Manchester Apollo

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The Manchester Apollo is a concert venue in Manchester. The venue sits in between Manchester's two other major venues (the MEN Arena and Manchester Academy) in terms of size, being smaller than the Arena but larger than the Academy.

Locally known as 'The Apollo', it is a listed building with a standing capacity of 3,500 (2514 standing, 986 seats). It also hosts seated events to a capacity of 2693. Split into two levels, the upstairs contains permanently fitted seating, whereas the larger downstairs can be altered to suit the event; both levels view a single concert stage. The venue has no air conditioning apart from in the 'Whiteroom' hospitality area (accessible only by those who have a Whiteroom credit card) and can get uncomfortably hot in warm weather. The Apollo operates a no smoking policy (this is a rule which is almost never listened to by the audience), although you can still smoke in all areas outside of the auditorium itself.

The Apollo hosts a large number of primarily popular music based concerts and other events throughout the year. The venue can feel more intimate than the MEN Arena for both fans and artists, and recent years have sometimes seen successful bands perform at both the Apollo and the Arena on differing dates to create different atmospheres and reach different audiences.

It has a distinctive red ceiling and raked floor giving an excellent view of the stage from anywhere in the auditorium. Merchandise is sold in the lobby. The building contains three bars. The ground floor has two bars one off to the left hand side of the stage and one at the rear. There is also a bar on the second floor.

Concert management and advertisement is handled by Live Nation, and first aid cover is provided for all its events by St. John Ambulance.

In a recent poll by the music magazine NME, the cloakroom staff were voted the most handsome and loveliest out of over a hundred venues nationwide.

[edit] History

The Manchester Apollo was originally built as 'ABC Cinema Ardwick' in 1930. It was designed by architects Peter Cummings, Alex Irvine and R Gillespie Williams. It's original purpose was as a cinema and variety hall. It was opened by famous 1930s actress Margaret Lockwood. It has been known as the Apollo Theatre and latterly as Labatt's Apollo and the Carling Apollo, Manchester but it has recently reverted back to 'Manchester Apollo'.