Aviva Studios, home of Factory International
BEST FOR
Ages 14+
ENTRY
from £10
WHERE
Manchester
What it’s like
Big-scale performance venue in Manchester where under-14s need an adult, with £10 tickets going if you catch them early.
This one's for teenagers rather than little kids. Anyone under 14 has to be with an adult, so it's not a place to drop a group of mates off for the afternoon, but for a 14 to 17-year-old who's into theatre, circus or big live shows, it's a proper venue to take them to.
Ticket prices swing about a lot depending on what's on. Standard shows can run to £25, but Factory International also puts out Aviva £10 Tickets from time to time, which is the one to watch for if you're bringing a teenager and don't want to remortgage for the evening. Booking's online, and given the price gap between the two ends, it's worth grabbing the cheaper tickets the moment they appear rather than waiting.
The building itself is step-free throughout, with wheelchair spaces in the Hall and Warehouse and a small stock of wheelchairs to borrow if you need one on the day. There are relaxed performances too, with the sound and lighting turned down and ear defenders available, which is a decent option if anyone in your group finds busy venues a lot to cope with. The ground-floor café, the Social, does food and drink through the day and is fine for breastfeeding if you've got a younger one in tow while an older sibling is at a show.
One genuine faff: there's no cash accepted at retail or ticketing, card only, and no parking on site either. The nearest NCP is about a quarter of a mile off, or you can walk in from Salford Central, Deansgate or St Peter's Square, all within about 15 minutes. Monday's a dead day, it's shut, so plan around that.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 14 to 17-year-olds; under-14s must come with an adult
- Parking
- No parking on site. NCP car park (Manchester Spinningfields) 0.25 miles away with 35 accessible bays
- Food
- Café bar (the Social) on ground floor with food and drink throughout the day
- Pushchairs
- No dedicated buggy park. Staff can assist with best place to park pushchair on request
- Wheelchairs
- Step-free access to all areas. Wheelchair spaces in Hall and Warehouse
- Dogs
- Assistance dogs welcome with advance notice to access@factoryinternational.org or 0161 817 4531
- Getting there by bus or train
- Salford Central rail 10-minute walk, Deansgate rail/tram 12-minute walk, St Peter's Square tram 15-minute walk
- Card only, no cash accepted at retail or ticketing units
- No dedicated buggy park, but staff will point you to a spot
- Assistance dogs are welcome if you email ahead
- Bag sizes may be restricted at some events
Plan your visit
How much are tickets?
It depends entirely on the show. Standard tickets can be around £25, but there are Aviva £10 Tickets that pop up too, so it pays to check what's on before assuming the price.
Do we need to book?
Yes, there's a booking link online and given the price difference between the £10 tickets and the standard ones, booking early is the smart move.
Is it suitable for young children?
Not really the target audience. The minimum age is 14, and anyone under that needs an adult with them.
Is there parking?
No on-site parking. The nearest is an NCP about a quarter of a mile away, or there's street parking and a few accessible bays.
Can I pay with cash?
Card only for now at the retail and ticketing units. They say they hope to bring cash back at some point.
What are the opening hours?
Open 10am to 6pm most days, with Wednesday running later to 11pm. Closed on Mondays.
Is the building accessible?
Step-free access throughout, with wheelchair spaces in the Hall and Warehouse and a small number of wheelchairs to borrow on arrival.
Do you offer relaxed or quiet sessions?
Relaxed performances run with adjusted sound, lighting and effects, plus relaxed rules so people can move or stim freely. Ear defenders are available to borrow.
Is there anywhere to eat?
The Social café bar is on the ground floor with food and drink through the day, and all the non-pork meat on the menu is Halal.
How do we get there without a car?
Salford Central rail is about a 10-minute walk, Deansgate rail and tram about 12 minutes, and there's a free bus service running along Liverpool Road and Quay Street every 10 minutes.
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