Bristol Hippodrome
reviews and complaints

Never ever will I return to the Bristol hippodrome again , the security staff I take it are ones that mind the doors on a night out at a pub , they charged over and threatened to kick us out for talking and using our mobiles , little did they know it was the row behind who also spilt a drink down the back of my mums chair , but we let it go cause we all all their to have a nice time ! But the attitude of this so called piece of scum (sorry but still angers me ) was awful beyond words , shouting at us like we was naughty school kids and threatening us , no wonder so many people go missing on a night out in Bristol with want to be I’m better than you low life security scum like these , well let’s say that spoilt the rest of the show , and the coach load of people we was with will not be returning, found all staff rude and unhelpful if I wanted this behavior I would have booked Karen’s dinner , actually your treated a dame site better than Bristol hippodrome 😡😡😡😡

My partner came home last night from watching pretty women. Very upset in the manor of your security staff. She went with my step daughter my mother in law and some friends . Reduced one young lady to tears . Arguing and accuseing people of being noisy claiming complaits had been made . When i strongly believe this was the people located behind . Regardless the security staff attitude and behaviour was far from professional . Bullying women even at one point laughing at them this disgusting these people shouldn't looking after members of the public pensioners and children in a theatre. Hardly the reputation a theatre requires . Typically bouncer attitude . My partner came home very distressed not good really for someone with a heart condition. In my opinion and looking at previous reviews i would be reviewing the security team as clearly there not suitable for a customer/family focused venue.

Today I have come to see Shrek. Your new system of not allowing unsealed or reusable bottles is ridiculous. I was also refused entry with my sealed 1l bottle. Instead I had to decant into two plastic glasses. At a time when trying to stop single use practice how is this environmentally friendly I also wasn't given an adequate explanation of why this has been newly introduced. The cynic in me thinks this is to force me to buy drinks inside. I will not be booking to return to hippodrome for future events again. I usually attend shows every 6-8 weeks and usually Bristol is my first choice over Cardiff. This is no longer the case. Please can you review this ridiculous rule.

My enjoyment of Kevin Bridges last night was spoilt by the ushers and security in the grand circle. Instead of shining a light on the customer to indicate they should turn their phones off, they had every one in the row stand up- disrupting the audience- to remove the person. They did this several times. It became very annoying. One poor lady was literally dragged up the steps, screaming and crying “what did I do? What did I do?!” It took a long time to wrestle the confused woman out of the door. I expect she will be very bruised today. The staff continued to interrogate her and we could all hear her sobbing in the corridor. It was very upsetting to witness. We couldn’t concentrate on the comedy act. It will take me some time to get over what I saw. It’s a shame that was the only thing people were talking about afterwards. I hope the woman presses charges!

During the Kevin Bridges performance this evening I witnessed the over zealous security guards physically drag a customer from their chair because they’d taken a picture, which was disputed by the lady they removed. I appreciate that the notices had warned against this before the show, however their response was totally disproportionate for what had happened. They also removed a gentleman sat next to me but the way they pointed at all the other customers such as myself and asked us to stand up was intimidating and ruined my enjoyment of the show. I appreciate the need to protect the artists, but their actions would put me off of returning. I don’t want to be intimidated when I go to a comedy gig.

My family and I attended The Lion King on the 24th July for the 19.30 performance. The temperature in the Upper Circle was extremely uncomfortable due to the non-existence of air-conditioning and air flow of any sort in this area. Everyone within the Upper Circle was fanning themselves with whatever they had in order to get some kind of airflow.

The performance although excellent, was very difficult to enjoy due to the lack of air-conditioning and the uncomfortable environment we had to endure during the performance.

Having spent £165 on what should have been an enjoyable evening instead was overshadowed by this unsatisfactory situation, and would not have adhered to building regulations. This needs to be addressed with immediate effect in order to prevent unnecessary health issues for future audiences.

My initial formal written compliant was dated 25th June, the reply to which, quite frankly was an insult to my intelligence. As a result of which, it is now my intention to escalate a complaint to the next level. Please advise the contact details of your governing body.

We bought upper circle tickets for seats J31/32 for Saturday 24 June evening performance of the Lion King. £110 wasted.

The performance was good, the theatre and its staffing both dreadful.

We arrived ready to take our seats at 6.50 for the 7.30 performance, as requested on the ticket. We found we were queuing in a stuffy corridor with over 100 people and no staff to be seen because the auditorium was locked.

When we were eventually seated we found the seats were too small and cramped to sit comfortably. The patron to my right was a large woman who sweated profusely throughout the performance. Not her fault since the auditorium was so stiflingly hot and we were given bits of paper to use as fans. I presume the air conditioning had failed (again).

