Opera House Manchester Reviews Summary

Staff and Service

Pros:

• "The security staff, who check you and your bag(s) before entering, were professional, helpful and courteous."
• "Staff were absolutely lovely and very accommodating."
• "Staff very attentive and helpful."
• "I'm disabled and the staff could not have been more solicitous and helpful."
• "Staff were on the ball from processing entries, guiding guests to seats, and monitoring mobile phone usage."
• "The staff chatted to mam whilst I checked out the venue and made sure she was OK."
• "Staff were friendly and helpful."

Cons:

• "I haven't heard a word from the theatre they haven't had the decency to ask how I am."
• "The security staff were rude and overzealous."
• "Thought the staff were a bit disorganized the wait to go into the stalls was terrible."
• "Staff were not particularly friendly or helpful if you weren't sure where you were going."
• "Staff disgraceful. second time having a bad experience here."
• "The staff are rude, my brother is severely blind and upon advising the staff of this they just didn’t care."
• "Staff were reluctant to provide them, so I felt very worried for people who were unable to stand for a long time."

Seating and Comfort

Pros:

• "Lovely theatre, with much better seating than the nearby Palace Theatre."
• "seat are nice and Comfortable, plenty of leg room."
• "Seats were comfortable and the legroom was more than i bargained for."
• "Seats in the circle were good though, row E pictured."
• "Circle seats had a great view and plenty of leg room."
• "Quite comfortable seats - didn’t find myself shifting about or getting a sore back like i often do at theatres."
• "There is absolutely loads of leg room, which with my dodgy knee, I was grateful for."

Cons:

• "The seats are quite small if you are on the larger side."
• "It's an absolute pit....the most uncomfortable and cramped seats I have ever sat on."
• "Chairs are a bit snug to say the least. Not much leg room for long legs."
• "Seats are quite tight and sound quality could be better (air con was quite noisy which reduced volume from stage & it dripped on my head)."
• "The seats cut off circulation in both of my legs but I guess that's because they're old."
• "Seats barely have legspace for anyone over 5ft7."
• "The seats are far too narrow, you're crammed in like sardines getting very comfortable with the person sat next you."

Accessibility

Pros:

• "The theatre still has lots of charm and a welcome to change to say going to a mainstream cinema for example."
• "I would advise parking in the NCP Salford bailey as it's much easier to get away after the show and it's only a 6/7 minute walk."
• "There no proper parking but a few pay/display spaces over the road."
• "Loads of accessible public conveniences on all levels of the theatre."
• "There is also a discount code for the nearby Great Northern NCP car park with quite a bit off."
• "Good view of the stage from the circle."
• "Disabled access superb."

Cons:

• "The actual facilities for people with disabilities should be better in the building."
• "Unfortunately due to age of building it is not accessible for those with physical disabilities."
• "Gallery seating steps are deep and very steep, I wouldn't recommend the gallery to those with bad knees!"
• "Toilets and bars aren’t great if you have any access needs, they all include steps."
• "The Manchester Opera House is a little unfriendly as far as accessibility goes."
• "This theatre has no lifts and multiple steps to stalls and gallery. It is totally unsuitable for anyone with disabilities."
• "stairs down to stalls could hinder anyone with mobility issues."

Facilities and Cleanliness

Pros:

• "Wonderful period theatre, well maintained and has a wide variety of shows throughout the year."
• "Beautiful interior architecture in the theatre and comfortable lush velvet seating."
• "A fantastic historic building in the heart of Manchester."
• "Very well organised and friendly venue."
• "The theatre itself is beautiful."
• "Very traditional theatre with beautiful architecture."
• "It's such a lovely building with Chandeliers and all you would expect from an old Theatre."

Cons:

• "Theatre itself is not looked after very well. In severe need of upgrading."
• "Not sparklingly clean either."
• "Starting to feel very dated now and not in a good way."
• "The opera house itself is in dire need of refurbishment, it was dated."
• "The opera House is looking a little tired particularly in the seating area could do with a refurb."
• "It looks a very old place. It is plain inside and a small stage compared to others."
• "The Buddy Holly Story was phenomenal... Ladies toilets let it down, 2 out of order, lack of loo roll at the end...extortionate prices for drinks/ice-cream/sweets."

Value for Money

Pros:

• "Very reasonable prices for tickets and merchandise."
• "Landed a £13 ticket to see Shrek the musical."
• "Was fine to take own Refreshments and snacks in though so if on budget you can keep costs down."
• "Good selection of refreshments and prices reasonable."
• "We took our own sweets in as I didn't want to pay the prices they charge as they are on the expensive side."
• "Memories for your little ones to be had in the Opera House makes a visit worth while."
• "Booked the VIP lounge, well worth the extra."

Cons:

• "the prices at the bar; it cost us £17 for a small bottle of water, a small bottle of Pepsi max, a small tub of popcorn and a small tub of pick n mix."
• "The prices at the bar and kiosk are, predictably, astronomical."
• "Beverages/snacks overpriced, but that’s to be expected."
• "Felt like I’d been absolutely ROBBED paying £14.80 for a bottle of Budweiser and a bottle of Magners fruit cider!!!"
• "Insanely expensive drinks at the bar (£8 for a MEDIUM glass of merlot?!)."
• "The half time ice cream is incredibly expensive - £3 for SMALL Haagen Das or £4.50 for large Haagen das."
• "Very overpriced, a small bottle of Prosecco is £11.50."