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Post by Phantom of London on Mar 31, 2018 23:29:23 GMT
I have just done a mini Theatre tour up north, which stretched from Liverpool to Newcastle, I have been very inconvienced.
ATG have now banned small cases and large rucksacks from their theatres, this even means putting your case in their coat room. I tried to enter the Palace Theatre, Manchester with my small case and stopped from entering and adviced the nearest place I could leave my luggage would be Piccadilly Station about a 15 minute walk one way. This was at 7pm, luckily I had a room booked at the Holiday Inn nearby.
I assume some of you may travel on business and see something in the evening, it isn’t always convienient to check in to your hotel first, as time can be tight? Or maybe you see a matinee and want to go straight from the theatre to the station?
This my put an end to my mini theatre jaunts. I could understand it, if someone was attempting to enter with a suitcase, you need to put into an aircraft hold or you had many people with small cases.
But this is so petty and annoying?
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5,073 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on Apr 1, 2018 0:36:37 GMT
Okay thanks for that.
Thought it was national policy set out by ATC hierarchy.
I was in Sunderland earlier today, didn’t want to rock up at the theatre with my case and get denied entry, so had to leave my case in the luggage room in Newcastle at the hotel I was staying in, which was a pain as I had to go all the way back to Newcastle to collect my case, this added another hour to an already long journey.
So what do you do assume all ATG theatres don’t accept cases? This makes it even more frustrating.
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Post by Mark on Apr 1, 2018 6:00:41 GMT
When I was auditioning for drama schools I would often have a cabin sized suitcase with me and it was never an issue in any of the West End venues to leave it in the cloakroom. There’s an increasing amount of venues that won’t do this anymore.
When I’m in London I always have my suitcase with me for my job and most of the time can leave it at the hotel. However if I’m ever staying at a friends etc I’ll usually ask the venue if they have a bag store before I book my ticket. I once rocked up at In the Heights and they nearly didn’t let me in, but there were empty seats and they let me keep it under one of the empty seats.
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Post by basi1faw1ty on Apr 1, 2018 8:06:53 GMT
With all the recent horrific events that’s occurred over the past couple years, I can understand theatres updating their policies about bags and the like, but it is annoying, I agree to an extent. In 2015 the NT could easily let me leave a large backpack and shopping bags in the cloakroom. Now if your bag exceeds a certain size, it’ll be liable to checks or even refusal. And some theatres won’t accept backpacks etc at all, bag checks or no bag checks.
When I visit in May, I don’t leave London until 7pm meaning I will have to take my suitcase with me, and I’m attending a Sunday matinee at the Cri, which doesn't allow suitcases at all, even tiny ones like mine. I will have to leave it at a station or use something called Citystasher (where for £6 you can leave your bags at a drop off point, usually a corner shop, and pick them up later in the day), and I’ve heard it is very good.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2018 19:21:50 GMT
Weirdly I had pretty much the opposite of this at The Bridge. Mum and I both had large backpacks as well as handbags and coats. We tried to put them in the “cloak room” (large table and racks haha” and got told “no take them in with you”
Their logic was a) that they have 400 people who HAVE to check in bags and didn’t want us to be held up waiting for bags when we didn’t have to...which was nice of them and all I guess!
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Post by grannyjx6 on Apr 1, 2018 19:50:31 GMT
I've booked our small case into BagBNB for the Saturday when we come home (so we can see a matinee) and it has cost me £5.
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Post by david on Apr 1, 2018 19:57:55 GMT
I have never heard of Citystasher before. I will certainly look into using them when I’m down in London in the future. It’s certainly going to be cheaper and quicker than going to Euston and leaving my stuff there.
It’s amazing what you learn on this forum!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2018 20:25:09 GMT
Oh Citystasher are great. I always get them to look after my stash now.
There's only so many times you can bail the help out without raising suspicions.
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Post by kimbahorel on Apr 2, 2018 16:06:38 GMT
I remember a couple of years ago at the NT Dorfman. I have a little draw string back pack (you know of of those Nike ones with the tick) that lives on my back. When I went in the usher told me as I was going in that I had to put it in the cloakroom and said rucksacks weren't allowed for safty. Someone went in with an a4 size plastic bag. So I ask her if I took everything out and put it into the a bag would she let me through. She said yes. So the plastic bag in my backpack came out all the contents into the plastic bag and I was allowed in. Even though they let in someone of those massive shoulder bags.