To make matters worse she was too large for her seat and her upper body was crushing me. The woman in front of me could not fit her arm on the arm rest since she too was seated next to a large patron. Her solution was to put her arm along the back of her seat. It ended up resting on my legs. She was charming and repeatedly apologised but it was not what either of us expected.

We usually use either St David’s Hall or the Millenium in Cardiff. Consistently a totally different and pleasant experience.

My wife who was equally uncomfortable and I left at the interval. Both of us cross and disappointed.

We received tickets as a present, excited we booked a hotel to make a weekend of it.

Our seats j13 &j14 were unbearable due to the heat, it made us feel quite ill. Apparently the air conditioning was broke were we were sitting. We left at half time for fresh air outside contemplating not returning. We returned as it would be rude not to as is was a present and stood at the back to the left as a member of staff informed us the air conditioning was working there.

We stood for the second half of the performance, members of staff checked on us and provided water. This was not the pleasant or enjoyable experience as we were expecting, it spoilt our weekend away, we have visited your theatre before and enjoyed enormously.

To Whom it May Concern,

I adore the Bristol Hippodrome and love to visit with the family. This year my son who is 7 was particularly excited about the Lion King coming to Bristol and bought me a ticket for mothers day to go and watch it with him and my mother (his grandmother). Unfortunately, as life does, things got busy with work as an NHS nurse and poorly relatives, I had written the dates down incorrectly for our show. Having spent £240 on all three tickets I should have paid more attention, and thought the 2nd of June was in fact a Saturday rather than the Friday. So we turned up on Saturday, got the the door and we were told by a lovely gentleman that we were in fact a day late (for which I take full responsibility) and that if we were to go to the Box Office they would be able to help us with the tickets. We went to the box office and were met by two ladies who completely lacked sympathy for our situation, they were short in their responses, very rude and kept repeating that we could only buy more tickets if we wanted to see the show that evening. I hasten to add that there were no other patrons waiting in the box office room and it was about 15 mins before the show started. We explained ourselves, that I had saved and already spent £240 on the tickets, I simply did not have the money for anymore. She explained that there were in fact spare seats in the grand circle and the stalls (where our tickets were for) but there was nothing they could do. How can you expect anyone to spend more money on what would be empty seats anyway, she didnt even give us the option to wait and see if anyone wanted to buy them. The customer care was horrendous, rude and abrupt. I cannot believe there was nothing they could have done, money well earnt to buy the tickets just disregarded and all they wanted was us to spend more money.

I really do not want to frequent or support The Bristol Hippodrome as we have done for so many years again, and would rather travel elsewhere to see the shows. I have never experienced customer service like that.

I will be sharing my experience with as many as I can so they know how unwilling to help the staff are.

My Number is [protected] if you wish to call me.

Regards,

Jo Kellett

We attended fishermen's friends on Friday. We arrived at 6.55pm and were seated straight away and the drinks order was taken. 4 other tables arrived after us all to be served their drinks .I asked three times where are drinks were it is now getting on for 7.15pm the show starts at 7.30 .I had to go ask twice for our drinks. The drinks that were all served before us were alcoholic drinks and ours were soft drinks .I paid for VIP seeting but would have been quicker to have gone to the bar to get drinks .I felt like a second class person because we ordered soft drinks. Very very bad service, spoilt our evening I asked to see a manager and was ignored.

Yesterday evening I sat on the chair outside the hippodrome. It was raining and I needed to call for a taxi. I was on my own. I had a security guard approach me and asked me to leave. I explained that I was trying to call for a taxi and I was on my own at this point, I also explained I have a disability which meant I needed to sit down. He said I was trespassing and if I didn’t leave he would call the police, I left the chair and stood outside, I continued to try to use my phone but the rain was so heavy it wouldn’t work so I tried to go and sit back down due to feeling pain I knew I needed to sit down. He physically stopped me from accessing the siting area which resulted in my falling back into a puddle on the floor. I was so embarrassed, in pain, in shock that he would do such a thing. I offered to show him my disabled rail card and proof I am a disabled person but he did not care. He threatened to call the police on me and said I was trespassing. How can a disabled person be treat so badly!? This has left me in physical pain and mentally I feel very distressed by this.

Attended 28/12/22 to see Cinderella.

We are a huge family of 21. We sat in the upper circle - due to the cost of other seating- seats were so uncomfortable the older members of the family had to leave at the interval being unable to sit any longer.

People were rammed in like sardines and seating was not safe for elderly or very young, we requested a booster and was told by an usher the seats weren’t safe for one to be used on.

The cost of the drinks were extortionate and just pure greed! £15 for 6 half sized fruit shoots which would’ve cost no more than 30p each to buy, I’m all for making a profit but……. Really?

