Co-op Live sets a new benchmark for creating the UK’s only music-first arena. Jump Studios designed a variety of multi-purpose interior spaces within the venue, taking inspiration from Manchester’s authentic culture and music heritage.
Co-op Live is the UK’s largest indoor arena, and its interiors offering represents a significant leap forward for European entertainment venues, providing unprecedented quality of space and a range of choices for fans to cater to every price point.
Jump Studios designed all of the venue’s includes 41 bespoke bars, club spaces, concessions, restaurants and food markets available for visitors to enjoy before and after shows, designed to authentically reflect Manchester’s musical heritage and unique cultural charm.
Utilitarian materials such as exposed steelwork, concrete and corrugated panelling feature heavily throughout the scheme, referencing the industrial history of the site as a former coal mine, while design elements such as graffiti, flyposting and neon signage draw in distinctive urban characteristics synonymous with the city’s vibrant nightlife scene.
The first thing that general admission ticket holders will see upon entering Co-op Live is ‘Vertu Place’ — an indoor food and drinks market set within a triple-height atrium space that has been designed as the ‘heartbeat’ of the building. It features two island bars (including one that is 22 meters long), ancillary bars, two theatre cooking markets, ‘grab-and-go’ food markets, and merchandise. A designated stage area allows the space the flexibility to host DJ and warm-up acts to build anticipation for fans before shows and extend the event experience afterward.
Also accessible to all ticket holders are The Deck, on Level 1, offering views into the atrium on the west side, with food and beverage units at either end, and The Night Market, on Level 3, complete with an island bar and three feature bars, as well as grab-and-go and theatre cooking food markets.
On the south side of the building, the food and beverage units within The Deck can open to a new public realm with terrace seating overlooking the Ashton Canal, connected by newly redeveloped cycling and walking routes to the city centre, and accessible to all on both event and select non-event days.
Co-op Live also offers nine unique club experiences, each catering to a wide range of price points and designed to elevate the event experience in distinctive ways.
Among these is The Co-op Backstage Club, a versatile space that can accommodate up to 700 guests. This expansive club features a large bar, dancefloor, and open kitchen. Its design draws inspiration from the grittier side of Manchester’s nightlife, with dark, moody finishes, exposed mechanical and electrical systems, polished concrete floors, corrugated panelling, and vibrant neon signage.
For a more intimate yet equally dynamic experience, The Decibel Club offers a contemporary setting with a capacity for 200 guests. Designed to function as an independent venue, it includes a bar, booths, and lounge areas that can be reconfigured into a full club environment with a dancefloor and DJ—making it the perfect post-show destination.
At the pinnacle of exclusivity is The Bentley Record Room, a 100-capacity lounge inspired by the atmosphere of a classic jazz club. Dim lighting and low, comfortable seating create an intimate environment ideal for music lovers. Located adjacent to the artists’ Green Room, this space offers high-end dining, private host and waiter service, and access via a dedicated VIP entrance—delivering a luxury experience unlike any other in the venue.
