Specially trained Assistance and Guide dogs are welcome in the Arena.

We would recommend that dogs are not taken into the bowl for loud events and as such we are happy to look after your dog for you in a safe and secure environment. We have a designated area with bedding and water bowls and staff will take them outside for comfort breaks at regular intervals. Simply speak to a member of Security staff on arrival.

Customers who need their dog with them at all times, we would ask to notify us of their requirements at the time of booking if possible. Dogs may only be allowed within certain seating areas within the arena bowl depending on the layout of the event or the size of the dog.

Please ensure that your dog is either identifiable as a trained assistance/guide dog or that you can provide the necessary training paperwork for them if requested. Dogs should be kept on a lead/harness at all times.

bp pulse LIVE has 9 public, stand-alone, unisex accessible toilets for any customer with access requirements. These are located in the Forum Live and at the rear of Blocks 7, 11 and 15 in the Arena, all of which are controlled by the use of a RADAR key. Please speak to one of the stewards in the area for the use of a RADAR key if you do not have one with you.

There are also unisex accessible/ambulant toilets in all our hospitality areas.

There are larger ambulant toilets located within all of the single sex toilets throughout the building, plus more within our hospitality areas, which do not require a RADAR key. These generally have outward opening doors and grab rails.  Some have their own sinks and some have baby changing facilities too.

We operate a radio frequency analogue hearing system which covers 100% of the Arena bowl, which means you can book any seat or stand anywhere on the floor and still receive great sound quality.

Customers wishing to use the system can do so free of charge and should speak to a member of Security on arrival at the Arena. We will then book out a receiver pack with lanyard and an earphone headset which plugs into the receiver. Alternatively, if you use a telecoil hearing aid, we can supply a personal neck loop which then plugs into the receiver to enhance the sound through your own hearing aid.

If you need a wheelchair and have your own or can borrow one, we recommend that you bring it with you.

We only have a very limited number of manual wheelchairs available for use in the venue which are available from entrance doors on a first come, first served basis. Please speak to a member of our Security staff on arrival for assistance.

Certain restrictions apply however: Please note that wheelchairs are for use inside the venue only and cannot be taken to car parks/train station/taxi rank etc. The intended use of the wheelchairs is as a shuttle service to your seat from the entrance door and back again. Unfortunately, we cannot allow customers to keep our wheelchairs for the duration of the event.

The NEC site (including bp pulse LIVE) has designated car park spaces for visitors with disabilities.

On arrival at the NEC site, please follow the signage for Arena Disabled Parking.  In addition, Traffic Officers will direct you to the most convenient parking area.

Available parking for Blue Badge holders (please note badge holder must be present):

• For the majority of Arena events, wider space parking is available next to the Arena in South 1 car park on a first come, first served basis (regardless of whether you have pre-paid or not). This car park is a 20 – 50m maximum walk to/from the Box Office Accessible Entrance.
• If/once the Arena disabled parking area is full, customers will be directed to the overspill area in the South car parks which is approx 100m-250m walk to/from the Box Office Accessible Entrance.
• Additional parking is also available in the East car parks, and these are serviced by free shuttle buses which are accessible to wheelchair users with a drop-off / pick-up point in front of the Arena Lakeside Accessible entrance (open from Doors Open time on your ticket).

The service charge for all Arena car parking (including blue badge holders) is £14.50 per vehicle, if you turn up and pay. Payment machines are available inside the Arena and just outside the Box Office. Please note, we are a cashless venue, so payments can only be made using your debit or credit card, or you can also pay for your parking online using your mobile phone here.

You can pre-pay for parking now for £12.50, using our online payment system here.

(Please note that allocated parking for blue badge holders may on occasion be different for some events – always follow the signage on site).

In addition to the accessible toilet provision, bp pulse LIVE can also boast a Changing Places toilet facility which can be found at the rear of Block 12.

This facility meets the needs of people with multiple and complex disabilities who have one or more carers with, and assisting them, by providing extra features and more space.

Features include :

• Height adjustable, adult sized changing bench
• Ceiling hoist system to lift people between wheelchairs and the toilet/changing bench
• Automatic wash/dry, centrally located toilet
• Height adjustable washbasin
• RADAR key operated door

(Please note - for Health & Safety reasons, we do not provide support slings for the ceiling hoist system. Customers are asked to bring their own).

Medical Facilities

There is a Medical Centre at the rear of Block 1 in the Arena. Qualified paramedic staff are on duty when bp pulse LIVE is open for an event.