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Post by bellboard27 on Apr 2, 2018 17:03:13 GMT
I remember a couple of years ago at the NT Dorfman. I have a little draw string back pack (you know of of those Nike ones with the tick) that lives on my back. When I went in the usher told me as I was going in that I had to put it in the cloakroom and said rucksacks weren't allowed for safty. Someone went in with an a4 size plastic bag. So I ask her if I took everything out and put it into the a bag would she let me through. She said yes. So the plastic bag in my backpack came out all the contents into the plastic bag and I was allowed in. Even though they let in someone of those massive shoulder bags. I always carry a plastic carrier bag to the NT and put my backpack in it for this purpose. When I get to my seat, I swap back. I have checked with FOH and been told this is fine. However, on my last visit to the Dorfman I could not be bothered and simply showed the two bags and said that I would undertake this pointless process if needed. I as told to head inside anyway. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2018 17:12:03 GMT
To be fair the NT seems to have changed this policy and it’s now based on the dimensions of the bag - many signs outside showing the dimensions allowed
I’ve got a small backpack which complies with this and also works as a “second piece of hand baggage” on BA (Eastpak Orbit XS - took ages finding something that fit the BA limit!)
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Post by Dr Tom on Apr 2, 2018 19:44:20 GMT
It is inconvenient and sometimes makes it hard to even go straight to a show from work when you have a bag.
To add to the other apps/websites recommended, I’ve used one called LuggageHero. They tend to let you leave your bag with a local convenience store. Don’t know how well these work outside London.
I do know of people who just ask at a local hotel. It’s easier in the States where places are desperate to look after your bag (they expect tips), but possible in the UK too now that a lot of the cheaper chains (e.g. Travelodge) charge to store luggage anyway. But obviously those are risks if you try a hotel on the night and they’re not willing to help.
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19,803 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 3, 2018 7:28:09 GMT
If people are user apps to arrange luggage storage, where a credit card payment assures some sort of traceability, then that seems like a good solution. But I find the idea of hotels accepting bags from non-guests walking in off the street to look after a bit worrying.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2018 7:51:27 GMT
If people are user apps to arrange luggage storage, where a credit card payment assures some sort of traceability, then that seems like a good solution. But I find the idea of hotels accepting bags from non-guests walking in off the street to look after a bit worrying. I thought that...in 'the times we live in' and all isn't that asking for trouble? It's a pity London doesn't have what a lot of European cities have in terms of luggage lockers at major stations, I'd happily trot over to one of those to dump my bags for a day. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2018 13:26:21 GMT
My local ATG - Alex Birmingham have banned rucksacks, I just take mine in under my coatand put my stuff in a carrier before transferring it back under the seat. I know I shouldn't do this but I see great big handbags and shopping bags going in, so don't see why mine is considered a risk.
I did same at RSC Swan last night as I'd asked pre-show if my bag would be allowed in and had been told it wouldn't yet at the interval I saw both men and women walking in and out with similar sized rucksacks and people going in with two large bags - handbag and Sainsburys carrier.
I do wonder if venues are allowed to be more flexible with women and what about school parties and I've seen people going in via mobility entrances not having their bag searched, surely all or none should be searched.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2018 14:01:02 GMT
I do wonder if venues are allowed to be more flexible with women and what about school parties and I've seen people going in via mobility entrances not having their bag searched, surely all or none should be searched. I've challenged The Nash on this before. I was asked to put my bag in the cloakroom and I am fine to do that if it's a policy but if they let a woman in with a handbag of the same size then no, I will not. Apply it fairly to all or none at all. I told them that I wasn't doing it unless they made Rufus Norris come into the auditorium and get all of the women with similar sized handbags to put them in the cloakroom too. Rufus did not come out of his office. I made my way to my seat. With bag. #ManBagsToo |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2018 14:17:05 GMT
There's a lot to be said for holding your bag casually in your hand then draping your coat over it to go into the auditorium. I've also had some success in explaining I would be keeping my bag firmly on my lap for the entire duration.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2018 14:34:30 GMT
Hilarious
They also say you
Leave your bag and items in their cloakroom
At their own risk
I always take my bag coat everything in
Just tell them it’s too precious
And they would be liable if they lost it from the cloakroom
Soon shuts them up
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3,355 posts
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Post by Dr Tom on Apr 3, 2018 14:51:34 GMT
