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Accessibility

We're committed to ensuring our building and programme are accessible to all. This page includes details around building access and some of the regular events such as dementia-friendly and autism-friendly film screenings.

We have also created a virtual tour for you to experience FACT before your visit.

Building Access

Pavement/level access to FACT is available on Wood Street and there is ramp access on Fleet Street at the rear of the building.

Inside FACT

All areas inside the building - including screens and galleries - are accessible to visitors with limited mobility, including wheelchair users. There is also a lift that serves all floors in the main foyer next to Box Office.

We have accessible toilets on the ground floor, on the first floor opposite the bar and Gallery 2, and on the second floor adjacent to Screen 2. The box office, kiosk and information desk all have adapted counters and accessible levels for transactions.

You'll find disabled parking spaces close by on Wood Street and Bold Street and also to the rear of the building.

Cinema Screens

Our Picturehouse cinema screens are situated on the second floor and are accessible via the main lift, with wheelchair access in every screen. In addition, The Box boutique cinema is situated on the ground floor and is fully accessible for wheelchair users.

All four cinema screens have dedicated wheelchair spaces and we can reserve wheelchair spaces for you (details of spaces below). To do this you need to contact Picturehouse's dedicated accessibility hotline 02072 947908 (Text Relay call 18001 02072 947908).

Screen 1 + 2 - wheelchair spaces located on the back row near the exit

Screen 3 - wheelchair spaces located on the front row near the exit

The Box - wheelchairs can be accommodated anywhere in this screen

Autism-friendly

In 2019 we launched a new virtual reality tour of FACT.

Perfect as a guide to help children and adults on the autism spectrum to plan their journey around our building, the visual tour also includes information on exhibitions, spaces, activities, and facilities. It allows you to ‘experience’ FACT before visiting, and to have an understanding of what you might expect to see and the layout of the centre.

Special Film Screenings

Autism-friendly

Our autism-friendly film screenings are especially for people on the autism spectrum or with other special needs, and their families, friends and carers. Sundays at 11.30am in The Box.


Dementia-friendly

Our monthly dementia-friendly daytime film screenings are open to all but especially for people with dementia, their families, friends and carers. Join us for tea, coffee and biscuits 30 minutes before the film starts.

See our cinema listings page to find future films and ticket information (select dementia-friendly or autism-friendly filter) or contact Picturehouse Box Office for more details Tel: 0871 902 5747 (calls cost 13p per min) Email: enquiries@picturehouses.co.uk In person: Visit us

Services for Deaf Hearing-Impaired Visitors

  • All our cinemas have infra red units mounted at the front of the auditorium which send signals to our headphones and body packs. Guests with hearing aids with the ‘T’ position option are recommended to use the body pack which creates a personal induction loop which picks up the hard of hearing enhanced soundtrack. We also have a portable induction loop system at our Box Office tills and main retail tills.
  • We provide regular captioned screenings of films when available. Captioning is a service for hearing-impaired or deaf people. These screenings have a transcription of the film’s dialogue in English along the bottom of the screen and may also describe the sounds in the film. We aim to show 3 per week, dependent on availability.
  • Films and events available with caption subtitles are noted on our website listings and in print.

Services for Blind or Partially Sighted Visitors

  • All our cinemas are equipped with infrared audio description equipment. Audio described screenings are similar to listening to a cricket or football match on the radio, having the action described to you. The normal film soundtrack comes through the cinemas surround sound speakers in the usual way, and a recorded narrator explains what’s happening on screen – in gaps in the dialogue and sound effects – through special headphones that allow the user to still hear the sound from the speakers.
  • Films and events available with audio description, caption subtitles, are noted on our website listings and in print.
  • A small returnable deposit of £5 (or ID – driving license) is taken. This is not a charge for rental but to ensure safe return of the equipment.
  • Guide dogs are welcome at the FACT Centre. If you wish to take a dog into a film screening or event, please let us know when booking so we can arrange an aisle seat. Alternatively your dog can be cared for by a member of staff. Our staff will be happy to provide drinking water for your dog.
  • Our stair rails have bumps on the side to indicate the number of steps approaching each level. Three bumps mean that you are on the third step from the landing, two that you are on the second step, and one that you are on the final step.
  • The lift is fitted with tactile aids. It has a telephone should you need to contact a member of staff in an emergency.