Mayflower Theatre

Name: Mayflower Theatre
Address: 22-26 Commercial Rd, Southampton, SO15 1GE, GB
Telephone: 02380 711811

Southampton

Courtesy of Mayflower Theatre

WHERE

Southampton

What it’s like

A big theatre stage for touring shows, with the ticket rules and refund quirks worth knowing before you book.

This is a proper theatre booking, not a soft play or a farm, so the day out here is about getting the kids into their seats for a touring show and hoping the running time suits their attention span. The site posts the running time on each show's own page when they have it, though they're upfront that sometimes it isn't confirmed in advance, which is a bit of a faff if you're trying to plan around a nap or a bedtime.

If you've got a child under 2, don't assume you can just add them on at the till. Only certain shows allow under-2 tickets, and if yours does you have to email the box office directly to get them added to the booking rather than doing it online. Worth sorting that before the day rather than turning up and hoping.

Tickets land in your inbox within half an hour of booking, so check your email address is right when you pay. If life gets in the way and you can't make the date, standard tickets are non-refundable, though you can exchange to another performance of the same show for a £3.50 per ticket handling fee, and that's only if the show has more than one date with them. There's a membership option from £35 a year that gets you no-quibble refunds up to a week before the show, which might be worth it if you book often and small people's plans change on you.

For food, there's a café and bar doing hot food, snacks and drinks over at Mayflower Studios, kiosks at both venues, and Afternoon Tea is on the menu too if you fancy making more of the trip.

Facilities

Café

Food on site

Need to know

Food: Café/bar with hot food, snacks and drinks at Mayflower Studios

Running times aren't always confirmed on the show page in advance, so don't bank on an exact finish time.
Under-2 tickets have to be arranged by email, not through the normal booking process.
Ticket exchanges cost £3.50 per ticket, and only work if the show runs on more than one date.
A £35 annual membership gets you no-quibble refunds up to 7 days before a show, which could save the £3.50 exchange fee if plans often change.

Plan your visit

Can I bring a baby under 2?

Only if the specific show allows under-2 tickets. If it does, you email the box office to get them added, you can't do it in the normal online booking.

What if we can't make the date?

Standard tickets can't be refunded, but you can exchange to another date of the same show for a £3.50 per ticket fee. Their membership from £35 a year gets you no-quibble refunds up to 7 days before instead.

How do we know how long the show runs?

It's listed under 'Running time' on the show's own page, though they admit that's not always confirmed in advance.

Is there food there?

Yes, a café and bar with hot food, snacks and drinks at Mayflower Studios, plus kiosks at both venues, and Afternoon Tea if you want to make a proper occasion of it.