It is important to us to make the Paisley Book Festival as accessible and safe as possible for all participants, audiences, staff and volunteers. We strive to do as much as we can but we are aware that we have limitations and might not always get everything right. Therefore, it is our goal to have an open and ever evolving dialogue about our commitment to accessibility, diversity and inclusion. This page is being updated regularly as we consider, adapt and review what provisions we have available. If there is a specific access requirement you have, or something isn’t covered here that you think would be helpful, please contact us on OneRen_arts@renfrewshire.gov.uk and we will do our best to meet your needs.
Wheelchairs | Buggies and Prams
The Paisley Book Festival venues are fully wheelchair, buggy and pram accessible.
Content Guidance for Families
The programme listing here on the website details the content for each event. The age guidance is recommended by the author / theatre company / musician / programmer based on their understanding of who the event will tend to most successfully engage. Siblings of all ages are always welcome – and encouraged to help their brothers and sisters enjoy and join in. Please note that everyone over 12 months old will require a ticket. Please note that queries will only be answered within office hours. Please continue scrolling this page for further information relevant to families attending Paisley Book Festival venues.
Venue Accessibility
The Students’ Union
Storie Street, Paisley, PA1 2HB
0141 849 4151 | uwsunion@uws.ac.uk
- The main entrance, reception foyer and main auditorium for all events are on the ground floor which is accessible at street level and via an electronically assisted entrance door.
- The closest car park is the Paisley Centre Car Park on Storie St, a 2 minute walk from the venue. It’s a paid for car park. It opens at 7.30am and closes at 6.30pm.
- The closest train station is Paisley Gilmour Street. It’s an 8 minute walk from the venue.
- The closest bus stop is New Street. It’s a 3 minute walk from the venue.
- You can get up to three hours free parking after 10am at the Orchard Street Car Park which is a 5 minute walk from the venue.
Facilities for families at The Students’ Union:
- Breastfeeding
There is a cafe on the ground floor of the building serving light refreshments. You are of course welcome to breastfeed anywhere, anytime throughout the festival and, if between events, you may sit in the cafe and breastfeed without any pressure to buy from the cafe. Please do ask for tap water if you need to rehydrate.
- Warm water
If bottle feeding, you will be able to access hot water at the cafe.
- High Chairs
There are high chairs available in the cafe throughout the festival.
- Buggy Park
Space will be provided at family events for buggies, however, responsibility for your possessions remains with you; Paisley Book Festival Staff / Volunteers cannot guarantee security of your belongings.
The Paisley Central Library
15 Mill Street
Paisley
PA1 1ND
0300 300 1188 | libraries@renfrewshire.gov.uk
- Level access & automatic doors
- There is parking on site at the library building
- The closest train station is Paisley Gilmour Street
- The closest bus stop is Glasgow Road
- There is a disabled toilet
- Autism-friendly information
Facilities for families at The Paisley Central Library:
- Breastfeeding
You are of course welcome to breastfeed anywhere, anytime throughout the festival. If arriving for an event before the library is open, there are chairs available in the foyer of the Lagoon Leisure Centre next door. Please do ask for tap water if you need to rehydrate.
- Warm water
If bottle feeding, please bring warm water as there are no kitchen facilities at The Central Libary.
- Buggy Park
Space will be provided at family events for buggies, however, responsibility for your possessions remains with you; our staff cannot guarantee security of your belongings.
- Baby change
There is a baby changing station within the unisex toilet in the library.
The Art Department
Address: 2-10 Causeyside Street, Paisley, Renfrewshire PA1 1UQ – Google Maps
The Art Department is a new exhibition venue and art gallery located in the town centre of Paisley.
- It is just off the High Street, at Paisley Cross, adjacent to St Mirren Street and opposite Paisley Town Hall & Dunn Square.
- This site is operated jointly by Outspoken Arts Scotland Ltd & PACE Theatre Company Ltd.
- Entry via the Mall doors at the Paisley Centre
- On entry come to the Ground floor entrance on right-hand side. see photo below.
- If stuck or lost call 0141 847 1122 for assistance.
- Find them on Facebook & Twitter @artdeptpaisley
To find out more about the space click here and for more detail information about how to get there click here.
Code of Conduct
The Paisley Book Festival is committed to a zero-tolerance policy for harassment or intimidation toward its speakers, volunteers and staff. This includes but is not limited to: vulgar, obscene, and abusive language; name-calling; taunting; and any conduct that demeans a person/group on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, creed, age, or disability. Any attendee (in person or online) in breach of this policy will be immediately removed; we will report all hate crimes to the police.
General Conditions
- Paisley Book Festival reserves the rights to refuse admission or to alter the advertised programme.
- Latecomers for live events will only be admitted when and if there is an appropriate opportunity to do so.
- The use of photographic, video or recording equipment by members of the audience is prohibited at all Paisley Book Festival events unless special permission is granted in writing in advance. For permissions contact Gill in the Festival Marketing Team by email on gill.low@renfrewshire.gov.uk.
- We understand that families might wish to photograph special moments together at our events. Specific information regarding when and how to go about this in an appropriate way will be provided within each individual event’s information on this website, or at the event itself.
Help with access
Please contact the Box Office if you have any specific access needs for your visit to the Paisley Book Festival and we will do our best to help: OneRen_boxoffice@renfrewshire.gov.uk.
