`:top

The `!O2 Apollo Manchester`! (known locally as `!The Apollo`! and formerly `!Manchester Apollo`! and `!ABC Ardwick`!) is a concert venue in `F33f`_`[Ardwick Green`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Ardwick_Green]`_`f, `F33f`_`[Manchester`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Manchester]`_`f, England. It is a Grade II `F33f`_`[listed building`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Listed_building]`_`f,`:cite-ref-3[`F5bf`_`[3`#cite-note-3]`_`f] with a capacity of 3,500 (2,514 standing, 986 seats).`:cite-ref-officialsite-1-1[`F5bf`_`[1`#cite-note-officialsite-1]`_`f]`:cite-ref-carling-4-0[`F5bf`_`[4`#cite-note-carling-4]`_`f]

>>Contents

• `F0af`_`[History`#history]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[See also`#see-also]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[References`#references]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[External links`#external-links]`_`f

-─

>>History

The building was designed by architects `F33f`_`[Peter Cummings`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Peter_Cummings_(architect)]`_`f, Alex Irvine, and R. Gillespie Williams, in an `F33f`_`[Art Deco`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Art_Deco]`_`f style.`:cite-ref-harwood19-5-0[`F5bf`_`[5`#cite-note-harwood19-5]`_`f] The building's frontage consists of a glazed white terracotta `F33f`_`[façade`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Façade]`_`f. Its original purpose was as a multi-purpose cinema and variety hall and was opened on 29 August 1938 by actress `F33f`_`[Margaret Lockwood`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Margaret_Lockwood]`_`f.`:cite-ref-men2018-6-0[`F5bf`_`[6`#cite-note-men2018-6]`_`f]

It was taken over by `F33f`_`[Associated British Cinemas`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ABC_Cinemas]`_`f in 1943, but it began to host pop concerts in the 1960s.`:cite-ref-men2018-6-1[`F5bf`_`[6`#cite-note-men2018-6]`_`f] The `F33f`_`[Beatles`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Beatles]`_`f performed at two shows at the ABC Ardwick on 20 November 1963 which were filmed, in colour.`:cite-ref-7[`F5bf`_`[7`#cite-note-7]`_`f] They performed here again on 7 December 1965.`:cite-ref-8[`F5bf`_`[8`#cite-note-8]`_`f]

`F33f`_`[The Rolling Stones`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=The_Rolling_Stones]`_`f performed at the ABC Ardwick with `F33f`_`[Ike & Tina Turner`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Ike_&_Tina_Turner]`_`f, `F33f`_`[The Yardbirds`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=The_Yardbirds]`_`f, and `F33f`_`[Peter Jay & the New Jaywalkers`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Peter_Jay_and_the_Jaywalkers]`_`f on 28 September 1966.`:cite-ref-9[`F5bf`_`[9`#cite-note-9]`_`f]`:cite-ref-10[`F5bf`_`[10`#cite-note-10]`_`f]

In the 1970s, it stopped presenting films and became solely a concert venue.`:cite-ref-0-11-0[`F5bf`_`[11`#cite-note-0-11]`_`f]

It also hosts seated events to a capacity of 2,693.`:cite-ref-12[`F5bf`_`[12`#cite-note-12]`_`f] 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 except in the "Whiteroom" hospitality area.

It was the biggest venue in Manchester before the 23,000 capacity (formerly 21,000 capacity) NYNEX Arena, now `F33f`_`[AO Arena`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=AO_Arena]`_`f, opened in 1995.`:cite-ref-men2018-6-2[`F5bf`_`[6`#cite-note-men2018-6]`_`f] The largest venue in Manchester is now the `F33f`_`[Co-op Live`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Co-op_Live]`_`f Arena with a capacity of 23,500.

