O2 Ritz Manchester
Contact Information
Postal Address: O2 Ritz Manchester, Whitworth Street West, Manchester M1 5NQ
Telephone Number: 0161 714 4140
Email Address: mail@o2ritzmanchester.co.uk
Website: https://academymusicgroup.com/o2ritzmanchester/
About
The O2 Ritz Manchester, originally known as The Ritz, is a live music venue on Whitworth Street West. The Grade II-listed building was built in 1927 and is known for its sprung dance floor. In 2011, the O2 Ritz underwent a £2 million refurbishment. The venue was acquired by Live Nation in 2015 and rebranded as O2 Ritz Manchester as part of the O2 Academy group. Many legendary acts have performed at the site including The Beatles, The Stone Roses, Arctic Monkeys and Liam Gallagher.
Productions
O2 Ritz Manchester primarily hosts music artists, but is at times home for some sporting events. The venue also occasionally hosts events run by third-party entertainment brands such as Propaganda, GoGo, Voodoo and Erasmus Parties. The current nightclub event on Saturday is Projekt.
Audience
The majority of events held at the O2 Ritz Manchester are aimed at various age demographics; however, the venue advises no under-8s. Visitors aged 8-13 years would need to attend with an adult (18+) and are requested to only book balcony tickets. A lot of shows are 14+ (meaning you can come without an adult over 18 and be in the stalls area).
Seating
The O2 Ritz Manchester has a capacity of 1,500. The venue has a balcony which curves around the auditorium and a large stalls area. The stalls are often used as a standing area for many performances.
Facilities
The venue has multiples bars and a cloakroom. The O2 Ritz Manchester asks for patrons to aim to travel light, and if needed bring a small bag as cloakroom facilities are limited. The site has level access to the auditorium and accessible wheelchair spaces can be booked. O2 Ritz Manchester offer free of charge companion tickets for those in need of additional assistance. Suitable locations where a guide dog can stay throughout the show can be discussed, or your guide dog can be looked after during the performance.
Location
The venue is located on Whitworth Street in Manchester. It runs between London Road (A6) and Oxford Street (A34). Whitworth Street West runs alongside the viaduct connecting Oxford Street and Deansgate railway stations; beyond Albion Street, the Rochdale Canal is on the northern side. On the Albion street corner is the building once occupied by the Hacienda nightclub, while further east on the same side is the O2 Ritz Manchester. The venue is easy to reach by all major approach roads, including the M60.
Parking
Pay and display street parking is available locally with bays nearby on Great Marlborough Street. Street parking is free after 8pm. If using Q-Park First Street when attending an event at the O2 Ritz Manchester, drivers can get 15% off.
Transport
The nearest Metrolink trams stop at Manchester Deansgate Castlefield which is about 500 metres away, and there is also St. Peter’s Square around 750 metres away which links across the city centre. The closest railway station is Manchester Oxford Road (MCO), which is about ten metres away and is opposite the venue. The 104 and the 105 (Whitworth Street West) buses go to and from Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport. The 42, 43, 142 (Oxford Road) and 143 buses all go to and from Piccadilly Gardens, and the nearest bus stops are outside the Palace Hotel, on the junction of Oxford Road and Portland Street. All are just 20 metres away.
Restaurants
No. 1 Canal Street is located just a ten-minute walk away from the venue. It is described as follows: British plates, imported wine and cocktails served in a cool, buzzy environment with pavement seating. Another option is Turtle Bay Manchester Oxford Street, which is a five-minute walk away and is described as follows: Caribbean cuisine and cocktails served in contemporary bar-restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows.
Bars, Pubs & Clubs
If wanting a drink either before or after attending an event at the O2 Ritz Manchester, plenty of options are available. One is the Gorilla bar, which is just a three-minute walk away from the venue. You can choose from a wide variety of drinks and you can also order food if you feel like a bite to eat. Playground nightclub (open until 4am) is also a good option close-by if you fancy a late night.
Hotels
Again, there are many hotels in the surrounding area to pick from if you are wanting to stay overnight. Hotel Gotham is a 5-star hotel situated just a 12-minute walk away from the O2 Ritz Manchester. A Holiday Inn is also nearby at just an 11-minute walk.
Other Local Services
The Arndale Shopping Centre is located a 16-minute walk and a 7-minute drive away. Also, Manchester Central Library is an 8-minute walk away if you fancy picking up a book whist visiting Manchester.
Ticket Links
Telephone Number: 0844 477 2000
Email Address: mail@o2ritzmanchester.co.uk
Website: https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk
Social Media Links
Twitter: @O2RitzManc
Facebook: O2 Ritz Manchester
Instagram: @o2ritzmanc