Accessibility Information
for our 2024 Alt Pride Festival
Our Alternative Pride festival is held at Platt Fields Market Garden in Platt Fields Park, Manchester. Although we are working to make the event as accessible as possible the site is an outdoors space that was not built with accessibility in mind. We are trying to provide detailed information about the accessibility issues, if you have questions please contact us by email at qrcaccessibility@gmail.com, or on Instagram @queerrootscollective.
If you need a carer/PA to access the event please contact us by email at thequeerrootscollective@gmail.com or on Instagram @queerrootscollective to arrange a free carer ticket.
We’re also looking for volunteers to join the Accessibility Team or give feedback to help us make the festival as accessible as possible - you can find out more here.
The Site
There is step-free access into the garden. Inside the garden the ground is a mixture of short grass, compacted gravel path, and wood chip paths to areas with performances. Seating is available throughout the site and in all areas with programme items.
The majority of programming is in the marquee and the Frog House, which have step-free access and are reached via the paths described above. A small number of programme items are in the Art Hut, which is reached via a loose gravel path that may cause issues for wheelchair users. One workshop is in Myco’s building, which has a step to enter.
The site is dog friendly and well behaved dogs on leads are welcome at the festival.
A more detailed guide to the site can be found here, which includes information about areas of the site with small numbers of programme items.
The compacted gravel path through the lawn, ending at the paved area outside the buildings with toilets.
Picnic benches on the lawn. The woodchip path behind them goes to the Frog House
The marquee entrance with the shortest path over the grass. There are also entrances at both ends.
The woodchip path to the Frog House. Plants hanging into the path will be trimmed back before the festival.
Toilets
There are two toilets in the buildings on site, both of which are gender-neutral. There is a small stall with a step up to access it in the red brick building, and an accessible toilet in the orange container (the building with the cafe). There will also be portaloos on site for the festival.
The accessible toilet is 1.5m by 2m, but there is a permanent baby change table and a washing machine in the corner opposite the toilet, reducing the space available. There are grab rails around the toilet. It has step-free access via a temporary ramp which will be set up for the festival. Although the doorway of the accessible toilet is 0.9m wide, there is a doorway 0.7m wide which you need to go through in order to access it.
During the daytime a larger accessible toilet is available in the Lakeside Center less than 5 minutes walk away, however as this is a public toilet we cannot confirm its state or cleanliness.
Ramp into the accessible toilet. This photo is from last year's festival and the ramp will be set up the same way.
The doorways from the entrance to the toilet. The baby change table and washing machine are opposite the door.
The accessible toilet. The edge of the baby change table is visible next to the sink, in front of the toilet.
Sensory Guide
As it is outdoors, the Pride Festival will have natural lighting. There will not be any flashing lights.
The garden is likely to be busy and full of people. We have a quiet space available in the Nest for anyone who needs it. As Platt Fields Market Garden is a small outdoors space music and other noise from the festival will likely be audible in the quiet space. If a quieter space is needed you can exit and re-enter the festival - Platt Fields Park is large and has many quiet areas.
There will be live and recorded music playing in different areas of the garden at many times throughout the event, more information on what will be happening when will be available in the programme.
Performers, speakers, and workshop leaders will be asked to give content warnings at the start of sessions if required. Sessions listed in the lineup as workshops are designed for attendees to actively participate in, and sessions listed as performances and talks are intended for atendees to watch/listen to (but may have optional participatory elements).
Food and Drink
There will be food stalls at the event, including vegan food options. Details about the food available can be found at the bottom of the What’s On page. Attendees can also bring their own food to the festival. Water bottles can be refilled from a tap on the outside of the red brick building.
The bar will be serving both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks on Saturday, and only non-alcoholic drinks on Sunday.
Getting Here
Platt Fields Market Garden is in Platt Fields Park. It is a 5 minute walk from the Owen’s Park bus stop, which can be reached by the 142/42/143/43 bus routes, among others.
There is a small car park next to the garden. The disabled parking bays are at the end of the car park furthest from the garden entrance. There is also a small covered bike lock area nearby, and bikes are also often locked to the metal fencing surrounding the garden.
