Manchester Arena Reviews 102

Premier League darts Thursday, 02/04/2026 - Even though we gave them 3+ months notice that I really struggle to walk never mind negotiate stairs the best they could offer was 'there are only 12 steps and there is a handrail' ! Absolute rubbish because I was then expected to climb another 20+, very, very steep steps to my seat. Unfortunately I was unable to do this and so asked the assistant for advice. He said he was unable to help and that I should go to the customer care office. In some pain and discomfort I walked to the customer care office to find it closed!! I asked a supervisor who simply suggested that I shoud go back, take the lift to an upper floor and then 'walk down' the stairs to my seat as that would be easier?? Terrible experience and total lack of care for a disabled customer. As for the venue itself we were at the back opposite the stage. You could not see the scores, (they need two large screens as opposed to 6 small ones!) and you could not hear the commentators. Value for money? £9.50 for a pint of lager in a plastic container, £10 for pop corn ... expensive seats where you could not see or hear anything. The Manchester arena is just one big rip off with little if any thought of any customer care. Our advice? stay at home and watch the darts on the TV with a case of beer and food from the supermarket

Attended the Peter Kay show at AO Arena on 19 September. Our group experienced serious disruption due to an incident in the seating area which was poorly handled by staff. Members of our group missed large parts of the show, a personal item was damaged, and customer service handling during and after the event was extremely poor.

A formal complaint was raised and, after significant delay, communication stopped entirely. Disappointing experience and lack of accountability.

Once you actually get to your seat it is fine, and Hauser was fantastic. Otherwise it is a nightmare. Front doors were locked so had to enter via Victoria Station. No signs and we became part of a large group that had no idea how to get into the arena.Luckily someone came along and advised us to enter via Victoria station. After that there seemed to be lots of walking and endless stairs. The stairs going down to the seats are really steep with no handrails. The three stars are only for the friendly and helpful staff. Not intending to visit again

Very easy to get to via Manchester Piccadilly and Victoria station, absolutely no problems at all. Staff were friendly and very smiley. The only reason I have given 3 stars is because the food is just too expensive. £10 for a tub of popcorn and £10 for a pizza the size of a teacup plate. I don’t actually mind paying for a pizza if it was a decent size. £10 for a tub of popcorn is just disgraceful. £15 for 3 cups of coke. I spent £60 on food. Yes I know it’s my own fault and we did try and eat before going in but it is just so disgusting what they charge for refreshments. If you are going to charge so much for food, at least make it decent food.

The staff was absolutely outstanding went to watch Peter kay last night and the staff was absolutely outstanding so helpful from arriving to leaving well done all of you

I have just been to see Peter Kay at AO arena and I have to say the customer service was excellent... although we could not stay the whole evening sadly due to my nerves and panic attacks we had to leave however we felt very looked after throughout... for someone who suffers with mental health i really applaud AO for there wonderful staff this evening.. thank you so much 💓

A great venue with good parking, hotels & pubs nearby. It's the cleanest stadium/arena we been to with lots of female toilets! A real bonus!
The steps to seats
are very steep & no handrail so a lot of less mobile people were struggling. However, Ahmed, one of the staff, was excellent with his non stop help to assist with anyone having difficulty, one woman even having her hands on his shoulders as he guided her down. A rail down the middle if the steps would avoid the need for this.

Went to watch Peter Kay with the family, we (along with many others) left at the interval as the arena was unbearably hot. Paid good money, waited 2 years and were let down by the venue. Not good enough!

We attended Torvill and Dean; The Last Dance on Sunday 4th May 2025. Since buying the tickets my 88 year old mum had a fall fracturing one of her vertebrae and had to attend in a wheelchair. On arrival we discovered that our upper tier seats were up 15 steps that mum would not be able to manage. Arena staff advised us to go to Guest Services to explain the situation. The woman in Guest Services was amazing ! Within a couple of minutes she had transferred us to ground floor seats only 4 rows from the ice rink. We had an amazing view and mum was able to manage the 3 steps to our seats. The Guest Services woman asked a male member of staff to take us to the new seats. He too was amazing, very friendly and helpful. Thank you to all the amazing Arena staff who assisted us and enabled mum and myself to have a fantastic experience.

