The Blakehay Theatre
WHERE
Weston-super-Mare
What it’s like
A proper old theatre in Weston with panto and family shows, plus relaxed performances if bright lights and loud bangs are a worry.
This is a sit-down theatre rather than a soft play or a farm, so it suits kids who can manage sitting through a show rather than toddlers who need to charge about. What you get is the actual pantomime and family theatre experience, with level access into the main house and four wheelchair spaces in Row A with companion seats sat right by them.
The Relaxed Performances are worth knowing about if you've got a child who struggles with noise or crowds. House lights stay brighter, the loud bits get softened, and the audience-interaction moments that usually terrify shy kids are removed or toned down. There's also a free Essential Companion ticket scheme for anyone who needs extra support, which you sort out in advance with an Access Card or Digital Access Pass.
One genuine faff: pushchairs aren't allowed into the main house or studio unless you've arranged it beforehand, so a folded pram in the foyer is your best bet if you're bringing a baby along with an older sibling. The Café-Bar opens two hours before curtain-up and stays open through the show and for half an hour after. Parking's pay and display next door all week, though it goes free on-street from 6pm, which is handy if you've booked an evening show.
The Studio Theatre is upstairs and only reachable by stairs, so that space is out if anyone in your group uses a wheelchair. Assistance dogs are welcome if you let the theatre know when you book.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Free on-street parking from 6pm
- Food
- Café-Bar open 2 hours before performances and throughout shows, plus 30 minutes after
- Pushchairs
- Prams and pushchairs not permitted in main house or studio theatre
- Wheelchairs
- Four wheelchair spaces in Row A with companion seats
- Dogs
- Assistance dogs welcome. Notify theatre when booking
- Getting there by bus or train
- Weston-super-Mare Train Station approximately 15 minutes walk away
- There's no hearing aid induction loop installed, worth knowing if anyone in your party relies on one.
- The Studio Theatre is up a flight of stairs with no lift.
- Solo Seat Club tickets get released 48-72 hours before a show if you're going alone with an older kid.
- The train station is about a 15 minute walk, with a taxi rank there if little legs give out.
Plan your visit
Is there parking nearby?
There's a pay and display car park right next to the theatre, charged seven days a week. On-street parking nearby goes free from 6pm, which suits an evening performance.
Can we bring a pushchair?
Not into the main house or studio unless you've arranged it with the theatre beforehand. You can fold it and leave it in the foyer during the show.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
The main house has level access and four wheelchair spaces in Row A with companion seats next to them. The Studio Theatre upstairs is stairs only, so that bit's off limits for wheelchair users.
What if my child finds theatres overwhelming?
Ask about the Relaxed Performances. Lights stay brighter, loud noises are softened, and the scarier audience-interaction moments get removed or changed.
Is there food and drink?
The Café-Bar opens two hours before the show and stays open through it plus thirty minutes after, with food, drinks, gluten-free beers and vegan wines. You can pre-book a sharing tin too.
Can we bring our dog?
Assistance dogs are welcome, just let the theatre know when you book.
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