Bristol Hippodrome
reviews and complaints

I had 2 tickets for the River dance performance at the hippodrome Bristol. I scanned my bar code for my seats C42 and C43 the circle. When we got to our seats they were already taken. The seats had been sold to 2 other people as well. This is disgusting. While the staff were trying to sort this out we were still standing off to one side and the show had already started. They wanted us to go out of the show and sort it. I refused. We were found seats after a while. The seats were not together and this is also disgusting. The whole show was ruined and this is the fault of the Hippodrome. We should be compensated for the way we were treated. Mrs Whittaker The 2 tickets are attached

Visited Bristol hippodrome on Tues 21st Sept to watch grease with work colleagues, . We have all saved our money to get tickets in the stalls, well it was terrible, we were sat.behind s very loud lady who kept shouting, standing up all through, she had so many complaints, security came and told her to move and she said no I'm not going anywhere, .then a diff security came and sat at the end of the isle, .she still wouldn't shut up, another lady told her to be quiet as she was ruining it for everybody, that made them have a argument, .we hardly seen or heard any of the show, we paid for decent seats aswell, so dissapointed, is there anything that can be done for us all after not getting a service that we paid for, .was.looking forward to it, we all got pink ladies jackets and everything, I have enclosed a photo of the seats that we had

I have not been able to enter the theater, I have felt that my privacy has been violated by asking me if I was vaccinated against covid or not, I don't have to answer this kind of question, my privacity is mine, also I have not seen anyone asking if there was someone with AIDS, with leprosy, with Ebola, Sida, or any other contagious disease and mortal. I have found this theater very offensive and very unprofessional, without a doubt I will not return again and I do not recommend it to anyone

I have tonight sat through a show at the Bristol Hippodrome. A great place to come but I am freezing cold due to the air conditioning. It's actually making my partner and I feel unwell and I have a back neck.

Is it not acceptable to be feeling like this and it has spoilt the evening.

Others around us are feeling the same and I fully expect more complaints will get coming your way.

Photo below which is the air conditioner

Bristol Hippodrome, , , Autism and Aspergers ( Unfriendly )
My partner and our son 33 who has Aspergers, Tourettes and other medical problems attended an afternoon musical concert at the Hippodrome on 11/01/20 along with his brother and his wife. He loves music and plays the piano and guitar and even thou it's very hard for him to mix with lots of people he was looking forward to the concert. They sat at the end of the row of seats because he suffers with anxiety in crowds and thought he would be able to leave if affected.
At the encore the orchestral played the Star wars theme and our son wanted to film it to shows his friend who also has Aspergers and loves star wars.
My son thought nothing about filming the last part as the person in front had been filming most of the show.
He got out his phone to film when a lady usher member came along to him and ask him not to film, he apologies and put his phone away. My partner did tell the member of staff the person in front had filmed most of the show, the usher then walked away.
Within seconds an Asian security staff member came along and said my son "alright calm down there's no need of that" in an intimidating way even thou my son had no camera and had accepted what he was told to do.
Then what we now know to be the lady manager also came along and stood next to the security man right next to my son at the end of the isle, this had an intimidating affect on my son who could not help but keep asking his mother "why are they looking at me".
His Tourettes now stating to kick off he found it even harder to stop his ticks so as long as they were standing right by him in a harassing intimidating manner he had to keep talking.
It looked as thou the security member was just waiting for a chance to confront him again. When the show ended my partner and son went to talk to the manager to explain what happened and my son then told her he would NEVER go the the Bristol Hippodrome again.
So to all with Autism, Aspergers, Tourettes or Anxiety the Bristol Hippodrome is not a friendly place to go stay away.

Order red: [protected]
I booked a group of tickets for 16 people including my disabled brother and a carer for the 22nd December in the stalls.
I admit that calling for the payment did slip my mind due to lots of things happening at home, however I was not too concerned as in the past o have always received good communication and has always been chased a couple of times when payment was required for a group booking .
I was surprised that I did not receive any correspondence from yourselves to chase payment when o remember that I still had not made payment so I called earlier today and was told that the order had been cancelled. I was informed that I had been sent an email on the 22nd November and that I ‘would have had a voicemail as well'.
I knew that I had not had a voicemail or even a missed called from yourselves. After the phone call I checked my emails and the only email from yourselves was an email to advertise upcoming shows. I have checked my junk emails and have found nothing there either.
I am extremely disappointed and I am left wondering if there was any attempt to contact me at all. We will now need to carry my brother up some stairs as there were no access seats left.
In future please cab staff ensure that people are contacted at least twice to allow for misdialling.
I had always been impress with yourselves until this point.
Abigail Andow

My wife and I booked tickets for both of us and our two kids aged 5 and 10. We bought the tickets months ago. The online queuing process was tedious and we were automatically assigned front row seats AA1 to AA4. We have watched many musicals and pantomimes. This was the worst experience ever. We did not have proper sight of the stage at all. When the tickets were automatically offered I was not offered a chance to change them and so I walked to the box office in person to ask for them to be moved. I explained the situation to the lady at the box office counter and she mentioned that even with kids, that we would be fine. Before I knew it our tickets were printed and in my hands.

