An open-air theatre, a stone’s throw away from the beach at one of the most well-known Yorkshire coastal towns, is it as picturesque as it sounds or disappointing like a melted ice cream or a seagull pinching your chips? There’s one way to find out - read on!
BOOKING
Accessible booking for the Scarborough Open Air Theatre is done via Ticketmaster.
Accessible seating is very limited at the venue, so for popular events, it can be a bit of a lottery whether or not you can secure tickets. You can also book in person at the Box Office, just outside the venue.
The venue has two accessible platforms offering step-free seating for wheelchair users, ambulant disabled and one companion. If the event is all-seated, ambulant disabled can book tickets at the end of rows in the floor area.
There are some seating options on the back rows of the coloured blocks, which have minimal steps, but you need to walk up a considerable hill to access them, and the people around and in front of you might stand up.
If you can manage the steps (the seating blocks have a lot!) and want to book seats in the blocks, you need to book the tickets as usual via Ticketmaster, then contact the Ticketmaster Access Team to request a companion ticket. If agreed, the price of one ticket will be refunded.
Don’t be fooled into booking seats on the front row, thinking you can manage a few steps - the coloured blocks are high above ground level, so you’ve got 10 or more steps to climb before you reach the front row and beyond Row A, there are no handrails on the steps, only a handle of the end of each row and two steps between each row. The rows run A-Z, then AA, BB, CC on the outer blacks and up to HH on the centre block.
If you require a hearing loop, one is available on the left-hand access platform (located nearest to the entrance), and portable loops are also available on-site.
If you require BSL interpretation, this is available at all shows. For seated shows, you will need to book a Deaf/Hard of Hearing ticket and a companion to be seated near the interpreter. For standing shows, you will need floor-standing tickets and should position yourself on the left-hand side of the stage, where the interpreter will be.
As the name suggests, Scarborough Open Air Theatre is outside - none of the seating or standing options are covered. You have no shelter from the weather - hot, cold or wet. I’ll go into more detail further on!
If you book your tickets through Ticketmaster, you will receive an e-Ticket on the app with the option to download the ticket to a mobile wallet - DO IT! The internet signal at the venue is terrible! They do now have Wi-Fi, but I’d highly recommend saving the tickets before you arrive. Like other Ticketmaster tickets, they have a dynamic barcode which changes regularly and cannot be screenshot.
If you book directly with the Box Office, you will receive old-fashioned printed paper tickets - remember to take them with you!
LOCATION AND GETTING THERE
The Scarborough Open Air Theatre is just a stone’s throw from the sandy beach of North Bay. Peasholm Park is just across the road. It’s just a short drive to South Bay for the arcades and donkey rides.
North Bay tends to be slightly quieter than the South Bay, but there are still hotels, bars, and eateries nearby.
The area around the venue and along the seafront is relatively flat, but the main town area is uphill.
As a tourist destination, numerous parking options are available nearby. However, during the height of the summer season, be aware that securing a parking space may be challenging. There are several council-run car parks within a short distance, but accessible bays are limited and blue badge holders are not exempt from parking charges.
The nearest option is Northstead Lower, literally over the road from the venue entrance. It has public toilets, but only two of the bays are accessible.
Northstead Upper, Victoria Park, and Burniston Road car parks are all uphill from the venue.
Nearest Council Car Parks:
Burniston Road
Monday to Sunday, 24 hours., Parking charges apply from 9am to 6pm
Number of accessible bays: 5
From £1.30 for 1 hour. 1 March to 31 October only, Blue Badge holders are NOT exempt from parking charges
Northstead Lower
Monday to Sunday, 24 hours., Parking charges apply from 9am to 6pm
Number of accessible bays: 2
From £2.90 for 1 hour., Blue Badge holders are NOT exempt from parking charges.
