WinterStorm Rock Weekender
It was not before time that we have pulled together an updated Accessibility Policy for WinterStorm in 2023. It is far from perfect but it is intended to assist in the decision making before purchasing tickets and also advising on practices ahead of arrival. We will without doubt amend and update based on comments and suggestions received.
Troon Concert Hall is an old school venue with old school issues and none more so than when it comes to disabled access.
As we don't own the building we are up against what we can do to resolve some of the issues due to historic layout, access and exits and a lack of lifts. However we have always tried to do our very best and following on from the improvements made in 2023 we will continue to try to do a wee bit more.
The venue has excellent access and facilities for all ground floor areas which includes the main concert hall, the Walker Hall for food, merchandise and seating and all toilet and bar facilities.
There is however no access to the balcony area above the main concert hall nor to the second stage in the Sessions Room. There is a wheelchair lift to this room (Reception Room) but it is linked to a service corridor and is NOT accessible during WinterStorm as this is a working corridor and not deemed a public area.
We have in previous years created a small area in the right hand side of the main concert hall for wheelchair seats and seating for the less able. This year we will be creating a small raised ramped area to the right hand side of the hall underneath the balcony. This will have limited availability and should be booked at the time of the tickets for user plus maximum of one carer again email [email protected]
Please note these restrictions before purchasing your ticket.
Updated for 2024
We have always applied an ad hoc policy of tickets for carers but we confirmed in September that for 2023 we were putting a formal policy on place to make things easier.
There are still going to be a restricted number of complimentary carer tickets available for different nights so please contact us as soon as possible to confirm availability before booking your ticket.
These tickets are issued subject to confirmation of needs and at first we suggested that we needed basic evidence to support each request.
In practice this may sound reasonable but it is open to a number of flaws including unavailability of paperwork or out of date proof. It is also more intrusive than we want it to be and we have decided that for 2023 a self certification system will be applied and based on a simple understanding that a carer is required for the person to attend the event safely.
This is an "honesty box system" for WinterStorm and therefore is operated wholly on the good faith of those requesting the ticket and we think that in the spirit of fairness all we ask is that the ticket buyer considers whether the Companion would have purchased the ticket anyway and whether a complimentary ticket is appropriate. We won't however question this further.
Guests who have requested Carer Tickets will be asked to provide the nominated carers name which will be on the issued ticket. The tickets will only be valid when handed together and proof of identity may be requested at check in. They are non transferrable.
All of the following hotels are currently booked out for 2024but for future years we shall be creating a separate Accessible Rooms section for bookings. The numbers of available rooms however is extremely limited but that is beyond our control
Riverside Lodge - Their accessible room has a double and a single bed.
Gailes Hotel - The accessible room at the Gailes Hotel, the bathroom has a step in bath with shower overhead (no walk-in shower room)
Old Loans Inn - The accessible room has the walk-in shower.
Piersland Hotel - The accessible room is a mews cottage on the grounds and has a wet room instead of shower over bath
Salt Lodge - they have a number of ground floor and accessible rooms
South Beach Hotel - they have seven ground floor rooms with varying access and one room with wet room and wheelchair suitable.
Other hotels are still available for 2024 and should you be interested in enquiring after accessible rooms we will deal with each enquiry on a personal basis.
For those who have been before to WinterStorm you know that since the outset we have always provided the escape space in the central room- The Hing Oot Hall - this was a deliberate response to our own experiences as venue users and recognised that disabilities are not just visible ones and that the need for a recovery space to rest the senses was a major issue for a surprising number of us attending events. The Hing Oot Hall is well lit, low background music and has plenty of seating. It's hardly a library setting but it does offer respite form the full on audio and visual bombardment in the two venues.
The external space speaks for itself. A wee walk along the beach before, during or after the event is incredibly healing. Take advantage of it even if it's chucking it down and blowing a WinterStorm!
Here's the layout as it stands for 2024. It will be updated with details of the raised platform once permission has been approved.
WinterStorm Rock Weekender
Our policy relating to data collection and privacy has fairness at its heart and is never intended to cause objection or complaint and to that end if there is any dubiety we will not store your information. As a business we wish to stay in communication with your and keep you up to date with news, offers and updates on our product which you may find of interest, but we will only do this with your clear and specific consent.
This privacy policy sets out how WinterStorm uses and protects any information that you give WinterStorm when you use this website.
