A night out should be memorable for the right reasons. Here's what to know before you go — the schemes, the signals, and the numbers worth saving.
A Showday community resource · Updated April 2026
Showday doesn't run the venues, the bars, or the festivals — the promoters and venues do, and great ones care deeply about their crowd. This page collects the UK schemes, helplines and habits we think every ticket holder should know. Screenshot it. Save the numbers. Share it with your group chat before the next big night.
A discreet code to tell staff you feel unsafe — without having to explain yourself.
If you're on a date, in a group, or at a bar and something doesn't feel right, go to the bar and ask: "Is Angela here?" or "Can I speak to Angela?" Staff trained in the scheme will understand immediately. They'll take you somewhere safe, help you leave by a side exit, call a taxi, or contact someone for you. You don't need to justify why.
Where it works: Look for the Ask for Angela poster or sticker in the toilets or at the bar. Most licensed city-centre venues across the UK now participate — pubs, clubs, bars, some restaurants. If you can't see a poster, you can still ask — most staff recognise the phrase.
Good to know
The scheme is run by venues and local licensing authorities — not by Showday. It only works at participating places. If you're in danger and staff don't recognise "Angela", say clearly: "I need help leaving safely."
02Drink spiking — what to watch for
Spiking (alcohol, drugs, or injection) is rare but it happens. It affects every gender. Catching it fast matters — for you and for the next person.
Signs it's happening
Feeling far more drunk than the amount you've had should cause
Dizziness, confusion, or losing balance suddenly
Nausea, hallucinations, or memory gaps within 15–30 minutes of a drink
An unusual bruise or pinprick mark (for injection spiking)
A friend acting drastically out of character after one drink
What to do right now
Tell someone immediately — venue staff, security, a friend. Use Ask for Angela if you feel unsafe doing it openly.
Don't be alone. Stay with someone you trust, or with security until help arrives.
Go to A&E if symptoms are serious. Spiking substances often leave your system within 12–24 hours — the earlier a urine test is taken, the more likely it is to detect what happened.
Report it. Police 101 for non-emergency, 999 if you're in danger. Every report helps police spot patterns and shut operations down.
Drink covers — simple, cheap, effective
Small covers that sit over the top of your bottle or glass with a straw hole are one of the most effective anti-spiking tools. UK brands include Spikey, StopTopps and NightCap. Many UK venues and festivals now stock them free behind the bar or hand them out at the door — just ask. Pocket-size packs are available online for a few pounds.
Rules that work
Never leave a drink unattended. Don't accept an open drink from a stranger. Trust your gut — if a drink tastes wrong, stop drinking it.
03Getting home safely
Plan your route home before the first drink. The moment you're tired and over-refreshed at 2am is the worst moment to be figuring it out.
Licensed cabs only. Black cabs (hailable anywhere) or a pre-booked minicab through Uber, Bolt, Veezu, Ola, or a local firm. Never get into an unbooked car claiming to be a taxi.
In London: TfL's Cabwise finds a licensed minicab near you — text CAB to 60835.
Share your trip. Every major rideshare app lets you share your live route with a contact. Use it.
Walking home? Apps like WalkSafe and HollieGuard route you around recent incidents and alert a contact if you stop moving.
Strut Safe — call 03330 80 00 18 Friday, Saturday or Sunday evenings. A trained volunteer will stay on the phone with you until you're home. Free, UK-wide, no judgement.
04Consent
Consent is active, clear, and freely given. It can be withdrawn at any time. Someone who is drunk past the point of decision-making, asleep, unconscious, or under pressure cannot consent.
If you're unsure — ask. If you're still unsure — stop. "I'm not sure" is a no.
If something has happened to you, or to someone you know, help is available and confidential:
Rape Crisis England & Wales — 0808 500 2222 (24/7, free)
Survivors UK (support for men and non-binary survivors) — 020 3598 3898
The single biggest safety tool on a night out is the person standing next to you. Most incidents are prevented not by security but by mates who notice.
Arrive together. Leave together. If the plan changes, everyone knows.
Agree a check-in time. If they don't reply, act — start with a call, then the venue, then 101.
Too drunk is too drunk. If a friend can't stand, can't speak clearly, or is being led somewhere they wouldn't normally go, get them out. The night can be rescheduled; the consequences can't.
