How to improve disabled accessibility at your nightclub?
NDML exhibited at the Night Time Economy Summit 2025 which took place in Birmingham. The Hockley Social Club hosted many talks, featuring insight from nightlife industry leaders and international guests.
One of the more popular talks involved improvements to accessibility at nightclub venues and live music events. Members on the panel included: the founder of Deaf Rave; a nightlife advisor to international governments who had a visible disability; as well as disability awareness advocates.
Together they shared their experiences of visiting nightlife venues, buying tickets, and going to live music events and festivals. They discussed the accessible practices they would like to see businesses implement, and where business can look to learn more about accessibility improvements.
Speakers include (from left to right):
- Troi Lee – Deaf Rave
- Robbe Van Bogaert – DJ, Founder of Eventsure
- Katouche Goll – Activist
- Maia Barker – University of Central Lancashire
Accessibility starts with Attitude
The question the speakers wanted the audience to ask themselves is: “Is your venue for me?” (i.e. people with a disability). Whether a venue is accessible is usually determined by the number and severity of the barriers for attendance. These barriers are both physical and perceptual. Some clear physical barriers include stairs, high ledges, the size of the space and walkway-bottlenecks. Perceptual barriers include inclusive door policies, allowances, accessibility policies, negative attitudes, being ignored, and a lack of representation. Barriers are varied and large in number, and ultimately nightclubs should try to identify these barriers and eliminate them.
The speakers kept coming back to this phrase – Accessibility starts with Attitude – because a business first must be willing to make their space accessible, and see the value in disabled custom, in order for meaningful actions to be followed through.
Katouche Goll, a wheelchair user with cerebral palsy, mentioned how she has frequently been denied entry to clubs and nightlife venues. This has nothing to do with the physical properties of the venue, but because of the attitude of the door staff and management. Maia noted how situations like these happen all the time, and is certainly discriminatory.
Representation is also key. To see performers, artists or entertainers with a visible disability is rare. Employing disabled staff members can help to improve attitudes and awareness toward disabled guests.
What is Deaf Rave? – An example of disabled representation in nightlife
The representation discussion sparked Troi Lee, founder of Deaf Rave, to discuss the origins of his collective. He remembers standing outside of a club in Leicester Square in his youth with other deaf ravers – waiting in the queue – and the doorman not allowing their group entry simply because they are deaf. This discrimination was one of the inspirations for Troi Lee to start Deaf Rave. Troi could see the desire to experience live music and nightlife within the deaf community – and his collective runs events which are deaf accessible.
Deaf Rave has been ongoing for over 20 years, and has been the subject of a Netflix documentary, Turn up the Bass. Deaf culture is visual, so it includes dancers, signed songs and increased visual entertainment features such as sparklers or confetti. Deaf Rave provides a platform for deaf performers, MCs and DJs. It also provides educational resources for deaf awareness in clubs.
New technology is available to improve accessibility, that many venue owners don’t know about but could necessarily benefit from. Innovative haptic vests allow deaf ravers to feel the music, and Fabric have developed a BodyKinetic dance floor to improve immersion.
What is The Purple Pound?
The purple pound relates to the spending power of the disabled population. A fifth of the working UK population is disabled, therefore the panel argued nightclubs should consider investing in accessibility as a positive business move.
Businesses lose approximately £2 billion a month by ignoring the needs of disabled customers, with £163 million estimated to be lost by restaurants, pubs and clubs.
To invest in disabled custom, the speakers recommended businesses remove the physical barriers and make reasonable adjustments to their venue space. Or if changes are too expensive and outweigh the business benefit, then have a policy in place to improve transparency and welcome customers.
Robbe advised the venues owners present at the talk that they should focus on communication, by improving signage and highlighting their policy on web pages and upon ticket purchases. Businesses could advise their photographers to capture disabled customers and staff members, improving visibility and awareness on your social channels. Sensory spaces at events are growing, with event organisers using services such as EventWell to help create exclusive chill-out zones.
Engaging with marginalised communities leads to a more positive approach to event running, and also increased revenue streams. Another consideration, the gigging population is getting older, and improving accessibility by removing physical barriers will see long term benefits for your audience.
For a framework on how to improve a nightclub or live event venue, the panellists cite the Live Events Access Charter.
What is the Live Events Access Charter?
The Live Events Access Charter provides a framework for nightlife venues, businesses and live music and event venues on how to improve disability equality. Now an online learning platform hosted by Attitude is Everything, the Live Events Access Charter awards a classification for venues. The levels are bronze, silver, gold and platinum, which are then listed and published, freely accessible to all customers.
The Charter covers all aspects of shows, from ease of ticket buying, accessible information, on-site access, customer assistance and concert viewing including the presence of British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters.
Silver and above recognised a commitment to making live music more accessible. Only 30% of UK music festivals currently hold a Silver Award or above. Visit Attitude is Everything to learn more about the Live Events Access Charter and how to work toward a certification.
Deaf Awareness Training for Nightclubs
The panel were asked by the audience how they could implement deaf training to their staff members. Robbe surprised members by suggesting venue owners play a game with their team. He suggested they blindfold themselves, and walk around the space, stepping into the shoes of a disabled customer. Or perhaps sit in wheelchairs and attempt to traverse the venue. Or put on headphones and play the speakers. This game offers teambuilding and a unique experience.
Robbe’s reasoning is that if businesses make the training fun then staff are more likely to be receptive. Alternatively, invite people with a disability to enjoy the venue, and ask them to review how they found the space. This can also apply for neurodivergents who are protected under equality act. Professional training services are available – the main lessons are to be humble, be patient and to have an open accepting attitude.
Disability and Accessibility Policy for Nightclubs
Katouche spoke on the difficulty she has had purchasing tickets to events online. She says that different venues using different vendors and having different systems is frustrating. Rarely is the information specific to disability made clear, nor is the level of accessibility support. She notes this is a problem across the whole nightlife sector.
Nightclubs and live music businesses need to review their buying process on behalf of someone with accessibility needs. Katouche calls for a clear information to be displayed on websites and for it to be easily findable. Often she has purchased a ticket, and then when referred to a helpline for assistance, she was told she didn’t need to purchase the ticket. Businesses should have a clear buying process and pathway on display; have all accessibility support listed so customers can prepare for any barriers they foresee.
What changes can nightclubs make to improve the likelihood of a disability customer visiting your venue?
- Have a clear accessibility policy – listing all the reasonable adjustments and accessibility features of your venue.
- Have a clear ticketing policy – including a detailed description of the desired buying process for disabled customers, as well as ahelpline number or email to contact pre and post-purchase confirmation.
- Apply for charter standard –contact Attitude is Everything and see the adjustments you should make to achieve a Live Event Access Charter certification and be recognised as a responsible venue.
- Improve education and awareness – educate your staff on disability awareness. Access professional training and exercises to improve customer experience.
- Reflect disability celebration at your venue – look out for guests who would, with permission, benefit representation your social channels. Employ disabled artists or run tailored events to cater to guests from marginalised communities.