Access and Facilities at the Phoenix Theatre

The step-free seats here are in Dress Circle row K, reached by lift from the Charing Cross Road foyer. The Stalls and the Grand Circle are stairs only.

Access bookings go through the venue's own access team on the theatre's official site, not through us.

Getting in and getting to your seat

The Charing Cross Road foyer is level from the street, with an accessible toilet, and the lift runs from there to row K at the back of the Dress Circle. Every seat in row K is step-free. The lift takes a wheelchair up to 90cm wide and 140cm long, and up to 400kg.

The main entrance on Phoenix Street is one shallow step up from the street, and a ramp can be put out on request.

Steps to each level, from the Phoenix Street entrance:

• Stalls: 13 steps down (16 from the Charing Cross Road foyer)
• Dress Circle: 21 steps up (18 from the Charing Cross Road foyer)
• Grand Circle: 51 steps up, from its own door on Phoenix Street, with no lift and no route from Charing Cross Road

In the Dress Circle, if a couple of steps are manageable, rows H and J are also recommended: the aisle drops two shallow steps per row, with a handrail. The centre aisle of the Dress Circle has no handrail.

Flitcroft Street has an older step-free entrance too, and it comes out at row A of the Dress Circle. Staff open it for you, but it has to be requested before you book. It's suitable if you can transfer from your wheelchair, but not if you're staying in it.

Wheelchair and transfer seating

The wheelchair spaces are in Dress Circle row K, where seats K1 and 2, K13 and 14, K15 and 16, and K27 and 28 are taken out. A companion sits in K3, K12, K17 or K26. If you'd rather transfer to a theatre seat, K1, 14, 15 and 28 are the transfer seats, with a companion beside you in K2, 13, 16 or 27. Wheelchairs and scooters are stored in the foyer during the show.

Accessible toilets

There are two, both gender-neutral and self-contained: by the lift at the back of the Dress Circle, and inside the Charing Cross Road foyer, which you reach from the street without stairs. An older one in the Royal Room, on the Dress Circle level, isn't always available.

Hearing support

Sennheiser Mobile Connect is available in the auditorium, on your own phone with your own headphones or hearing aid, or on a device and headset lent by the theatre. There are also radio headsets and neck loops, which work with hearing aids on the T setting. There's a limited number, so ask in advance.

Captioned, signed and audio-described performances

Accessible performances are scheduled show by show, and the dates are on the show's own page. Box D, at Dress Circle level to the left of the stage, is where the caption screen goes at captioned performances and where the interpreter is at signed ones. So sit towards the front of the Dress Circle, centre-right to read the captions or centre-left to watch the interpreter. For audio-described performances, Stalls rows C to F are recommended.

Assistance dogs and other support

Assistance and guide dogs are welcome, and staff can look after your dog during the performance if you ask in advance or when you arrive. Nimbus Access Cards and Can't Wait cards are recognised for queues and toilets. Ear defenders and sensory bags are available on request, and there's a quiet room off the Dress Circle, the Round Room, which has to be booked ahead.

Bars

There's a bar on every level, and the bars are small. People regularly spend the whole interval queuing for a drink.

• Charing Cross Road foyer, step-free from the street: the Noël Coward Bar, the biggest and newest
• One shallow step in from the main entrance: the Phoenix Street Foyer Bar, with no seating
• 7 steps down from the Stalls: the Icons Bar, quite small
• 3 steps up from the back of the Dress Circle: the Dress Circle Bar
• 8 steps down from the Grand Circle: the Grand Circle Bar

Order before the show and your drinks will be ready at the interval, or have drinks and snacks brought to your seat: scan the QR codes around the building, or order online on the day. It's also the way to get a drink without any stairs.

Toilets on every level

• Stalls: the Ladies are either side of the Icons Bar; for the Gents, follow the rear corridor round to the seat-28 end
• Dress Circle: the Gents are level with the bar, 3 steps up; the Ladies are 18 steps up, or through the back of the circle to the far side
• Grand Circle: the Ladies are on the same level as the seats, and the Gents are in the Grand Circle Bar, 8 steps down

The accessible ones are listed above.

Bags and coats

Bring a bag that fits under your seat. Bags are checked at the door, suitcases of any size can't come in, and there's nowhere to leave a coat or a case, because the theatre has no cloakroom.

Tips for the night

• In the Grand Circle, go straight to the Phoenix Street door. You can't get up there from the Charing Cross Road foyer.
• Before a show with lots of effects, you can ask the theatre for its show guidance and lighting guide.

Call us on 020 7193 9050 for group bookings.