Festival not allowing chairs!! As a pregnant woman do they have to let me?

[Jenwal2]

So, I bought tickets to one day of a festival before getting pregnant. I'm 16 weeks and still planning to go and wasn't expecting any problem, but now they have said you can't take chairs in. I have the beginning of SPD (caused by an earlier pregnancy) and am struggling with standing for any length of time and sitting on the floor is painful/uncomfortable. I was just planning to take a chair. They have only just released rules in the last few days, which say no chairs and there is absolutely no way to contact them. Do I have any rights? Do I just argue it when I get there? What happens if they say leave your chair or don't come in?

[Jenwal2]

I should add that they have already stated in their faqs that people who have injured themselves (or got pregnant) since buying tickets can't use disabled facilities. I have no intention of asking for/using disabled facilities, but I think it shows their likely position on my question.

[MinesAPintOfTea]

You don't have rights at an entertainment event. Best hope might be a full refund.

[stilllearnin]

Do you want to say which festival? I go to lots and you can usually work these things out. Sometimes is best to ask on a facebook page or similar - others its best to spring it on them - really can't see it being a big problem unless its a really strict festival.

[Jenwal2]

It is Wildlife festival (new this year) the right near me so I really want to go. They just seem to be taking a really unhelpful stance on everything

[Jenwal2]

I messaged them on Facebook and asked them about taking a folding stool (and told them why). They ignored my question and just updated the faqs to include the word 'stool' in the list of things you can't take

[Gillian1980]

They don't sound very pleasant at all :(

[TheCowThatLaughs]

Just read the FAQs and it says "you can sit in the grass and relax"
Hopefully it won't be raining or have recently rained!
As Gillian says, they sound unpleasant. Can you get down to sit on the ground or does the spd stop all that?

[TheCowThatLaughs]

Sorry just seen you can't sit in the ground

[Jenwal2]

I can manage short periods on the ground, but after a few of those that would be it. Do you reckon I'm supposed to just go to the first aid tent to sit - that would be so ridiculous. I can't imagine I'm the only person who will have proper problems with sitting on the ground.

[eurochick]

Blow up chair?

[VanitasVanitatum]

Take one of those shooting sticks that have the handle fold out into a seat! Unless sticks are on the banned list...?!

[Jenwal2]

The point is I just wanted to go and enjoy and not have any fuss caused by me being pregnant. Then I could just sit down whenever without having to interrupt what we are doing.

[Jenwal2]

Sticks also in the list. My husband suggested blow up chair too. The list says any type of chair though. So if they are being difficult, that would be covered. At least I would have a better chance of sneaking that in though!

[TheCowThatLaughs]

They're probably worried that people will bring chairs, use them, then leave them behind and the organisers will have to get rid of thousands of folding chairs, but that doesn't help you does it?

[namechange0dq8]

You don't have rights at an entertainment event.

Surely the provision of entertainment is a service within the meaning of S.29 of the Equality Act? Are you saying that a cinema or theatre could put up a sign saying "No blacks, no wheelchairs, no queers" and get away with it?

[Jenwal2]

That was what I thought.

[defineme]

I have a Hi gear anywhere chair that looks like a smallish shoulder bag and then opens up to be a ground level mat with a back support. Costs £10.

[Jenwal2]

Sorry, my reply was to thecowthatlaughs

[namechange0dq8]

No, the reason for the "no chairs" rule is because they're a complete pain at festivals. The people sitting down take up extra room, and then complain when people in front of them stand up. To take an example of festival which does allow seats, the Cambridge Folk Festival occasionally has near riots (well, not quite, given the median age is about 60) when people with seats insist on occupying territory close to the main stage and then get stroppy about people who incurse. There's how a complex dance of regulation and custom and practice which boils down to "chairs in the main stage tent are OK until tea time, not after then" but I'm sure it'll be a feature of this year, as most years.

[Jenwal2]

I wondered about one of those mat chair things, but not sure if i could sit like that. Also, their faqs came out this week and I am going on Sat, so not much time to source one!

I also figured there must be a discrimination issue with not making allowances for people with genuine issues.

[Jenwal2]

I do totally understand that point namechange0dq8. I am quite happy to sit way at the back out of the way, as long as I could sit and still enjoy

[Jenwal2]

Must go to sleep now! Thank you all for your suggestions. Still not really sure what I'm going to do though...

[SignoraStronza]

Just take one along and, pretend you had absolutely no idea of the 'rules'. Laugh incredulously if they do say anything, but crucially, just be breezy. Never, ever ask in this type of situation.

[HelenF350]

The organisers sound crazy! What festival is this?

[AuntieStella]

I do not think you have a hope of expecting special provision in the main area (for the reasons described above).

But you absolutely should be allowed to use the disabled facilities.

Their condition about only being available to those who knew they needed them at the time of booking is wrong. Unless of course they have extensive provision but even that is full.