INTRODUCTION
Inclusion is at the heart of Festival of the Sea Grimsby. We work with all our artists and teams to make each part of your festival experience accessible. We are committed to ensuring that Festival of the Sea is an inclusive, safe and accessible space for everyone, by reducing or removing barriers to attendance.
CONTACT DETAILS
Our Access Manager in 2026 is Sam Dunstan.
If there is anything that we can do to improve your experience or if you have any questions, please email Sam on hello@festivaloftheseagrimsby.co.uk.
Sam will respond to your email within 3 days. You can also visit the festival Information Point to speak to Sam on the day of the festival.
SITE DESCRIPTION
Festival of the Sea takes place in two locations:
- Riverhead Square
- Alexandra Dock
Riverhead Square will feature food traders, exhibitors, artisan traders, the Cookery Demonstration tent and the Information Point.
Alexandra Dock will feature the main stage, traders, exhibitors, the bar, Sensory Circus and other activities on the waterfront.
If you are planning to cover the whole site or just concentrate on one area, the following distance may help in planning your day:
Main route:
Alexandra Dock Waterfront to Riverhead Square 0.2 miles, 4 minutes
Grimsby Train Station to:
Riverhead Square 0.4 miles, 6 minutes
Festival of the Sea is an outdoor event, occasionally on grassed areas, but primarily on concrete and stone areas. As such, if it has been raining before the festival, these areas may be wet. We endeavour to make the festival accessible, but conditions can be affected by the weather.
TRAVEL GUIDE
Riverhead Square is next to the Riverhead Bus Exchange (2 minute walk) and close to Grimsby Town Train Station (6 minute walk).
The best points for Taxi drop offs are:
- Victoria Street West (outside Grimsby Post Office)
- Victoria Street South (outside Freshney Place parking). This is the easist place to reach the Information Point, as it is directly in front of this drop off point.
- Fishing Heritage Centre
ARRIVAL GUIDE
The festival has no primary entrance. Upon arrival, if you feel like you may need additional support or want to make yourself known to our team, please go to the Information Point. This white gazebo tent is opposite Freshney Place parking, next to Frederick Ward Way. You can also ask anyone in a hi-vis jacket and they will escort you over.
TOILETS
There will be accessible Mobiloo toilet with a hoist by the Main Stage in Alexandra Dock. Both areas have accessible portaloos available. Other accessible toilets nearby are available in Grimsby Train Station (Platform 1, access with RADAR key) and Grimsby Minster (open 10am-4:00pm with assistance alarm).
MEDICAL SERVICES
Festival of the Sea have First Aid staff onsite for the entire day. They will be walking around at regular intervals. They will be based in their ambulance, opposite the Information Point.
All of our security and many of our team are First Aid trained.
GUIDE AND ASSISTANCE DOGS
Guide and Assistant Dogs are welcome in all festival areas and fresh water is available at our Information Point. Please keep in mind that there could be dense crowds, high levels of noise and strobes, if your dog is sensitive to any of these.
LIGHTING
CHOICE OF SEATING
Alternative Seating is available at each performance spot on request (please ask our Access Manager or a Festival Assistant prior to the show(s) you wish to watch).
PROGRAMMES IN ALTERNATIVE FORMATS
Large Print programmes are available on request from the Information Point.
BREAK OUT AND QUIET SPACES
We will be offering Festival visitors with ASD safe and calming spaces at Orsted care & Calm Hub at CARE hub, 86-88 Victoria Street, Grimsby, DN31 1BG.
HEARING LOOPS
We have an induction hearing loop at the Seafood Cookery Tent. Look out for the induction loop symbol.
ACCESSIBLE TOILETS
There will be accessible Mobiloo toilets by the Main Stage in Alexandra Dock, open throughout the event. Other accessible toilets nearby are available in Grimsby Train Station (Platform 1, access with RADAR key) and Grimsby Minster (open 10am-4:00pm with assistance alarm).
CONTENT WARNINGS
All of our festival content is family friendly. Some events at the festival may include sudden or loud noises. For more information on these activities please ask at our Information Point.
PARKING
Blue Badge holders may park in any on-street pay & display bay or council-owned car park without payment of parking charges in accordance with the terms of use for their blue badges. The nearest Blue Badge parking available is at Cartergate Car Park.
CONTACT
Our website aims to comply with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. To view PDFs, you will need a PDF reader such as Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free from the Adobe website.
If you have further questions or query about access at Festival of the Sea, please get in touch via hello@festivaloftheseagrimsby.co.uk.
FEEDBACK
We are keen to improve our accessibility measures year on year. If you want to give us specific feedback or let us know our existing provision is useful, click here.
