The Bridgewater Hall
ENTRY
from £8
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Manchester
What it’s like
Concerts and family-friendly shows in a proper concert hall, with relaxed performances and building tours for kids who fancy a look backstage.
This is a working concert hall in the middle of Manchester, not a soft play or a farm, so what your kids get here is the real thing: a big auditorium, live music, and occasionally a relaxed or accessible performance designed to be less strict about noise and fidgeting than a normal concert. There are also public building tours if you fancy showing them what goes on behind the scenes rather than sitting through a full programme.
Tickets start at £8 for students, though most seats are £25, and there's a 10% discount for under 26s, seniors and claimants if you book more than a month out, which is worth knowing before you leave it too late. Nothing gets refunded once you've bought it unless the show itself is cancelled or moved, so it's not the venue to book on a whim if your evening plans are shaky.
You can't take food or drink in beyond one small sealed bottle of water each, which stings a bit if you've got a hungry seven-year-old, and every bag gets searched on the way in. The bag policy is a genuine faff: one bag per person, nothing bigger than A3, or it goes in the cloakroom for £2. If you want to eat beforehand, the restaurant needs booking ahead, it's not a turn-up-and-be-seated kind of place.
There's step-free access throughout, a hearing loop, and wheelchair spaces in the auditorium. Nearest Metrolink stop is St Peter's Square, just a few minutes' walk, and there's no parking on site.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Various car parks nearby (Q-Park, NCP Manchester Central, NCP Great Northern, NCP Oxford Street)
- Wheelchairs
- 16 wheelchair spaces in auditorium
- Getting there by bus or train
- St Peter's Square Metrolink (330m), Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink (450m), Deansgate railway (500m), Oxford Road railway (650m)
- The box office only opens 2 to 5pm at weekends unless there's a concert on
- Lost property gets binned after three months if nobody claims it
- Cloakroom is only open before main auditorium shows, not for every event
- A hearing loop system is available if anyone in your party needs it
Plan your visit
How much are tickets?
Standard price is £25, but students can get in for £8 if there's availability. Under 26s, seniors and claimants get 10% off if you book more than a month before the show.
Can we bring snacks or drinks in?
Just one sealed 500ml water bottle per person, nothing else. Best to eat before you arrive or book the restaurant if you want a proper meal first.
Is there parking?
No car park on site, but Q-Park, NCP Great Northern and a couple of other NCPs are all within walking distance. Blue badge parking is available on Great Bridgewater Street outside rush hour.
Can we get a refund if plans change?
Only if the event itself is cancelled or rescheduled, not if you just can't make it anymore. Worth being sure before you book.
Is it accessible for wheelchairs?
There are 16 wheelchair spaces in the auditorium plus step-free access and a loan wheelchair for getting around inside. Support workers can get a free ticket if you're eligible.
What about bags?
One bag each, max A3-ish size, or it costs £2 to check in a bigger one at the cloakroom. Every bag gets searched on the way in, so give yourself a few extra minutes.
Do babies need a ticket?
For family concerts they do dedicated babes in arms tickets, but it's worth checking with the box office for that specific show.
Are children actually welcome?
Children are welcome at concerts here, though it's worth ringing the box office first since not every show suits little ones. The relaxed and accessible performances are the safer bet if you're not sure how your kids will cope with sitting still.
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