We missed everything on stage with the only thing visible being action that took place stage left and in the foreground apart from the giraffes.

I have over 8, 000 LinkedIn connections, http://linkedin.com/in/ and can share this experience on social media to alert people, however I wanted to complain and offer you the opportunity to rectify the situation. What can you do to enhance our bad experience? My children were heartbroken. In the build-up we watched the animated movie and the recent version of Lion King too. It's not right what has happened here.

Good day
We went to see Lion King yesterday At Bristol Hippodrome. Excellent!

We noticed some terrible damp and peeling paint / plaster on the stairwell ceilings and the same on the walls but painted over on red. One can push ones finger through the paint!
I hope that the Hippodrome doesn't suffer the same as Piccadilly Theatre in London!
Alan Darwin

THIS SUBMISSION SEEMS TO GOING TO A FAR AWAY PLACE! WHERE?

My daughter took me to lion king bristol hippodrome as a special 70th birthday treat seat was taken had to stand at back wait 15mins to sort taken down to a small view box hard chairs told could stay till interval only just before show re start told move back to circle seats sorted sat behind tall guy had keep looking back &forth rest show as he moved checking pregnant wife fanning herself ..found the whole eve spoilt would like to see again without interruption!😖

Hello,
On Friday 5th October my family and I (7people)
Attend lion king 7, 30 showing.
We were sat in the grand circle third row from front it was a great view .
The temperature up there was unbearable,
People were fanning them self with bits of card which was very of putting while try to enjoy the show .
We were all so uncomfortable and over heated so much so that it completely ruined the experience for us all !
This was a present for my husbands 50th birthday which turned out to be a very unpleasant present.
We love the theatre but feel we would not like to return here again as I'm sure many others share our experience from observing people around us .

I don't usually complain but something must be done!

A very expensive unpleasant evening
And very upset unhappy customers.

Carol

Hi

When I first purchased Dirty Dancing tickets I did not get the option to pick a seat I was automatically allocated 4 tickets in the upper circle. on arrival we asked if there was a lift as my Auntie has extremely bad arthritis was has difficulties with stairs, I was told there wasn't and that I could change seats at a cost. When I went to ticket office I was told there was only 4 seats together in grand circle at £55+£4.40 fee for each seat or if we wanted a cheaper option to separate as we was told it was sold out. I purchased the tickets to sit together as we was a party of 4 I had to pay an additional £186 so my auntie could manage to watch the show. When we got in there was plenty of empty seats in the grand circle that could allow us to sit together. I very unhappy I was sold dearer tickets to feel the more expensive seats at the expense of my aunties stairs difficulty, I think it's is actually very discriminating.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best regards

Heather

Email address heather.[protected]@gmail.com [protected]

I am complying here because I sent the following email and haven't had any response.
Hi I am writing this email because I feel very angry and upset. I paid for my mum, who is disabled to come to the hippodrome on Sunday 23rd June, to watch Tina Turner, what loves got to do with it, she came with a friend. I know it was a bit last minute when I bought the tickets, but I explained that my mum was disabled and was assured on the phone that although there would be some steps, the seats would be sufficient for my mums needs, however on the night they were led up a very steep staircase, which they managed to do slowly, so this wasn't to bad, but with no assistance from anyone. But the seats that they were given were terrible, my poor mum spent the whole show wedged into the seat sideways, as she had to stretch her legs out into the aisle to ease some of the pain she was in, she had to watch the show from the side with her back to her friend, at one point she was stuck in the chair and her friend had to help pull her out, causing more pain and more to the point damaging her self esteem as she was mortified that she was stuck, and at one point thought that she would have to phone for the fire brigade. My mum is an extremely proud person who would not ask for help or complain. I am very surprised that none of the staff noticed how awkward my mum looked. She said the show was amazing if only she could of been comfortable. The next day she was is so much pain she was in tears, and worse still 5 days later she showed me that she had bruises from when she was jammed into the seat. I was horrified as this was a treat from me and I feel so Upset and angry that she had gone through this. I think it is disgusting that there are no bigger seats for those that need it, I know that it is an old building but people come in different shapes and sizes for different reasons. My mum felt humiliated and embarrassed. I would really like to take this further as I would not want anyone else to go through this. For your observation I have enclosed the photos of the bruising that was caused, I'm sorry if their a bit graphic, but I'd like you to see why I am so upset.
My telephone number is [protected] if you would like to discuss this matter further.
Regards
Zoe Harris

