Sage Gateshead

As we welcome you back, the safety of our audiences, artists and staff will be our top priority. When we reopened earlier this year, the overwhelming feedback from audiences was that they felt very safe. We’ll continue to ensure everyone can have a safe and enjoyable visit to Sage Gateshead in line with government guidance.

We have measures in place to protect audiences, artists and staff including:

• Enhanced cleaning
• Hand sanitising stations throughout the venue
• Clear signage to avoid overcrowding
• Actively encouraging the use of face coverings at all times
• Pre-booking interval drinks to avoid overcrowding
• All staff will continue to wear face coverings and undergo regular testing

We’ll continue to follow government guidance, in co-operation with Gateshead Council and the public health authorities and will make adjustments to our plans as required.

We will pay particular attention to how we best respond to the new barriers faced by disabled people and those who are particularly vulnerable amongst our audiences, artists and team. We support the ‘7 Principles to ensure an inclusive recovery’ (Arts Council England) and will consider carefully how to ensure equal opportunities to enjoy live music during the recovery.

Through the careful monitoring and regular maintenance of our building management system we ensure that our air handling units within each of our halls operate to the highest standard, meeting and exceeding all necessary guidelines.

Audience members will not be required to take a Covid-19 test (PCR or Lateral Flow), show proof of vaccination or the Covid-pass before entry, unless in exceptional circumstances when this is the express wish of the event organiser (those audience members will be notified directly).

We’re monitoring the advice of government, Gateshead Council and the public health authorities, and will make adjustments to our plans should this advice change.

As part of our commitment to keep everyone at Sage Gateshead safe, all visitors (including staff and contractors) accessing the building via Stage Door are required to show a photograph of a negative lateral flow test result (taken within the last four days) to the Security Team at Stage Door to gain access to the building, alongside the date that the test was taken. This applies to all visitors and anyone attending classes, workshops and events on days when our building is closed to the public, and access is via Stage Door only.

Tests are available online with this link Order coronavirus (COVID-19) rapid lateral flow tests – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) or call 119, and you will receive a pack of 7 tests to be delivered to your home free of charge, alternatively you can collect tests from a participating pharmacy. Find a pharmacy near you where you can collect rapid tests.

If you are already testing for another purpose, for example as part of the schools testing programme, you will not be required to complete another test for Sage Gateshead providing you are able to show a photograph of a negative test result upon arrival.

In line with the recent government guidelines, we are encouraging the use of face coverings at all times (inside the building and the halls), unless you are exempt. This follows the industry’s ‘See it safely’ guidance, in line with government recommendation that masks should still be worn indoors when mixing with people you don’t usually meet.

We have been working with our colleagues across the industry to develop our measures. When you see the ‘See it Safely’ mark, you can feel confident that performance venues are complying with the latest government safety recommendations and guidelines.

Yes, face coverings will be worn by all members of staff, except those who are exempt. In addition to this, all staff, artists and crew will be required to show a negative Lateral Flow Test upon entry.

We will have clear signage around the building to avoid over-crowding. We do kindly ask you show consideration to others by not congregating in areas where increased footfall will naturally occur. We have a huge amount of space in our building and encourage audience members to utilise all bar space on levels 1-3 of Sage One and Sage Two to avoid overcrowding.

In line with the recent government relaxation of social distancing, we will return to usual seating arrangements in the halls from September 2021 onwards, up to full capacity.

If you have tested positive for Covid-19 or are required to isolate for a date where you have tickets, please let us know no later than 24 hours in advance of the show and we may be able to arrange an exchange, credit or refund. This is a temporary measure associated with Covid-19 and does not affect our terms and conditions.

At our bars and in the café, we prefer card payment for Covid-safety reasons, however we continue to accept cash.

Yes we have a cloakroom near the Box Office located by the West Entrance which will be open on concert nights.

Bags no bigger than a piece of A3 paper (297 x 420 mm) are permitted into Sage One and Sage Two.

Drinks in plastic containers are permitted on Level 1 in Sage One and Sage Two only. Bottled water and soft drinks (with a screw cap) are permitted on Level 2 and Level 3 in Sage One and Sage Two.

In addition to telephone and online, our box office will operate in-person from Sage Gateshead from September onwards.

You can book tickets:

• Online: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• By phone: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, between 12 and 5pm
• In person: Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, between 12 and 5pm, or until 30 minutes after the start of a show when there is a concert or gig on

We encourage all visitors to check into the venue using a smartphone and the NHS Covid-19 app.

A comprehensive and thorough risk assessment has been created and implemented across all public and back of house areas of Sage Gateshead to ensure the safety of our audiences, artists and staff.

Please speak to a member of our team if you have any concerns during your visit. Please be aware that some people are exempt from wearing a face covering. We ask that our audience treat each other with respect and kindness.

There is no restriction on group sizes.

• Two hours before the start of any show day, our bars and café will be open for drinks and snacks.

• Daytime Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the café will be open for drinks and snacks when the building is open, including for Make Music participants.

Later on, we plan to open the café and restaurant for food service again. During the festive season, you can enjoy hot meals and platters on selected nights. This will be noted on the event page of the selected concerts.

We’re not opening our shop just yet but will have merchandise for sale on selected show nights.

Yes. We have a limited number of inflatable booster cushions that are available on a first come first served basis. Please speak to a member of our Customer Experience team.