ACCESS TO THE RNCM

The main entrance to the College is located on Booth Street West. A map of the area can be found on their Getting Here page. The precise location of the entrance can also be found on What3Words (reference spray.wing.bliss).

There are two sets of both automatic and manual doors. If visitors have used one of their bookable accessible car park spaces, they may also enter the building from the car park on the Rosamond Street West side. This entrance door is power-assisted.

All public areas of the College are accessible via step-free routes; Reception, the Café and Bar, Carole Nash Recital Room, and Forman Lecture Theatre are all located on the ground floor, as is one of the entrance doors to the Concert Hall (Lower Hall 2). Lower Hall 1 is accessed up a small set of steps.

There are also toilets available near the entrance with step-free access, on the left side of Reception as visitors enter the building from Booth Street West.

The Upper Hall doors to the Concert Hall, and both entrance doors to the Theatre, can be accessed via lifts.

Please note that although the Concert Hall main auditorium doors are accessible step-free, the Concert Hall Balcony and Oglesby Balcony are accessed by stairs only.

Visitors can find full information on the different ways to get to the RNCM on their Getting Here page.

The College has bookable accessible parking spaces in the surface level car park on Rosamond Street West (see Bookable Access Facilities above). There are step-free taxi drop-off points at the Booth Street West and Rosamond Street West entrances, as well as a taxi butler device in Reception for the return journey.

When visitors enter the building through the entrance on Booth Street West, they immediately enter the main Reception area. Turning right from the entrance door, visitors will pass through a set of double doors into the RNCM Café Bar.

Finding the RNCM Theatre (Track 1):
Passing through the Café Bar seating area from Reception, visitors can either take the first set of Concourse stairs or use the passenger lift located on the right-hand side of this staircase. They should continue across the Lower Concourse, where there is a second set of stairs and a passenger lift on the left-hand side. The Theatre doors are located on the Upper Concourse, at the top of this second set of stairs.

Finding the Forman Lecture Theatre (Track 2):
If visitors pass through the Café Bar seating area from Reception, they will see a gentle downward ramp on the right-hand side of the Concert Hall Lower Hall 1 door. They should go down this ramp and through the door on the right. If visitors need assistance or guidance at any point, they can ask a member of the Front of House team. Ushers wear black with a Front of House badge, and Café Bar staff wear dark blue polo shirts.

For those who wish to explore the public spaces further, they may find the virtual tour useful to familiarise themselves with the venues.

Both passenger lifts to the Lower and Upper Concourses are customer-operated; to call the lift, visitors just need to press and hold the button on the exterior until the lift reaches their level. They will then need to pull the door open using the handle. When the door is closed behind them, they should press and hold the button inside that corresponds to the direction they would like to travel – ‘1’ to go up, and ‘G’ to go down. When they have reached the desired level, they can push the door open to exit.

If assistance is needed in operating the passenger lifts, visitors should ask a member of the Front of House team.

RNCM Theatre

• Both sets of Theatre doors are found by going up the 16 steps to the Lower Concourse, and then a further 16 steps to the Upper Concourse. Both sets of stairs have handrails on either side, and a passenger lift option.
• Inside the Theatre, Row T (seats 1-10 and 29-36) is step-free. Wheelchair spaces are found in the centre block, Row S (seats 11-14 and 25-28).
• In the centre block of seats, Rows R-A involve going down two steps per row. In the side blocks, Rows S-A involve going down two steps per row. Row U involves going up two steps.

Forman Lecture Theatre

• There are nine rows of seating in the Lecture Theatre; the eighth row from the front is step-free access.
• From there, it is two small steps up to the ninth row, and two small steps down each row to the second row from the front, where there is then a single step down to the front row.
• There is a handrail along the left side of the steps.

There are accessible toilets located on every level of the building:

• One off the main Reception area (to the left as visitors enter the building from Booth Street West)
• One directly opposite the Concert Hall Lower Hall 2 door
• One outside the Concert Hall Upper Hall doors, behind the passenger lift
• One on the Upper Concourse, close to the Theatre doors

All accessible toilets require a RADAR key for entry. If visitors do not have one of their own, they can ask a member of the Front of House Usher team. A RADAR key can also be borrowed at Reception.

Visitors are welcome to bring any necessary medicines, medical equipment, or food and drink for specific medical requirements. For any concerns or special requirements related to this, they can contact the venue at [email protected] or on 0161 907 5300, and assistance will be provided wherever possible.

Hearing Assistance

The RNCM Concert Hall and RNCM Theatre are both equipped with Sennheiser infra-red hearing assistance systems.

Two types of receivers are available: a necklace-style receiver to be used in conjunction with a hearing aid (switched to ‘T’ position); or a stethoscope-style receiver for those without hearing aids.

If visitors wish to use one of these devices during their visit, or have any other questions about hearing assistance, they can speak to a member of the Front of House usher team.

Mobility Aids

The Front of House team can assist with the safe storage of any mobility aids that are not in use during the performance.

A wheelchair loan service is available (subject to availability) for visitors who require one to travel to or from their seat. To borrow a wheelchair, visitors should ask at Reception when they arrive.

Assistance dogs are welcome throughout the building. If visitors are bringing an assistance dog to the event, they should advise the venue when booking tickets so that appropriate seating can be recommended.

A baby changing facility is available on the ground floor, in the accessible toilet located opposite Concert Hall Lower Hall 2. This door requires a RADAR key; visitors should ask a member of the Front of House team or Reception staff if they do not have one of their own.

Buggies, prams, and pushchairs may not be admitted to the venues in the interest of safety. Visitors should speak to a member of the Front of House usher team, who will advise where such items can be stored during the performance. Please note that all items are left at the owner's risk.