Alexandra Palace celebrates accessibility achievements

The people’s palace…

Alexandra Palace has been awarded Platinum Status on the Attitude is Everything’s Live Events Access Charter. It is only the third venue ever to have achieved this status as a formal recognition of the venue as an industry leader in accessibility.

Jack Brooks, Alexandra Palace’s Head of Visitor Services:

‘I would like to say a sincere thank you to everyone who has supported our efforts to improve accessibility at Ally Pally. This recognition reflects the commitment of the whole team in facing the challenges head on and making our ambitions in this area a reality.

‘It obviously doesn’t stop here. Maintaining these standards goes hand in hand with continuing to listen, evolve and address issues that may yet arise. This award demonstrates that accessibility is, and always will be, a priority here’ 

Alexandra Palace achieving Platinum status involved a rigorous process of being assessed against 641 pieces of separate criteria. The complex has undertaken a 6-year transformative project that has seen the 151-year-old venue become an industry leader in and a hub for accessibility for visitors and as a place of work.

Working directly with the Deaf and disabled community to further understand the challenges that the Palace has historically faced in being accessible to all, the team has listened to feedback and implemented sweeping changes across the organisation and the visitor experience including physical, policy, and online procedures and provisions.

Physical improvements include a Changing Places facility as well as an increased number of accessible and ambulant toilets across the site, induction loops at bars and information points, increased accessible viewing platforms at relevant events, wheelchair and mobility scooter hire provision, 1200 blue barge car park spaces, step-free access across the entire building and much more.

Policy and procedure improvements include assistance dog policy and minding procedure, dedicated access officer position, access awareness training for all staff, accessible ticketing policy, free companion tickets to note just a few.

Screen read and zoom text technology has been installed on the website and audio recordings, large print, video captions, customer surveys and a membership scheme have been launched across all event information points of contact.

Alexandra Park and Palace is also involved in a cross organisational project with Harringey Council and TFL in making Alexandra Palace train station more accessible, highlighting a positive and considerable impact on the local community, as well as at events.

Alex Covell, Attitude Is Everything, Head of Live Events Access:

‘It’s a real joy to present Alexandra Palace with our Platinum Award. This recognition marks a genuinely transformative journey. The team have gone beyond the basics, embedding accessibility into every part of their operations – not just for audiences, but also for staff and visiting artists. They’ve shown real dedication to placing disabled people at the heart of their work, co-producing spaces that are inclusive, welcoming and full of the magic that live events can bring.

‘We’re so grateful to them for taking the time to be part of our updated Charter pilot and for shining as a beacon of best practice across the sector.’

This year Alexandra Palace was also recognised within a major industry survey by the Research Institute of Disabled Consumers as being a leading venue in accessibility and also won the Inclusive Customer Experience award at the Business Disability Forum Awards which described Ally Pally as ‘setting the example for the rest of the entertainment industry.’

Alexandra Palace has also programmed events that include the deaf and disabled community including: Rhythm Stick Club night– Dedicated club night for customers with disabilities – run by people with disabilities; Accessible Skate – a monthly dedicated accessible Ice Skating session with a relaxed atmosphere, additional companion tickets, free skating aids, wheelchair access onto the ice and a reduced capacity;  Singing for the Brain – a weekly signing workshop for customers that have Dementia and hidden disabilities; Café Palais – a monthly drop in event for elderly customers and for those who have Alzheimer’s or hidden disabilities and more…

There are also dedicated British sign language, captioning, relaxed and audio described theatre shows and main space concerts.