Socially Distanced Performances

Booking for all events will be available online at www.cresset.co.uk as always. If you need to contact the box office you can email them boxoffice@cresset.co.uk

We are currently operating with a reduced team so the box office hours are limited. We hope to increase these in the coming months and will update this information accordingly.

In order to minimise hand-to-hand contact, tickets will be issued as Print at Home unless there is a specific reason for printed tickets to be issued. If you do need printed tickets these must be posted in advance at a cost of £1.50 and will not be available to collect from Box Office on the day.

In order to comply with Social Distancing guidelines we will be using specially designed seating plans for our events. These may be theatre style, in an adaptation of our usual seating, or cabaret style, allowing you to book a table for your party’s exclusive use.

Theatre Style Events

This follows a similar framework to our usual seating plan, however the seats available for sale are in pre-determined blocks, allowing opportunity for groups of 2, 3 or 4 to book while maintaining social distancing. You will not be allowed to book part of a block, as this would leave seats available for sale which are too close to those you have booked, so please look for the group size which matches your party. If you require an alternative group size, a single seat or a wheelchair space please contact the Box Office direct and we will do our best to accommodate you.

You can view an example of the seating plan here

Cabaret Style Events

The flexible nature of our venue has allowed us the opportunity to plan events where the audience are seated at tables. The size of table will depend on the group size booked, so to maintain distancing you will never have to share a table with anyone not in your party.

Seats can be booked in groups of up to 6 people. As we will allocate furniture according to the range of group sizes booked, we are unfortunately unable to guarantee where in the room your table will be. However, you are guaranteed to have a table suitable for your group size, socially distanced from all other groups and exclusively for your use.

For events with bar service : Once seated at your table you will have the opportunity to purchase drinks from one of our team who will be offering full table service. We ask that wherever possible you pay using contactless methods.

As tables are designated for eating and drinking and we are operating within the hospitality guidelines for social distancing, you may remove your face covering while seated. Face coverings are required at all other times when moving through the venue.

At the end of the event please remain in your seats until directed by one of our team. This will enable us to maintain distancing and allow everyone to exit safely.

Please contact the Box Office if you have any queries regarding the booking process.

A few days before the show you will receive an email from us reminding you of the details of your booking and preparing you for your visit. Please read this information carefully and take particular note of any specific requirements for arrival times, parking and pre booking of refreshments etc.

To ensure you are fully informed please ensure when booking that you have provided us with a valid email address.

You must not attend the venue if you:

• believe you may be infected with COVID-19;
• have experienced symptoms in the last 14 days;
• have been in close proximity to anyone who has experienced symptoms in the last 14 days;
• have arrived in England in the last 14 days and are not covered by the exemption rules relating to self-isolation; or
• have been instructed to self-isolate.

Any individual who considers themselves to be clinically extremely vulnerable or who is in the same household or support bubble as someone who considers themselves to be clinically extremely vulnerable is advised not to attend.

Arrival / Parking

You may be given a designated arrival time on booking. Please do your best to help us avoid queues and overcrowding by arriving when requested.

Please head for The Cresset car park on arrival where our staff will greet you and direct you as required. You may be asked to wait in your car before joining the entry queue, we thank you for your patience as we allow everyone to enter safely.

If you are directed to the overflow car park you will then be able to make your way to the main entrance and join the entry queue there. You will not be able to access the main building via The Fayre Spot as before.

If you are arriving on foot or by public transport to the North end of the building (at Bretton Centre) you will be greeted by a member of staff as you enter the building.

Please use the hand sanitiser provided at each entrance.

You may be required to have your temperature taken using an infra red thermometer before moving through to the theatre. In the event that your temperature is elevated we reserve the right to refuse admission and will refund your tickets.

Face Coverings

Face coverings are mandatory in all areas of The Cresset, except when seated at designated food and drink tables in The Fayre Spot Bar & Restaurant or the Fitzwilliam Bar.

