Frequently Asked Questions

Tickets and Concessions:

How can I purchase tickets?

All tickets are available online, and will be provided as e-Tickets only (we do not charge a delivery or administration fee). Tickets may be purchased right up until show start time. If you are unable to purchase tickets online, please call our Box Office phone number on 020 8232 1010

What payment methods do we accept?

We accept most credit and debit cards, except AMEX.

What are your prices?

Cinema:
Before 6pm, our cinema tickets are £10 (full), £9 (concession), £8 (under-26s)
From 6pm, our cinema tickets are £12 (full), £10 (concession), £8 (under-26s)
Except on Wednesdays when all our cinema tickets are £7
Membership prices are available
Our prices do vary for special events and broadcasts of live performances. Please check the relevant event listing for more information.
Theatre:
Ticket prices depend on the production. Tickets for children’s theatre events are usually £12 / £10 (concessions)

Do you have cinema memberships?

We offer memberships that offer discounted and free cinema tickets and other benefits

All memberships last for one year. We will notify you when your membership is due to expire via email. Please note that your membership is not automatically renewed.

What is your refund policy?

Tickets are not normally refundable. If you are unable to attend a screening or event as a result of a Covid-19 diagnosis, please do get in touch with the Customer Relations Team.

Tickets can only be exchanged for another screening or for a credit voucher valid for 365 days (Credit vouchers can only be redeemed against future ticket purchases). If you would like to take advantage of this service you must return proof of your original tickets to the Box Office via email at least 24 hours before the screening (14 days for groups of 9+). Tickets purchased as part of a subscription cannot be exchanged for credit vouchers. Tickets can only be exchanged on the day of the performance/screening if the event is sold out with a waiting list. Any credit not used after 365 days have elapsed will go to the Watermans Development Fund.

 

Venue Information:

What should I do if I am feeling unwell?

If you are feeling unwell, you can request an exchange for your individual ticket for another performance, or for credit to be redeemed at a future date, if you make the request at least 12 hours before the time of the performance. If you begin to feel unwell after this time, please contact the Box Office.

What seating options do I have?

Our online ticketing you can choose your own seat or get the system to choose the best available seat(s). It’s up to you. If an event does not have allocated seating you will just be prompted to ask for the number of tickets you require.

Cinema

The use of recording devices is prohibited in our cinemas.
If you attempt to record any part of a film you will be stopped and the police will be called. You risk prosecution and may receive a criminal conviction.
How far in advance do you book your film programme?
Our film programme is predominantly booked on a fortnightly basis, though we will programme special events more in advance.

We also update our programme weekly by reviewing how films are performing and adding screenings of films that are proving popular with our audience. Our film week traditionally starts on a Friday and any additional screenings from that Friday are usually confirmed by the Tuesday morning of that week at the latest.

Do you have a printed film guide?

We no longer offer a printed film guide. You can get up a print-out of our weekly programme at the box office. Alternatively, we upload a version of our weekly programme to our website – on the Homepage. To sign up to our newsletter please sign up to our mailing list.

Our box office opens 30 minutes before the start of the first screening, and closes 30 minutes after the start of the last screening.

Can I hire your cinemas?

You can hire out our cinema spaces on Mondays and Tuesdays, other opportunities are available but limited. Please email info@watermans.org.uk Please send as much information about your prospective event as possible when enquiring.

What is the age guidance for films?

The great majority of the films we show are given an official certificate from the BBFC to help audiences make informed decisions when choosing what films may be suitable for them or not. If we’re still waiting on an official certificate from the BBFC, we will mark the film as Cert TBC and will update the listing as soon as we can. If, for whatever a reason, a film cannot be certificated ahead of one of our screenings, we will provide age guidance. Please make sure to check the age guidance before purchasing a ticket. Our team may ask for proof of age to gain access to screenings.

Can I film or take photos in your cinema or theatre?

Filming and photography is strictly prohibited inside our cinema screens. Anyone attempting to record any part of a film will be stopped and the police will be called. You risk prosecution and may receive a criminal conviction.

Is a cloakroom available?

No, unfortunately we do not have a cloakroom.

What cleaning procedures do you have in place?

The auditorium will be cleaned before every performance, and deep cleaned following an audience departure; the toilets are cleaned at regular intervals throughout the day. All surfaces are frequently cleaned while audience members are in the theatre.

How is the air circulated in the theatre?

All air brought into the Auditorium is supplied at roof level before passing through a filter system. This helps us guarantee that the air you’ll breathe is as clean as it can be.

Will I be able to use a hearing device?

Our induction loop system will be in place, as usual. We also have designated access performances for every show.

Will I be able to use the toilet?