Sent from my iPhone

Hi I turned up on Friday 29th April to watch the dream boys I had booked front row in the uppercircle due to the fact they had not sold enough seats we was reallocated to the grand circle in row H! I had booked front row seats as there is standardly more leg room plus I knew the dancers went into the crowd so we would be able to see.
When we turned up the girl just looked at the sheet and gave us seats so my main question is why was the seats not reallocated before we got there? As it seemed it was on a first come first served so people who would of been sat in behind us in the uppercircle were now sat in front of us! I have never been to a theatre where it was so disorganised I normally go to the hippodrome a few times a year but I am so disappointed by this I'm glad I haven't got any other shows booked there as I would be cancelling and going to another venue! I have been reallocated seats before in other theatres such as in London but they already had our new tickets ready with new seats and they actually upgraded us to better seats the seats I was given was not better seats as we couldn't see when the dancers went into the crowd.
Overall the show was a bit disappointing as when the dancers went into the crowds we couldn't see them so we was left staring at a blank stage perhaps they should of had more dancers on stage so at least the rest of the crowd was kept entertained.
Like I say I booked 4 front row tickets you didn't deliver this I paid over £120 to be left disappointed I had booked this for my friend as her 40th birthday present I would like to know what you are going to do about the points I have made with regards to reallocation of seats and I am looking for a refund due to the fact the seats you gave me was not good enough as had you of contacted me before I would of paid extra for better seats but was never given this option.
I look forward to hearing from you
Regards
Naomi Boyd

We attended the performance of Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake at Bristol Hippodrome on Saturday 16th March 2019, 19.30 hours.
Our allocated seats were Upper Circle B18 & B19.
On the day of the performance there had been heavy rain in Bristol. When we arrived at our seats there was a large wet patch on seat B19 and it became apparent that there was water leaking from the roof.
We made the decision to stay in our seats in order to enjoy the performance as we were told by the steward that it was a full house and there were no other seats available. We managed to hunch together on seat B18, but as you can imagine this was not a comfortable experience. During the performance there was another bout of heavy rain outside and we found ourselves being dripped on with water from above. This was both unpleasant and distracting, somewhat ruining our experience of the ballet.

We would be grateful if you could let us know how you propose to resolve this complaint - we certainly do not feel that we got our moneys worth.

Please find further ticket information below:

Tickets purchased through ATG tickets
£40.90 per seat.
Miss Emma Whitaker
Order number: [protected]

I saw Annie yesterday at the Bristol Hippodrome which was a fantastic show.
The staff at the theatre were all so polite and helpful even when it was so busy.
However what really let me down was the amount of food being sold. Is a tube of Pringles, a crunchy, noisy crisp an appropriate item to sell in a theatre where there are people performing live?! The popcorn, etc being sold all before the show had even started was ridiculous and totally ruined any quiet moments during the show not to mention distracting for anyone in the audience.
Interval treats, like ice-cream have always been a tradition, but this has been taken to a whole new level, and not for the better.
I was very disappointed and as I have tickets for another show later in the year, and I am now really not looking forward to my visit.
Theatre is an experience unlike the cinema, where people are performing live, it should be treated with respect and not a money making scheme. Shame on you.

I went to the Bristol hippodrome tonight 11/01/2019 to watch the above production. My son gave me two tickets as a Christmas present we were sat in upper circle j14 j15. My son is 18 years old and is in the RAF training as a medic he is not a stupid boy but unfortunately got conned by purchasing the tickets as a Christmas present from viagogo thinking it was a genuine site for the hippodrome. He paid £108 for two tickets which were worth £15 each. This is a lot of money for him to spend and he gave it as a special present as I am asingle parent nurse . He genuinely thought this was the price for the seats he booked. I didn't realise he had paid so much until I was sat watching the performance it made me sick to my stomach that this could have happened. We have lived in Bristol all our lives and all I feel disgusted that the hippodrome can allow this to happen. I have been many times and purchase through ATG direct I did not realise there were other ways. He has been conned of £78 he is a serving member of the forces. My night was completely ruined, I could not enjoy the Dow knowing we paid more than triple the money for seats where we could hardly see the show.

