AS a music lover it is important for me to, literally, face the music as a member of the audience at any music venue. Being able to do this depends on the welcome the venue gives. This is only worth anything if everyone - regardless of ability - is actively made welcome.

This welcome can be in the structure of the building, the awareness of the staff and the use of signs to direct people to essential facilities such as automatic doors, ramped/level entrances and accessible toilets. It certainly is a shame when venues do not meet these criteria since, not only can such shortcomings wreck a night out for many people who have someone with a disability in their party, but these venues are also wrecking it for themselves. They are effectively - and erroneously - classing the disabled as a 'fringe' group, overlooking the fact that we number no less than eight million. They are denying themselves access to the disposable income that such a crowd has to spend.

In failing to look at the logistics of how to enable disabled punters to get to that back room through the courtyard, or to that upstairs room that the 'folkies' meet in, they are discriminating against many of us and shutting themselves off to a range of punters who they can ill afford to do without. Oh, and they are, since October, possibly breaking the law.

My travels in pursuit of good music over the last year have taken me from Saltburn's excellent Community Theatre in the south to the Newcastle Opera House in the north. Going to many venues often means that you have to take the rough with the smooth. The Customs House at South Shields has ample parking and ramped access but a bar that is so cramped that I have to rely on my friends to get me my pre-performance drink. Durham's Gala Theatre has thoughtful, aware staff and ample space for someone in a wheelchair with a carer alongside but it is difficult to park close by. Hartlepool Studio is exemplary with its ramped access to a viewing platform and the bar, but many of the seating areas where you may wish to join friends involve negotiating the odd step.

When it comes to pubs holding acoustic or folk club nights, it is a different matter. After many disappointments, I now automatically make the assumption that access will be impossible by wheelchair so I take my walking sticks and ensure I can park at the door. The sticks are also essential to help hobbling to the toilet because, likewise, experience tells me that it's reasonable to assume that there will be no accessible toilets, particularly in old, town centre pubs. If there is no parking space immediately outside then I do not consider staying. Both of us lose; I miss out on entertainment and the venue fails to get my ticket money and purchases from the bar.

Recently, I have attended an event staged by Hartlepool Music Society at the Town Hall. I subscribed for the season beginning with Murray McClachlan's recent piano recital. We had no problem parking in a side road alongside the Town Hall, access to the front entrance was by a gentle ramp and we were personally welcomed once inside. The access to the seating areas was unhindered, although the door was a bit on the narrow side (but just wide enough). The seating is raked and, after the first row, at least some steps would need to be negotiated so choice is limited.

We were, however, content to be on the first row, where I was able to transfer to a seat and my son could fold away the wheelchair and store it close by. In the interval, we were handily placed for the bar, which is in a generous space, again allowing easy access. The accessible toilet is handy but I would draw attention to the fact that it was not clearly signed. Another minor problem was the peculiar design which means wheelchairs need to be steered around a tight corner - I got stuck at this point, only to be freed by the removal of my footrests.

The key to a successful night out is never to trust anyone who says: "I'm sure it'll be alright." Assume the opposite, grill the staff well in advance, read the programme notes on accessibility and - if you can manage to - pay a visit in advance and work out all the logistics and then you may be able to relax.

FACT FILE

Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre, tel: (01429) 523409, Hartlepool Music Society www.communigate/ne/hartlepoolmusicsociety, membership secretary, tel: (01429) 291720. Also, look up a really useful article on access to music venues in 'The Gen' magazine, issue #61, pp20-23, contact www.generator.org.uk.

Published: ??/??/2004