The AO Arena in Manchester has finally unveiled its new VIP bar and restaurant, The Mezz, as part of its £50m redevelopment.
The luxurious new space promises to elevate the gig-going experience with five-star hospitality before, during and after every show at the huge venue.
There’s the restaurant space, of course, where the menu of modern British cuisine has been worked on by Simon Rogan MBE (of three-Michelin star L’Enclume) and Tom Barnes (of soon-to-open Skof in Manchester).
The pair will be working on quarterley seasonal dishes, which currently includes a roast rump of Herdwick lamb with onions and split pea; and a lightly-set jasmine cream with white chocolate and rose for dessert.
And members of The Mezz will gain priority reservation access to restaurants across the UMBEL portfolio, which are among the best and most sought-after tables in the world.
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Then across the way from the restaurant is The Mezz bar, where there’s a menu packed with signature cocktails, fine wines and champagnes.
The bar area remains open throughout every gig – so no more scrambling to get served in the main arena bars.
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The Mezz has been built above one of the AO Arena’s new barsInside The Mezz Bar at the AO Arena in ManchesterInside The Mezz Bar at the AO Arena in Manchester
There’s no rush to leave either. The Mezz bar remains open for several hours after the curtain falls, with DJs providing post-show entertainment.
Once you’ve eaten and drank your fill and are ready for the show, you can head up a short flight of stairs and find yourself in prime position in the AO Arena.
With plush best-in-house seats and a clear view straight-on to the stage, The Mezz’s audience experience is sure to set a new gold standard for arenas everywhere.
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The Mezz restaurant at the AO ArenaThe Mezz restaurant at the AO Arena
The new hospitality area sits between the new concourse and the 23,000-capacity arena bowl.
VIPs who have already tested it out include Brian McFadden, Jorgie Porter, Rachel Lugo and Peter Hook, who all attended a glittering red carpet launch night and watched Niall Horan perform.
Member perks include guaranteed attendance for all shows at the AO Arena, direct access to the arena bowl, early access via a dedicated VIP entrance, dedicated parking, all-inclusive food and drink, a private cocktail bar, a private dedicated table in the restaurant and personalised service including a cloakroom boasting the latest in venue technology, members app and portal, and dedicated host service. Pretty fancy.
But of course, all this luxury comes at a price. Memberships for The Mezz start from £3,500 – that gets you access to 10 shows and The Mezz Bar (for 10 shows with The Mezz Dining it’s £4,000).
And if you want to really soak in all the action with a 50-show membership, that’s £8,500 for the bar or £12,500 for the restaurant.
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You can find out more about The Mezz in Manchester and memberships here and follow The Mezz on Instagram here.
Shaun the Sheep Sculpture trail appears across Manchester
Daisy Jackson
A flock of adorable, colourful Shaun the Sheep sculptures has appeared in Manchester.
Find The Flock is an art trail of six ‘ewe-niquely’ designed artworks, created by Wild in Art and the Academy Award-winning animation studio Aardman.
Mancs will be able to hunt out all six 160cm-tall Shaun the Sheep sculptures, each one designed and painted by a local or international artist.
From a sheep in Spinningfields with a strawberry for a head, to a colourful ‘Shaun the Shape’ outside Aviva Studios, the beloved character has well and truly moved into town.
The trail has been installed to celebrate the European premiere of Shaun the Sheep’s Circus Show at Aviva Studios.
The show comes from acclaimed circus company Circa and Aardman, combining the classic slapstick character with live circus performers.
John McGrath, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Factory International said: “Wild in Art’s public works create lasting memories in cities across the globe, including here in Manchester where we still enjoy Bee in the City at iconic locations across the city centre.
“Working with Wild in Art and building on our relationship with world-famous animation studio Aardman, Find the Flock is a joyful art trail bringing the excitement of Shaun the Sheep’s Circus Show out into St. John’s and Spinningfields.
“We regularly host free activity for families during the school holidays at our home in Aviva Studios, and this winter we’re thrilled to offer a fun adventure to have on your way to or from the venue too.”
Part of the Shaun the Sheep sculpture trail. Credit: The Manc Group
Gillian Fletcher, Director of Estates and Creative, Form Property said: “Form Property as managing agents for Spinningfields and St. John’s are thrilled to be working collaboratively with Factory International, Wild in Art and Aardman to welcome this exciting activation to our communities.
“Find the Flock is a fantastic opportunity to bring people together, spark creativity, and showcase the vibrancy of our neighbourhoods.
“We can’t wait to see everyone interacting with the installations and being part of the experience.”
Ngaio Harding-Hill, Head of Attractions & Live Experiences at Aardman said: “We are delighted to bring Shaun the Sheep to Manchester for the festive season.
“Find the Flock is a wonderful opportunity for fans of all ages to celebrate Shaun’s arrival ahead of his Circus Show premiere at Aviva Studios, and we can’t wait to see everyone join in the fun.”
Charlie Langhorne, Managing Director and Co-founder of Wild in Art, said: “We’re thrilled to be continuing our ongoing partnership with Aardman Animations through our Find the Flock trails, and to be able to collaborate with Aviva Studios again.
“We hope visitors will discover the joy of the trail and see how our incredible artists have brought this iconic and cheeky character to life.”
The Shaun the Sheep Find the Flock sculpture trail will be in situ until 4 January.
Trail maps are available from John Rylands Library or Aviva Studios.
Lily Allen adds another massive Manchester arena show to West End Girl tour
Daisy Jackson
Lily Allen has just announced an extra show here in Manchester, after her previously announced dates in theatres across the UK drove phenomenal demand.
The much-loved British singer sold out some of the nation’s finest theatres in just minutes with her West End Girl tour.
Since then, the star has announced her biggest-ever headline tour, with a run of arena shows coming next summer.
Lily Allen is now set to visit the AO Arena in Manchester not just once but twice, as well as playing other big cities including Leeds, Nottingham, Birmingham and London.
West End Girl was released less than a month ago and has received critical acclaim across the board, amassing 150 million streams and sticking near the top of the UK Albums Chart.
The bear-all, scathing, deeply personal record has catapulted Lily Allen back into the spotlight, and now she’s got the arena tour she deserves.
The show – ‘Lily Allen Performs West End Girl‘ – will see the singer/songwriter play her brand-new album in its entirety, in the order the songs appear on the record.
She had already announced two nights at Aviva Studios in Manchester next March, which sold out almost instantly.
Before this era, Lily was famed for her big hits like ‘Smile’, ‘The Fear’, and ‘F*ck You’. It’s fair to say she’s now riding one of the biggest waves of popularity in her career thus far.
Lily Allen is set to play at the AO Arena in Manchester on Friday 19 June 2026, with tickets on sale from 10am on Thursday 27 November.
You can get your tickets right HERE, but we’d be quick about it…
Daisy Jackson -
8th March 2024 
