Not disabled enough to access Hyde Park Concerts

[Tiredalwaystired]

I’m supposed to be taking my daughter to see Olivia Rodrigo at Hyde Park in a couple of weeks. I had spinal surgery a while back which has weakened my lower back and makes it very hard to stand for hours at a time although I can manage day to day as long as I sit at regular intervals . At previous outdoor concerts I’ve taken a shooting stick (like a walking stick with a built in seat) as I dont have the requisite paperwork for the disability seats so can’t access the disabled area, and I’ve coped OK with that work around.

I’ve just seen in their terms that shooting sticks are banned as they are considered “dangerous”. I now don’t know what to do. Without regular breaks on the pressure on my back I’ll be in agony after a couple of hours and I really don’t think I can attend. I certainly wouldnt be enjoying it by the time she came on stage, that’s for sure. This is my daughter’s Christmas present from me and we have been so excited.

AIBU to think that this policy is harming people that actually need that sort of support and they are discriminating against people like me who need some support in some scenarios but not in all scenarios? I feel I’m being penalised for not being disabled enough. It’s really upset me. Their helpline offered no guidance.

I'd do anything to get out of having to see that bunny boiler Olivia Rodrigo too.

The rules seem quite tough here, I agree that you should publicly attempt to contact them via social media. I was attending a gig recently and was not responded to by the venues email accessibility team, the band were staying in our hotel and I fell over in front of them, they sorted me out for the gig and were pissed off that I had been ignored.

I reckon a rollator is a great idea, not just for the gig but for general use whilst you heal more. I had some massive arguments with dh when he suggested a rollator for me but I have to say, it made things so much more manageable when I most needed it.

I would definitely hire or borrow a walker with seat or a wheelchair for the event.

From memory (I helped a friend book accessible tickets for Pink & Billy Joel) you have to email evidence of being in receipt of PIP or similar.

I just checked my emails and I have a 24 long thread of emails between me and AXS where I was asking if they had disabled access for someone with a standard ticket. They could not confirm and just reiterated to me that disabled area were sold out. They have absolutely zero training or thinking ability.

I was absolutely furious about it for the longest time trying to work out if I would be able to bypass a long queue. As it turned out the very nice people who actually worked on the gate let me in. I do have an access card but actually didn’t want to be confined to a particular area hence buying an ordinary ticket. It blew their little minds so bad they couldn’t straight up answer the question.

I wish you all the luck in the world OP

Maybe I'm being dumb but how would you sit on your chair without being knocked flying by hoards of teenage girls, or sending them flying? If your sitting so far back that it wouldn't be an issue then you could go in the picnic blanket zone. I presume you're not planning on being in the thick of the crowd perching on a chair

the chairs are prohibited.

This is true. In the food areas you can sit.
Far from main stage but you will hear the main acts

There are some places to sit down and relax including pub-style garden tables and benches.’

Get a walking frame with a seat.
My daughter uses one where her wheelchair won't go.
They fold up and not classed as dangerous but a disability aid.
She's been to many concerts with one.
See photo.
( second hand ones on market place for a tenner).

I had a similar issue a few years ago at an open-air concert, with a ban on chairs or stools (or, in fact, sitting!) of any kind. I was worried about how I was going to cope as I have a condition that leaves me unable to stand for extended periods, despite being able to walk. It was then that I discovered the term "ambulant disabled", and recommend that you use this term when you next contact the organisers. They have to accommodate you. I was given a wristband for the wheelchair area, which was also supplied with plenty of seating for non-wheelchair users (both companions and other "ambulant disabled" people) and just happened to be right at the front of the audience and just under the stage!

sadly, it's because so many take the piss
I have an acquaintance who had a knee operation a few years ago, she was disabled before the operation, and obviously not an immediate recovery, however she is now pretty fit, can stand easily when it suits her, yet boasts about getting disabled access and free entry for her drip of a son.

It’s not a chair. It’s essentially a walking stick with an inbuilt seat. You perch on it. No I wasn’t thinking of being in the absolute thick of it and thankfully neither is my daughter.

Thank you to everyone that offered a helpful suggestions - there’s a lot to look into here. Looks like my best option is flash my scar at the gate and hope!

(to the person that inexplicably decided to have a pop at a fourteen year olds music taste, I hope whatever misery you’re going through in your life clears up soon)

If you have a recent hospital letter or discharge note relating to your surgery, it might also be worth taking a copy along. I always present a consultant's letter as proof of diagnosis as I am self-employed and don't claim PIP etc., but requests for evidence of disability always seem to focus on the financial rather than the medical. They never take into account anyone whose disability doesn't necessarily prevent them from working but still require accommodation for mobility issues at events.

