Manchester Academy | Venue & Disabled Access Review
As a hardcore lover of music, one of my favourite things to do in recent years is to attend live music concerts. There’s not much like it if you ask me – strangers gathering together in one room because of their love for a song or a cohesive album. It’s always something to look forward to.
Recently, I attended a concert at Manchester Academy to watch Eric Nam perform for the second time.
I had previously gotten to witness his mesmerizing performance at the O2 Ritz Manchester a few years ago and knew to expect a great night to remember. Despite living in central Manchester for a couple of years now, it was my first time at the Manchester Academy and of course, I was curious about disabled access in the venue. This is all you need to know about the well-known Manchester Academy venue and disabled access.
What You Should Know About Manchester Academy.
Located on the busy Oxford Road and the university area, Manchester Academy consists of four venues – Academy 1, 2,3 and Club Academy. The show I attended was located in the main academy which is right next to the Student Union. Academy 2,3 and Club Academy are all located inside the Student Union building.
How To Get To Manchester Academy.
The venue is definitely in an easy-to-reach location which makes travel to and from stress-free. Right in front is a busy bus route leading towards Piccadilly Gardens.
If you’re driving or hailing a cab from the train station it can take anywhere between 5-10 minutes to get to the venue depending on the traffic. Walking from the station to the venue takes about 20 minutes. For those arriving with their car, blue badge parking is available nearby too.
As I don’t drive and live minutes away from the Manchester Academy, my sister and I hopped on the first taxi to get to the venue.
Access Inside The Venue.
We arrived at the box office area about 15 minutes before the time the doors were set to open. Upon arrival, they confirmed our details, accessibility needs and carer ticket.
First, VIP ticket holders were let into the venue and bags were searched at this point.
When the doors opened, we also were searched before being let into the venue and with the paper wristbands given to us at the box office, we were directed to the viewing balcony area. There is a lift that leads straight up to the balcony and a member of staff coordinating the seating arrangements up there.
Similarly, the ground floor is also step-free however we didn’t get the chance to ask if space could be made in the front area as it was an option at the O2 Ritz Manchester. But, it’s definitely something I’ll be enquiring about the next time I attend a show there because I do love an immersive concert experience.
Thanks to our early arrival, I was able to sit in a centred direction with my wheelchair facing the stage. Whilst the Manchester Academy is by no means the largest venue I’ve been to, I believe the viewing balcony is quite distant from the stage. It’s high up enough to give a plain view of everything occurring on the stage, however, if you enjoy a more immersive experience, this might not be up to par for you.
Another thing I find useful to note is that as the balcony is high up, lighting might be an issue for some. I have no problem with flashing or strobe lights however the viewing height of the balcony aligned perfectly at eye level with the lights which was burdensome during certain parts of the show. I noticed other people having to turn their heads the other way to avoid being blinded by the lights. Despite lighting being a big part of concerts I usually love, having it at direct eye level wasn’t ideal.
Is Manchester Academy Standing Only?
Yes, Manchester Academy is a standing venue for live music. However, there is a balcony area for ticketholders with accessibility needs. If you cannot stand for a long time, staff provide chairs with a back in the balcony area.
Disabled Access Pros:
- Easy to access bus route
- Step-free access venue
- Accessible disabled toilet
Disabled Access Cons:
- Balcony area distance
- Strobe light at eye level
Your restless romantic roamer
Do you have any more questions about the Manchester Academy venue or disabled access?
Leave a comment below or visit their website for more information here!
