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We want The Queen's Hall to be a safe and welcoming place for everybody.

If you don't find the information you need below or would like to come and have a look around before you attend an event, please call 0131 668 2019 or email info@queenshalledinburgh.org.

There are images of the spaces we describe below at the bottom of the page.

We look forward to welcoming you.

Our Building

We are a large stone building set just off the pavement behind black railings. Gates in the railings will be open when the venue doors open and Ushers will be at each open door to check your ticket and help you find your seat - you can use any open door to access the building. For some shows, security teams will also ask to look through your bag. 

The Box Office is at the north end of the building (closest to the city centre) for booking or collecting tickets. There is no direct access to the Hall from there, so you will need to go back out onto the pavement, turn right and enter the Hall through the main doors.

There is a wide open space leading from the front of the building all the way through to the bar. The ceiling is quite low at the front but gets much higher towards the back. There are no steps but a downward incline of around 9% starts approximately one third of the way in to the foyer and flattens out when you reach the Bar area. A handrail starts approximately halfway along the lefthand side of the foyer and runs alongside the incline at a height of 91cm.

There are sometimes tables and chairs to sit at it in this space, but for busy events there will just be tall tables you to stand around and put your drink on. It can get quite noisy in this space, so if you would like to use our ear defenders, please ask for the Sensory Kit at Box Office (more information below) or speak to an Usher.

Depending on the show you are coming to, seats might be laid out in rows or around cabaret tables in the auditorium, or there may be no seats in the stalls, just the fixed seating in the pews and gallery (when open) with the centre stall area for standing. At these shows, there will often be a barrier at the front between the stage and the audience.

Your seat might be downstairs or upstairs in the Gallery, please ask an Usher if you are unsure. We are sorry but there is no wheelchair access upstairs.

Non-accessible self-contained cubicle toilets are located on the mezzanine level above the bar and there are other toilets, which are currently ladies only until they can be suitably refurbished, on the south side of the auditorium.

Free period products are available in all toilets so please help yourself to what you need.
 

Wheelchair Access

The Queen's Hall is accessible to wheelchair users via a ramp up to the front righthand entrance, next to the Box Office. The door can be opened with a push plate.

Unfortunately there are no accessible parking spots directly outside the Hall but Blue Badge holders may be able to park on the single yellow line on Clerk Street. Please check council regulations here.

There are two wheelchair accessible toilets to the lefthand side of the rear fire exit in the Bar, which is located at the far end of the open foyer (when approaching from the front of the building).

We also have stage access for performers who are wheelchair users with a Mobilift CX. Read more about the lift here

You can find information about hiring our stage lift here.
 

Access Scheme for Booking Online

Wheelchair spaces and free companion tickets can now be booked online for most shows.

Before you do this for the first time, please get in touch with the Box Office to join our Access Scheme – a quick phone call or email is fine, you won’t need to complete a form or send us anything. The Box Office is open Monday-Friday from 10am to 2pm. You can visit in person, call them on 0131 668 2019 or email them any time at boxoffice@queenshalledinburgh.org.

When you get in touch, please let us know:

  • If you need a companion or carer to attend with you
  • If you are a wheelchair user (electric)
  • If you are a wheelchair user (manual)
  • If you are a wheelchair user, but prefer to transfer to a seat for a show

This will be noted on your account and give you access to all booking options online, so that you no longer have to come to the Box Office in person or call us if you don't want to.

How to book a wheelchair space for a seated show online

Once you have joined our Access Scheme as a wheelchair user (instructions above), you will need to log into your customer account on our website when you want to make a booking.

To do this, click on the image that looks like a shopping basket in the top right hand corner and then 'My Account'. Enter your email address and password (if you have forgotten your password, there is a link you can click on to 'Reset' it).

When you go to the event you would like to book, please only select a wheelchair-allocated space from the seating plan, which will be shown with a wheelchair icon. Important: Wheelchair spaces will only be visible for you to select if you are logged into your customer account. Please contact the Box Office if you need any assistance.

If you have told us that you require a companion, you will also see a seat marked C next to the wheelchair space, which you can select for your companion. The next section explains how to book this free ticket.