Not long ago I was buying a ticket for a show in Earls Court. I managed to establish that I am eligible for a wheelchair space on the ground level and the associated access price. (had to send proof of PIP) then I had to phone to complete the transaction (hate this, love the ones where I can buy online same as everyone else)
That'll be £100 she said.
Hang on a minute, you said the access price was £50?
Yes it is, so £50 for you and £50 for your companion/carer.
I'm coming alone, I only need the wheelchair space.
Sorry, I can only sell you two tickets if you need a wheelchair space.

I work full time, also get full PIP, it's not related.

I noticed this bit on the website
"We will review an application without the recommended evidence on a case-by-case basis."
Also see if you can hire a wheelchair or mobility scooter. You can get those without receving PIP.

To be fair to them, the access price is so that a carer can go for free.

No, a free carer ticket is so that a carer can go free. Access price is because we can only sit where the wheelchair space is.

I don’t have a choice to sit in the cheap seats at the back and pay less. I shouldn’t have to pay for the privilege of sitting at the front just because that’s the only place my wheelchair will go.

I can't comment on every venue in the country, but I did used to work in this area.

It sounds like you should be ok with a blanket/cushion OP as long as you don’t use it in the zone near the front?

Not sure what the solution is for queues though. It can be a long slog trying to get in or out of these events - out often worse as everyone leaves at once.

A manual wheelchair assuming your dd can push you would be the best option, security will not question it (mobility scooters may be questioned as they are used by non disabled people too and are larger) I’ve never heard of a concert refusing a wheelchair but do ask them

I sit in a wheelchair all of the time.
At no point during the conversation did I mention a carer, companion, free extra ticket or anything that could suggest that I needed someone to be with me at the show.
I only ever said I need a wheelchair space, here's the copy of my PIP award to prove I am allowed.
To be fair to the venue, they did apologise once I pointed it out to them.

All the venues I sold for the deal was you asked for a wheelchair space or ambulant disabled space and paid the full price and then you were entitled to a carer ticket for free. It was obviously badly explained.

It is many years since I sold for Earls Court/Olympia however.

I went last year to see Robbie Williams and people had little chairs. If you get a small one you can get in the bottom of a handbag/rucksack I reckon you’ll be ok.

I am sorry that you are having such a difficult time trying to get a response from that. One of those situations where just a little bit of foresight by including this in the FAQs could make life so much easier for you and other people who similar conditions.
We’ve been to something at BST Hyde Park every year for the last few years and generally find it well set up. The entrance is quite close to Marble Arch and, as you go in, the main food and drink bars are there with picnic benches set out. Whether you get somewhere to sit depends on how busy it is but I would like to think someone else would make space for you.
You then continue walking over to the area in front of the main stage. During the support acts, most people are sat on picnic rugs or similar on the floor. The only stand for the main act and even then some people continue to sit. The further forward you are, the less chance there is of being able to continue to sit as there will be people dancing all around you and some will be trying to get further forward. If you stay further back, you can have more space.
This may be stating the obvious, but the ground is largely grass. Therefore, the condition of it depends on the weather. It’s not just rain on the day that you need to factor in but how wet it has been in the run up to the concert as it could be slippery or muddy. There are tarmaced pathways but they try and keep those clear so you’re not supposed to sit on those. In some areas, they put down those plastic mat things but that is mainly in areas of high footfall like where you queue for the loos.
When you leave, it will be dark and there is little lighting. There is some lighting in the venue itself but, on all of the occasions we have been there, we have been funnelled out of nearest exit which is a fire exit and that just takes you into Hyde Park where there is even less lighting and no signage. We have always done a combination of following the crowd and relying on google maps to get us to the nearest road and then we have walked to whichever tube we wanted. It is busy as you’re getting out so, to an extent, you are doing whatever the crowd is doing. If that might be difficult for you, perhaps hanging back and waiting for the initial surge to leave might be easier? I don’t know if they let people back out of the entrance but, if so, you might want to target that as at least you’ll know where you are.
I have always been really impressed by the loos. There are dozens of them and you queue for individual blocks of 4 - 6 I seem to remember so it moves quite quickly. The queues are longest at the first few blocks and, as they have a one way system, you might find you have less of a wait but walk the same distance over all if you go to one of the further away blocks. As far as I know, there is only one set of loos.
I do hope you are able to make this with your daughter as I am sure it would be really special for her