Old Granada Studios

Great day on the corry tour. I was expecting just a walk up and down the cobbles. But it was much more. We had a tour around the studios. We got to see the sets of carlas flat, fizz and tyrons house, the platts, the cabin, under world and the rovers. We all got to stand behind the bar and pretend to pull a pint. Out tour guide lee was fantastic. He told us so much about how they film all the different scenes and how the put them together. It was worth the £17pp entry fee.
Would recommend to go before it ends in December

I’ve been to Old Granada twice in recent months for two totally different events!
First up was the launch of the new St. John’s Quarter by Allied London: a property networking event for this shiny new development which will create a «new neighbourhood for Manchester.» Held throughout the bottom ground studios, it was a grand event with live music, a bar by Bitter Twisted, and pizza served up all night. We were also lucky to be able to use the outdoor terrace as it was in one of the sunnier weeks Manchester has seen this year!
More recently, we went to see FlexN as part of the Manchester International Festival. And wow, what a show! I have to say it was the best I had seen throughout the festival and a really moving, thought-​provoking hour of intense dance. The seats provided were small but actually quite comfortable, and the tiered set up made it very easy for everyone to see.
Staff and volunteers were lovely throughout the event, with the MIF bar (run by the folks behind Teacup) providing plastic cups so we could take our drinks through. Pizza was also available — inspired by Mary-​Ellen McTague — but we didn’t get a chance to try it.
Looking forward to attending many more events here as it really is an adaptable space that companies can really personalise for that wow factor.

I’ve been to old Granada studios quite a bit in the past year and it definitely seems to be something of a hidden gem in Manchester now that all the TV shows, types and general production work (even Corrie’s famous street) has moved down to Salford.
Reached easily from Quay Street as you walk down past the Opera House, there’s the main studios which are huge plus a large outdoors space. It’s becoming a really useful space for all sorts of events that have maybe run out of room in other locations and the indoor event ‘Buy Art fair’ was fantastic here — plus the outdoors has markets and foodie events like Guerilla Eats on — perfect for the large car parking space. Keep an eye out for future events and you’ll know how to get here now!
Supposedly there’s also loads of office space with every tech company under the sun and loads of other similar creative peeps starting to take it up as a new home.
The beauty of Manchester is that even though we’ve progressed so much with making this city even more awesome, there’s still thousands of brown field sites and old venues that are being reinvented as new and cool spaces — long may it continue!

Old Granada Studios is now an area where outdoor events take place and can be found at the back of Granada Studios near to Marriott Victoria and Albert. I visited Guerrilla Eats there this weekend and loved the fact that some of the old shop fronts from Coronation Street are still there!
The inside is quite bare and industrial which is perfect for when the rain clouds come over.
As well as Guerrilla Eats you will also find vintage fashion events and, currently, football fever providing an alternative way to watch the world cup with all the family.
The venue is fairly new but their website says they plan to host festivals in the near future. It is the perfect spot being just outside the hustle and bustle of the city but close enough to transport links.

We booked the tour as soon as it was announced as we are all Corrie Fans and couldn’t wait to do the tour!
The day came and we turned up at the entrance on Great John Street, you have to show you’re tickets and they give you and lanyard for you’re backstage pass, if you get there early there is a little café though it wasn’t great but it passes time and there is a tv showing the tv program of the moving of coronation street.
The tour time was getting close so we went where you have to queue for you’re timed tour, you are greeted by a fun fur guide who introduces themselves and gets everyone in a good mood! Its all good fun! Once the tour guide has got everyone together the tour starts, the first bit of the tour is the green room where some of the case use to chill out and read there lines, the tour guide tells you everything you need to know, after this you go down the corridor of the stars where all the dressing rooms use to be, you can even peek In a few of them, once you have passed those you come to the dressing room where the cast use to get ready for filming, and get there makeup and outfits for the day, there is a few names on some of the outfits.
We was then taken to a room what has a huge screen what shows you a montage of all the great moments of Coronation Street, after this it takes you to the never seen to the public, the sets of Coronation Street, unfortunately you can’t take pictures of the sets though managed to sneak a couple in on my phone, you get to see Carlas Apartment, Gails House, and most famous of them all the Rovers Return! the tour guide explains every bit of each set piece, and in the Rovers Return you can have a picture taken behind the Rovers and you can purchase them from the gift shop at the end, all the sets are not there, as they have gone to the new place over in Salford, but there is loads to see and they are a lot smaller than they look on tv! once you have seen the sets you get to see a few props including Hayleys coffin and Deidres famous glasses and even a BAFTA Award!
You are then taken through a corridor where you see where the production crew use to sit, where the all the monitors are, you are then taken to an archway where the other side of Nicks Bistro is, though not the set, the coronation street theme tune comes on and the doors open to one of the most famous streets in tv, its so well done and the first time you see the Street is priceless, you are on the most famous cobbles and we was all so excited! after all the years of seeing it on tv, we was actually right there, you can spend as much time on the street as you want, and take as many pictures as you want, you get to see everything from the Kabin to Roys Rolls to the Famous outside of the Rovers Return!
There is a few tour guides around if you have any questions to ask, it really is AMAZING and even if you’re not a fan of Coronation Street its great to see and at only £15 each!
There is a gift shop at the end of the street where you can purchase all you’re Coronation Street memorabilia.
Its one of the best things I’ve done and would recommend to anyone!

This is somewhere everyone should try and visit. I say try because it is difficult to get tickets. But I promise it’s worth trying, it does pay off!
I’ve been to see all sorts being filmed; Jeremy Kyle (twice), Jerry Springer (legend), Celebrities Under Pressure (with Vernon Kaye!) and I also went on the studio tour when I was a kid (doesn’t exist anymore I’m afraid!)
I loved it all, it’s not just interesting to see a show being put together (although it is very interesting), it’s a really good laugh too! The staff are incredibly friendly and professional, never losing patience when a bunch of screaming girls (I was not one of them!!!) getting all crazy for Vernon, they keep the audience entertained during all the boring sound/​lighting checks and they all just seemed to love their job! And I don’t blame them, what a job!
Best of all, all of these audience tickets were free! I just signed up to a couple of websites and applied! Well worth it, just try n keep your head down if you go to Jeremy Kyle, he likes to get the audience all riled up and picks on random people before the camera starts rolling!

Granada Television is very exciting. Well, at least I thought so on the few visits I have made to the iconic studios on Quay Street. A warning, however. You can’t just waltz on into the studio complex. In order to get into the studios you have to book in advance for tickets to a filming, but luckily, the venue can easily put you in touch with ticketing agencies, or distribute tickets themselves. Once you get hold of your tickets, you then have to queue. Take warm clothing, umbrellas, raincoats — you name it, the chances are, you will need it. Waiting outside the studios is not the most fun activity ever, and you can wait for up to an hour for some events.
Once inside the building, it is comfortable, welcoming and in a way surprising. The walls are adorned with pictures of stars past, present and future, and some parts of the building feel more like an office block than a stereotypical TV studio. The seating within the studio is patchy, quite often made from folding chairs as opposed to fixed seating, and the lengthy process of filming can make you quite uncomfortable. However, you are often given free refreshments (normally orange juice) which somewhat helps ease the discomfort.
Despite the down sides which can be experienced, there is really no experience like witnessing the inner working of a television studio, and it really is a fascinating trip. Best of all, most tickets are free, so you won’t have to pay for the privilege.