We have been to Milton Keynes Theatre several times and access in a Wheelchair varies. I would suggest booking a Wheelchair Space in the Stalls.
However, having been once and fitted in the Wheelchair Space with the Wheelchair on the right side of the Stalls, we then returned and were given Wheelchair Space E26. This was not a suitable Wheelchair Space for a Motorised Wheelchair. It is not on the end of a Row, there is a Row of seats behind Seat E27, and stairs behind Wheelchair Space E26, so having got in the space easily, it was a;most impossible to get back out of it. I had to manually pull my husband's wheelchair out, which was difficult for me, especially as although we waited for the rush to clear, by the time we were trying to get out of the Wheelchair Space, some people were returning to their seats.
No one gives way to a Wheelchair these days, so despite me walking backwards pulling a Wheelchair, people were trying to skip around me and over me and the Wheelchair, it was horrendous. Having had this problem ,it was clear we could not return to our same he allocated seats for the second half of the show. The Theatre did manage to relocate us to the Circle Box, which although it has a slight bend getting in and out, this is nothing compared to the problem in the Stalls.
I would suggest that if you book a Wheelchair Space, you do not book the spaces unless there is a clear gap behind you and no row at the side of the gap as in Wheelchair Spaces E26 and F19. If you have a manual wheelchair you will probably not have a similar problem, but we certainly won't be returning to this Theatre again, as it does not met our Accessible Seating requirement.
There are 6 Wheelchair Spces in the Stalls and the Circle Boxes are also suitable for wheelchairs, but it is too difficult for us to negotiate, this theatre isn't local to us and there are Theatres with better Access than this, nearer to us. The theatre has an Ambassdors Lounge, which is fully Accessible and excellent.
Another disappointing issue is the Blue Badged Parking Spaces outside the Theatre do not appear to be checked by anyone, including the Council, who I believe own it.
I score this 2/10
