Access: Howard Assembly Room

Access this page as a downloadable word doc

If you have any access requirements, you can sign up for our Access Membership Scheme to make your booking experience smoother.

Members can book online for performances at Howard Assembly Room with any associated discounts, including free essential companion tickets. The information you supply will help us to find you appropriate seats quickly and easily over the phone or in person, and keep you updated on all things access-related at Opera North if you choose.

You can download the application form as a standard print Word document, a large print Word document, a standard print typeable PDF or a large print typeable PDF, or apply via our online form.

If you require any additional support in completing your application, please get in touch by emailing the box office at boxoffice@operanorth.co.uk, or by ringing them on 0113 223 3600. If completing the application in writing is not accessible to you, we are happy to arrange a phone or video call with a member of our team to record your details verbally.

If you are already an access member and your details have changed, you can let us know through the online form or by contacting the Box Office.

The Howard Assembly Room is around a 10-minute walk from Leeds bus station (roughly 0.49 km) and a 15-minute walk from Leeds train station (roughly 0.77 km).

For train timetables, contact Northern Rail or TransPennine Express.

Buses to the centre also stop nearby on The Headrow, Vicar Lane and Boar Lane, all of which are within a 5–10-minute walk of the venue. For the most up to date information on local bus and train times, please check WYMetro.

You can be dropped off directly outside the Howard Assembly Room, though being in the city centre we are surrounded by some traffic restrictions and restricted routes!

Q-Park at St John’s Centre is another good drop-off point, though it is slightly further away.

To be dropped-off outside the Howard Assembly Room:

If you are travelling from York Road, take the exit onto Vicar Lane. Then turn right up Harrison Street and right again onto New Briggate.

If you are travelling from Merrion Street, follow the road until New Briggate, taking the right lane onto Vicar Lane. Then turn right up Harrison Street and right again onto New Briggate.

If you are travelling from Leeds Playhouse or Leeds Bus Station by taxi, your driver can only use The Headrow and then turn right onto Vicar Lane from 7am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm.

To be dropped-off outside ‘Q-Park at St John’s Centre’:

If you or your taxi driver are directed to a restricted route, use ‘Q-Park at St John’s Centre’ as your destination (5 minutes’ walk, roughly 0.20 km away). From here, follow Merrion Street until New Briggate and follow the right lane to Vicar Lane. Then turn right up Harrison Street and right again onto New Briggate.

For more detail, download the Leeds City Centre Traffic Restriction Routes Map and Disabled Routes Map.

Service, Assistance, and Emotional Support Dogs are very welcome in the Howard Assembly Room.

We are looking into welcoming other assistance animals too, and we hope to have an update on this soon.

You are very welcome to leave your Service, Assistance, or Emotional Support dog with a member of staff if you’d prefer not to take them into the auditorium. Our shows can be very vibrant and exciting, and we know that this may not suit all dogs!

We recommend contacting the Box Office directly to make your booking, as they may be able to answer specific questions about the show and what to expect in the venue. They may also be able to help arrange an aisle seat for you so your dog can be as comfortable as possible.

We are also always happy to help you on the day, when we will also inform you of any theatrical effects such as flashing lights and loud noises!

Some extra guidelines

• To ensure a safe place for all visitors, we ask that dogs are either kept in a travel basket or similar, or on a lead throughout their visit.
• As the owner, you are responsible for your dog at all times.
• Please be aware that the environment can be very busy.

If you have any access requirements you can sign up to our Access Membership Scheme. Members can book online for Opera North performances in Leeds Grand Theatre, Leeds Town Hall and the Howard Assembly Room with any associated discounts, and with the information you supply we can find you appropriate seats quickly and easily.

Download the application form as a Word Doc and as a PDF.  If you require any additional support in completing your application, please get in touch. If you feel unable to complete the application in writing we are happy to arrange a phone or video call with a member of our team to record your details verbally.