Palace Theatre

Known as The Grand Old Lady of Oxford Street when it first opened in 1891, the Palace Theatre is a venue that is woven into the fabric of the city’s cultural history. It has seen many legends of the entertainment world tread its boards, from Charlie Chaplin and Lillie Langtry to Julie Garland, Noel Coward and Laurel and Hardy. Today, it has a seating capacity of almost 2,000 and welcomes some of the UK’s biggest shows to Manchester every year. 

The venue attracts major touring musicals and celebrities, leading to a varied programme of musical theatre, opera, ballet, comedy and concert shows. Famous productions at the Palace include Guys and Dolls, Hamlet, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and, more recently, smash hits such as Beauty and the Beast and Matilda. The regional premieres of both Miss Saigon and Les Misérables also took place at the Palace, continuing a long tradition of tour openings in Manchester.

In the summer of 2019, The Book of Mormon UK tour opened at the Palace, marking the first time the show had been performed in the UK outside of London’s West End. 

Despite facing periods of serious financial difficulty throughout its history, not to mention taking a direct hit from a German bomb during the September 1940 Manchester Blitz, the Palace Theatre remains one of the largest and best-equipped UK theatres outside of London. The building was Grade II listed by English Heritage in June 1960.

The low-lit Stage Door Bar is the perfect place to start your evening or to discuss the show once the curtain has gone down. Located directly next to the entrance to the theatre, the Stage Door serves up a range of wines and an impressive list of unique cocktails that are exclusive to the bar.