'I miss out on gigs at venues due to wheelchair'

"It's frustrating knowing there's gigs on that I know people are going to but I can't," says Jason Bell, who's been in a wheelchair for the last two and a half years.

He says wheelchair users have to miss out on gigs in Nottingham, because some venues, including Rock City and The Bodega, are not accessible.

The 55-year-old, who lives in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, injured his spinal cord three years ago while lifting boxes when "something just snapped in my back".

A spokesperson for DHP Family, which runs Rock City and The Bodega, said they were committed to making their venues as accessible as possible and added everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy live music.

"It's taken me a while to go back and see live music," Jason said.

"I missed the Sex Pistols last year, there's a gig on nearly every night at The Bodega that friends are going to and I've got no way of getting in."

Jason said after researching the issue, as far as he can see, Rock City is "the largest [music] venue in the UK without full disabled access".

"There's a few wheelchairs that can get in, light, manual ones, but anything a little bit bigger, or battery [powered] wheelchairs can't get in," he added.

"Even if you did go in, there's no disabled loos or anything like that."

Jason said he first contacted Rock City six months ago raising concerns about a lack of accessibility in the building, and was told there could be a solution.

"This has been going on years and years. They've promised things and it's never come up," he said.

"I just cannot get into Rock City. I've spoken to other people in the same position.

"Everywhere else, even down to Rough Trade, I can get into. I'm able to get into Rescue Rooms and the staff are brilliant.

"Rock City is the big one, it has the bigger bands."

Jason says music is his "biggest passion" and is the main way he makes friends and socialises.

"It's pretty hard work in a wheelchair, and music makes me forget about anything," he said.

"I grew up going to shows. Seeing the curtain rise, or the band strike up is ingrained in my DNA."

Jason says there are several key things that music venues need to be fully accessible.

"Flat access that can be used on your own, ramps small enough to wheel yourself up, reliable lifts that will get you up and down every floor," he said.

"We also need a viewing area you can use where you don't have to look behind people and access to bars and toilets.

"There's a lot more planning than just buying a ticket.

"I just want equality and to be able to get into venues like everyone else."

The DHP Family spokesperson said plans had been drawn up to provide disabled lift access to Rock City.

They added: "As a company, we are working with Attitude is Everything to do all we can to improve access for all audiences, and always welcome insight and feedback from our customers on what we can do better."

The spokesperson says wheelchair users can access the Main Hall using the stair climber purchased in 2020.

At The Bodega, they say wheelchair users can access the ground floor bar and garden bar, where there is also a disabled toilet.

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