If you or any of your party are unable to wear a face covering due to a medical condition please do let us know when booking. You may also wish to carry an exemption card or identifier with you on the night. If you are exempt please do not be offended if our staff ask you about this during your visit as they will be trying to ensure compliance as much as possible.

You must keep your face covering on at all times including during the show. You may remove it in order to eat and drink when seated.

If you do not have a face covering these are available to purchase at the main entrance at a cost of £1 each.

Entering the Auditorium

You will be asked to present your tickets for contactless scanning at the entrance to the front of house bars. This ensures we can monitor the number of people in the bar areas at all times.

Please pay attention to the signage in all areas and follow the one way system, maintaining social distancing at all times.

After completing any food or drink purchases in the bar you should make your way directly to your seats. One of our team will be available to direct you at the auditorium doors. Please have your seat numbers ready.

Toilets

We have limited the capacity in our toilets and a member of staff will be monitoring this. Please queue as indicated and note that there is a new one way system in place which means you will enter the toilets in the Studio 2 front of house, and exit directly into the auditorium. Regular visitors may find this confusing!

We politely ask that everyone sanitise their hands on entering the toilets and wash them thoroughly before exiting. Our staff will be undertaking enhanced cleaning and checks in these areas.

Toilets will be available throughout the performance, even if there is no interval.

We are committed to ensuring the safety of all our staff, crew, visiting performers and audiences. We are following the government guidance carefully and ask that you support our return to live performances by complying with the new systems and processes we have implemented.

At the venue you must:

• abide by all relevant government guidance
• abide by: all instructions given by our staff; our signage; and our full terms and conditions
• permit your temperature to be screened upon arrival
• wear a face covering
• maintain a distance of 2 metres where possible (and otherwise no less than 1 metre) from all other households or support bubbles at the venue at all times.

To protect all our staff and visitors we have:

• Implemented one way systems in high traffic areas to maintain social distancing
• Reduced the capacity of the main auditorium, front of house areas and toilets
• Implemented a new booking process with a seating plan which ensures social distancing
• Trained our staff in covid-safe procedures and provided them with PPE to protect them in their roles
• Provided hand sanitiser at all entrances and throughout the building
• Issued signage to create awareness for good hygiene practice and handwashing
• Introduced pre order / table service options for food and drink to reduce queuing and congestion
• Increased the number of staff available to manage queues and assist audiences
• Developed enhanced cleaning schedules for all areas including a full disinfection of the main auditorium after each performance

Pre show suppers

The Fayre Spot will be taking bookings for pre show meals from 1st October 2020. You can book a table by contacting them on 01733 842518 or emailing fayrespot@cresset.co.uk

Please visit The Fayre Spot page for menu and information on their Covid-secure procedures before booking.

Bar Drinks

For cabaret style events you full table service will be available. Order forms will be on your table.

For theatre style events you will be able to book a table for drinks before the show in the Fitzwilliam Bar upstairs. Due to social distancing requirements capacity in this room is limited so advance booking is essential. If you book a table and do not arrive at your booked time we reserve the right to offer that table to another group. Please be considerate and let us know in advance if you wish to cancel your table booking.

Drinks may also be purchased at the foyer bar but may only be consumed once seated in the auditorium. Please follow the one way and queuing systems in place.

Sweets / Ice Creams etc

These will be available to order and collect from the foyer before the show. Please follow the one way and queuing systems in place.

Tea and Coffee and soft drinks will also be available at this point.

Pre ordering services and table service will also be available for cabaret style events including pantomime.

In order to support the NHS Track & Trace process we are unable to take bookings without a valid name and contact information.

In line with current guidance updated in April 2021, everyone must register their details for Track & Trace on arrival. This can be done using the NHS app and you will find plenty of posters etc available at the entrances. If you do not have a smartphone or access the app, we will be operating a manual system for data collection and one of our staff will assist you with this.

In the event of a Covid-19 outbreak or recorded infection we will pass this data to the NHS Track & Trace service using secure channels. You can view their privacy policy here.