A wheelchair user was left feeling “humiliated” after being forced to abandon attempts to get into a comedy show aimed at - and starring - disabled people.

Hannah Tutt, 43, who lives in Tennyson Place in Canterbury, was excited at the prospect of a night out at the fringe festival event on the first floor of the Guildhall in Faversham.

But she and her helper ended up consoling themselves in a nearby Wetherspoon pub.

The pair had been invited to see a “neuro-diverse” chat show performance featuring disabled stand-up comedians at the historic venue, which was part of the town’s Fringe Festival.

Staff put out a ramp up the steps for Hannah’s motorised wheelchair, but the real problems started when she tried to access the lift.

"My chair isn't particularly big but it only just squeezed in," said Hannah.

"The problem was that when we got to the first floor, there just wasn't room for me to get out and turn around.

"We tried everything and it was all a bit humiliating with everyone standing around watching.

"But we just couldn't get out because of the way another door opened, so I ended up going back down again.

"A man who was helping us then offered to carry me and my power wheelchair up the stairs. But it weighs 300kg with me in it and would have been dangerous for both of us. I just had no option but to leave.

"It was extremely disappointing because I was so looking forward to seeing the show with some of my friends. But while they got in, my personal assistant Jessie and I ended up in Wetherspoons."

Hannah had been invited to see the show through the charity Kent and Medway Disability Assist, of which she is a trustee.

"The Fringe website says they are champions for disabled creatives and making it easier for disabled people and local communities to access their events. So I thought there was no need to ask about accessibility," she said.

"Also, the show was upstairs but the disabled toilet was downstairs which also could have been a problem," she added.

She says the biggest joke of the night turned out to be that it was a comedy show for disabled people - but wasn't accessible.

Hannah says she believes the organisers should have chosen another venue given the access issues that some of the people wanting to see the show were likely to face.

Faversham Town Council runs the Guildhall, which is a listed building, and hires it out to a variety of users for events as well as meetings.

Town clerk Louise Bareham said: "We were very sorry to hear of the recent access issue and are aware the lift is not adequate for larger wheelchairs.

"The Guildhall is a listed building, with limited space on the ground floor, which presents its own unique challenges as the building needs its original structure design preserved.

"However, we were able to install a small platform lift in 2016 with a limited weight and space capacity, which has provided access to many previously unable to use the stairs.

"A ramp is provided for the step and the front door folds to allow as much access as possible to the lift.

"The town council takes its responsibilities to accessibility very seriously and are in the process of installing a hearing loop in the council chamber to aid further inclusion for visitors."

She says the council will be writing personally to Hannah to explain the problems with the building and apologise for her experience.

Faversham Fringe Festival director Ribs Norman says he shares Hannah's disappointment that she was unable to access the Neurodiverse Chat Show in the Guildhall.

"When programming the show, I had assumed that because the building had a lift, it was accessible and thus suitable, but unfortunately this proved not to be the case for her particular wheelchair," he said.

"While there was nothing we could do at the time of the event, I intend to address the issue for next year's festival.

"I have already made enquiries in order to engage an access consultant to help ensure that the venues we use are truly accessible to everyone. I am also arranging accessibility training for our volunteers.

"I am also looking into how we can make Faversham Fringe 2023 a truly accessible event. This is, of course, no easy task in a historic town like Faversham, but I firmly believe that everyone should be able to go to every show they wish to see."