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Inside Manchester’s most exclusive members club, opening within the new Co-op Live arena

The most sought-after tickets in town...

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 27th February 2023

New images have given a glimpse inside an ultra-luxe VIP experience at the new Co-op Live arena.

Promising to be Manchester’s most exclusive members club, The Bentley Record Room will have a capacity of just 100 people.

Memberships to the hospitality club will be hard to come by and very sought-after, and will include the best tickets to every publicly-ticketed event at the new £365m music venue.

The VIP space has been designed by the Bentley Motors Design Team, replicating the custom finishes and designs of its iconic cars.

The Bentley Record Room is set to be an intimate lounge right next to the performers’ Green Room.

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Click or swipe through the gallery below to see images of the VIP Bentley Record Room at Co-op Live:

The Bentley Record Room @ Co-op Live_1
The Bentley Record Room at Co-op Live. Credit: Supplied
The Bentley Record Room at Co-op Live. Credit: Supplied
The Bentley Record Room at Co-op Live
The Bentley Record Room at Co-op Live. Credit: Supplied
The smart bowl at Co-op Live arena. Credit: Supplied
The Co-op Live’s atrium. Credit: Supplied

Luxe members will have access to the space before, during and after events at Co-op Live, which will be the largest live music arena in the UK when it opens later this year.

You can expect high-end dining, private host and waiter services, designated parking and a VIP entrance.

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Christoph Hohmann, global head of brand communications at Bentley Motors, says: “We are delighted to offer music lovers a dedicated Bentley Place – an environment that is as luxurious and cosseting as the interior of a Bentley – allowing them to experience the craftsmanship, beauty and luxury that you can find in each one of our cars but on a much larger and totally immersive scale.”

Sam Piccione, president of OVG International, said: “Bentley is number one in British luxury, so it’s the exemplar brand to name this unique room.

“As the UK’s first private luxe members’ club inside an arena, The Bentley Record Room will put Manchester ahead of anywhere else, including London, for unrivalled quality entertainment.

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“There’s no doubt it will be one of the best and most lavish places to enjoy live events anywhere in the world.”

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The enormous 23,500-capacity venue is being built beside the Etihad Stadium.

As the UK’s only music-first arena, and with expert design input from Bruce Springsteen and Harry Styles, Manchester’s new Co-op Live arena will feature an innovative ‘smart bowl’, the largest floor space of any indoor venue, and no corporate branding to distract from the main event, as well as several VIP and hospitality areas.

There’ll be 32 bars, restaurants, and lounges around the site, including a locally sourced and sustainable food and drink offering.

Featured image: Supplied

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Elbow teams up with Co-op Live to donate equipment to Manchester grassroots venues

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

Bury band Elbow have joined forces with Manchester’s biggest indoor arena, Co-op Live, in aid of supporting local grassroots venues.

Last year saw Elbow become the first act to play the arena, and now they’re teaming up with Co-op Live to offer equipment to glorious city centre venues.

The funds will help improve the already incredible music scene in Manchester, benefitting staples likes Night and Day Café, Matt and Phred’s Jazz Club, SOUP and more.

All of the donations will be distributed across six independent music venues and will be used for various instruments, PA equipment, backline technology and other necessities depending on the requirements of each site.

Elbow have teamed up with Co-op Live in aid of supporting Manchester grassroots venues.
Elbow have teamed up with Co-op Live in aid of supporting Manchester grassroots venues.
Credit: Supplied

This initiative has been keeping Manchester’s Northern Quarter in the forefront of people’s minds when it comes to live music as well as the impressive Co-op Live.

Alongside providing vital resources for these local institutions, Elbow teaming up with Co-op Live also helps cement the North West as one of the main powerhouses in relation to live music.

The latest efforts from the largest indoor arena in Manchester fall in line with celebrating one year of bringing some of the best live music to the city, being officially open for 12 months in May.

Co-op Live have made a commitment to the people and the planet, promising to donate £1 million annually to the Co-op Foundation.

The stunning Co-op Live venue, Manchester's largest indoor arena.
The stunning Co-op Live venue, Manchester’s largest indoor arena.
Elbow performing at Co-op Live, marking history as the first act to grace the venue.
Elbow performing at Co-op Live, marking history as the first act to grace the venue.
Credit: Audio North/Supplied

Manchester’s latest live music venue also contributed significantly to selected charities, including Happy Doggo – chosen by Liam Gallagher and Eric Clapton’s addiction recovery centre, Crossroads.