We were very excited to attend the 7.30pm showing of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on 19th September 2018 as we had heard such great things about the show. It was lovely to see so many families there to enjoy what is such a child friendly experience. I am all for children singing along, clapping and being inquisitive about the stage show, however, after a first half of constant talking, getting up from their seats, kicking chairs and crying from the family sat directly behind us, unfortunately we had been unable to hear the actors on stage. The children each had an inflatable booster seat which one of them kept letting down (hissing) meaning it was then blown up again, and again and again. I could unfortunately tell you more about what books the children were reading than I can about what was going on on the stage. We unsuccessfully requested for them to be quieter or sit still on several occasions.
The family behind, made up of a grandmother and four children were so distracting that we spoke to a member of your staff at the first possible opportunity in the interval regarding them, and she kindly offered to move us to another place in the theatre. I wouldn't have minded this had I have actually been able to completely follow the story line in the first half. Having not previously seen the show or the film I had only got the 'jist' of the story line so far so we kindly declined this offer as I would rather have the opportunity to see the show from start to finish at a later date.
It is a shame that a few theatre goers can have such little consideration for those around them that the show is ruined for other people. It is also a shame that staff stood nearby in the aisles do not step in when they see this behaviour.
As I previously mentioned, there were a lot of families with young children enjoying the show in a lovely way, it is just a shame that we were sat directly in front of those that weren't!

Hello, I was very disappointed whilst bringing my daughter to the peppa pig show. For a children's production there was no choice at all for them. The only thing she could drink was a J20 which she is actually too young for but with no other choice we had to go with it. It then got served in a glass in which my daughter is one so she was unable to drink out of it. We didn't get an option if we wanted the bottle with a straw. The snacks were far too hard for her to eat. We only got there 30 mins before the production started and it was a good job we did as by time we were due to take our seats she was very bored and we stuggled to keep her sat. As we paid full price for her and it being a childs performance we would have expected something for the children like a small activity pack or some colouring. I know all parties in the VIP area felt the same.

To top it all whilst sat during interval there was a mouse which ran across the floor which the 3 people sat next to us pointed out.

I would like to be contacted in regards to this. Please contact me on [protected]@hotmail.co.uk

I went to Bristol on Monday 5th of March to watch Hairspray This was the one show I have wanted to see for so long I came all the way from Torque to watch it. I happened to of got seats in front of the production/producer box where they sit to do the tech side of the show. About 10-20 minuets in to the show some man decided he would come sit on the stairs next to me as I was sat on aisle seat of the row, Now he didn't just sit there but happened to sit there on his IPad which kept bothering me, He then moved and sat behind me and kept moving from that seat round to the producer box and back as the very back row in front of the box was empty which happened to be the row behind my self and my mum. Next thing you know they decided to speak and have a conversation from the row to the guys in the box and didn't attempt to do so quietly, which distracted us even more, This was for the whole first half of the show. The people who we were sat next to us went and ask to move for the second half, Now Due to medical reasons I have to be at the end of a row where I can get out if needed and have close access to the toilets, Which where I was sat was perfect for all of this, So moving wasn't really an option. To be totally honest The guy completely ruined my night I was disturbed that much through out, I don't get to go to that many shows as you can imagine they all add up in price as well as work and other commitments and this was a birthday treat the my parents brought me to enjoy But I didn't enjoy it at all, and he completely ruined my night and this has made me very angry and upset, I am not happy what so ever I find it very rude and disappointing as i have never had an issue before when seeing any shows.

Booking ref [protected] . I took my daughter to see Wicked on 14 Feb - 2.30pm show. We had seats L39 and L40 in the Grand Circle.
The 2 women next to us were intoxicated when they arrived with 2 large white wines - during the first half of the show they - talked, sang, got their phones out and split drink down the lady in front. My daughter politely asked them to be quiet to no avail.
At the interval they disappeared to the bar immediately. I found a steward and told him the problem and their seat numbers L37 & L38 - he came over and talked to the other people nearby to hear that they had had the same experience. He spoke to the women before they got back to their seats - when they sat down one of them said in an aggressive manner ' ooh we can see the second half as long as we are really really quiet' and then she laughed. They were marginally better behaved during the second half but still talked and sang and swigged their wine. By this time I just felt on edge. The steward said that someone would stand behind them to ensure that they behaved - I did not see anyone and would have thought they would have intervened on several occasions in the second half.
They totally ruined the show for myself, my daughter and the 4 people in front of them. A small girl asked her mother 'are those horrible ladies coming back'.
Please can you find out who they were and ban them from the Hippodrome and I would be very grateful if you could consider a refund for our tickets or a voucher to enable us to see another show to compensate.
Gill Frere-Smith, 102 Vallis Road, Frome, Somerset BA11 3EN phone [protected] or [protected]