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Accessibility
The Forum has been designed and operates with accessibility in mind for all.
Welcome to The Forum. This page explains our current facilities to assist in planning your visit. If you require any further information call or email us and we'll be happy to help.
At a glance
Step-free access
Accessible toilets and Changing Places
Accessible parking
Lift access to all floors
Guide and assistance dogs welcome
Family-friendly
Customer Services
The Customer Services team can give assistance at any time, visit the Customer Services desk or look out for one of the team wearing a navy blue tops and a name badge in and around The Forum.
There is level access to the Customer Services desk located on the ground floor, on the far right hand side as you enter the building.
Meeting Point
A dedicated Meeting Point is located next to Customer Services. Look out for the blue symbol as a safe meeting point in The Forum.
Safe Place and TITAN
The Forum is a registered member of the Norfolk Safe Place and TITAN schemes, assisting vulnerable people when travelling independently.
For further information visit
Safe Place - norfolk.gov.uk/safety/safe-places
TITAN - norfolk.gov.uk/education-and-learning/school-and-college-transport/titan-travel-training
The Forum has an emergency evacuation procedure for our visitors with limited mobility. There are Refuge Points, which are fire protected safe havens, on each emergency exit route and on every floor of the Forum. Visitors will be assisted to safety by a member of staff.
The Forum is a registered member of Norwich City Dementia Action Alliance.
CCTV
The Forum Trust operates CCTV in and around our buildings for the safety of visitors, tenants, and staff and for preventing and investigating crime. We routinely delete footage after 30 days although we may retain footage for a longer period if, for example, it is relevant to an investigation.
There is signage around the building advising that CCTV is in use. Individuals have the right to request access to information about them and there is a process in place to request that information by contacting the Forum Trust at [email protected]
Arriving at The Forum
A ramp runs along Bethel Street at the side of The Forum and has a handrail.
The main entrance to The Forum has level access and is through a revolving door.
There is an accessible door to the left of the main entrance. The door is 1.5m wide and a release button is located at 1m height.
There is level flooring inside The Forum entrance.
Accessible parking
The Forum has a multi-storey underground car park with 209 spaces. There are twelve spaces for Blue Badge holders, which can be found on Level –2, and eight parent and child spaces on Level –1.
The car park has motion activated LED lighting throughout. Intercoms are located at the entrance/exit barriers and pay machines if you require assistance.
A lift operates from the car park to all Levels +1 and -3 of The Forum.
Automatic doors are available on Level -1 -3 and a push pad operated door on Level -2 enabling easy access to payment machines and the lift.
Normal parking charges apply. Payment is via payment machines which accept cash and cards.
The Forum car park has been awarded a Disabled Parking Accreditation.
Arriving by public transport
The nearest bus stops are on Theatre Street (150 yd), Red Lion Street (0.2 miles), St Stephens Street (0.2 miles) and Castle Meadow (0.3 miles).
The nearest train station is Norwich Station which is 0.7 miles from The Forum.
Arriving by taxi
When booking a taxi ask to be dropped off on the Bethel Street side of The Forum, where you can access the ramp which runs to the main entrance.
Accessible toilets
There is level access to visitor toilets on the ground floor of The Forum between the Gallery and the Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library.
There are two accessible unisex toilets to the right-hand side and a separate family room including baby change facilities. There is a Changing Places toilet on the left.
A Radar key system has been installed to minimise the abuse of the facilities. You may have your own Radar key but these are also available to borrow at Customer Services.
For the Changing Places toilet an access card can be collected and returned to Customer Services.
First toilet to the left - Changing Places
This is a Changing Places toilet. The room is 11m squared and there is an automatic sliding door with a clear opening of 104cm.
The door opens automatically on tapping the access card on a reader to the left of the sliding door. There is only one access card issued at any time. The door locks automatically. To release the door press the ‘PRESS to open’ button to the right of the exit.
The bench is adult sized, height adjustable and free standing. There is ceiling track hoist on a loop.
There is a peninsular toilet, an adjustable height washbasin, a privacy screen and colostomy shelf.
There are wall and drop down grab rails.
First toilet to the right
This is a family room with baby change facilities.
The room is 1.98m wide x 2.6m long, door width 85cm.
The door has a horizontal rail on the inside at 96cm to the top of the rail.
Due to increased abuse of our new family room, designed for use by adults with small children, we have made the difficult decision to install a Radar key system. A Radar key is available to borrow at Customer Services.
Second toilet to the right
This toilet is right-hand transfer and the room is 1.98m wide x 2.68m long.
Door width 85cm. The door has a horizontal rail on the inside at 96cm to the top of the rail. There is a colostomy shelf.
Third toilet to the right
This toilet is left-hand transfer and the room is 1.98m wide x 2.68m long.
Door width 85cm. The door has a horizontal rail on the inside at 96cm to the top of the rail. There is a colostomy shelf.
There are also accessible toilet facilities available in The Auditorium, The View, Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library, Café Bar Marzano and PizzaExpress.
Lifts
There are 3 lifts which provide access to all floors.
The lifts say the floor numbers at each floor. The lift buttons have raised numbers or letters and show the floor number at each floor.
Car park/Atrium lift
This lift provides access to Levels +1 to -3. This includes the car park, toilets, Gallery, Customer Services Desk, Café Bar Marzano, Citizens Advice Bureau, Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library, The View and PizzaExpress.
The lift has front and back opening doors which are 1.1m wide. Inside the lift is 1.6m wide and 1.4m deep. There are lights to indicate when the doors are opening and closing.
The lighting in the lift is LED spotlights and no music is played inside. The flooring is PVC non-slip material.
