accessibILITY
At New Wine we know that additional needs are wide-ranging and we do all that we can to make everyone’s time at the Festival as enjoyable as possible.
At all our events, we’ve been working hard to make sure that we provide as much support and infrastructure as we can to increase accessibility and enable all to engage deeply with God and community throughout the week.
If you want to find out more about our Accessible Church teams and venues who work to provide spaces and support for those with additional needs, check out our Accessible Church.
If you would like any specific support from our Accessible teams or would like to let us know of anything specific to support you in attending the festival, please complete an Accessibility and Additional Needs form after booking.
If you have any questions about accessibility at NWF, please get in touch via info@new-wine.org or give us a call on 02045 832 935 (Mon – Fri, 9am-5pm).
Our SHOWGROUND
We LOVE our festival home – the beautiful Bath & West Showground is set within the Mendip Hills and is a brilliant space to build our event on due to the infrastructure and hardstanding buildings that are ready for us to use.
We also do as much as we can to ensure that the site is accessible as possible beyond this, however, it’s really important to know that the site is an agricultural showground, so total accessibility throughout the site cannot be guaranteed.
We’ve detailed all the information in the sections below, so do please read these to find out how we’re making the event as accessible as possible or get in touch with us if you have any specific concerns.
First Time Attending?
If this is your first time attending New Wine, here are some more things it might be helpful for you to know:
New Wine is mostly camping, although some do choose to stay off-site. This means that the weather can affect mobility getting around site.
Everything is not as close as it may be at home, which means more walking than normal. Please bring any mobility aids with you to enable to you to get around site. We don’t have the facility to hire mobility scooters, but we do have space to charge them onsite within the Village Halls.
Remember that your time at New Wine will be different than at home. New Wine is noisy and busy, please consider how this may impact your physical and mental health whilst you are at New Wine.
Accessibility at the festival
VILLAGES
Our villages at the showground are divided into smaller, mostly flat areas of grass, surrounded by pathways. These villages are grouped into colour zones, stretching across the site, with toilet/shower blocks shared across a few villages.
All villages are accessible by walking (the closest are just a few hundred metres from the central site, with further villages a 10-15 minute walk), but if you have a wheelchair or mobility scooter then we may need to allocate your camping spot in an area that is flatter, has smoother paved paths surrounding it rather than gravel tracks or closer to the centre.
We allocate all camping pitches linked with your church/group selection. If you have any additional requirements, this will be factored into your group’s pitch allocation to ensure you remain with your group whilst meeting your needs – community is always a big win!
Although we can’t offer fully accessible camping throughout the site, there are areas better suited to certain needs and where we can provide accessible toilets, showers, and electrical hook-ups.
If you’re staying onsite with us, you’ll need to let us know about any additional needs that might affect your camping allocation (such as being closer to the central site, needing an accessible toilet/shower near or being next to a road to ensure wheelchair access). You should do this by completing the Accommodation section on the Accessibility & Additional Needs form after booking.
We can’t guarantee to meet any accommodation requests without being informed at the time of your booking. If you want to find out more about camping, head to our Accommodation page.
ELECTRICAL HOOK-UP & CHARGING
Electrical hook-ups are available in certain locations across the site, which can provide you with a 16A camping socket to plug into. You’ll need to bring the correct connection cables for this: a 25m 16A cable and, if you’re in a tent, a 16A-13A connection box.
By booking a hook-up, your church group will be allocated to a village with an electrical supply, meaning they remain with you!
We aim to provide continuous power throughout the festival, but occasional outages may occur. Please plan accordingly, especially if you are bringing temperature-sensitive medication, which remains your responsibility.
Charging for mobility scooters and other medical/mobility equipment will also be available for free in your local village hall – a community marquee in each coloured zone. Find out more about Village Halls on our Accommodation page.
How do I book an electrical-hookup?
You can choose an electrical hook-up during your booking for the infrastructure and power fee of £160 until these are sold out.
If you require an electric hook-up due to additional needs or a medical condition, please email info@new-wine.org as you may be eligible for a bursary to cover the cost. The deadline for medical bursary applications is 1st June 2026.
