To the right is the bar area. The bar is low and has several stools near the end. It has a relatively limited selection of drinks, but the prices seemed very reasonable.
The far end of the room has the stage. Part of the right-hand side of the stage is tucked around a corner. Add to this the stacked speakers on both sides of the stage, and much of the view is obstructed. The stage is low and has no security barriers, so you can get as close as you like!
Down the left-hand side of the stage is a narrow corridor that leads to the performers’ dressing room at the end and the toilets to the right. The venue does not have specific accessible toilet facilities. The toilets are quite a strange set-up. There are gents’ and ladies’ toilets.
The ladies have a push door leading from the corridor to a second door and into the single toilet. The inner door has a sliding lock, and the space is very narrow. There is a sink with turn taps, a mirror and a hand dryer on the left-hand wall, a toilet roll dispenser on the right-hand wall and the toilet on the back wall, below a high-level obscured glass window. There is a single grab rail near the toilet roll dispenser, but no other access features. A narrow wheelchair could wheel in, but turning would be difficult, and there are no features to assist with transferring.
The gents are very similar in size and layout. Again, the inner door is lockable, but a long stainless steel urinal is between the door and the sink, making the room narrower. It’s challenging to use as a wheelchair user. The layout doesn’t make sense. I made it work, but many people wouldn’t be able to. To use the toilet with any privacy or assistance, you need to lock the door, preventing anyone from using the urinal. Likewise, if anyone is using the urinal, you can’t get past to use the toilet.
SEATING
The venue was hosting a standing event on the evening we were there, so the only seating was as I described, both near the bar area and outside. The venue can be booked for private functions, where seating can be provided, but there is limited seating at a general standing gig.
GETTING BACK OUT
The crowd was relatively small for this event, so getting around the room and out of the venue at the end was easy. Lots of people stayed around to meet the band, have a drink or buy some merch, but there was still loads of room to wheel around them.
It was just a little bump down the step at the door, and then I was only a few minutes wheel away from my car and on my way home.
OVERALL EXPERIENCE
When the band was on, it was deafening. I always wear ear protection, so it doesn’t bother me, but the volume was higher than I expected for such a small room.
The toilet situation was bizarre. I’d enquired to make sure the venue was accessible and was told it was, but it won’t be suitable for everyone.
It’s a great little venue for small bands, local acts, and grassroots performers. Due to its size, it won’t be able to host larger acts, but it’s undoubtedly a great step-up venue.
It’s great that wheelchair users can get right to the front with no barrier to block the view.
