When is an accessible toilet no longer accessible?

This was my experience last night at a concert I had been really looking forward to for months, and after a period of not feeling able to go out much. This is not what having a disability should feel like...

Upon arrival in Brighton, we saw the masses of people queuing to get into the Brighton Centre. This filled me with panic. I had already been in a car for a long period of time to get to Brighton, and needed to get to a toilet. We parked up in the closest car park, the Brighton Centre NCP. It was busy and that was expected but the last time I came to the Brighton Centre I don't remember having to queue outside like that.

After queuiandfor a while and finally getting to the door, we had our tickets scanned, and then into the next section of the entrance, bag checking. At this point I was in critical need of a toilet. My partner took my bag and I ran as fast as I could towards the accessible toilet. Locked! And my RADAR key was of no use here!! PANIC!

The queue for the ladies toilets was huge, and in my blind panic I couldn't see any others. I ran to the nearest desk and frantically asked how I can get into the toilet. Luckily it was the right desk, I was given the key, hot-footed it back to the accessible toilet and breathed a sign of relief.

When I went back to the desk with the key I thanked the lady and apologised for my frantic behaviour but explained the issue.  She apologised, explained that it was only because that one contained their hoist and needed to keep it secure. She then reassured me that there were accessible toilets on every floor, so I headed up towards our seats a little more relaxed.

Once we got up to the area near our seats it was packed with people at the bar and more long toilet queues. I scoped out the accessible toilet, and alas not only was it tucked behind where everyone was queuing which would make it difficult for anyone with mobility concerns to get to, it wasn't RADAR key enabled, it was just unlocked. I saw that anyone from the usual ladies queue was using the toilet, deeming it inaccessible to those who really need it.

I later found out that some of their accessible toilets are within the main toilet rooms, so you would need to use the main queue, or announce that you needed to get to said toilet. I don't want to have to announce out loud that I need priority access to a toilet! I have enough anxiety around my condition without then having to draw more attention to myself in a time of desperate need!!

During the break in the show, and with the toilets on my floor too busy to get to, I tried to get to the ones on the next floor up. It was more of the same.  I asked one of the attendees where the next closest accessible toilet was and they said it was across the other side. I asked if it was locked and they said no. Rather than risk it, I then rushed back to the lobby floor to get the Changing Places key and use that toilet again. Afterwards, I spoke to the lady at the desk again (lovely lady and I wish I had asked her name), I explained that not all disabilities can 'wait'. She was really understanding, and I could tell she had empathy for my situation and that she would feed back to the managers.

That lady was the only good thing about your facilities last night. I applaud you for having a Changing Places toilet, more places need these, but beyond that you are failing a large part of the disabled community and I ask you to reassess your facilities.

So, when is an accessible toilet no longer accessible? When you leave it unlocked at a busy concert. Multiply that by every floor and make the only truly 'accessible' one locked, but not via a RADAR key, via a key that you need to request from a desk across the lobby.

Brighton Centre, you really did miss the mark!