Wheelchair seats? Sure, they're right at the back

Opera House, Manchester

I have just finished listening to Neil Warnock's audiobook 'The Gaffer: The Trials and Tribulations of a Football Manager.' Conveniently, he then appeared on a couple of podcasts I listen to, promoting some live shows he's doing in which he's even more unfiltered than he's been in the past, as he's now retired and can say what he likes. He was doing a show at the Opera House in Manchester, which isn't a million miles from where my brother Daniel lives. Daniel recommended the book to me in the first place, I didn't want to go on my own, and I was sure he would go with me. The Gods were smiling down on me it seemed and urging me to go, and if there's one rule I've always lived my life by it's DON'T PISS OFF THE GODS. so with confirmation that Daniel wanted to go as well, I headed over to atgtickets.com to book the tickets.

Access card

I've used this site several times before and if you have an account and an Access Card (as I do), your requirements are already selected when you view the site. As you can see from the picture, I have three requirements:

Level Access
For people who require wheelchair accessible facilities or have to have level access as they are unable to make even a few steps.

Distance
If you have difficulty moving yourself more than short distances

Essential Companions
This symbol is awarded to people for whom it would be significantly difficult to access services without support from another person.

I logged into the website and when I went to the event to book a seat. It says

access membership benefits applied

atgtickets.com seating plan

I was suspicious. A large amount of the 1,920 capacity are wheelchair accessible? Really?

Normally there is an option to filter just wheelchair access seats. There was no help on screen and no guidance as to how to use their search filter. There might not be any wheelchair seats available, but I could use any seat, providing I can get my wheelchair close to it. I gave them a call.

Me: I'm on your site looking to book tickets for Neil Warnock on Friday 29th August. I'm logged in but it's allowing me to buy most tickets. I'm in a wheelchair.

I went to the Utilita Arena to see Roger Waters in 2023 and there were lots of wheelchair seats. In fact there was a whole viewing platform incredibly close to the stage. That was a several thousand seating arena though, this was a twentieth century theatre, built the same year as the Titanic sank. Understandably wheelchair access is limited without making significant modifications to an existing building. But I think there could be an icon on the search filter saying wheelchair seats are unavailable.

Them: Both wheelchair seats are taken Me: Both? Them: Yes, I'm afraid there's only two seats in that theatre Me: Oh, well is there an aisle seat I can book? Them: There are steps to every other seat. Me: Oh. I'm logged in on my account and your site is allowing me to book any seat. I have an access card that clearly says I'm a wheelchair user.

She checked my account and saw that I wasn't registered as a wheelchair user on their system. Clearly it's been removed in error as my access card states that I am in a wheelchair. There is no way to view what requirements are attributed to my account however, I just have to trust that they have the correct requirements and are not allowing me to purchase tickets I can't use. Otherwise I could book any seat in that theatre, travel upto Manchester only to find I have to climb stairs to get to my seat.

Them: oh sorry your account wasn't showing you required wheelchair access, it is now.

atgtickets.com seating plan

what you actually want is a seat with a wheelchair symbol on it which are few and far between.

I couldn't find an example as most of the performances seemingly have wheelchair seats.

This is 13 Going on 30 on Friday October 10th. As you can see, there is one seat available. 

I can completely understand the want to reduce the amount of wheelchair seats purely for cost. But couldn't the government subsidise the theatre so that the customer still pays less, but the government pay the rest. Then the theatre won't miss out on the revenue.

I happened to be browsing aroound Facebook 1 day when I saw an advert for a performance by John Cleese talking about Fawlty Towers. It was at Manchester Albert Hall, which isn't a million miles away from my brother, Daniel etc.

These tickets were from seetickets.com. The sites not as interactive but it does offer wheelchair access. No doubt because the limited amount alloted were still available. I phoned up to arrange for a companion to attend with me and the lady on the other end of the phone was fantastic. She sorted it all out for me and kept apologising as it's an old building and they've done the best they can.

She set it all up and I recieved a confirmation e-mail:

This was a very much appreciated confirmation. I didn't feel like an after thought for once. The venue hadn't done the bare minimum to allow them to tick a box to say there's wheelchair access. The confirmation was hand written and she excused what I'm sure is going to be a nice experience.