O2 Apollo Manchester
{{Short description|Concert venue in Manchester, England}}
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{{primary sources|date=October 2015}}
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{{Infobox venue
| name = O2 Apollo Manchester
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| image = O2 Apollo, Manchester.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Façade of O2 Apollo Manchester, 2015
| mapframe = no
| former names = {{Nowrap|Apollo Theatre (1938–1962; 2010)
ABC Ardwick (1962–1977)
Manchester Apollo (1977–2003)
Carling Apollo Manchester (2003–2010)}}
| address = Stockport Road, Ardwick Green,
Manchester, M12 6AP, England
| city =
| country =
| designation =
| architect = Peter Cummings
Alex Irvine
R. Gillespie Williams
| owner =
| tenant =
| operator = Live Nation
| capacity = 3,500, (2,693 when fully seated){{cite web |url=https://www.academymusicgroup.com/o2apollomanchester/venue-info |title=Venue amenities |access-date=13 September 2024 |publisher=O2 Apollo Manchester }}
| type =
| opened = {{Start date|1938|08|29|df=yes}}{{Harvnb|Rudyard|Wyke|1994|p=27}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.academymusicgroup.com/o2apollomanchester/}}
| embedded = {{Designation list
| embed = yes
| designation1 = Grade II Listed Building
| designation1_offname = Apollo Theatre
| designation1_date = 5 June 1994
| designation1_number = {{NHLE|num=1254683|short=y|postscript=none}}
}}
}}
The O2 Apollo Manchester (known locally as The Apollo and formerly Manchester Apollo and ABC Ardwick) is a concert venue in Ardwick Green, Manchester, England. It is a Grade II listed building,{{Cite web |title=Apollo Theatre, Manchester |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-457758-apollo-theatre- |work=British Listed Buildings |access-date=29 December 2012}} with a capacity of 3,500 (2,514 standing, 986 seats).{{cite web |url=http://www.carling.com/music/venue/manchester_apollo.html |title=Manchester Apollo |publisher=Carling |access-date=4 July 2009}}
History
The building was designed by architects Peter Cummings, Alex Irvine, and R. Gillespie Williams, in an Art Deco style.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XarDDwAAQBAJ |chapter=Apollo Cinema / O2 Apollo |title=Art Deco Britain: Buildings of the interwar years |first=Elain |last=Harwood |author-link=Elain Harwood |publisher=Pavilion Books |year=2019 |isbn=978-1849946537 |pages=200–201}} The building's frontage consists of a glazed white terracotta façade. Its original purpose was as a multi-purpose cinema and variety hall and was opened on 29 August 1938 by actress Margaret Lockwood.{{cite news |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/manchesters-iconic-apollo-theatre-80-15088342 |title=Manchester's iconic Apollo Theatre is 80 years old |publisher=Manchester Evening News |first=John |last=Scheerhout |date=29 August 2018 |access-date=26 February 2023}}
It was taken over by Associated British Cinemas in 1943, but it began to host pop concerts in the 1960s. The Beatles performed at two shows at the ABC Ardwick on 20 November 1963 which were filmed, in colour.{{Cite web |title=Live: ABC Cinema, Manchester Wednesday 20 November 1963 |url=https://www.beatlesbible.com/1963/11/20/live-abc-cinema-manchester/ |work=The Beatles Bible |access-date=26 February 2023}} They performed here again on 7 December 1965.{{Cite web |title=Live: ABC Cinema, Manchester Tuesday 7 December 1965 |url=https://www.beatlesbible.com/1965/12/07/live-abc-cinema-manchester-3/ |work=The Beatles Bible |access-date=26 February 2023}}
The Rolling Stones performed at the ABC Ardwick with Ike & Tina Turner, The Yardbirds, and Peter Jay & the New Jaywalkers on 28 September 1966.{{Cite web |title=Rolling Stones/Ike and Tina Turner/Yardbirds ABC Ardwick Concert Handbill (1966) |url=https://entertainment.ha.com/itm/music-memorabilia/posters/rolling-stones-ike-and-tina-turner-yardbirds-abc-ardwick-concert-handbill-1966-/a/696-51226.s |website=Heritage Auctions}}{{Cite news |date=16 September 1966 |title=ABC Ardwick - Wed, Sep 28 - The Rolling Stones (Advertisement) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news-the-rolling-ston/139979850/ |access-date=1 February 2024 |work=Manchester Evening News |pages=2}}
In the 1970s, it stopped presenting films and became solely a concert venue.{{Cite web |title=We Love Manchester {{!}} O2 Apollo Manchester |url=https://www.academymusicgroup.com/o2apollomanchester/about-us |access-date=12 March 2024 |website=academymusicgroup.com}}
It also hosts seated events to a capacity of 2,693.{{Cite web |title=Venue website |url=https://www.academymusicgroup.com/o2apollomanchester/venue-info}} 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 AO Arena, opened in 1995. The largest venue in Manchester is now the Co-op Live Arena with a capacity of 23,500.
The venue hosts a large number of popular music-based concerts and other events throughout the year.
Concert management and advertisement is handled by Live Nation, merchandise is sold by the permanent resident concession company CMI Ltd, and first aid cover for all events is provided by St. John Ambulance.
In September 2010, the venue was rebranded as the O2 Apollo Manchester, following a sponsorship deal with O2.{{Cite web |title=Manchester Apollo gets O2 tag |url=https://completemusicupdate.com/article/manchester-apollo-gets-o2-tag/ |work=CMU |date=9 September 2010 |access-date=26 February 2023}}
See also
{{Portal|Greater Manchester}}
References
;Notes
{{Reflist}}
;Bibliography
{{Refbegin}}
- {{citation |last1=Rudyard |first1=Nigel |last2=Wyke |first2=Terry |title=Manchester Theatres |year=1994 |publisher=Bibliography of North West England |isbn=0-947969-18-7}}
{{Refend}}
{{Coord|53|28|11|N|2|13|20|W|type:landmark_region:GB-MAN|display=title}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Official website|http://www.o2apollomanchester.co.uk/}}
{{Academy Music Group venues}}
{{Live Nation}}
{{Manchester B&S}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:1938 establishments in England
Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1938
Category:Grade II listed buildings in Manchester
Category:Former cinemas in Manchester
Category:Music venues in Manchester