FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are the answers to our most frequently asked questions.

What are your opening times?
The Corn Exchange's standard opening times are:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday to Saturday: 10am to 4pm (or until 7pm if there is a performance on)
Sunday: 11am to 4pm

When are your phone lines open?
Here are when our phone lines are open:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday to Saturday: 10am to 5pm (or until the end of the performance/film)
Sunday: 11am to 4pm

Alternatively you can email us at boxoffice@cornexchangenew.co.uk

When do the auditorium doors open before a show?
The auditorium doors usually open 30 minutes before the performance start time.

How long is the show?
The length of the show changes depending on the show but will usually be found in our brochure or on the show's webpage. If not, please keep checking the website as details will be updated as soon as we have them.

How long is the interval?
Our intervals are usually 20 minutes long unless we've stated otherwise. Some productions are performed without an interval.

Do you have a Car Park?
There are several car parks near our venue in the town centre. For car parks behind the Corn Exchange use the postcode, RG14 5QP. There's also a drop-off point behind the theatre on Wharf Road and should you require Accessible parking bays we'd suggest Bear Lane Car Park.

How many steps in auditorium?
There are 22 steps in the stalls of our auditorium and 20 steps in the balcony.

Is there a handrail in the auditorium?
No there is not, however if you need assistance getting to your seat our friendly stewards are on hand to help.

Do you have accessible toilets?
Yes, we have an accessible toilet on the ground floor of our building located on the right of the corridor leading to our Auditorium doors. We also have unisex toilets located by the cinema and Balcony Bar.

Do you have a lift?
Yes we do, it's located on the left of our Café Bar area and stops at both the Balcony Bar and the cinema.

Do you have spaces which are accessible by wheelchair?
Yes. They're located at the front corners of our Stalls and Balcony seating areas and we also have a space in our cinema too. For our pantomime we have additional accessible spaces in the front row of the stalls. Please let our team know when you book your tickets if you would like to book one of these spaces.

Do you have a hearing loop?
We do. Our Auditorium has an induction loop for those who use hearing aids. Our cinema has an infrared hearing support system. Should you require further assistance when booking with regard to the hearing loop our Box Office team will be able to assist you when booking your tickets.

Do you offer audio described performances?
We always offer an audio described performance of our pantomime and we are occasionally able to offer this for visiting productions. When watching films, our cinema has five headsets for use where an audio description track is available and the Box Office team can advise you which films this will be available for. 

Where are the entrances to the seating?
If you have tickets in the stalls the entrance is straight down the corridor as soon as you enter the building. If you have balcony seats, follow the staircase on the left as you enter our building (or take the lift) up to our Balcony Bar. You will see a door at the far left and far right which will lead you to the doors to the auditorium. At every show we have our helpful and friendly stewards who will help guide you to your seat along the way should you ever need assistance.

How do I become a Member?
You can become a Member via here, have a read of the page and then you can either phone our Box Office at 0163 522733 or click the red Join Today button on the page.

When booking my seats are the taken seats coloured red or grey?
All grey seats are unavailable, so make sure to only look at the red seats when buying your tickets.

Do you take cash?
Yes we do.

Do you take AMEX?
Unfortunately we are not able to accept AMEX cards as a form of payment.

Do you offer refunds?
As per our terms and conditions we do not offer refunds except in the event of a cancellation by the Corn Exchange. Under these circumstances we would refund your tickets to your original payment method or credit your Corn Exchange account minus the booking fees. 

If you can no longer attend a show and if the performance in question is sold out, we may be able to resell your tickets. Please email the Box Office from the email account associated with the tickets, quoting your order number. If we are able to resell your tickets, we will refund the ticket amount minus the booking fee and a £1 resale fee per ticket, to your original payment method or credit your Corn Exchange account. 

Do you offer exchanges?
If you cannot attend a show or cinema screening, we may be able to exchange your tickets to an alternative viewing of the same performance/film for a £1 exchange fee per ticket. The performance or screening has to be the same title.

How do I use my credit?
If you have credit on your account this will appear in the payment stage of checkout. Simply select it as an option and continue with your purchase. When booking via our Box Office either in person or over the phone, a member of our Box Office team will let you know that you have credit remaining on your account. Please note, credit is only valid for 12 months from the date it is applied to your account and will automatically expire.

Can I use my gift voucher online?
Yes you can. Simply continue your purchase as you normally would then once at the payment stage of checkout enter your gift voucher code into the relevant box.

How do I order my interval drinks?
When you arrive at our venue before the show, you can order your interval drink from the bar. At the interval you will see a supervised table in our Café Bar area with all the interval drink orders. At the point of purchase you will be given a number which will match the number assigned to your order on the table.

Do you serve food?
We do! We serve everything from light snacks, sweet treats to light lunches and warming soups. To see our full menu click here.

Can I take food and drink into the auditorium and cinema?
Only food and drink bought in our venue can be brought into our auditorium although we would kindly request that milkshakes are consumed in our Café Bar area ahead of the show or film.

Can I bring my own water bottle or reusable cup?
Yes! If you bring your own reusable cup you will get 25p off your hot drink purchase.

Do you play adverts in your cinema before the film?
Yes we do.

Do you have buggy parking?
Yes, feel free to park your buggy under our main staircase in our Café Bar area while you enjoy your show.

Can I come and work in your space?
Feel free to! We have plenty of comfortable seating and of course delicious snacks to keep you motivated while working.

Do you have free Wi-Fi?
Yes we do, if you need assistance connecting to it feel free to ask a member of our Box Office team.

Are dogs allowed in your venue?
Registered assistance dogs are welcome - please speak to a member of the Box Office team prior to booking and they will help you select the best location for you and your dog. However, we are not able to accommodate emotional support animals or therapy dogs.

What else can I do in your space besides seeing a show or a film?
We offer a range of courses and classes as part of our Learning Centre which is locate currently at Good Vibes Music Academy, 123 - 126 Bartholomew Street, Newbury. You can find out more about all we offer there, right here. As well as this we also run a selection of Seasonal Socials in our Café Bar area which you can discover more about here. Finally feel free to just relax with friends and family in our Café Bar, with plenty of seating, colouring sheets for children and a fun playlist playing lightly in the background, it's a great place for a catch up with loved ones.

Do you offer ticket protection?

Yes, we offer customers Ticket Refund Protection through Secure My Booking. You can add protection to your booking at the checkout stage, for only £1.75 per ticket. If purchasing more than one ticket, you will need to purchase an individual refund protection for each ticket. You can also add protection when purchasing at the Box Office - just mention this during your booking. Please note: Secure My Booking is not covered for our Cinema or The Learning Centre.

Can I pre-order interval drinks?

If your show includes an interval your tickets will be automatically sent out by text and email. You will receive a link to view or download your ticket and here you can click the Order tab to pre-order your interval drinks. You can collect these at the interval at the correct collection point.