Venue access information (Bournemouth International Centre)

Customers with special seating or access requirements can join our Experience Card Access Scheme (https://www.bhliveexperience.co.uk/join/), which enables us to provide the best possible service and seats for customers with accessibility needs. It's free to join and we provide members with a personal service to tell them what's coming up. It also allows members to book accessible seats and wheelchair spaces online, by phone, or in person. The scheme also offers further offers and discounts across our leisure centres as long as they are eligible for certain benefits.

Download the Access Policy for Bournemouth International Centre https://bhlivecouk.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/BH%20Live/PDFs/Bournemouth_International_Centre-Access_Policy_March_2017.docx

The Multi-Storey Car Park - Pay and Display
Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) has a total of 37 accessible parking spaces located on levels 1 to 3 of the car park (including 3 overlength spaces on Level 1). There are automatic doors providing access from the accessible parking spaces to the foyer of the BIC. Vehicles which have a disability exemption from Vehicle Excise Duty may park free of charge.

External Entrances
The main BIC entrance on Exeter Road, the Purbeck Hall entrance and the Tregonwell corridor entrance (from the Sun Terrace) are either flat access routes or have built in ramps.

Ground Floor Areas
From the main foyer area there are three ramped accesses to various bar and refreshment areas located off this area. These include:
• The Foyer Coffee Bar
• The Terrace Café Bar
• The Avon Room

Towards the back of the building, but still on the ground floor, there is ramped access from the Solent Corridor to the Purbeck Corridor which provides access to the Purbeck Hall, Meyrick, Durley, Branksome, Chine and Westbourne Suites.

First Floor Access
Access to the first floor level from the main entrance foyer is by one of two passenger lifts. Once on the first floor there is a level route through to the Bourne Lounge, then on to the Bayview Suite, the Tregonwell Hall and Bar, and from there to the Purbeck Hall foyer through the Purbeck Lounge. There is also direct access from the Purbeck Hall Foyer to the Tregonwell Hall via a ramp.

Windsor Hall (PAW PATROL VENUE)
Access for wheelchairs is available into the Windsor Hall Balcony by way of a lift. Positions for wheelchairs are also located on the flat floor area of the hall.

Tregonwell Hall
Access for wheelchair users can be gained to the well and middle areas of the Tregonwell Hall.

From the main entrance to this hall, access to the well area is restrictive and is not suitable for motorised wheelchair users due to the width of the ramps.

Access to and from the upper levels of the hall (i.e. under the balcony) can only be made using the ramped access located from the Purbeck Hall Foyer. Access cannot be gained to the balcony area.

Wheelchair spaces are normally positioned in the middle level close to the main entrance doors. There are two ramps either side of the stage in the hall which, although they do not meet the criteria for disabled usage, a wheelchair user could use them with assistance to gain access onto the stage.

Purbeck Hall
The Purbeck Hall is directly accessible from its foyer area and presents no problem to wheelchair users.

BIC Main Foyer to Purbeck Hall Foyer
It is recommended that wheelchair users gain access to the Purbeck Hall via the ground floor Solent Corridor / Purbeck Corridor and then use the passenger lift, which provides access directly into the Purbeck Hall Foyer area. This by far the easiest route and is well sign posted on overhead boards.

Accessible Toilets
The Centre has accessible toilets in the following areas:

Ground Floor:
Foyer Bar Right adjacent to the Reception Desk

Solent Corridor adjacent to the Think bar

First Floor:
Tregonwell Corridor to Bayview Suite (off Bourne Lounge)
Tregonwell Bar
Windsor Hall Door 5
Windsor Hall Door 6
Purbeck Bar

Disabled toilets are fitted with an audible emergency alarm for use in the event of customers encountering difficulties. Solent Corridor toilets are equipped with a hoist.

Doors
Many of the doors within the centre are held open by magnets. This enables people to move easily through many of the areas. In the event of the fire alarm being activated, these doors will be automatically released and return to the closed position until such time as the alarm is de-activated, when the doors may then be pushed back into the open position.

Hearing Assistance
The Windsor Hall and Tregonwell Hall are fitted with the Sennheiser Infrared Amplification System. The system receives amplified signals from staged events and transmits them via infrared beams.

Unlike the more traditional loop systems, users require a receiver which can be either worn around the neck and used in conjunction with their own hearing aid (in the T position) or headsets worn directly in ear if they do not have a hearing aid, or their hearing aid does not have a T position.

This system is far superior in that it works in all areas of the hall and is far less likely to produce interference for sound system. However, please note that it is not the same as a traditional "Loop System", so just switching a hearing aid to the "T" position without also using a receiver will not work.

Receivers and headsets are available from the security office near the Bourne Lounge. We do not ask for a deposit for the use of the equipment but you will be asked to leave your name and address. This information is destroyed when the equipment is returned.
Our staff will be happy to explain how the receivers work.

Guide Dogs & Assistance Dogs
Guide Dogs and Assistance Dogs are permitted into all areas of the BIC. They are to be kept on a lead at all times and under control. Water is provided on request.