Once you have chosen your tickets you can have them posted out to you (for any show that is more than seven days in the future), collect them from the Box Office on the night, which opens 30 minutes prior to the venue doors (more details on each event page), or have e-tickets which you can show on your mobile device.

The last step is then to enter your card details, make payment, receive a confirmation email and wait for the show!

How to book a free companion / carer ticket for a seated show online

Once you have joined our Access Scheme to let us know that you need a carer or companion to attend events with you (instructions above), you will need to log into your customer account on our website when you want to make a booking.

To do this, click on the image that looks like a shopping basket in the top right hand corner and then 'My Account'. Enter your email address and password (if you have forgotten your password, there is a link you can click on to 'Reset' it).

When you go to the event you would like to book, select any two seats together on the seating plan.

Click Continue, and select 'Free Companion' from the dropdown for one of the tickets.* Once you proceed to checkout, this ticket will become free.

Once you have chosen your tickets you can have them posted out to you (for any show that is more than seven days in the future), collect them from the Box Office on the night, which opens 30 minutes prior to the venue doors (more details on each event page), or have e-tickets which you can show on your mobile device.

The last step is then to enter your card details, make payment, receive a confirmation email and wait for the show!

* Important: Free Companion tickets will only show as £0.00 when you are logged in and at the checkout stage.

If you have any problems with any of this, please contact our Box Office who will be happy to help.

How to book a wheelchair and carer/companion space for an unreserved show

If a show is 'unreserved' this means that there is standing space only in the centre stalls and seating in the pews. Due to the nature of our listed building and the placement of the stage, speakers, and barriers, there may unfortunately be limited space for wheelchair users at this type of show. 

We will always do our best to accommodate you, but it is advisable to book this kind of ticket with the Box Office directly if you have any concerns.

Any companion will need to be able to stand with you or sit in a pew seat a short distance away. We cannot put single seats in a standing area for health and safety reasons. 
 

Guide Dogs

Please let the Box Office know when you buy your ticket if you are bringing a guide dog. We will try to seat you in an area that is comfortable for both you and your dog. As we no longer have a cloakroom, we may not be able to look after your furry friend for you, but do contact us in advance or ask on arrival and if we can, we will (it's one of our favourite jobs!).
 

Assisted Hearing

There is an induction loop in the main auditorium to help patrons with hearing difficulties. Turn your hearing aid to the T position to pick up sound directly from the stage.

While we try to have the system in operation for all shows, it may need to be turned off at some events, especially when there are amplified guitars. Unfortunately we are unable to know until the day if this is going to be an issue. Please speak to an Usher if you have any problems, and we'll try our best to help you.
 

Autism 

Before lockdown we designed videos for each area of our building to give you a good idea of what to expect ahead of your visit. Building works whilst we were closed mean that these are now out-of-date, but we hope to produce new ones soon when we have funding to do so. 

If you would like to come and have a look around before you attend an event, please call 0131 668 2019 or email info@queenshalledinburgh.org and ask for Emma or Kris who can arrange this for you.

We have Sensory Kits containing ear defenders and other tools designed to make your experience enjoyable and relaxing. If you would like to use one of these, please either call 0131 668 2019 or email info@queenshalledinburgh.org to book in advance or ask for it at the Box Office when you arrive or from an Usher if the show has started.
 

Gig Buddies

We are proud to work with Gig Buddies, a project that enables adults with a learning disability/autistic adults to live an active social life. They do this by running regular community based social events, and pairing their members to like-minded volunteers who share the same interests. Members and their buddies regularly attend gigs at The Queen’s Hall, so if you or someone you know is interested, you can learn more here or contact the Gig Buddies Edinburgh Project Manager, Sam Maggs by emailing him at Samuel.Maggs@thera.co.uk or calling him on 07738 486001.
 

Seating

These sizes are approximate, especially on the pew seating where individual seats are difficult to measure accurately.

Red Centre Stall Chairs

Width 42cm
Depth 41cm
Back height 54cm

Pew Seats

Width 57cm
Depth 34cm
Back height 51cm

Gallery flip down seats

Width 45.5cm
Depth 41cm
Back height 47cm

Image credit (apart from sensory kits): Kat Gollock
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