brisbane's best (and worst) venues for accessibility

this guide is by no means professional or quantitiative, it's a labour of love i felt inspired to make after beginning to use a rollator and seeing just how many of my favourite venues now actively exclude me

most of these venues are only accessible if you can get your mobility aid up a couple of steps unfortunately

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the good

the beat

• the downstairs (open friday, saturday, sunday) has an accessible bathroom, and threshhold ramps on doorways. some areas of the outside smokers' area require being able to navigate a step, and the bartops are high
• the upstairs is completely inaccessible to those with wheeled mobility aids as there are two flights of stairs that must be traversed, and as such has no accessible bathrooms

archive

• overall one of the most accessible venues i've been to
• the entire inside of the venue can be accessed step-free, with a ramp to the higher level
• the accessible bathroom has no signage to direct you unlike the other bathrooms, and the hallway it's in is also used for keg storage which makes it hard to manoeuvre
• the smokers' area can be accessed without stairs technically, but that door is frequently locked so you may have to ask staff or navigate the 2 steps down

the brightside

• the outside stage and bar are completely step free, however the bar is quite high and isn't always staffed as frequently as the inside
• inside, the lower side of the mezzanine (near the stage) can be accessed by asking staff or security to set up the ramp so you can enter (from your private entrance near the front of the stage) however there is no accessible bathroom and the inside bar (and merch table!) are not accessible

netherworld

• supposedly has a side entrance that is step free but i have never seen it. the main entrance has a single step into the bar but that is the only one
• the inside is completely step free, however the floor is uneven in some areas and the layout means it is often difficult to manoeuvre (especially when it's busy), and the bar is tall. they have a large accessible bathroom

the burrow

• the upper floor can only be accessed by going up a set of stairs, which is unfortunate since the upstairs bar is usually the only one staffed, get an able bodied friend to get your drinks
• the bottom floor is mostly step free with the exception of the back smokers' area and back outside dining area which require going down one stair (for smokers') and up a couple more for the dining area. there is a grate at the entrance to the inside that i found is wide enough for my wheels to get stuck in so be aware.
• there is an accessible bathroom in the downstairs, but it isn't marked from the outside and as such you may have to wait while other denizens do drugs their business

the cave inn

• my beloved. unfortunately the only bathrooms are up a flight of stairs, but the rest of the venue is step free!
• the barstaff and clientelle are typically very accomodating and friendly as well

the bearded lady (RIP)

• there is a step up into the venue but the bar area is completely flat and there is a ramp down to the stage. unfortunately there is no accessible bathroom, and the layout means it can be quite cramped on busy nights

the bad*

*i love these venues, they just aren't very accessible

alice bar

• there are a few steps down into the venue, and the bar itself is raised up one step. they do have an accessible bathroom, but at the last few times i've visited it has been closed. surprisingly, they do have an ambulant bathroom, but it is up 8 stairs

the sportsman hotel

• the main floor is step free aside from the very front (this is becoming a pattern), but i haven't yet been able to locate an accessible bathroom. the bunker bar below has an accessible side entrance but you need to contact staff to use it, and there is no accessible bathroom

pfr lounge

• my beloved pt 2. has 4 spaced out steps up into the venue, and no accessible bathroom. the layout in the bar area is quite cramped, but the stage area is much better
• watch this space, tho, i'm trying to convince the owner to get rid of the stairs

black bear lodge

• you have to climb two flights of stairs to enter which can be done with a rollator if you're determined to see Miss Kanina, they have no accessible bathrooms, and the bar is high

crowbar

• i was going to say don't even try: there are three flights of stairs to go up just to get in and no accessible bathrooms, but at a crywank gig i saw a person in a manual wheelchair had managed to get up there, so it is possible with determination and help!

tomcat

• one huge staircase into the venue, and no accessible bathroom

o'skulligan's

• three steps into the venue, no accessible bathroom, and a pretty cramped layout

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this list is evolving, please recommend me more places to drink at rate