Frequently asked questions

Do I have to pre-book for the concert?
You don’t have to book in advance, but it’s definitely advisable.  Our winter concerts are particularly popular and often sell out. Christmas concerts in both venues have always sold out early. Follow links here or on the individual venue pages to buy tickets for Bristol or Cheltenham concerts.

Where can I park?
For the Cheltenham concerts, there is metered parking on the same road as the church. The nearest pay & display car park is just around the corner on St Georges Road. You might get lucky with free on street parking a short walk away but it can get busy.

In Bristol, there is free parking on the nearby side streets on Saturdays, or pay and display on Whiteladies Road.  The Clifton Down Shopping Centre car park is a short walk away – pay and display, or free if you shop in Sainsbury’s after the concert!

What ages are welcome?
The concerts were conceived for adults and babies to enjoy together, and we focus on the ages not catered for by ‘family’ concerts, i.e. the 0-3 range. We’ve played to 2 week old babies (and even babies still in the womb), and when concerts have coincided with school holidays we’ve played to older children as well, but the programmes are designed with babies & preschoolers (and their adults) in mind.

My baby/child is very noisy – will they really be welcome?
Absolutely! They might not be welcome at more ‘conventional’ classical concerts – and that’s exactly why Lilliput Concerts exist! We have toddlers who love to dance & jump, and babies who need to cry. If a full on screaming fit happens, you’re very welcome to take a walk in the church foyer or coffee area and come back in when you’re ready. We do ask the adults to try to sit and listen nicely, to set a good example to the little ones. There’s plenty of chatting time after the music!

My child doesn’t like joining in anything we go to – is there any point in coming?
Of course! Unlike other music events for babies & toddlers, you don’t need to join in anything with us. Some performers offer the option of audience participation for the lively ones, but mostly, you can just sit & listen to the music. Sometimes though, even the shyest children will crawl up for a closer look at a live instrument (and our performers are all fine with that!)

How long do the concerts last?
Concerts start at 10.30am but we recommend you arrive a little early to find a seat & settle down. There is around 40 minutes of music, and then a similar amount of time available afterwards to enjoy refreshments and a chat, and often an opportunity to have a go on mini instruments.

Can I bring the buggy/pram/pushchair?
Yes! There is easy wheeled access to both venues, as well as friendly people to help you with the door if necessary. Inside, there is space for buggies, although on busy dates you may need to leave your buggy out of your sight, or wait in a queue at the end to retrieve it. Usual disclaimers about looking after your own valuables apply!

I (or my child) use a wheelchair – can we reserve a particular space?
Both venues are accessible by ramps and are basically wheelchair friendly. Please get in touch with the host of your chosen venue – Jenna in Bristol on Jenna@lilliputconcerts.org.uk or Kate in Cheltenham on Kate@lilliputconcerts.org.uk or contact us through our Facebook page and we’ll do our best to make sure you’re comfortable at the concert.  We do advise that you try to arrive early to ensure that you are happy with your space before the venue gets too crowded.

Do I need to bring any cash with me?
Refreshments are available after the concerts – top quality coffee, a range of teas & very good cake from our favourite independent local bakeries and usually there are CDs on sale as well.

Oh no! I left the favourite teddy/buggy rain cover at the concert…
Lost property from Cheltenham concerts goes in the church lost property box opposite the main toilets.  St Andrew’s Church is often open during the week, so pop in and retrieve your belongings when you’re next passing.  Lost property from Bristol concerts is taken home by Jenna who will take a photo of it to post on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Are the concerts the same every month?
No! We have a wide range of professional performers, different instruments or ensembles each month and every performer interprets the brief of a baby-friendly concert in their own way, sometimes including nursery rhyme arrangements, sometimes a bit of audience participation, sometimes just beautiful short pieces for you to enjoy with your child. All the performers though are carefully selected for their experience with young children & communication skills as well as their musicianship.

We’ve loved Lilliput Concerts with our babies, but they’re getting older/ going to school now.  Where next?
The classical music world is slowly getting better at putting on relaxed concerts. You can find family concerts in Bristol in the form of Mini Beats at St George’s presented by a familiar Lilliput performer, Laura Tanner.  Cheltenham has festivals throughout the year which all have some family friendly events.  Further afield, Bath has Crescendo Concerts and in Birmingham, the CBSO host a number of family concerts for various ages.  Another option is to visit cathedrals or large churches on the Saturday afternoons leading up to Easter & Christmas when you’ll often find a rehearsal going on for an evening concert. If the building is open to tourists, you can take a seat or wander around quietly as appropriate.  We really hope that all our Lilliput audiences will ‘graduate’ to become regular concert-goers and share our love of live classical music!

About Lilliput Concerts