If you do not choose a hook-up during booking or have one confirmed after applying via email with us through the bursary, we will not be able to provide one onsite and you won’t be able to connect to the supply.
Complex Medical Needs
We’re proud to operate a brilliant First Aid & Medical provision onsite, with a mixture of multi-disciplinary volunteers and professionals. To find out more about our medical provisions, please head to our Safety page.
If you’ve got a complex medical need that may need additional support whilst onsite, or are on the following list of conditions, please come and chat to our team at the Medical Centre upon arrival:
Long-term or portable oxygen users
CPAP users
Unstable or complex conditions
Those with patient care plans
MedicAlert bracelet wearers
If you use regular medication, please do ensure that this is brought to site with you. Insulin and other temperature controlled medication can be stored safely for free at the Medical Centre.
If you have any questions about our First Aid & Medical teams, please get in touch via info@new-wine.org.
DEAF/BSL, HARD OF HEARING
& BLIND DELEGATES
Hearing loops are available in both Big Top & Impact.
Large-print and braille programmes can be provided onsite, but please get in touch with us via info@new-wine.org or give us a call to request this and ensure we have enough available.
BSL Interpretation is provided for both morning and evening sessions in the Big Top & Impact, as well as being available upon request for breakouts; details for how to request can be found in the digital programme.
If you’re camping onsite, you can also opt to join our Deaf/BSL Village! This a specific area on site for those who primarily use BSL to communicate, alongside our BSL team.
Toilets & Showers
Toilets and showers are marked clearly on the event map, with accessible toilets and showers available in many areas across the site.
We install additional accessible toilets and showers to the showground wherever we can and we’re proud to say that we exceed the recommended guidance for events of our size (The Purple Guide to Health, Safety & Welfare at Music and Other Events).
There will also be a Mobiloo at the event with a toilet, shower and hoist (a Changing Places facility).
Accessibilty Bus
Our wonderful Accessibility Buggy Bus services run across the site throughout the event, from villages and day parking to the central site for those who require it.
There’s no ‘bus pass’, but we encourage everyone to be generous and ensure that those who require the bus can make use of it.
Don’t forget to thank the driver!
Assistance DOGS
Guide/assistance animals are welcomed at the festival, but all other animals are not permitted. If you need to bring an assistance animal, please get in touch with us at info@new-wine.org to let us know and register them.
We strongly advise that they have sufficient training, insurance and wear identifying harnesses.
Accessible Parking
Accessible Parking is available for all delegates, closer than the usual car parks and with step-free access. You’ll need to have a permit authorised and display this in your car during the event, which you can do by following the instructions below.
If you’re camping onsite, you can use our Long Stay Accessible Car Parks, and if you’re visiting for the day we have both Priority and Wheelchair Accessible Parking available.
Before the event: the quickest way to authorise your permit is to email info@new-wine.org with your name, the name of your booking lead, and your Blue Badge or other evidence (such as hospital letter etc). Your permit will be emailed to you and you can print at home.
At the event: if you haven’t authorised your permit beforehand, you can head to Info at the festival with your Blue Badge or other evidence, register and collect your permit there.
To keep everyone safe, cars can’t be driven around the showground after arrival day or parked next to tents – even with an accessible car park permit! If you require your car next to your accommodation for alternative reasons, please email info@new-wine.org to discuss this with us.
IN VENUES
In the main adult venues, we offer the following provisions for those with additional needs:
Reserved Seating: Seating can be reserved by speaking to one of the Venue Welcome team on arrival day or at any point during the week.
BSL Interpretation: Available at all Celebrations and upon request at breakouts.
Hearing Loop: Installed in Big Top & Impact.
Family Zone: An area in Big Top with more space for seating, and more room for little ones to wriggle!
CARER TICKETS
If you or someone on your booking need someone to attend with you as a carer, you might be eligible for a free or discounted carer’s ticket, via a bursary. Please get in touch with us at info@new-wine.org to apply this either before or after your booking.
If you need to enter a restricted access venues (Kids, Luminosity, Access or Our Place) as a carer, we need you to complete our recruitment process. Please get in touch with us at info@new-wine.org to find out more.