Albert Hall, Manchester: Where Have I Been Hiding? How do I not Know You? And, in my Hometown as Well. Shame on Me.
First off, I’m Back Blogging.
I haven’t blogged for a good while. Mainly because my thoughts are that if you write a travel blog and the world is in lockdown, your blog options become pretty limited. These are my thoughts only; please send your thoughts on a postcard if you disagree.
However, I’m venturing from my shell with things now starting to look brighter on the travel front. Here’s hoping everyone enjoys a safe, responsible and healthy 2022. I don’t want to dig out my travel insurance and go through the small print on cancellations again; please don’t make me do this.
I’ve booked my ‘proper’ holidays for later this year, and I’ll be reviewing these at the appropriate time, but my blogging pencil has grown blunt. I need the blogging practice, so this is a mini-review or travel-lite, I guess, for the Albert Hall, Manchester; a new gig venue to prehistoric me. And a fantastic gig by Sleeper, with stunning support from The Lottery Winners, the best support act I’ve seen in my 53 years.
The Albert Hall is a surprisingly accessible gem in Manchester’s vast array of gig venues, made friendly by all of its staff (including security staff, who don’t always receive the most favourable of comments)
Albert Hall, Manchester.
The Albert Hall is old. It’s a Victorian, Grade 2 Listed Building, and neither point is usually conducive to a stress-free, wheelchair trip. Albert Hall’s – self-explanatory – website told me, in no uncertain terms, that accessibility might be a challenge. There’s no lift at the Albert Hall (and no way to install one if they could – it’s a Grade Two Listed, historical building, remember); there are two or three steps up from pavement level to the primary access from Peter Street; and, the accessible area (seating area and toilets are on the second floor!)
But, Albert Hall has grappled with these usually ‘insurmountable’ obstacles; they’ve hurdled each one to transform a former Victorian Wesleyan Chapel into a great accessible venue that works well. As an aside, I’m not sure what the generally accepted Wesleyan view of disability was in the chapel’s Victorian heyday. But, my immediate recollections of our Victorian ancestors’ default behaviours for disability were “hide the afflicted from view” or preferably send them in advance to the workhouse. Albert Hall’s accessibility evolution gives our Victorian forefathers the middle finger.
Albert Hall’s Website Holds all the Keys.
If you’re disabled and planning a visit to the Albert Hall, go to their website before your visit (I’ll even do the hard work for you and give you the link https://www.alberthallmanchester.com); then click into the Accessibility section, and complete and submit the web form that they ask you to do. I’m sure this will be of no surprise – it’s now becoming standard, accessibility fodder. The venue specifies they want to receive this form back from you seven working days before the event. Again, this is perfectly reasonable. But, I want to give Albert Hall special mention here; I had no idea that I was going to the gig until 36 hours or so before showtime. And it was a Bank Holiday weekend, and there were ongoing staff shortages because of Covid. Yet, they still managed to arrange access for me and put my name on their ‘Accessibility List.’
Next, they’ll ask you to get to the venue for the door opening time (all will become apparent). Skip the queue, go straight to security at the head of the line and let them know your name’s “…on the (accessibility) List.” Then a team member will appear, Mr Benn style, to escort you around the back of the building and wheel out for your delectation the Super Trac TRE-52 Powered Stairclimber. This is not the EVAC chair of old; rest easy and clear your memories of fire drills in multi-storey buildings. The TRE-52 stair climber is a substantial electronic device; here’s a link https://evaccess.uk/product/super-trac-tre-52-powered-stair-climber/ – click further into their site and watch the video.
The TRE-52 Experience.
My worry was around weight limits or more my weight as a ‘limiting factor.’ The TRE-52 has a maximum load of 200 Kg; I’d already worked out this would be ‘tight’; I would be around the 195 Kg mark (I am a porker, but my powerchair’s unladen weight is 100 Kg). I’ll leave you guys to do the math, but I’m relying on the ‘lockdown’ defence. I told the operator my concerns, and I was more concerned than him.
Now, the stair climber is not the speediest of machines; hence the venue wants you to arrive early. It took about 20 minutes to strap me in and then safely transport me up 52 steps, spread over ten or so 90-degree half-landings, up to the hall’s second floor and onto the accessible viewing platform. Yes, at times, I felt like I was dangling in the air, waiting to plummet into the joy that is the Oblivion ride at Alton Towers. But, this is/was down to my trepidation of stair climbers and not down to how this one functioned – which given the weight concerns mentioned earlier, I would call exemplary.
Welcome to the Promised Land.
Once you’re on the viewing platform, you’ve effectively unfettered access to a large portion of the second floor. Yes, steps cause some access restrictions (down to the safety barrier, for example), but on the whole, the benefits far outweigh any limitations. You’re mixing with ordinary people, and you’re not in a space-restricted area at the side of Dave, the sound engineer, and you’re not locked away, out of sight. There is also access to the accessible bathroom and a drinks runner who will go to the bar for you. The view from the accessible platform is impressive – we were perched right at the side of and above the stage.
Closing Thoughts.
Albert Hall’s standing capacity is 1,900 people. Personally, this makes me queasy, but I know the Albert Hall hosts its fair share of club nights, so who knows. The sound is excellent – loud but clear; I’m tired of attending gigs where I can have a conversation when the bands are on stage.
At the end of the gig, the stair climber operative appears (again), all Mr Benn-like.
I’ll be back at Albert Hall – I’ve signed up for your newsletter. Sleeper – was it 25 or so years (it was 30/05/1996 if we want to be pedantic) since Lancaster Sugarhouse and the first ‘it girl’ tour? Whether I continue to slap on Factor 41 or not, I’ll still not weather-age as well as you guys! And, The Lottery Winners – you have a (number of) new convert(s).
