Built on the grounds of the world-famous Etihad Arena, the newly opened Co-Op Live arena in Manchester is the UK’s largest indoor arena.
Having hosted several exceptional gigs already, the Co-Op Live Arena is in full swing now, and the coming months are shaping up nicely for the venue, with huge names set to grace the stage.
Such a new arena is likely to draw in huge crowds from within the Manchester area and people traveling from afar.
Going to a concert is a whole experience nowadays, and having the right plan of action before and after the main event can add extra fun to your evening and make it all the more memorable – here are some suggestions of things you can do.
Late-night venues for after the event
Manchester, like any major UK city, comes to life at night with late-night bars and clubs open throughout the week.
These offer great spaces to continue your night out even after the event is finished.
Mint Lounge and Soup Kitchen have DJs and dancefloors to keep the records spinning on your night into the early hours.
If you would rather try your hand at winning some money, Napoleons Casino and Restaurant also offers some high-end, quality cocktails in a casino environment.
Or maybe you would rather just check out the best UK casino sites while back at the hotel.
These sites, selected by Elias Malo, are all approved by the UKGC, meaning they provide the same level of security as Manchester’s gambling venues.
Alternatively, you could head to a chill bar such as Matt & Phreds Jazz Club, where you can relax with some good music and do some online gambling in a chilled and relaxing environment with a Negroni in hand.
Bars and restaurants to try pre-concert
Of course, within the modern interior of the Co-Op Live Arena, there are bars and food stalls, but in many cases, people are looking to have a few drinks and a bite to eat before the gig.
With the arena being a bit further out of the city centre due to it being part of the Etihad complex, it’s best to try and base yourself in amongst the hustle and bustle of the Northern Quarter in Manchester, where you can access a whole host of different bars and restaurants then easily hop on a tram the full way to to arena.
Within the Northern Quarter, there are options aplenty for dining, from pizza at Rudy’s Pizza, kebabs at BAB HQ, or Burgers at The Pencil & Pen – you have lots of options to choose from.
If you would rather fuel up on drinks alone to kickstart your night before heading over to the venue, the likes of the new Electric Shuffle Bar offers drinks with games, common for the more hipster among us, or Behind Closed Doors for a straight-up delicious cocktail.
Culture Vulturing during the day
If the more lively drinking settings are less for you, Manchester offers a plethora of other things to do in and around the city centre, where you could spend some time before getting the short tram ride over to the arena.
Places like the Manchester Museum and the Manchester Art Gallery are perfect places to soak up some art and culture.
For those of you who like football, Manchester is pretty synonymous with the sport, and the two main Manchester clubs offer tours of their stadiums at the Etihad and Old Trafford for football fanatics to have a walk around.
With the Etihad being so close to the Co-Op Live arena, it is a perfect pre-event activity to try.
Or if it is just some good old-fashioned retail therapy you are after before heading to the arena, Manchester has just the place for this.
The Arndale Shopping Centre has everything you could want from high street shops, from clothes to electronics.
With loads of things to do before and after your event, you can easily make it a day to remember.
Join the discussion