Castlefield Bowl — Local services in Manchester

This a wonderful but undervalued venue in central Manchester. Me and friends were at the Laughterama comedy show with six comedians ending with Dara O'Briain as the main comedian who was fantastic. All of the comedians were exceedingly good, a well worth attending show. We have been previously so knew what to expect. Unfortunately I have recently undergone a cancer operation and now have a stoma fitted. This procedure has been a 100% success, the only issue is that it needs time to understand the disability of having a stoma, but having access to accessible WC is a must for emptying and/or changing the stoma bag. On previous occasions the Castle field Bowl has provided several accessible wc's managed by the staff but which were in the main WC facilities, this had been changed for this recent event. There was now just a single WC located in an separate area with staff providing access, something that seemed a good idea, unfortunately I'll considered sorry to say. One accessible WC is insufficient, especially when there were +50 standard wc's for the general public. The sole accessible WC was located without any light so you could not see to actually access the WC, fine for the partially sighted but poorly thought through for most disabled users! In addition there were no wash hand basins, poor for just general hygiene but also for keeping clean during use of the WC! Fortunately the security staff understood people with a stoma and after chatting to the very helpful security staff I was permitted to leave the venue to use the adjacent Dukes92 facilities where the facilities were a godsend where I was able to safely change my stoma bag and allowed to return to the venue with the help of the security staff. As mentioned, the venue was fantastic, except for poor management to support accessible facilities. This needs to be reconsidered for any future performance. Andrew unfortunate issue but one that can be resolved easily if thought about beforehand. This is most likely a lack of understanding from the venue operators and the agreement with the Manchester authorities who should be reviewing the public facilities to meet government guidelines. I don't normally complain about my disability but after having a stoma for only one year, lack of them stand out when not available. Hopefully the venue will understand what is required and manage better for future...

I recently had the pleasure of seeing Bloc Party live at Castlefield Bowl in Manchester, and the experience was nothing short of incredible. From start to finish, the night was a perfect blend of electric atmosphere, great organisation, and unforgettable music. Castlefield Bowl is a fantastic open-air venue – intimate enough to feel connected with the band, yet spacious enough to accommodate a lively crowd without feeling overcrowded. The sound quality was excellent, with every note crisp and clear, and the lighting effects added a dynamic edge to Bloc Party’s already high-energy performance. The venue staff were friendly and helpful throughout, and entry was smooth and efficient despite the buzzing crowd. Food and drink stalls were well-stocked with decent options and surprisingly quick service for a packed event. Bloc Party absolutely smashed it. They played a perfect mix of new tracks and fan favourites like “Helicopter” and “Banquet,” and the crowd responded with endless enthusiasm. You could feel the nostalgia and excitement in the air – a real testament to the band’s lasting impact. The industrial-meets-historic setting of Castlefield Bowl, with its backdrop of Manchester’s canals and railway arches, added a unique charm to the night. It’s the kind of venue that really enhances a live performance – atmospheric, well-run, and a true Manchester gem. If you get the chance to see a gig here, don’t hesitate – Castlefield Bowl offers a top-tier live music experience that stays with you long after the...

The venue is really cool and the sound was brilliant. I dont think there's a bad view and lots of bar options. It's open air so prepare for the weather. We had a great time but a few things can be improved to help those with accessibility needs.

The low lights were: people fighting over seats within the accessible area because there wasn't enough provided by the venue (the staff did their best and were excellent) and the cobbled hill down to the accessible entrance. How are wheelchairs meant to get down there?! A temp covering would be better, as would allocated seating within the two accessible areas. Our section had it's own accessible portaloo which led to every man and their dog requesting to use it instead of the long walk to the main toilets. The staff again were great at politely advising where the main toilets were.

There's no place for standing customers within an accessible section. Promoters need to stop this practise to ensure ALL have a view of the gig. Not all of us are blessed with the ability to stand and it just leads to chaos because not all of us are blessed with manners, apparently.

Overall a nice venue with great staff. It's a shame the promoters want to squeeze as many people in as possible and we nearly couldn't get to the venue because of the location of the...