The Gallery/Auditorium Lift
This lift provides access to Levels G (groundfloor) to -2. This includes access to the Gallery and Auditorium.
The lift doors are 1.1m wide and inside it is 1.6m wide by 1.4m deep.
There is a mirror located opposite the doors.
The lighting in the lift is LED spotlights and no music is played in the lift. The flooring is PVC non-slip material.
Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library Lift
This lift provides access from the ground floor to the 2nd floor of Millennium Library. This includes access to the American Library, Children’s Library, Norfolk Heritage Centre and the Business and IP Centre Norfolk.
The lift doors are 1.1m wide and inside it is 1.6m wide by 1.4m deep.
The lighting in the lift is LED spotlights and no music is played in the lift. The flooring is tiled.
Visual
Glass doors and full-height windows have contrast markings.
The Gallery and Auditorium may have low lighting during exhibitions and talks.
The Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library have specific equipment to assist visitors who are partially sighted and can provide documents in large print.
The Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library offers large print books in fiction and non-fiction as well as a range of audio books and other reading aids.
PizzaExpress has an audio menu. The Good Food Talks app (GFT) taps into the current capabilities of smartphones and computers and allows the customer to listen to menus in the restaurant or at home. It also enables the user to view menus in dyslexic fonts or high contrast displays. If you don't have a smartphone please ask the PizzaExpress team and they will be able to provide an iPad with the GFT app loaded.
Hearing
There is a fixed hearing loop in the Auditorium and Cafe Bar Marzano.
The Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library has an induction loop.
During events there may be background music or live amplified performances. Take a look at the What’s On section for more information about events coming up at The Forum.
Guide and assistance dogs
Guide and assistance dogs are welcome inside The Forum, including assistance dogs in training.
The nearest toileting area for guide and assistance dogs is Chapelfield Gardens, 0.2 miles from The Forum.
Water bowls for assistance dogs are available on request in Cafe Bar Marzano and at the Customer Services Desk.
Quieter times
The Forum can sometimes be crowded and noisy, especially during festivals and events.
Quieter times to visit Cafe Bar Marzano are between 8.30am–10am when it first opens.
Some events, including Norwich Science Festival, offer a programme of relaxed sessions and activities. Check the What’s On section for more information.
Facilities for families
A ramp for easy access with pushchairs runs along the Bethel Street side of The Forum.
There are 8 family parking spaces on Level -1 of The Forum car park with lift access to Levels +1 of The Forum.
Baby change facilities can be found in the Family room, on the ground floor between the Gallery and Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library. There are also baby change facilities in the Children's Library.
The Children’s Library run a programme of family storytelling events and activities. See the What’s On section for information.
Families are welcome at Cafe Bar Marzano and Pizza Express who can provide high chairs.
Parents are welcome to breastfeed or bottle-feed in The Forum, Café Bar Marzano is a ‘breastfeeding friendly’ café .
Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library
The Library is located across three floors inside The Forum. There is step-free access to all floors using the Library lift (see Lift information).
The ground floor entrance is 2.4m wide. The first floor mezzanine entrance is 1m wide.
The flooring is tiles and carpet. The lighting is natural light and LED overhead lighting.
There is an information desk on the ground floor. The information desk is 1m high.
There is an induction loop.
The Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library offers large print books in fiction and non-fiction as well as a range of audio books and other reading aids.
Café Bar Marzano
Café Bar Marzano is located on the ground floor of The Forum and there is step-free access. The cafe doors are 2m wide with both doors open.
Food and drink are ordered from the service counter and can be brought to your table if needed.
The height of the service counter is 1m high, the bar counter is 1.2m high.
There is an induction loop.
The flooring is wood laminate and tiles. There is ambient lighting.
The menus are displayed on boards behind the counter.
PizzaExpress
PizzaExpress is located on the first floor of The Forum and there is step-free access via the lift (see Lift information).
The flooring is wood laminate. The lighting is natural and ambient light.
There is table service available and hand-held menus.
PizzaExpress has an audio menu. The Good Food Talks app (GFT) taps into the current capabilities of smartphones and computers and allows the customer to listen to menus in the restaurant or at home. It also enables the user to view menus in dyslexic fonts or high contrast displays. If you don't have a smartphone please ask the PizzaExpress team and they will be able to provide an iPad with the GFT app loaded.
Atrium
The Atrium is an open plan space on the ground floor of The Forum and there is step-free access.
The flooring is tiles with small carpeted areas at the entrances.
There is lots of natural light and LED lighting in the evening.
Gallery
The Gallery is on the ground floor of The Forum and there is step-free access.
The entrance doors are 2m wide when both are open.
The flooring is carpet and lighting varies depending on the event but is mainly LED spotlights.
You can see a full 360° tour on The Gallery venue hire page.
Auditorium
The Auditorium is on Level -2 of The Forum and there is step-free access via the lift (see Lift information).
The entrance doors are 90cm wide.
The flooring is carpet with laminate flooring on the stage area.
Lighting varies depending on the event. There are spotlights on the stage and adjustable LED lights. There is LED lighting in the lobby area.
Seating is fold-down theatre style chairs. There is space for wheelchair users.
You can see a full 360° tour on The Auditorium venue hire page.
The View
The View is on Level +1 of The Forum and there is step-free access via the lift (see Lift information).
The entrance doors are 1m wide as a single door, 2m wide double doors.
The flooring is carpet with laminate flooring by the drinks station. There is vinyl flooring in the toilet and access corridor.
There is overhead LED lighting.
There is a right-hand transfer toilet in The View. The door width is 90cm and the interior is 2.5m wide x 1.5m long. There are grab rails either side of the toilet and sink.
