Popular music venue to get new operator and name
A new operator has moved in at a popular music venue in Manchester.
The Victoria Warehouse in Stretford will be renamed when the Academy Music Group takes over the managment of the venue.
The popular spot will become the O2 Victoria Warehouse Manchester as part of a new licence agreement.
Academy Music Group, whose shareholders include Live Nation Entertainment, will run the main auditorium space which has a capacity of 3,500.
The group currently operates 19 venues across the UK, including the O2 Academy in Brixton and O2 Ritz Manchester in the city centre.
The new operators say they are aiming to bring considerably larger acts to the venue.
The owner of the building James Cohen will continue to run the adjoining Victoria Warehouse Hotel and vintage cinema.
He said: “We are delighted to have entered into a lease agreement with Academy Music Group for our large music and conference space, occupying 90,000 square feet of the 300,000 square foot building.
“It’s a fantastic move for our site to add both live music and club shows by partnering with AMG.
“The VW Group will continue to deliver all corporate event business and to place music shows at the venue, thus working hand-in-hand to drive profitability.
“This deal is testament to our vision to create one of the most iconic events and hire spaces in Manchester.”
The two warehouses were renovated in 2009 to become an event and hospitality venue.
Graham Walters, chief operating officer at Academy Music Group, said: “Manchester’s warehouses are so important to the history of the city.
“They give Manchester its local distinctiveness, identity and character.
“Iconic venues are the life-blood of what we do, and we have significant expertise in running some of the most historically important entertainment venues in the world.
“We are delighted to welcome this stunning venue in a prime city to our group; especially as Manchester is such an integral part of the UK’s live music scene.”
