Venue Info & Accessibility

The Old Fire Station

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Venue Information

The Old Fire Station is a unique 1200 capacity nightclub and 550 capacity live music venue in the heart of Bournemouth. Playing host to a diverse line up of events over the years, it has become an iconic venue on the south coast.

Since 1995 the venue has acted as nightclub and music venue for the Students' Union at Bournemouth University, while also being open to members of the public for a variety of gigs and events throughout the year.

Cloakroom

We have a cloakroom on the second floor at our club nights or at the entrance for live shows. We charge £2 an item for Students and £3 an item for non-students.

Ticket Refund Policy

It is your responsibility to check your tickets and that the event is going ahead at the date and time displayed on a Ticket. All advertised times are approximate and subject to change; mistakes cannot always be rectified. Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded after purchase unless the event is cancelled.

Decisions relating to Events being cancelled, postponed or materially changed and the refund policies of such Events, are dictated by the Event promoter and not the Venue. In the event of a cancellation of, postponement of or a material change to an Event:

Cancellation. You will be entitled to a refund unless otherwise notified directly by your point of purchase. Your refund will be processed automatically by your point of purchase within 30 days of cancellation, or within such other timescales as are notified by your point of purchase. If you do not receive your refund within 30 days or the applicable timeframe, please contact your point of purchase directly.

Postponement. You will be offered access to the rescheduled Event at no additional charge, using your original ticket. If you are unable to attend the rescheduled Event, the promoter of the Event will determine if you are entitled to a refund. You will be contacted by your point of purchase regarding the refund policy set by the relevant promoter for the Event, and (if a refund is available), you must liaise with your point of purchase in relation to all refunds.

Material Change. The promoter of the Event will work with the Venue to determine if (i) there has been a material change to the Event and (ii) where a material change is found to exist, if you are entitled to a refund as a result of such material change. You will be contacted by your point of purchase regarding the refund policy set by the relevant promoter for the Event, and (if a refund is available), you must liaise with your point of purchase in relation to all such refunds.

Tickets are sold subject to the venue or Event Partner rights to alter or vary the programme due to events or circumstances beyond its reasonable control without being obliged to refund monies or exchange tickets.

Resale, or attempted resale, of a Ticket for higher than face value are grounds for seizure or cancellation of such Ticket without refund or other compensation.

The venue reserves the right to refuse admission should patrons breach any Rules and Regulations of the venue and Event Partner. The venue may on occasions have to conduct security searches to ensure the safety of patrons.

Tickets are issued subject to the Rules and Regulations of the venue, event and/or Event Partner, which can be found on the event website and/or obtained at the box office. Breach of any of these Rules and Regulations or any unacceptable behaviour likely to cause damage, nuisance or injury shall entitle the venue or Event Partner to eject you from the venue.

There will be no right to pass-outs or re-admissions of any kind, unless offered by management.

Proof of age

Entry to live music events is 8+ unless otherwise stated. Under 16's must be accompanied by an adult over 18.

Entry to club nights is 18+ unless otherwise stated.

ID checking is a condition of entry to all club nights at Bournemouth Students' Union (this does not apply to live gigs). If you are unable to provide valid physical ID you will not be allowed entry, regardless of your age.

We only accept the following ID as proof of age: valid passport, driving license, foreign national ID cards, or home office approved ID cards with the ‘PASS’ hologram on. Please note, you must bring the original document as we can not accept photocopies.

Bournemouth Students’ Union operates a Challenge 25 policy for events open to the public and Challenge 21 for events open to students only, in relation to the purchase of alcohol. If you are lucky enough to look younger than this, you may be asked for proof of age.

It is a criminal offence to purchase alcohol for someone under the age of 18. People caught purchasing alcohol for people under 18 (or who cannot prove they’re over 18) will be asked to leave the venue without a refund.

Disabled Access Carers

We believe in equal opportunities for people with disabilities and have taken steps to ensure their experience at our venues is as good as possible. The Old Fire Station is accessible and wheelchair friendly. We can reserve seating on either side of the main room ion contacted before show. We also offer a personal assistant pass per ticket holder, which can be booked directly with the venue. Carer ticket holders should be able to meet the needs of, and assist, the person they are accompanying at the event. To book a carer pass or disabled viewing platform space, please fill out our accessibility application form.