The venue hosts a large number of `F33f`_`[popular music`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Popular_music]`_`f-based concerts and other events throughout the year.`:cite-ref-0-11-1[`F5bf`_`[11`#cite-note-0-11]`_`f]

Concert management and advertisement is handled by `F33f`_`[Live Nation`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Live_Nation]`_`f, merchandise is sold by the permanent resident concession company CMI Ltd, and `F33f`_`[first aid`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=First_aid]`_`f cover for all events is provided by `F33f`_`[St. John Ambulance`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=St_John_Ambulance_(England_and_the_Islands)]`_`f.

In September 2010, the venue was rebranded as the O2 Apollo Manchester, following a sponsorship deal with `F33f`_`[O2`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=O2_(UK)]`_`f.`:cite-ref-13[`F5bf`_`[13`#cite-note-13]`_`f]`:cite-ref-men2018-6-3[`F5bf`_`[6`#cite-note-men2018-6]`_`f]

>>See also

• `F33f`_`[Listed buildings in Manchester-M12`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Listed_buildings_in_Manchester-M12]`_`f

>>References

`!Notes`!

`:cite-note-officialsite-1`!1.`! "Venue amenities". O2 Apollo Manchester. Retrieved 13 September 2024.

`:cite-note-2`!1.`! `F33f`_`[Rudyard & Wyke 1994`#citerefrudyardwyke1994]`_`f, p. 27

`:cite-note-3`!3.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-3]`_`f "Apollo Theatre, Manchester". `*British Listed Buildings`*. Retrieved 29 December 2012.

`:cite-note-carling-4`!4.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-carling-4-0]`_`f "Manchester Apollo". Carling. Archived from the original on 19 June 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2009.

`:cite-note-harwood19-5`!5.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-harwood19-5-0]`_`f `:citerefharwood2019`a`F33f`_`[Harwood, Elain`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Elain_Harwood]`_`f (2019). "Apollo Cinema / O2 Apollo". `*Art Deco Britain: Buildings of the interwar years`*. `F33f`_`[Pavilion Books`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Pavilion_Books]`_`f. pp. 200–201. `F33f`_`[ISBN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ISBN_(identifier)]`_`f 978-1849946537.

`:cite-note-men2018-6`!6.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-men2018-6-0]`_`f `:citerefscheerhout2018`aScheerhout, John (29 August 2018). "Manchester's iconic Apollo Theatre is 80 years old". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 26 February 2023.

`:cite-note-7`!7.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-7]`_`f "Live: ABC Cinema, Manchester Wednesday 20 November 1963". `*The Beatles Bible`*. Retrieved 26 February 2023.

`:cite-note-8`!8.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-8]`_`f "Live: ABC Cinema, Manchester Tuesday 7 December 1965". `*The Beatles Bible`*. Retrieved 26 February 2023.

`:cite-note-9`!9.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-9]`_`f "Rolling Stones/Ike and Tina Turner/Yardbirds ABC Ardwick Concert Handbill (1966)". `*Heritage Auctions`*.

`:cite-note-10`!10.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-10]`_`f "ABC Ardwick - Wed, Sep 28 - The Rolling Stones (Advertisement)". `*Manchester Evening News`*. 16 September 1966. p. 2. Retrieved 1 February 2024.

`:cite-note-0-11`!11.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-0-11-0]`_`f "We Love Manchester | O2 Apollo Manchester". `*academymusicgroup.com`*. Retrieved 12 March 2024.

`:cite-note-12`!12.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-12]`_`f "Venue website".

`:cite-note-13`!13.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-13]`_`f "Manchester Apollo gets O2 tag". `*CMU`*. 9 September 2010. Retrieved 26 February 2023.

`!Bibliography`!

• `:citerefrudyardwyke1994`aRudyard, Nigel; Wyke, Terry (1994), `*Manchester Theatres`*, Bibliography of North West England, `F33f`_`[ISBN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ISBN_(identifier)]`_`f 0-947969-18-7

53°28′11″N 2°13′20″W / 53.46972°N 2.22222°W / 53.46972; -2.22222

>>External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to

Manchester Apollo

.

• Official website

`c`F0af`_`[↑ Back to top`#top]`_`f`a