Cinema investigation - Evidence

In 2010 people in the UK visited the cinema nearly 170 million times and spent almost £990 watching movies on the big screen.

After a number of negative incidents affecting Trailblazers in Scotland, the network decided that the cinema industry needed further investigation.

Trailblazers in the country went out into their local communities and visited and rated their local major chain and independent cinemas. They completed surveys, interviewed cinema managers and architects, wrote blogs, set up a petition, wrote their own report, and made their own documentary that showed the big picture of access in UK cinemas today.

Catherine Gillies from Glasgow reviewed her local cinemas and discovered:

The physical access to the cinemas I visited was good - it was when I reached the auditorium that the difficulties started.  At one venue wheelchair-users were limited to the seats right at the front. Even for disabled people who walk independently, it would be difficult to sit anywhere else as there are steep set of stairs to get to the higher levels. Steps for me are a death trap, and getting comfortable seats means an anxious and tiring climb. Putting in proper ramps would make such a big difference.

Aside from the physical layout of cinemas, there is so much more that could be done to support disabled customers. I couldn't book online for a disabled seat and one next to me for my carer, which was frustrating. It would also be fantastic if I was able to reserve seats at the back of the cinema each time - that way I could use the doors at the top and wouldn't need to climb any steps at all. There are ways to work around problems if cinemas listen to disabled customers.

We hope people will support the petition and encourage exhibitors to work towards improving disabled peoples' experience at the cinema.

Sign our petition calling on cinema operators to improve their service for disabled people.

See how Trailblazers campaigners rated cinemas in Scotland or add your own review by completing our survey.

Read the about our findings in other regions.

Watch the Lights, Camera, Access interviews with Trailblazers on our YouTube page