Getting Here

78 West Marlands Road,
Southampton,
SO14 7FW

We are located on West Marlands Road, right in the heart of Southampton City Centre’s Cultural Quarter – just opposite the o2 Guildhall and the Civic Centre and a 5-10 minute walk from Southampton Central train station… you’ll also find us just around the corner from the John Hansard Gallery and MAST Mayflower Studios at Guildhall Square.

By Car: The theatre is a short drive from both Junction 5 (Westbound) and Junction 3 (Eastbound) of the M27 and Junction 14 of the M3 following signs of the City Centre. Our postcode is SO14 7FW.

Car Parks: The closest car park is the Civic Centre Forecourt car park (SO15 1QD) right opposite the venue. Spaces are sometimes limited, but parking is free from 6pm until midnight and free all-day Sunday. Early arrival is recommended.

There is an NCP car park within a few minutes’ walk of the theatre. There are also two large multi-storey car parks within 5-10 minutes’ walk.  Asda/Marlands car park (SO15 1BA) offers reasonable all-day parking.

MSCP West Park Road (SO15 1FZ) and Grosvenor Square Car Park (SO15 2BE)

both have 500+ spaces and are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Charging times vary at both.

There are a few Blue Badge Holder spaces on West Marlands Road directly outside the venue – but there is a time limit of 1 hour for parking there.  Blue Badge parking is free in the Civic Centre Car Park opposite the venue with no time restraints.

For more information on parking visit the council’s website: Southampton City Council – Parking

By Bus: Most buses that comes into Southampton City Centre will drop you off within easy walking distance from the venue.

By Train: Southampton Central Station has direct lines to Portsmouth, Plymouth, Exeter, Bristol, Weymouth, Bournemouth, Salisbury, Brighton, London Waterloo and many other major routes, along with local services including Southampton Airport.

By Ferry (Isle of Wight): As well as travelling on the car ferry, Red Funnel operates a passenger service called the Red Jet. This service includes a free bus that is timed to meet the ferries and runs to and from Southampton Central Station.

 

Accessibility

Although it’s easy to find us, unfortunately it’s not so easy getting around the venue if you are disabled or struggle with stairs.

As the building is so old, there was no provision for anything like that at the time of it being built and regrettably, we haven’t been able to install any lifts to help with this due to the structure and layout of the building. We are currently applying for relevant grants to make significant improvements to accessibility at the venue and we are hoping to be able to have some positive news on that soon!

We are able to store a wheelchair in the box office area if you feel you are able to use the stairs once inside. Please feel free to get in touch with any specific requirements and we’ll do our very best to accommodate you – but if we can’t, please accept our sincerest apologies!

Likewise, families with children, please bear in mind that there is limited space available to accommodate buggies and push chairs – so if you can leave those in the car that would be great. Don’t be put off though, we’d love you to bring your little ones… we do have changing facilities in the downstairs toilets.

Seating Plan & Seat Reservation

Seats are not numbered and are allocated on a first come, first served basis – but we do open the theatre 60 minutes before each show for you to arrive and select where you would like to sit. Occasionally some shows are offered with allocated seating or tables, so please check the information on each show on our ‘What’s On’ page.

Our stage is raised but our seating area is on one level and the best view is nearest the front – so get there early!

You can buy a drink at the bar in the theatre before the show and during any intervals, but the bar will be closed during performances.  You are also welcome to use our bar downstairs in The Painted Wagon before and after shows and during any intervals.

There are toilets at the back of the theatre and more toilets downstairs.

For more information on our bar downstairs, check out The Painted Wagon’s Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/ThePaintedWagonSouthampton

The Local Area

There are so many places to eat and drink in Southampton… if there’s something specific you’re looking for, then have a chat with one of our staff and they’ll point you in the right direction.

We do take cards at The Stage Door, but if it’s cash you’re after there are a few cash-points a little way down the high street – ask one of our staff to direct you.

If you are just visiting Southampton and looking for somewhere to stay, you won’t go wrong by booking a place with our friends at Town or Country. They offer affordable serviced accommodation and many of their properties have parking too. You’ll find them to be more reasonably priced than a lot of hotels and their properties are spacious and very comfortable.