The Apollo

Apollo Theatre Stockport Road, Ardwick Green, Manchester M12.

The Apollo, located in the inner-city district of Ardwick Green, just south of Manchester city centre (Apollo Theatre Stockport Road, Ardwick Green, Manchester M12), opened on 29th August 1938 officially by actress Margaret Lockwood, and is an iconic Grade II listed building. She opened the venue as a cinema and variety hall, before it became one of the premiere concert halls in Manchester and the city’s biggest music venue until 1995 (but then overtaken by Co op Live).

The theatre was designed by architects Peter Cummings and Alex M. Irvine, with Holophane lighting by R. Gillespie Williams. Additionally, the venue featured a grand auditorium: with stalls and circle levels, a 53-foot-wide proscenium, and a 40-foot-deep stage. It housed 12 dressing rooms, a Compton organ, a café, and a 500-capacity ballroom, making it a versatile entertainment hub.

Originally opening as a cinema and variety theatre, the Apollo was taken over by Associated British Cinemas (ABC) on 31st January 1943.

Notable moments include the April 1960 world premiere of "Hell is a City," starring Stanley Baker, held at the Apollo Manchester. The Beatles performed two shows at the ABC Ardwick on 20th November 1963, which were filmed in colour by a crew from Granada TV. They performed again on 7th December 1965. The Rolling Stones also performed here on 28 September 1966.

In 1962, the venue was renamed ABC Ardwick. In the 1970s, it stopped presenting films and became solely a concert venue; from 30th January 1977, an independent operator took over, shifting the focus to pop concerts. Over the years, it has been owned by Apollo Leisure, Live Nation, and now operates independently under the Academy Music Group. In September 2010, the venue was rebranded as the O2 Apollo Manchester, following a sponsorship deal with O2.

Today, it is a 2,693-seat concert venue (expandable to 3,500 with standing), hosting major live performances.<br> The café and ballroom are currently unused. The O2 Apollo Manchester remains a significant cultural landmark, celebrated for its architectural beauty and rich entertainment history.

Writing Credit: Tamzin Rowthorn