Can I bring my fur baby into the venue?
- Sorry, pets are not permitted to enter The Twyford.
- The Twyford is a public place and a licensed food business and subject to local, state and federal regulations that prohibit animals – other than registered assistance and service animals – from entering theatres, halls, dining and bar areas.
- Pets and their handlers are not required to undergo the rigorous training required to meet standards of hygiene and behaviour appropriate for an animal in a public place.
What about Assistance & Service Animals?
- Registered trained Assistance Animals – for which the handler can show a permit – are welcome and may enter dining, drinking or seating areas in the Hall, Main Entrance, Toilets, Lift, Foyer and Theatre Auditorium.
- Our box office staff can advise you on the best rows/seats to accommodate you and your animal comfortably without blocking aisles or exit paths. They will also provide any performance warnings the handler should be aware of – eg use of haze, loud sound effects, or flashing light effects that might affect an animal’s behaviour.
- Police and other registered service dogs on active duty with their handler are permitted.
- No animals of any kind are permitted in The Twyford’s food preparation areas – Kitchen or Bar.
- No animals are permitted on stage or backstage unless it is:
- a registered assistance animal that is accompanying a performer/speaker on stage or
- is part of an event with appropriate controls in place, with the prior permission of the Venue Manager.
What is an Assistance Animal?
An assistance animal in NSW must be:
- an animal accredited by an animal training organisation prescribed by the Australian Government
- an animal trained to help a person with disability and that meets standards of hygiene and behaviour appropriate for an animal in a public place.
- Assistance Dog is a generic term for a guide, hearing, or service dog specifically trained to perform identifiable physical tasks and behaviours to assist a person with a disability in order to aid in quality of life and/or independence. Assistance dogs are covered under many legislative access laws for public access rights when working with their handler who lives with a disability.
- Assistance dogs are not to be confused with a therapy, emotional support or companion dog which are not required to undertake a Public Access Test (PAT).
What accreditation do I need to show?
We accept Assistance Animal accreditations/permits issued by:
- Transport for NSW (TfNSW)
- Guide Dogs Australia
- Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs
- mindDog Australia
- Australian Lions Hearing Dogs
What must Assistance Animals and their handlers do when in the venue?
An assistance animal must NOT:
- block, impede or obstruct doorways or aisles or any access path to exits;
- cause any distress or inconvenience to customers or staff;
- cause any risk to the health, safety and welfare of any employee or any other person;
- disrupt operations;
- sit on seats.
An assistance animal:
- must be kept under the handler’s direct physical control at all times.
- must be clean and properly groomed.
- can consume food and/or water on the premises.
A handler:
- must produce an accepted type of valid accreditation if requested by our staff.
- is responsible for the care, conduct and hygiene of their assistance animal at all times and must clean up any mess made by their assistance animal.
- Beach St opposite the Hall has grassed areas by the Lake with dog water stations as well as council-provided bags.
- must comply with all reasonable directions given by staff whilst entering, being in, or leaving the premises.
Why can’t I pat or talk to an Assistance Dog?
Touching is a distraction and can prevent Assistance Dogs from tending to their human partners. Be sensitive to the fact that Assistance Dogs are working and may be in the middle of a command or direction. Please always ask the handler before interacting with an Assistance Dog. Interaction includes talking to or making sounds at the dog as well as touching it.