KOKO (19/3/2024 - YONAKA)

 YONAKA @ KOKO

19/3/2024

I am very excited to write this blog entry because it will be the first concert I write about that didn't take place at an O2 venue (Palaye Royale at Eventim Apollo Hammersmith was booked through the O2 Academy Brixton, as that was the original venue for that event), so the method of booking an accessible ticket is a little bit different.

For this event I bought a regular standing ticket and then emailed the venue where they asked for proof of disability; this is standard for most venues. So I emailed them a copy of one of my PIP letters; however, KOKO and most other venues will also accept other forms of evidence, such as access cards, for example. After I sent them a copy of my PIP letter, I waited to hear back from them. It took 2 weeks to get a reply, and it was on the day of the concert that they did get back to me. However, they did apologise.

It was the night of the concert, and I arrived at KOKO slightly late, halfway through the first support act, as I was quite anxious on this day, so I wanted to spend as much time outside in the fresh air as possible. Turning up late wasn't an issue, and security let me in and found someone to show me to my seat. KOKO has multiple accessible seating areas, including on the ground floor for wheelchair users. KOKO was built in the early 1900s and has kept its retro interior, so there are no lifts. For tonight's event I would be seated on the lower level balcony, where there would be two seats in between each column. This is great for people with anxiety because it means only you and your companion would be seated together. Unfortunately I attended this event alone, so I had my own little area to myself, which was nice. There was also an accessible toilet on the lower level, which you had to speak to security to get the key for, which was simple enough.

After the event had finished, I once again held back to wait for the crowds to clear. The security had no problem with this and let me take my time. One thing I will say about the venue is that the layout can be quite confusing. The merch table was downstairs, and you had to go up a set of stairs to leave the venue, and it really confused me because I'm pretty sure they weren't the same stairs I came down to get there. It felt like the Tardis; there were little hidden nooks and crannies everywhere. So if you're someone who can get overwhelmed by new and confusing places, then I suggest contacting the venue beforehand to see if they would let you check out the venue beforehand.

Overall I would recommend KOKO. They have put a lot of things in place to make such an old and inaccessible building accessible to those with extra requirements. I really praise them for this because obstacles such as the age of the building or lack of space can really affect the ability to do this, and KOKO are a perfect example of how to do this well. The only criticism is the slow reply to emails. Replying to an email on the day of the event is leaving it way too late and could cause anxiety within certain individuals.

Great accessible seating on the balcony between the columns, Photo taken by @elijahsettles on Instagram

Taken by @elijahsettles on Instagram, KOKO - 2024