Venue Accessibility Information
All the details on the what and where of Decom 2022
Where we are
Decompression is happening at Fire Nightclub, South Lambeth Place, Vauxhall, London, SW8 1RT
Car Parking & Drop-Off
There are no nearby designated disabled parking bays or general car parking.
The nearest roadside parking is several minutes walk away, some have very strict parking restrictions (always check signs before parking).
The roads surrounding the venue are marked with double red lines (meaning no stopping, parking or loading) and there is also a bus only route on South Lambeth Place (under the train tunnel). There are designated loading bays on South Lambeth Road between Harleyford Road and Vauxhall Grove.
Public Transport
The closest train, underground and bus stations are less than 200 metres away. They are:
Vauxhall underground Victoria Line
Vauxhall national rail station
Both are labelled as step-free from platform to street. You can plan your journey using Transport for London’s accessibility guides here: https://tfl.gov.uk/forms/12387.aspx
Vauxhall bus station
Each of the areas described below will be taken over by different theme camps on the night; more details on this, including the likely activities and content of each room will be shared soon.
General Info
Accurate as of November 2022. Measurements given are approximate minimum tread length, maximum step height, the exact number of steps required to get to the next level and minimum doorway/corridor aperture width ( not the width for the whole passage).
Surface material, condition and lighting is highly variable throughout the venue.
Fire is a multi-space venue made up of 10 archway areas, as well as outside space.
Please read the descriptions below carefully. There is also an accessibility map preview and link to download here:
Feel free to reach out to us on inclusion@londondecom.org with any other questions!
Entrances & Exits
The venue has 2 main entrances, there is also a gate on Parry Street to the outside area which has step-free access available at all times. Pavement dips are available at the closest pedestrian crossings to the north and south.
The Lightbox main entrance (under the sign saying “Vauxhall Food & Beer Garden, on South Lambeth Place), this is step-free into the rest of the venue, with a minimum 105cm width corridor. If we are using this entrance and you require wider entry or any other assistance with access, please identify yourself to a Decom greeter or gate volunteer, or Fire staff, and this will be arranged using the back gate on Parry Street which will lead into the outside area of the venue (also see Outside Area below).
The Fire main entrance on the corner of South Lambeth Place and Parry Street is not step-free, as it has a combination of 2 or 3 steps up into the premises, with a total of 9cm rise and minimum 30cm tread. Upon entry through a corridor with a width restriction of 120cm at its narrowest, there are 2 further steps down into Fire Main after the bar, with a 23cm rise and 30 tread. If we are using this entrance and you need step-free access, please identify yourself to a Decom greeter or gate volunteer, or Fire staff, and this will be arranged using the back gate on Parry Street which will lead into the outside area of the venue (also see Outside Area below).
With the exception of Protocol, each of the rooms listed below has at least one access to the outdoor area, usually via either 2 or 3 sets of single or double doors which are manually operated.
Sensory Info & Welfare
We have asked performers not to use strobe lighting but there may still be bright lights, lasers, and smoke machines used throughout the night. WSome rooms will definitely be strobe-free though, and we’ll shortly share more info about the likely activities in each room soon.
There will be louder spaces so please bring earplugs if they would help you. And there’ll be more chilled-out spaces – and if you need to take a proper break from festivities, there is also a Welfare space. This has step-free access, seating, calming decor and volunteers on standby to provide cups of tea. And there are fully trained medics available at all times should you need one, just flag down a Ranger or member of the venue security team.
All of the doorways between rooms are wide enough for wheelchairs, and the flooring is either concrete or wooden floorboards inside or carpet outside.
Fire Main & Mezzanine
Toilets: there is one accessible toilet with a 78cm doorway. For entry, please ask for a radar key from a Ranger or Welfarie or venue security staff.
This room has a large dancefloor area with a raised walkway against one wall that has 5 steps at one side with 23cm rise and 30cm tread, and at the other end there are 3 steps with similar rise and tread, then a longer platform. The entire side walkway and steps has a handrail along the full length. There are 2 steps up to the bar area with 23cm rise and 30cm tread. The stage has 5 small moveable steps up, each with a 29cm rise and 30cm tread. At the other end there is the Fire main entrance and secondary cloakroom (for overflow use only), with a 120cm wide corridor.