WinterStorm is committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected. Should we ask you to provide certain information by which you can be identified when using this website, then you can be assured that it will only be used in accordance with this privacy statement.
WinterStorm may change this policy from time to time by updating this page. You should check this page from time to time to ensure that you are happy with any changes. This policy is effective from 19th June 2018
We are committed to ensuring that your information is secure. To prevent unauthorised access or disclosure, we have put in place suitable physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online and offline.
As a business we collect data for a number of sources, but our data policy applies to all of the following including personal data collected at reception, check in, exhibitions, on and off-line competitions, guest questionnaires, online bookings, online communications, digital newsletter sign ups from websites and social media, shared promotions with partners and others not listed.
We confirm that unless specific consent is given by the user the information shared will not be stored beyond the purpose intended. If specific consent is given to use the information collected it will be stored securely and digitally encrypted and password protected.
A cookie is a small file which asks permission to be placed on your computer's hard drive. Once you agree, the file is added and the cookie helps analyse web traffic or lets you know when you visit a particular site. Cookies allow web applications to respond to you as an individual. The web application can tailor its operations to your needs, likes and dislikes by gathering and remembering information about your preferences.
We use traffic log cookies to identify which pages are being used. This helps us analyse data, using Google Analytics normally but on occasion other aggregation tools that advise us about web page traffic and improve our website in order to tailor it to customer needs. We only use this information for statistical analysis purposes and then the data is removed from the system.
Overall, cookies help us provide you with a better website, by enabling us to monitor which pages you find useful and which you do not. A cookie in no way gives us access to your computer or any information about you, other than the data you choose to share with us.
You can choose to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. This may prevent you from taking full advantage of the website.
Our website may contain links to other websites of interest. However, once you have used these links to leave our site, you should note that we do not have any control over that other website. Therefore, we cannot be responsible for the protection and privacy of any information which you provide whilst visiting such sites and such sites are not governed by this privacy statement. You should exercise caution and look at the privacy statement applicable to the website in question.
You may choose to restrict the collection or use of your personal information in the following ways:
• whenever you are asked to fill in a form on the website, look for the box that you can click to indicate that you do not want the information to be used by anybody for direct marketing purposes
• if you have previously agreed to us using your personal information for direct marketing purposes, you may change your mind at any time by writing to or emailing us at [email protected] or by clicking unsubscribe where available.
We will not sell, distribute or lease your personal information to third parties unless we have your permission or are required by law to do so. We may use your personal information to send you promotional information about third parties which we think you may find interesting only if you specifically consent to us that you wish this to happen.
We undertake that third parties will only include businesses that support our business and your stay such as travel providers, visitor attractions, event providers and others directly related to our business offering.
If you believe that any information we are holding on you is incorrect or incomplete, please write to or email us as soon as possible, at the above address. We will promptly correct any information found to be incorrect.
Our email collection policy is fully consent based and in entering your details clear consent is given by the user to receive future marketing materials from ourselves. The following information makes clear our policy on use of consent based email marketing and communications.
We may collect the following information on a consent only basis:
• name and job title
• contact information including email address
• demographic information such as postcode, preferences and interests
• other information relevant to customer surveys and/or offers
The majority of the information we gather is required for contractual and legal purposes and to allow us to offer products and services as purchased.
When consent is given to sue the information for marketing and communication purposes it is used for the following reasons:
• We may periodically send promotional emails about new products, special offers or other information which we think you may find interesting using the email address which you have provided.
• From time to time, we may also use your information to contact you using your provided email address for market research purposes.
Your information will never be shared with any third parties and at all times you have the right to unsubscribe permanently from our database with a simple click of the unsubscribe information at which time your details will be deleted form the mailing lists and removed from the database permanently with no archived records retained.
WinterStorm Rock Weekender
Your use of the WinterStorm Web Site is subject to these terms and by using the Site you show your agreement to such terms. If you do not accept our terms, please do not use the Web Site.
WinterStorm Rock Weekender
We have tried to make this website as accessible as possible and easy to use for everyone, regardless of circumstance or ability.
All our page templates comply with the WCAG Priority 2 checkpoints as a minimum requirement. And we make every effort to ensure that all the content on our site meets this standard too. We are making every effort to ensure that we don't exclude any users. For example:
We try to publish all our text content as accessible HTML rather than in other formats such as PDF. Where we do publish PDFs or other formats our policy is to make them as accessible as we can.