Watch the crowd. A stranger buying lots of drinks for your group, someone separating a friend from the rest of you, drinks being left unattended — those are the moments to step in.
06When it's all a bit too much
Panic attacks, sensory overload, a sudden mental-health dip at a crowded event — these are common and nothing to be embarrassed about. Big crowds, strobes, heat and alcohol combine in ways nobody's body particularly enjoys.
Find a quieter spot. Most festivals and larger venues have a welfare tent or chill-out area — staff are trained for exactly this and you don't need to justify being there.
Tell a steward or security you need somewhere calm. They'll take you.
Water, fresh air, a friend. In that order.
If you feel overwhelmed by thoughts of self-harm: Samaritans 116 123, CALM 0800 58 58 58, or text SHOUT to 85258 — all free and confidential.
For an urgent but non-999 health concern: NHS 111.
07Accessibility & feeling welcome
Every person buying a ticket on Showday has the same right to a good night — whether that means step-free access, a companion ticket, BSL interpretation, a relaxed performance, sensory accommodations, or just knowing what to expect before you arrive.
Contact the promoter directly. Their contact details are in your order confirmation email. Promoters are best placed to answer venue-specific access questions.
Showday's ask of promoters: every event page should state access information. If something is missing or unclear, tell us — we'll chase it up.
Attitude is Everything runs the UK's Charter of Best Practice for live-event access. Many venues display their Gold, Silver or Bronze status — check it when booking: attitudeiseverything.org.uk
Hidden disabilities: the Sunflower lanyard is recognised at most UK venues and festivals as a signal that someone may need extra time, patience, or support.
08Harm reduction — the honest bit
The safest choice is not to take anything you haven't been prescribed. We're not here to lecture — we're here to say that if you're going to, there are ways to reduce harm that are better than pretending the issue doesn't exist.
Don't mix. Alcohol plus another substance is where most festival medical calls come from.
Start very low. Strength and contents are unpredictable. Waiting 2 hours before taking more is common advice from harm-reduction services.
Stay hydrated — but not over-hydrated. Sip water regularly. A pint an hour is a rough benchmark at a festival in summer; drinking litres in a short period can itself be dangerous.
Tell someone what you've taken. If something goes wrong, medics need to know — you will not get in trouble. Festivals operate amnesty policies at welfare and medical tents.
The Loop runs drug-checking services at UK festivals and in some city centres, so people can check what's actually in a substance and get confidential advice. Worth knowing about.
Nobody at a UK festival or venue will be arrested for calling medics because a friend is in trouble. Don't hesitate. Tell them honestly what has been taken — it changes the treatment.
09Ticket fraud — don't be the one who loses money
UK consumers lost over £6m to ticket scams in 2023 alone. The rules are simple:
Only buy from Showday or the promoter's official partner. If a deal looks too good, it is.
Never pay by bank transfer. Card or a platform with buyer protection, every time. No exceptions, no "this is the only way my friend can send it."
QR screenshots from strangers are worthless. Every Showday ticket is tied to a named order — duplicated QR codes are caught at the door.
Sold out? Check Showday's own resale marketplace before buying anywhere else. Every resale ticket we list is face-value and guaranteed.
Been scammed? Report to Action Fraud0300 123 2040 or actionfraud.police.uk. If it happened in the last 24 hours on a card, call your bank first — you may be able to reverse it.
10Report something to Showday
If something at a Showday-ticketed event didn't feel right — harassment, discrimination, a safety issue with the venue, suspected fraud, or a promoter behaving poorly — tell us. We take it seriously and we keep it confidential.
Email:hello@showday.co.uk — subject line "Report". We respond within one working day.
Urgent and in progress: always 999 first. Tell us afterwards.
Spiking: report to venue security first (they can check CCTV immediately), then police 101.
We review every report. Where a pattern emerges around a venue or a promoter, we act — that includes pausing events, requiring additional safeguards, or removing a promoter from the platform.
This page is a community resource, not medical or legal advice. The schemes, charities and phone numbers listed are independent of Showday — we don't receive anything for listing them and we don't control them. We've linked what we believe to be accurate at the date above; if you spot something out of date, please email hello@showday.co.uk. In an emergency, always call 999.