Northstead Upper
Monday to Sunday, 24 hours., Parking charges apply from 9am to 6pm
Number of accessible bays: 6
From £2.20 for 1 hour. 1 March to 31 October only, Blue Badge holders are NOT exempt from parking charges
Scalby Mills
Monday to Sunday, 24 hours., Parking charges apply from 9am to 6pm
Number of accessible bays: 11
From £2.90 for 1 hour. 1 March to 31 October only Blue Badge holders are NOT exempt from parking charges
Victoria Park
Monday to Sunday, 24 hours., Parking charges apply from 9am to 6pm
Number of accessible bays: 11
From £2.90 for 1 hour. 1 March to 31 October only, Blue Badge holders are NOT exempt from parking charges
There is some on-street parking in the area.
There are seven accessible bays located next to The Watermark Cafe on Royal Albert Drive, with a maximum stay of 3 hours from 6am to 6pm, and a 1-hour no return policy.
There are also two accessible bays in front of the Oasis cafe - limited 3 hours maximum until 6am-6pm, no return within one hour.
On-street parking bays along Royal Albert Drive are free and unlimited for Blue Badge holders.
There are several designated parking zones for discs around the residential areas and guest houses. You can park for free for an unlimited time in these bays with a blue badge. This does not apply to areas with signs stating ‘Permit Holders Only’; therefore, please double-check.
Scarborough railway station is in the town. It’s less than 1.5 miles away but does include an incline. The station is step-free throughout and connects to York, Leeds, Hull, Sheffield and Manchester.
There are local bus services in the area with stops nearby. The buses are all accessible.
On event nights, a bus service runs late to the South Bay and into the town centre.
GETTING IN
There’s only one entrance into the venue, so you can’t go wrong!
It’s likely a queue will form before the gates open for those eager to secure a spot at the front. The queue will snake along the path from the entrance, along Peasholm Gap and towards Royal Albert Drive. If you have accessible tickets, you can skip this queue. Some of the security staff around the venue will point out that there is an accessible queue. Others won’t. Make your way to the sign on the side of Burniston Road, opposite the Northstead Lower car park and toilets. Follow along the edge of the footpath, past the Box Office, if you’re heading from the roundabout or seafront, and you’ll find the large blue sign with a wheelchair logo that says ‘Access Lane’. There’s a gap in the security barriers that allows you to pass through. Then, keep to the left and form a queue here. The path is on a slight incline, so you’ll need your brakes on!
You’ll be held here in a queue with other access ticket holders until the gates are opened. At that point, you’ll have your bags checked and your tickets scanned; then, follow the path to the left into the venue. You pass Peasholm Station, part of a miniature railway, on the left. People with tickets to the back rows of the coloured seating blocks will take a pathway to the right, leading up a hill, through some trees, up to the upper area of the venue.
If you have tickets for the standing area (Deaf/Hard of Hearing), make your way to the first building on the right to exchange your ticket for a standing area wristband.
FACILITIES
While the venue ticks all of the boxes for providing the facilities gig-goers need, it just doesn’t quite hit the target, which is such a shame.
As you follow the path (which is slightly uphill) into the venue, past the miniature railway station, you’ll see a building on the right to exchange your ticket for a standing area wristband. If you have accessible platform tickets or the show is all seated, this doesn’t apply to you, so you can keep moving forward.
The pathway now widens slightly and kinks around to the left. On your left-hand side are some food tents with reachable counters. If you keep following around to your left, there’s an area with portaloos - no accessible ones, though. Following round, there are some additional food stalls backing onto the lake.
To the right-hand side, there is a building with an overhanging roof. Looking at it, the right-hand side houses the merch desk. Surrounded by metal railings covered in tarpaulins, it’s easy to reach and make purchases, as well as view what’s available for sale.
To the left of the merchandise is a door leading to the first aid room and the lost children’s point.
To the left of that door is an accessible toilet - one of only 2 in the venue. Yes, 2! In a venue with a capacity of 8000 people. It’s not radar-keyed and is located next to the ladies, with the gents on the opposite side of the ladies.
