Berwick-upon-Tweed Station has the following Accessibility measures in place:

• Step-free access
• Passenger Assistance through the station, Passenger Assistance Meeting Points
• Embedded BSL interpretation on customer information screens
• Tactile maps and paving on platform edges
• Induction Loops at designated listening areas
• Wheelchairs and mobility buggies
• Accessible toilets
• Platform seating

In 2026, we are piloting a Relaxed Screen at the Town Hall Council Chamber.

“Relaxed screenings” are adapted cinema screenings that have a few different features to standard screenings. These adaptations can make the environment more comfortable or accessible to people with access needs, and have been designed in consultation with neurodivergent people of all ages, and people living with dementia.

For more detailed information about the Relaxed Screen, please visit this webpage.

Read more about the Relaxed Screening Programme, here.

Please visit our venues page to find more information about the accessibility of our Festival venues.

You can also download a PDF with images and detailed access information for each venue: BFMAF 2026 Venue Access Information.pdf

All venues are marked on an interactive Google map available here: https://bfmaf.org/visit-access

Print versions of the Town Map will be available at the Festival Hub, located in the Town Hall Guild Hall.

The opening times of the venues during the Festival are:

• The Maltings’ Cinema at the Barracks: 11am – 10pm, Friday – Sunday
• The Town Hall Council Chamber Relaxed Screen: 11am – 10pm
• The Town Hall Guild Hall Festival Hub: 10am – 4pm (with dinners served from 5.15pm on Friday and 5.10pm Saturday)
• 22 Bridge Street: 09am – 4.30pm
• Magdalene Golf Fields: Parties on Friday 09.30pm-12.30am, Saturday 9.30-11.30pm, Sunday 9.30-11.30pm

All Festival venues will have A-Boards, Festival banners or Festival posters outside.If you cannot access any of the venues, please speak to a member of staff or email info@bfmaf.org and we can provide you with access to the film online.

Guide dogs and assistance dogs are welcome in all venues.

Northumberland County Council Public Toilets in Berwick-upon-Tweed:

• Castlegate Car Park, TD15 1JS. Accessible, RADAR Key required, 20p honesty box, babychanging facilities are located in the Female toilet
• Eastern Lane superloo, TD15 1AT. Fee 20p.
• Magdalene Fields Golf Club, TD15 1NE. Accessible, RADAR Key required
• The Promenade Spittle, TD15 1RN. Accessible, RADAR Key required, and babychanging facilities are located in the Female toilet
• Woolmarket, TD15 1DH

Detailed information is available at Accessable

We welcome Guide dogs, hearing and registered assistance dogs in all our venues.

What are Descriptive Subtitles?

Subtitles incorporating all of a film’s dialogue with descriptive elements (e.g. sound and music labels and speech identifiers). Primarily used by Deaf audiences for access purposes, descriptive subtitles are also widely used by neurodivergent viewers, people for whom English is their second language, and increasingly by fully hearing, native English speakers in various contexts. Descriptive subtitles are also known as captions, SDH, HoH.

21st Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival

This year, we have Descriptive Subtitles (SDH /captions) available for all dialogue across the programme except for the films included in Focus: Mohaiemen + Sagar, which have English Language Subtitles for non-English language dialogue. Details for the subtitles available for each film are listed on the programme page for every screening. We unfortunately cannot offer Audio Description for screenings at this iteration of the Festival.

If you are d/Deaf and would prefer front-row seats so that you have clear sight lines for Subtitles or Descriptive Subtitles at the Maltings’ Cinema at the Barracks, please ask the box office upon arrival.

All films in the cinema are recommended for audiences ages 15 years of age and older.

The Burr of Berwick Film Library exhibitions are suitable for all ages.

Content notes are listed where appropriate for each film listing. Additionally, you can email us about any concerns at info@bfmaf.org, or ask a member of staff or volunteer on site at the Festival for further information.

The Festival aims to be a safe and inclusive space, if you experience behaviour which makes you feel uncomfortable when using our facilities, please let a member of staff know.

The racial diversity of Berwick upon Tweed is 97.8% white which is a higher percentage than the average percentage of white people across the UK. If you feel uncomfortable, please speak to a member of staff. If you would like to request a buddy while you are travelling around town, please speak to a member of staff or email info@bfmaf.org.

If you require a face mask, hand sanitiser or assurance of ventilation in any of our venues, please speak to a member of staff at the Festival Hub in the Town Hall Guild Hall.

We would love to have you attend the Festival and hope the following options may make visiting more financially viable for anyone who would like to attend.

Request a concession Festival Pass – if you are facing financial barriers, please email info@bfmaf.org to get further guidance on receiving a concessions pass.

For early-career filmmakers and artists, we have a limited number of free Festival passes and can advise on the cheapest accommodation options. These passes are reserved for unwaged or low waged guests who would otherwise not be able to attend. Contact us directly at info@bfmaf.org for more information.

Please do contact us directly at info@bfmaf.org if you have any individual requirements and we will do our best to assist.

Carers accompanying audience members receive free tickets to screenings. Please enquire at The Maltings’ Box Office if buying tickets on-the-day or email info@bfmaf.org for further guidance.

Core BFMAF Staff and Front of House Staff will be present at all venues during the Festival. If you need help or support while attending the Festival, please speak to one of our staff.

Staff can be found at information points located in the Maltings’ Cinema at the Barracks foyer and at the Festival Hub in the Town Hall Guild Hall.

They can otherwise be identified by their blue lanyards with the Berwick Film and Media Arts Festival logos on, or by a BFMAF sticker on their clothes. Team member lanyards will state “Staff” on them.  Our staff have undertaken Deaf Awareness training and key team members have undertaken Safeguarding and Health and Safety training.