A WOMAN has hit out at a popular Carlisle cinema – claiming she was temporarily left stranded because she had no ready access to a lift.

Rachel Allen, from Thursby, suffers from health issues which mean that she is not easily able to negotiate stairs.

She told the News & Star that, after watching a movie at the Vue cinema in Botchergate, she found herself in a pickle because vandals have repeatedly damaged the building’s lift.

Now, after her latest experience, Rachel, 37, has expressed her frustration about what she claimed was a lack of effective help from staff at the cinema over allowing her access to the lift.

She said that during two visits to the cinema in the last six months – one in September and one on January 12 – Vue staff had to be contacted in order for her to use the lift.

“After we’d bought our tickets, I saw the lift was cordoned off,” Rachel recalled.

“I asked the assistant at the counter about this and she explained that I needed to ask the security guard to use it.

“I did so, and she then had to get a colleague to cover her so I could use the lift.

“The security guard explained that this was in place so that only people who needed to use the lift did so.”

However, Rachel says her struggles were not just in going up in the lift, but continued after the film.

“When I asked the staff to make sure someone was there when the film ended, so we weren’t stranded, one of them said that wasn’t possible because they can’t tell what time the movies end because of the trailers,” she said.

“I didn’t want to argue with them, but that sounded nonsensical.”

Rachel added: “Unfortunately, when the film finished, neither the security guard nor any other staff were around.

“They don’t even have chairs by the lift so while one of my friends went to find a staff member I was left standing there, which is really hard to do when you’re exhausted and aching.”

A Vue spokeswoman said: “The lift at Vue Carlisle was out of order due to vandalism and misuse, but was repaired promptly and has been in full working order since December 2018.

“To ensure the lift remains accessible by those who genuinely need it, we have placed signage and a cordon around it advising customers to approach a member of staff who will happily assist them.

“Ensuring all of our customers can access our screens is an ultimate priority.”