Accessbility

At St Mary’s Students’ Union, we want our spaces and events to be as welcoming and accessible as possible for all students and guests.

The 1850 venue based within St Mary’s University, Twickenham is step-free throughout, whilst The Loft located on the first in the builidng is accessible via lift. The wider University also provides accessibility information for campus buildings and routes through its AccessAble guides, with guides available for most locations on the main campus.

Planning Your Visit

If you have any access requirements and are planning to attend an event, please get in touch with us before you arrive. The more notice we have, the more we can do to help make your visit as smooth as possible.

Email: smsu@stmarys.ac.uk
Phone: 0208 240 2377

Personal Assitant Ticket Scheme

We offer a Personal Assitant Ticket Scheme, providing a free companion ticket for guests who need support to attend an event.

If you’d like to request a personal assistant ticket, please contact us in advance and we’ll talk you through it.

Getting here

St Mary’s Students’ Union is based at St Mary’s University, Waldegrave Road, Twickenham, TW1 4SX. Strawberry Hill station is the nearest station, and campus maps also show local bus stops and accessible parking points. The University’s campus map highlights disabled parking, accessible toilets and key campus facilities near The 1850.

Campus Accessibility Information

For more detailed access information across campus, you can view St Mary’s University’s AccessAble guides. The University states these are available for most locations on the main campus and Teddington Lock campus.

Check out our AccessAble planned routes from reception to 1850 Venue (J Block) and to the Students’ Union office.

Hidden Disabilities

We understand that not all disabilities are visible. Our team is committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for people with both visible and hidden disabilities.

If there’s anything that would make your visit easier, please let us know in advance or speak to a member of staff when you arrive.

Medication and Medical Needs

If you need to bring medication, medical equipment, food, drink or any other essential item with you to an event, please contact us in advance so we can advise you. Some events may involve bag searches or entry procedures, but we will always work with you to make sure essential medical items can be brought in safely and appropriately.

Lighting, Sound and Sensory Information

Some of our events may include loud music, crowd noise, low lighting, moving lights or flashing effects. If you have photosensitive epilepsy, sensory sensitivities, or would simply like to know more before attending, please get in touch and we’ll do our best to advise. During day-to-day operation, The 1850 is generally a more sensory-friendly space, with low-level background music and no moving or flashing lighting.

Viewing spaces and quieter areas

Depending on the scale and setup of the event, we may be able to offer a more suitable viewing space or a quieter area, such as The Loft, subject to availability. Because this depends on the event and what else is happening in the building, we recommend getting in touch beforehand so we can talk through what may be possible.

Emergency Evacuation

Your safety is our priority. If you have any concerns about emergency evacuation procedures, please contact us before the event or speak to a member of staff on arrival.

Where needed, we will explain the emergency arrangements for the space and how staff or security can assist in the event of an evacuation.

Need Anything Else?

If you’re unsure whether an event or venue setup will work for your needs, just get in touch. We’d always rather talk it through in advance and help you plan your visit.