There’s also a mezzanine level, which has seating with backs and is up 10 steps with a 26cm rise and 26cm tread, there is a thin metal handrail. There is access to the outdoor area via a 140cm wide corridor with 3 sets of double doors.
Fire Lounge & Mezzanine
Toilets: there are step-free gender neutral toilets at the back with cubicles and urinals, and a 115cm wide door frame. There are also gender neutral toilets at the other end of the room, with 1 x 10cm step and 90cm doorway with a door.
This room has a dancefloor area and bar, with some modular seating with backs. There is access to the outdoor area via 3 sets of doors.
The mezzanine level has 11 steps with a 27cm rise and 31cm tread, there is a narrow wooden handrail.
Mirror Arch & Back Room
Toilets: there are gender neutral toilets with cubicles.
This room has a large dancefloor area with a bar and led screens behind the stage and on the ceiling. The stage has a 53cm rise, no steps. There is access to the outdoor area on one side via 2 sets of doors, and on the other side via a long corridor which is 140cm wide with 4 sets of double doors.
The back room has a 91cm wide doorway and seating with backs around the room at 57cm seat height.
Lightbox & Mezzanine
Toilets: there are gender neutral toilets with cubicles and a 75cm doorway. There are also a set of female toilets with cubicles, and a set of male toilets with cubicles via a 160cm wide corridor.
There is a slight slope down into this room from the corridor on the Mirror Arch side. This room has a large dancefloor and led lights covering all of the walls and ceiling. There is an enclosed DJ booth with 2 steps up into it with a 54cm wide doorway, 25cm rise and 32cm tread. At one side there is a bar with 3 pillars around 150cm in front.
There is access to the outdoor area via a 170cm corridor with 2 sets of double doors on one side, and a 160cm wide corridor that leads to the next room on the other side via 2 sets of double doors..
The mezzanine level has 12 steps with 20cm rise and 24cm tread, with a cylindrical metal handrail, and has small marble tables and bench with backs seating at 46cm high.
Protocol Temple
Toilets: there are no toilets in this room.
This is a smaller room, with a step up into it from each of the doorways to the adjacent rooms (15cm rise from Lightbox and 14cm rise from Zebra), and a step with a 17cm rise in front of a bar. There is a small dancefloor area with a step-free DJ booth, and access to the outdoor area via 2 sets of doors.
Protocol Zebra
Toilets: there are no toilets in this room.
This is a smaller room with a step-free DJ booth, large framed mirrors and a bar. The bar area is enclosed in a decorative metal fence with an opening containing 2 steps up to the bar with a 22cm rise and 36cm tread. The fencing makes for a reasonable handrail. There is access to the outdoor area with 2 sets of doors.
Protocol Lounge White Room & Mezzanine
Toilets: At the level of entry, there are gender neutral toilets with cubicles and urinals.
This is a smaller room with 2 levels of fixed tables and bench seating with backs, each up 2 steps with a 21cm rise and 36cm tread. There are no handrails in these two seating areas.
There’s also a mezzanine level with 11 steps with a 21cm rise and 23cm tread, and a thin metal handrail, which has small tables and bench seating (with backs) at 41cm high. There is no access to the outdoor area from this room.
Outside Area
Toilets: there are no toilets outside.
The outside area is mainly covered in artificial grass, and step-free, although some of the doors leading to the rooms above have a very slight slope (less than 1cm). There is a bar with a high frontage, smoking area, cloakroom with a fenced queuing system (which can be widened if needed), and Welfare area.
There are a number of wooden picnic tables and bench seats with no backs.
There is also a staffed medical centre, and several food stalls. Food stalls will have allergens listed.
Entry into the venue from the Back Gate on Parry Street is up a slight slope on concrete. This access point is usually for vehicles so the surface is slightly uneven in addition to the upwards slope upon entry.