We have increased the cleaning rota for all toilet facilities, and there will be access to toilets on each level of the venue. All our activities including events, classes, and shows will have their own latecomers and re-admittance guidance.

What can I expect when I arrive at Watermans?

The theatre and cinema are located on the ground floor with lift and stair access if entering from the first floor. Our first-floor gallery is open from 1pm until 7pm every day.

If you have any questions prior to your visit, please get in touch with the Customer Relations Team who will be able to assist with your enquiry via info@watermans.org.uk

Can I bring food and drinks into your cinemas?

You may bring snacks, sweets or chocolates, as well as drinks into our cinema. Please note, we have a strict no hot food policy. If you have food and drink with you, we ask that you be mindful of everyone else’s experience and that you keep noise to an absolute minimum. Please open any packages ahead of the start of the film, and decant food into less noisy containers if at all possible.

What should I do on arrival?

• Remember to bring along your ticket/s in order to gain admittance to the event. If you have an e-ticket you can show it to our Customer Relations Team on your device or bring along a printout.
• If your event has been sold as general admission you won’t have selected a specific seat in advance. On arrival at the event, a team member will show you to a seat- just let them know how many tickets you purchased so they can direct you to an appropriately sized group of seats.
• If you arrive late we appreciate you will want to take your seats immediately, however, to limit disturbance to other members of the audience and artists, we may ask you to wait until a suitable break in the performance. Very occasionally, this may not be possible once a performance has started.

How do I get to you by car?

If arriving by car, there is a car park located on the Watermans site and parking is available 8am until 12am. If the Watermans Car Park is full you can park in Albany Parade. Please note that vehicles left in the car park after 12am will incur a penalty.

Please see the Visit Us section on our website for other travel information, directions and a map.

We’ve given precise locations for our car parks, using both what3words addresses and links to Google Maps. (What3words provides very precise locations, as a three-word grid reference). For details visit watermans.org.uk/visit-us/getting-here/

Parking Charges

We have a covered on-site car park. Parking is free for 30 minutes so you can drop off and pick up or pop in to collect tickets – please ensure you enter your car registration number and display a ticket. Thereafter, a charge of £2.00 for up to an hour will apply (up to a maximum of £12).
Where is Blue Badge Parking?

There are free spaces reserved for disabled visitors on the upper level, but a BLUE BADGE must be displayed if you use one and you must register your number plate at our Box Office in order to validate your free parking.

Where will I arrive if I come on Public Transport?

Bus numbers: 65, 195, 235, 237, 267, E2 & E8 stop close to Watermans.

How do I book my ticket?

We are encouraging everyone to book online in advance if they can. This ensures that we can send you updates about your visit by email before your visit.
Our Box Office opening hours are 1pm – 7pm, Wednesday to Sunday.

You can email us any queries at info@watermans.org.uk or you can use the Chat facility on the website.

What should I expect to receive when I book online? / What is an e-ticket?

When you complete your purchase online you will receive 2 emails – one is your receipt and one is your ticket, attached to the email. You do not need to print this out, you can show it on your phone. If you prefer to print it out, that’s fine – and it will be checked by a steward and will gain you admittance to the venue.

Is Watermans Dog Friendly?

Watermans welcomes assistance dogs.

 

Access:

What are the provisions for wheelchair users?

We have 2 designated spaces for wheelchair users and their companions for every performance. It is possible for the cinema to have more, however our team will need advance notice in order to enable this to happen. Please contact the Customer Relations Team on 020 8232 1010.

What access facilities do you now offer?

Our building is fully accessible. If you have any specific access requirements please inform the Duty Manager or Customer Relations Team on 020 8232 1010, before you arrive if possible.

How do I book if I have access needs?

Please email us at info@watermans.org.uk or use Watermans Chat for assistance with your booking.

Please register for our Access Membership which is free, this will enable you to book additional access facilities on line – email info@watermans.org.uk

What is a baby pass and when should I use it?

Everyone entering an auditoria must have a ticket to comply with our licencing agreement. On some events, you are able to take in a babe in arms. In this case, you will need to purchase a free ticket for your baby.

On certain events for very young children, there is a charge for babies under 12 months.

How accessible is your cinema and theatre?

Our cinema and theatre are accessible via one of our lifts and we have wheelchair spaces in each auditorium. For more information about how physically accessible our building is, go here. If you have access requirements that are not referred to on our website, please contact us at info@watermans.org.uk

When captions are made available to us, we will programme a number of screenings as captioned. A list of captioned screenings can be found within the copy of each listing, if available.

 

Contact us:

I have a question, comment or suggestion I would like to pass onto your team, how do I contact you?

If you would like to reach us to discuss the cinema in particular, please contact our team at info@watermans.org.uk We will aim to get back to you within 48 hours.