For more information, head to our Accessibility section.

Accessibility Info

Drugs and searches

Bournemouth Students’ Union operates a zero tolerance policy towards drugs consumption, possession and dealing. If you are found in possession of a controlled substance, you will be asked to leave the venue without refund, and may face a ban or in some cases, prosecution.

If you need to consume prescribed drugs at an event for medical reasons, please notify the security team on arrival.

Directions & Travel

The Old Fire Station is situated at the top of Bournemouth town centre in the Lansdowne area. We have excellent transport links however you plan to travel.

Address & Satnav

36 Holdenhurt Road

Bournemouth

BH88AD

GOOGLE MAPS PIN

Parking

There are many car parks around the venue. The university car park behind the venue is available to use by our customers however you will need to pay for this at the machines or via the app. Please ensure to enter your vehicle registration when booking or you may be liable to a Parking Charge Notice. This is to ensure the enforcement agency are aware you are permitted to park.

Directions to Car Park

Accessibility

We strive to make all our shows at The Old Fire Station accessible to everyone and we work with Attitude Is Everything to make sure things keep improving. Your feedback is always welcome and we’ll do our best to be as flexible as possible to meet your needs.

Booking Tickets

Please purchase tickets as normal via our ticketing platforms. Once you've done this, please fill in our Access Request Form below and provide as much detail as possible so we can assist with your needs.

Access Request Form

Companion Tickets

Deaf and disabled customers, who would be unable to attend a gig without assistance, are entitled to free event access for their ‘Personal Assistant’.

Please purchase one standard ticket. Once you have purchased a ticket, you should then contact us via the form below with your booking reference and name. We will then arrange and confirm your free access pass to be used by your 'Personal Assistant'.

Please note that our staff are not trained to lift or carry people who may need help or to assist with personal or medical needs.

Access Request Form

Venue Access Guide

There is step free access from the car park and other drop off points to the venue box office. There is step free access from the box office into the venue. Once inside the venue, there is step free access to all facilities, including toilets, cloakroom and the bar. The venue is split over two floors for some events and there is a lift.

Inside the venue, there are some raised areas which are accessible by ramps. Some of these raised areas provide better viewing opportunities for the stage and other areas.

The stage has no wheelchair access. There is no dedicated viewing platform or area.

The bars in the venue are not currently lowered.

Full Venue Access Guide

Venue Hire

The Old Fire Station is available to hire for club nights, gigs, private and corporate events. With state-of-the-art tech and a knowledgeable events team, we are able to cater for a wide range of events and purposes.

Live Music Hire

Located in a prime location within Bournemouth, The Old Fire Station is easily accessible and well-connected, making it an ideal choice for both local and touring artists. Its central location ensures convenience for attendees, allowing them to easily reach the venue, with great transport links.

Event Hire

Featuring three rooms, The Old Fire Station offers endless possibilities for event organisers to create a dynamic and immersive experience. The main room is a spacious and electric setting, accommodating up to 800 people, with a large stage for performance.

For more intimate gatherings, our venue also boasts 2 smaller rooms that can comfortably hold up to 400 people Upstairs in 'The Loft' or 150 in 'The Engine Room'. These rooms maintain an intimate ambiance while still ensuring high-quality sound and excellent lighting.

For those seeking the ultimate venue experience, The Old Fire Station offers the option of booking the full venue, accommodating a total of 1200 people, which allows for a multi-room experience.

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Contact & Feedback

Please contact us with any queries or feedback you have. It is always best to contact via email.

Please note, our working hours vary and do not match standard office hours. We will reply as soon as we are back in office.

Phone

Please note, this number is not manned at all times.

01202 963039

Call The Old Fire Station

Venue Info & Accessibility

Get help with

Venue Information

Cloakroom

Events open to the public

Lost Property

Ticket Refund Policy

Proof of age

Cameras and recording

Disabled Access Carers

Smoking Policy

Lighting and Effects

Noise and sound levels

Food and Drinks