The accessible toilets are only small and very narrow. They have the required grab rails, but there is not much room for transferring, turning a wheelchair around or having help from a companion or carer.
With all accessible toilets, an emergency red cord hangs from the ceiling to be pulled in an emergency. These cords should hang freely and touch the floor. Neither cord in these toilets reached the floor, and they were both wrapped around the grab rails; one was even tied around the plumbing under the sink. Despite my unwrapping them and adding awareness cards, one was rewrapped in under an hour. For the first show of the season, everything should have been entirely up to standard, shouldn’t it?
The ladies only have three cubicles, hence the additional portaloos, and when long queues form, the unlocked accessible loo gives an excellent opportunity for ladies to use. There are no staff to prevent misuse or prioritise access customers, meaning the toilet can end up in a mess and access customers might find themselves in a long queue of people who don’t need an accessible toilet.
These toilets get VERY busy as they’re the first ones people come to as they arrive at the venue, and, depending on where you are seated or which bars you use, many people are unaware that there are toilet facilities at the other end of the venue.
The toilets at the far end of the venue were, again, not up to standard. Of the three ladies’ cubicles, one was flooded and out of order, and a second didn’t have a door lock and wouldn’t close unaided! Again, for the first show of the season, everything should have been checked and double-checked, shouldn’t it?
Keep following the path, with the lake on your left, and you’ll see a small bar to your right. Effectively, it’s a garden shed with a counter. The bar is accessible, but not the best choice for customers with disabilities. Again, it gets swamped as it’s the first one you come to on your way in. There is a big sign, though, advertising ‘More Bars This Way’ with an arrow pointing towards the middle of the venue. As you keep moving forward, you’ll realise that this sign is on the back of the bars on the left-hand side of the standing area. These bars include one with a lowered counter.
On the standing area, you will find additional portaloos, but none of them are accessible again.
By now, you’re able to see the seating high above you on the right and the standing (or floor seating) on your left. The two accessible viewing platforms are located on your right, with their backs against the wall below the seating areas, one on each side of the sound tent, directly opposite the middle of the stage.
The far side of the venue is a mirror image of the near side.
There are more bars on the right-hand side of the standing area. These are standing back-to-back with some additional bars for seated ticketholders.
There are additional food vans and portaloos (again, none accessible), and the same toilet format: a single accessible toilet, a ladies’ toilet with three cubicles, and a gents’ toilet.
At the far end of the raised seating block, on the wall opposite the bars, is a tap water dispenser, with cups available on the access viewing platforms or at the bars.
Each of the fixed-position bars, including those in the standing area, has a lowered counter. Each one is positioned at the end of the bar, allowing you to approach the bar without joining the main queue to be served.
A bonus at the venue is ordering a drink at your seat. A member of staff will come onto the accessible viewing platform to take your order and card payment, then bring your drinks to you. This service is only available for fixed-position bars. It doesn’t include any of the food vans or tents; therefore, it doesn’t include hot drinks.
Some of the food vans had signs offering help for access customers and also had clearly marked allergen matrix information.
Several venues are starting to offer this service, which is a great idea; however, the staff only came onto the platform twice to ask if we wanted to order. There is a member of staff on the platform at all times, so I’m sure that if we had requested it, they could have called someone over for us.
For all shows, a BSL interpreter is located on the left-hand side of the stage.
SEATING
The raised seating in the coloured blocks consists of green plastic, fold-down seats, similar to those found in a football stadium. They have no padding and are somewhat uncomfortable.
If the event is all seated, the additional seating on the floor consists of folding plastic seats arranged in rows.
The accessible viewing platforms have no fixed seating.
Both platforms are accessed via a ramp facing away from the sound tent, located in the middle of the venue. The ramps are quite long and not too steep, and have a rough surface to prevent slipping.