If people are user apps to arrange luggage storage, where a credit card payment assures some sort of traceability, then that seems like a good solution. But I find the idea of hotels accepting bags from non-guests walking in off the street to look after a bit worrying. I thought that...in 'the times we live in' and all isn't that asking for trouble? It's a pity London doesn't have what a lot of European cities have in terms of luggage lockers at major stations, I'd happily trot over to one of those to dump my bags for a day. Well, I certainly remember a conversation at the New Alex Birmingham with someone who had barely made the show as he’d been sent to find a local hotel (the Radisson from what I heard). But most hotels with a separate concierge wouldn’t know if you’d been a guest there or not. They just exchange the luggage for a ticket. It is an interesting question if they do check what they’re storing (as left luggage in railway stations do nowadays, for example). |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2018 15:35:57 GMT
I did same at RSC Swan last night as I'd asked pre-show if my bag would be allowed in and had been told it wouldn't yet at the interval I saw both men and women walking in and out with similar sized rucksacks and people going in with two large bags - handbag and Sainsburys carrier. Here's their policy - www.rsc.org.uk/news/archive/bags-and-rucksacks-in-the-theatreSo does that mean "bags and rucksacks which are large are not allowed in the theatre" or "large bags, and rucksacks of any size, are not allowed in the theatre"? I was at the Swan last night too, incidentally! Didn't have my diddy rucksack with me so unable to test the policy. |
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Post by jaqs on Apr 3, 2018 20:50:14 GMT
If people are user apps to arrange luggage storage, where a credit card payment assures some sort of traceability, then that seems like a good solution. But I find the idea of hotels accepting bags from non-guests walking in off the street to look after a bit worrying. I thought that...in 'the times we live in' and all isn't that asking for trouble? It's a pity London doesn't have what a lot of European cities have in terms of luggage lockers at major stations, I'd happily trot over to one of those to dump my bags for a day. There used to be station lockers readily available but old fashioned terrorism got rid them when the ira became partial to them for bombs. |
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Post by lynette on Apr 3, 2018 22:39:49 GMT
I do wonder if venues are allowed to be more flexible with women and what about school parties and I've seen people going in via mobility entrances not having their bag searched, surely all or none should be searched. I've challenged The Nash on this before. I was asked to put my bag in the cloakroom and I am fine to do that if it's a policy but if they let a woman in with a handbag of the same size then no, I will not. Apply it fairly to all or none at all. I told them that I wasn't doing it unless they made Rufus Norris come into the auditorium and get all of the women with similar sized handbags to put them in the cloakroom too. Rufus did not come out of his office. I made my way to my seat. With bag. #ManBagsToo You make a good point. Maybe I add that I have often been irritated by the way we hand bag carriers alway have our bags checked at museums when they up the security but men stroll in wearing thick jackets with loads of pockets into which they could secrete the knives or scissors with which to damage the pictures etc. And correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t think suicide bombers use the latest Michael Kors do they? Either we do airport security or we chance it then because most of the security I’ve experienced outside of an airport is pretty basic. My suggestion is dogs. We should invest in more trained dogs. |
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Post by Phantom of London on Apr 3, 2018 23:29:45 GMT
"It contains my epi-pen, insulin and defibrillator kit." Gee monkey................you like to prepare for every circumstance, when you go and see Motown. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2018 0:51:00 GMT
Coats are never checked at theatres. At 02 Academy and Institute concert venues in Birmingham, concert goers of both genders are patted down before they enter venue. Sometimes it is just a bag search if smaller rooms only are being used.
Whilst at Stratford yesterday, I was chatting to an old friend I bumped into and they were saying, venues search your bags as you go into auditorium but anyone could walk through RSC foyer and bars etc. A terrorist is probably unlikely to buy a ticket for a show! To search everyone entering the venue would be impractical but the idea about a terrorist is true.
Any limit on how many bags people could take in would also be hard to enforce. If it was a couple and one had two bags and were told they couldn't bring both in, what if they handed one bag to a bagless partner, so it would be one bag each.
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Post by Dr Tom on Apr 4, 2018 7:18:02 GMT
Coats are never checked at theatres. At 02 Academy and Institute concert venues in Birmingham, concert goers of both genders are patted down before they enter venue. Some theatres do check the coats. I remember getting a good pat down seeing Harry Potter and I think that’s common. When Beautiful was still in London I had a wand run over my coat. But haven’t noticed that anywhere else. Most venues are more interested in finding contraband, such as alcohol. |
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