In a medical emergency, please notify a member of staffwho will assist you in either getting you to the Medical Centre or calling for a paramedic.

Visitors with Medical Conditions

If you have a medical condition that requires you to bring in equipment in a bag which contravenes our security bag policy or food or soft drinks which you need to manage your condition, please access the building via either of the Accessible Entrances and speak to the members of staff there.  Our staff understand these requirements and will do what they can to assist.

Many concerts/events at bp pulse LIVE use strobe lighting. Often we will not know about this until the day of the event. If you have any concerns then please speak to a steward who will be able to assist with further information about their use.

If you have a seated ticket and have a permanent condition that requires the use of a walking aid (crutches or walking sticks), but are able to negotiate steps then you are permitted to take these to your seat.  We would ask though that you store them/it under the seats so as not to cause an obstruction or trip hazard.

Please note that we are unable to accommodate persons with a leg/foot in a cast or full support into seating blocks regardless of whether a walking aid is used or not.  This is for safety reasons in a potential evacuation situation. 

In these circumstances, you should contact get in touch with AXS prior to the event, by clicking on this link. Reseating is subject to availability and unfortunately cannot always be guaranteed.

We do permit the use of walking aids (crutches or walking sticks) on a standing floor, but we ask that you be mindful of your surroundings at all times so as not to cause discomfort/injury to yourself or those around you.

While crutches and walking sticks are ok, we are unfortunately unable to accommodate wheelchairs/scooters, walking frames or rollators in seating areas or on a standing floor due to safety reasons in a potential evacuation situation.  If you use one of these, then you will need to purchase tickets on one of our accessible platforms.

An in-house committee meets regularly to address services for disabled visitors, and regular audits of our building are undertaken in respect of access.

If you have any suggestions or comments you wish to make, please advise a member of staff. Alternatively, write to:

Visitor Experience Manager
The NEC
Birmingham
B40 1NT

Or email us at feedback@necgroup.co.uk.

Mental health and wellbeing is hugely important to us at bp pulse LIVE and we want everyone to feel welcome, safe and comfortable when attending an event here.

We are already looking after our employees through a range of methods, and it’s just as important to us that we look after those visiting too, where we can.

We are in the process of training a selection of staff as Mental Health First Aiders to offer support to anyone needing it during a visit to one of our events and we have other initiatives planned – watch this space!

We appreciate that an Arena / Concert environment (as with all crowded spaces) can be overwhelming. So, if you or any friend/family member needs any support or time out during a visit to the Arena, please do make sure you speak to a member of staff.

Hearing Assistance System

We operate a radio frequency analogue hearing system which covers 100% of the Arena bowl, which means you can book any seat or stand anywhere on the floor and still receive great sound quality.
Customers wishing to use the system can do so free of charge and should speak to a member of Security on arrival at the Arena. We will then book out a receiver pack with lanyard and an earphone headset which plugs into the receiver. Alternatively, if you use a telecoil hearing aid, we can supply a personal neck loop which then plugs into the receiver to enhance the sound through your own hearing aid.

British Sign Language Interpreted Events / Audio Description

Where we can, we help facilitate these services when requested at least 8 weeks in advance of an event (subject to availability). If you have a request/query then please use the pre-event Contact Us details below.

Wheelchairs

If you need a wheelchair and have your own or can borrow one, we recommend that you bring it with you.
We only have a very limited number of manual wheelchairs available for use in the venue which are available from entrance doors on a first come, first served basis. Please speak to a member of our Security staff on arrival for assistance.

Please note that our wheelchairs are for use inside the venue only and cannot be taken to car parks/train station/taxi rank etc. The intended use of the wheelchairs is as a shuttle service to your seat from the entrance door and back again. Unfortunately, we cannot allow customers to keep our wheelchairs for the duration of the event.

If you bring your own wheelchair/scooter please make sure you have booked tickets on one of our accessible platforms.  We only have limited space to store any wheelchairs/scooters if you have booked standard/ambulant seats.

Strobe Lighting / Special Effects

Many concerts/events at bp pulse LIVE use strobe lighting and pyrotechnics.  Often we will not know about this until the day of the event. Where we can we will advise of such special effects by way of signage on our screens throughout the building. If you have any concerns, then please speak to a steward who will be able to assist with further information about their use. 

Sunflower Lanyard Scheme

bp pulse LIVE is proud to support the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme for people with hidden disabilities.  Our staff have been briefed to recognise the lanyard and to offer assistance should it be required.