Fantastic experience watching Torvill and Dean’s ‘Last Dance’ last night - clear signs to get you to your seats, great staff in the ladies loos getting everyone through nice and quick so did not have to wait long at all. Staff on the bar were also very helpful and we got served quick both times and I want to say a BIG Thank You to the member of staff in yellow on block 112 who was incredibly helpful to all who needed guidance down the steps including my Mum - he was amazing going up and down all evening helping those who needed it! Thank You.

Went to see Boe&Ball, they were fantastic but the venue is awful. Not enough signs to guide you to your seats, not enough staff to help those in the wrong seats. No numbers on the seats just a chalk mark then you have to work it out for yourself. Dreadful queues when trying to leave. Would have to think long and hard before visiting there again. Disappointing when Manchester is my home city.

My concert isn't until June and I unfortunately couldn't get disabled tickets in the presale or general sale.
I contacted them to ask if there's any where safe I can store my mobility scooter, and I'll get use my crutches to get to my seat. They replied that it is 23 steps to my seat and would I like wheelchair access instead!
The tickets were cheaper and they contacted Ticketmaster and by the next day my ticket had been changed.
They even wished me a happy birthday and to enjoy the gig 🤘♥️

Good venue , only bad point was getting to our seats on the lower tier booked row j block 114 thinking we would access the seats from the ground floor , nope we had to go from the top down !! The barrier stops after about 8ft so nothing to hold onto going to the seats , the same after the show we were near the ground floor and there were exit gates however we had to go right back up the stairs to get out. Don't see why you can't gain access from the ground floor if it's nearer, if your no good with stairs or you have no balance probably not suitable for you.

29th of December La Miserable huge queue to get in I am disabled and use a rolater We were met by a pleasant young man who guided us in took us into the area after leaving my rolater he escorted us to our seats took my arm were there no barrier was very patient and took his time to help me We were in row E so long way down he made sure I was settled in my seat he then got my rolater down to the main floor so I would be able to get to the toilet at half time and get out easier after the show didn't get his name but he went over and above what was expected so thank you all the staff were excellent and very helpful Manchester Area is a brilliant venue we really enjoyed the show

Absolutely atrocious venue experience when watching Les Mis at Christmas.
2hr journey there and refused entry for the toilet when we got there. Had to wait until they opened an hour before the start of the show- told to go find another toilet in the train station. Signage is generally really poor and nonsensical too- both the carpark and the conjoined venue. Although the security presence is appreciated due to the history of the venue- the balance is not right. You aren’t made to feel at all welcome by a small army of security-minded men who don’t care for customer experience. To make matters worse, we’d purposely booked end of row seats as one of our party struggles with overheating and anxiety… only to find out the venue had reworked the seating (likely to make more money), and had put us slap, bang in the middle of a row. We asked for help but no solutions were provided- it was on us to ask others to swap. We contacted Ticketmaster to complain and were turned away by livechat who hid behind policies.
The show was great- but the venue experience was so poor it would put me off going back there.
A lot of the issues could be easily addressed by someone with customer experience in mind.

Over crowded rip of drink and food prices avoid if possible went to see Peter Kay not good at all parking is also a rip off get public transport if you can

Stewards were awful, rude, militant and all they were missing was a badge. Saying, we are want to be police!
We don't often like to complain. However the stewards we encountered in this place especially the ones at the front by the stage are power mad, rule mad, egotists.

We left a coat at the side, as it was too warm inside after the worst weather outside. When the concert started we turned around and it was gone, with a Steward walking away.
We then asked a steward to get it back and he laughed, telling us it was left unattended. We were then told, You left it, we are confiscating it, collect it from outside. We were also told if we're aren't happy to leave.
We tried to get the coat back when we went outside and no one could help us, saying if anything is left unattended it will be removed.
We understand the past issues, but this is a bit extreme. This shouldn't happen.
Oh we don't have our coat!

Fan zone last night ! Show sec security were awful , not a clue , all shirt fillers !! Fights broke out they were hopeless some ran for cover , flares , glass bottles , no proper search procedures . Get done proper doormen on the floor and let’s pretend Showsec are able to do the stewarding .

I called and emailed for the answer to a simple question, they never got back to me, phone lines were off.

I can now either go and potentially be turned away, wasting my money, or not go when i could have potentially got in. But i wont know becaue their customer service is a joke!!

The staff showed me directions throughout the arena helped with any questions
I was looking they were like this with everyone ! I was on my own
I felt happy safe and comfortable which ensured I had a great evening I would come back because of this !!