The platform has a member of staff to check your tickets and help you to your space. Each platform accommodates 20 people. For a standing gig, this means only 20 step-free seats and 20 companions in an 8,000-capacity venue. It is strictly one companion per access customer, but if you are with friends, there is nowhere close to the platforms for your friends to stand. The nearest tickets, if you want to be together, are the front row of the seating blocks.
In the past, when we’ve been there, although we’ve had assigned ticket numbers, it’s been on a first-come, first-served basis, based on the seat you occupy. This time, however, it was said that your ticket numbers were significant. The bays are not marked out or labelled in any way. Our tickets were 3 and 4, so we were positioned, leaving two spaces at the far end. Companion seats are provided, consisting of plastic fold-up chairs.
The platform is surrounded by metal scaffolding. The railing isn’t too high to obstruct your view.
The platforms accommodate two rows - one along the front and one along the back. The platforms are not very deep, so depending on the sizes of chairs or scooters, it can leave just a narrow gap to get through if you want to leave the platform.
Although not raised to a great height, you have a clear view of the stage over the standing crowd in front. The stage itself is very high above the standing area.
The area directly in front of the platforms, between you and the standing area, is always busy, with people constantly moving around the venue. The security staff try to keep people moving at all times, allowing a quick selfie; otherwise, there is no standing available in that area. That means your view isn’t obstructed; it’s kept clear for you to get around if you need to use the toilet, and no one is hanging around to leave empty cups on the platform near your feet.
For the last couple of songs, the staff are a bit more lenient and people start to gather around on their way out, but that’s to be expected, I suppose.
As the name suggests, Scarborough Open Air Theatre is outside - none of the seating or standing options are covered. You have no shelter from the weather - hot, cold or wet. Even on the sunniest of days, I recommend taking a jumper or jacket. The higher rows of the seating blocks receive direct sunlight for most of the day, until the sun is almost setting. Down on the accessible viewing platforms, you are in the shade of the stage from the early evening. There is no shelter from any breeze, so it can turn cool quickly.
And no umbrellas are permitted in the venue, so a waterproof jacket or poncho is recommended - it is Yorkshire, remember!
GETTING BACK OUT
At the end of the show, everyone exits through the same entrance where you all entered. My advice is always to wait a few minutes, and for this venue, it is a must. If you want to miss the last song and head off early, that’s your choice, but that’s not for me.
As mentioned previously, the pathway is relatively narrow in places leading up to the venue, so it’s a bottleneck on the way out. Add to that the queues for the toilets and people grabbing some last bits of merchandise, and it’s slow-moving.
It’s also dark! There are only a few small streetlights dotted along the path, so it’s hard to see where you’re going to avoid potholes or other obstructions. Likewise, other people can’t see you, so you may get bumped into. There’s no point in putting yourself at risk for the sake of waiting 5 or 10 minutes for the rush to die down. As we went in June, it stayed light until late, so it’s not as bad, but later in the season, it is darker.
Once the crowd reaches the pathway and exits the entrance, people start dispersing in different directions, and it begins to thin out. The main roads around the venue are closed to traffic to ensure everyone can exit safely. As a result, you may experience delays when moving your car or need to take a detour.
The buses to the town centre and South Bay pick up at Peasholm Gap, so there might be a queue of people to navigate around. This is also the designated pick-up and drop-off area, so it does get busy.
A visible police presence is maintained throughout the evening in the area.
OVERALL EXPERIENCE
It’s a quirky venue that attracts some big names, yet the facilities fall short. The lack of toilets is the biggest issue, but other things we’ve found to be not up to scratch over the past few years have been improved.
Depending on the show, tickets are almost impossible to get. With such a small number of step-free tickets available, you’ve got to be quick on the button!
Having staff on the platform prevents anyone who shouldn’t be on there from getting access.
The platform placement is ideal, offering unobstructed views of the stage, and you feel like you’re part of the crowd.