Cinderella was good but don’t think I’d attend another due to the points above, also talking to other guests there the feelings were mutual.

Come on guys. Sort it out or we’ll don’t lose another age old tradition.

We bought tickets to Elf the Musical as an alternative to our traditional pantomime outing. We expected something sweet, charming and amusing - perhaps a riot of Christmassy colour and vibrancy. How disappointing and how wrong we could be in our expectations.

The acting was dreadful, the scenery almost non existent and the script just dire. We were especially interested to find out what clever trick the producers had in store for the biggest visual gag of the whole story - the size difference between Buddy and the Elves. The response - they didn’t bother. Some of the elves were taller than Buddy!

Santa was completely lacklustre and seemed to have mostly forgotten his lines so read it from his prop book.

People were leaving early and general laughing at the am-dram style of the whole thing rather than the show itself.

Very disappointing - wish we had saved our money for a pantomime.

Can you please advise me if you have received my complaint I have previously sent you ?

Regarding Elf Bristol hippodrome

The show was alful, very amateur, over priced, people walking out half way

Terrible scenes & costumes

Complete waste of money & a massive dissapointment for myself & children

We travelled from the Forest of Dean to see this

We went to the performance last night of Elf & we’re totally disappointed.

We were bought these tickets as a present as we have as a family been through a tough time

The acting was alful, the stage was so cheaply done , it was shocking & people were leaving 1/2 way through

There was no magic yo this performance at all, it was so bad we couldn’t wait for it to finish

Nothing like we expected in every way, it was so cheeky put together but such amateurs it was total rubbish

So disappointed on what should of been s fun magical eve

We are gutted as we all needed this eve

Debi Edwards

My wife purchased two tickets at a cost of over £65 for my birthday treat , I am a 63 year old Disabled person , we googled disabled spots around the hippodrome, not surprisingly there are allocated bays to the side of the building, all ok up to getting there , we could not park as the spaces were took by minibuses and taxis ,We had to park near a mile away and get a taxi ( our cost again) We at last got there , forwarded to our seats , as I was trying to sit down I realised my phone was in my back pocket, hence I removed it , only for it to light up as usual , I was then spoken to , ref ,no pictures videos etc , I informed the staff of what I was doing , I did not have my hearing aids in and asked my wife what was being said quicker than a flash ,some young fellow (staff ) gave me a few verbal words , this all happened within 20 mins of the show , I wasn’t happy with his attitude, I left my seat to speak to him , I had a major back spasm as I looked for him , 5 members of staff watched me struggle to walk , only one Welsh gentleman (as will call him , yes you guessed Staff , He helped me when all the rest turned their backs , my wife and I had to leave the show , Spoilt for us by the incompetent staff , come the end of the night it cost us nearly £100 inc taxis , I for one will never attend your establishment again , and I would at least like the ticket money to be returned, Don Scott

I was lucky enough to enjoy mamma Mia in Saturday 18th June. It was brilliant. However l, I do have issue with your security staff. I, and my friends purchased a box for brilliant viewing and comfort (box a). Towards the end of the show Be began to dance. We were immediately signed by the security staff to sit down. He then came to tell us it wasn’t “official dancing time”. We did ask when “official dancing time began” but received no answer.

Approximately 2 minutes later everyone got up to dance. I’m assuming it had started!

I paid a lot of money for the box. Could not see in t and c that dancing wasn’t allowed.

On entering the theatre It did feel mor like entering a prison I understand security is important, but there are ways to make your clients feel valued and all I could see out of the corner of my eye was security staff walking up and down the theatre every few minutes

My husband spent £500 on tickets for the family 6 of us and was assured that as a wheelchair user wife we had accessible seating. On arrival my wheelchair was removed and expected to go down steps to our row which I managed but with extreme pain. The seat was very uncomfortable throughout the performance and I was worrying about going back up afterwards. Having managed that and wheelchair given back they shut the doors on us despite rain and cold wind whilst my husband went back for the car not at all disability friendly. I appreciate it is an old theatre but it spoilt what was an excellent show as I was upset and distressed but had to pretend it was ok so as not to upset the family. The next day my legs are still painful I have cerebral palsy and osteo arthritis and Achilles tendonopathy. A lady did explain the box office had been in error

I took my mother to this performance as a birthday treat.
Sadly the first part of the show was ruined by poor clarity to the speech and singing of the performers. The volume was fine but the clarity wasn't and it was difficult to follow the narrative of the musical which totally spoilt it for us.
The 2nd half of the performance was much better and the issue seemed to have resolved.
Unfortunately the issues during the 1st half of this show ruined what was meant to have been a wonderful birthday treat.

I look forward to receiving your response
Mrs JULIE Wolstenholme

ORDER NO. [protected]
Stalls T8 & T9