As Elbow teams up with Co-op Live, even more money is making its way to necessary resources, this time in the likes of crucial live music establishments.

Elbow front-person Guy Garvey says: “Playing Co-op Live’s opening night will stay with us for a lifetime, not least because of how incredible the room sounded.”

“When the venue donated funds in our name to support the city we love, it made complete sense to carry that through to the Northern Quarter and to venues that have meant so much to my bandmates and I throughout our career.”

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Guy Dunstan, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Co-op Live, adds: “In the past year, I have been proud to see Co-op Live become an integral part of such an incredible city.”

“Teaming up with Elbow to directly support the venues that first put Manchester on the map, and to share something so intrinsic to us as venues – proper sound – is something truly special.”

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Featured Image — Supplied (via Publicity Picture)

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Michael Ball and Alfie Boe at AO Arena, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist, and more for tour

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

Michael Ball and Alfie Boe are bringing their Together At Home tour to Manchester, here’s everything you need to know for their AO Arena gig.

The boys are back in town, and by the boys we mean multi-million selling vocalists Michael Ball and Alfie Boe, who are heading to Manchester this month.

This duo are no stranger to each other’s company making six collaborative albums since 2016 covering songs from The Greatest Showman, The Lion King and New York, New York.

Their latest release ‘Together At Home’ which doubles as the name for the tour sees the pair back to their good old tricks covering hits like ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother’ and ‘Ferry Cross The Mersey’.

These two powerhouses know how to sing in style and that’s why they’ve chosen the impressive AO Arena to host their brand new show.

Michael Ball and Alfie Boe UK tour dates

  • Sat 29 March – Cardiff, UK – Utilita Arena
  • Sun 30 March – Bournemouth, UK – International Centre
  • Tue 1 April – Nottingham, UK – Motorpoint Arena
  • Wed 2 April – Newcastle, UK – Utilita Arena
  • Fri 4 April – Manchester, UK – AO Arena
  • Sat 5 April – Liverpool, UK – M&S Bank Arena
  • Mon 7 April – Aberdeen, UK – P&J Live
  • Tue 8 April – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
  • Thu 10 April – Leeds, UK – First Direct Arena
  • Fri 11 April – Birmingham, UK – BP Pulse Live
  • Sun 13 April – London, UK – The O2
  • Mon 14 April – Brighton, UK – Brighton Centre

Michael Ball and Alfie Boe tickets for AO Arena gig

Anyone looking at tickets for Michael Ball and Alfie Boe’s upcoming tour have plenty of opportunity to see these two singing their hearts out.

Fans of the duo better act fast as these tickets are very limited, starting from a reasonable £47.75 and reaching £98.75.

If you want to go all out on this occasion tickets are also available for The Mezz, which is the arena’s fine dining experience covering you before and throughout the show at a fixed price of £206.25.

All tickets and packages can be found HERE.

What are the stage times for Michael Ball and Alfie Boe in Manchester?

AO Arena has a curfew of 11pm meaning you’ll still be able to make it home and pop the kettle on before you get your forty winks.

Their support act comes in the form of another duo, however these two mighty performers are magicians rather than singers.

The Conjurors are a worldwide renowned act famed by audiences and A Listers for their talents which they will be showing off in Manchester on the night.

How to get to AO Arena

Tram

For those of you heading to AO Arena, luckily it’s in Manchester Victoria Station and its integrated Metrolink stop.

Head along the pink, light blue or yellow lines directly to the Victoria stop and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.

Train

Considering this live entertainment venue is situated right in the middle of one of Manchester’s most frequented stations, concertgoers should find no problem getting to the arena wherever they are.

Bus

A variety of buses cover AO Arena and Victoria Station on their route such as the 2 bus which stops a one minute walk away from the venue.

A full list of buses and their routes can be found HERE.

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Getting there by car and parking

The Arena have their own official parking partners CitiPark with 958 spaces including 40 Blue Badge parking bays, which can be booked in advance.

Alternatively, anyone attending a gig can park at their nearest train station and jump on a train service or the various Metrolink park and ride facilities.

Walk/cycle

Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes through the Beryl, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app.

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About the AO Arena

The AO Arena has a few strict policies to keep gig-goers safe, so make sure to check entry requirements carefully before you travel.

For example, only one small bag per person is allowed, and bags like backpacks, travel cases and laptop bags are not permitted inside the arena.

All bags are scanned on entry to check for prohibited items like laser pens, flares, projectiles, weapons, drugs and alcohol, and even selfie sticks.

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Featured Image: Publicity Picture (via Supplied)

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