This is the outlet at the Lowry. We hadn't been here in a few years certainly long before wu flu struck. I'd guess it's now half empty store wise. Key shops like M&S Clothing, Black & Decker, Tefal and many more all long gone. Harry Ramsden's fish & chips still there along with subway. A chicken shack of sorts, an independent Indian and a BK. The Indian has most food pre cooked and heated on order so no thanks. When there's a Harry's I'm afraid this sort of competition has no chance with me. They used to have a spud u like but it's gone as has an ice cream parlour. The Cadbury alleged chocolate shop is still there but prices are rip off with supermarkets offering identical products much cheaper. Costa coffee is still there and they are now advertising the fact that they are selling M&S food so at least that's quality food. I'm not sure I'd make another trip back here but they still do the artisan market days so that would bring me back. read more

A wonderful modern theatre in Salford at the Lowry Centre. The Lyric Theatre is the biggest of the two theatres inside of the huge Lowry Centre. It hosts many amazing plays, musicals and many other entertainment options. I have been to see two National Theatre productions here which include the amazing War Horse and recently the Curious incident of the dog in the nighttime. It also has a couple of restaurants and cafes and amazing views to go with it. I have sat in many places in the Lyric theatre and there really isn't one bad seat plus the seats are really comfortable! All the staff who work here are really friendly and they seem to love there job. So take a look at the Lowry website to see if theres a show coming your way soon. Even if you're not sure that you might like the theatre, give it a go you may love it! The Lowry also hosts many art exhibitions which currently has Behind the Mask, the biggest collection of BAFTA-winning actor portraiture ever assembled, which has come to The Lowry for its first time out of London which is worth the trip out of town alone! You can easily get to the Lowry from the city centre of Manchester on one of the Metrolink trams which head towards Media City UK! read more

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Matchstick men Matchstick women Cobbled streets Coal mines Factories & Industrial buildings These are some of the themes that you're likely to see if you wander around the Lowry Art Gallery. An impressive space above The Lowry's cafe-bar and theatres, it includes a permanent space devoted to the drawings and paintings of renowned local artist TS Lowry. As well as 350 pieces of work, there's a specially commissioned film screened every day and short guided talks at 12am and 2pm. Until the end of January, there's also a great exhibition featuring Maggi Hambling's wild and wonderful paintings of the North Sea. Having seen some of these exhibited in Kendal last year, they really have to be seen to be believed. We're talking big crashing waves in intense blues, greys and greens on giant canvases. Even better, admission to both exhibitions is free and if you go out of school hours you probably won't have to queue either. read more

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I'm always a bit ashamed at how little time I spend in the vicinity of The Lowry - it's a nice area of Manchester, with plenty to wander around on a lazy weekend. I've recently visited twice and hope that this new trend continues! The first was to see the BAFTA exhibition 'Behind the Mask', which was located upstairs in the changing-exhibition space, next to the section of the Lowry pieces. It's a small area, but they do very well with its odd shape; the pictures were very striking and worth seeing if it appears in a gallery near you. I believe the space has now been taken over by some giant ants, which sounds like it has to be seen to be believed... We've also been to see the National Theatre's production of the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, which was very moving and an amazing example of the power one can create with a simple but interactive set. During the intervals the bars became understandably very busy, though they had additional points where you could buy refreshments, which allowed the crowds to disperse quickly. Staff on the doors were also very good at showing latecomers to their seats without disturbing everyone else in that section. The taxi rank outside and tram stop a short walk across the bridge means it's easily accessible by public transport, perfect for us city centre dwellers. read more

The Lowry Theatre is a fantastic modern theatre on the Salford quays, next to MediaCityUK. Inside the Lowry there is a few places to buy food and drinks, information on activities that are going on in Salford area and there is a box office to buy tickets to see theatre productions. All the West End productions often make an appearance and Wicked the musical is one of them come in later this year along with Stomp to name but two! read more

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I generally find Salford Quays a soulless space despite the added attractions of Media City. The Lowery is its exception for me. An accessible space with enthusiastic staff and volunteers to guide your journey. I'm used to visiting the Lowery to see grand touring productions of one sort or another but on this visit saw its role in teaching and education. I was invited to the final year Showcase of Arden Colleges Musical Theatre BA course attended by agents, casting directors and a talent spotters. An exciting event in an exciting venue. The bar afterwards was a relaxing experience in a large modern well designed environment that added a tough af after show class. read more

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What a truly wonderful tribute to one of Salford's great heroes, is the Lowry Gallery. Located upstairs, within the Arts complex, it's a real pleasure to visit. From the moment you arrive, the staff are superbly welcoming and helpful. Their knowledge and enthusiasm continues throughout the rooms. Enter the galleries dedicated to LS Lowry and you're in for a few surprises and a genuine treat. I hadn't realised quite how much I loved his work until I spent time enraptured here, recently. Far from limited to his renowned matchstick men; when you explore here, you'll relish - as I did - how much more there was to his work and the depth of his talents. The Favourites rooms display the versatility of his talent - from his portraits to the scenes of the (local) places he loved and the lighter, brighter seascapes he created in an attempt to win over his mother. The stunning simplicity of his work shines through from pencil drawings to oils; the titles of his work tell it like it is. There is often great humour in his work too; curious touches of androgyny and recurrent themes of style and colour. The exhibition has been brilliantly curated, from the way the paintings are grouped, to the (slightly quirky) seating areas provided. Especially in the uniquely inclusive touches, encouraging the visitor to select and comment on their favourite picture. Selected visitor (celebrity and general public) quotes appear by many works; the children's comments are particularly charming and endearing. Children are also encouraged to pick-up a free Activity Book and pencil, then to take inspiration from the artworks by sketching-away. If you are anywhere nearby, or planning a trip to Manchester, a visit to the Lowry is an absolute must! read more

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There is an excellent electronic art exhibition on at the moment, featuring several very talented artist displaying there works in the electronic medium, there are lots of interactive pieces including the ghostly camera one which renders you in black and white silhouettes (check out my pic) It was loads of fun. Along with this exhibition are the classic Lowry paintings and a chance to create your own interpretation of a classic, check out my fine example, all in all well worth going to and its FREEEEE!!!! Anyway got To go I think I hear a call from the Tate modern wanting to display my work..... read more

The Lowry - Lowry electronic exhibition - Music Venues Near Me - Salford, XGM

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"You wot? You want to walk to the Lowry from here? Nah mate. Get on the tram! It's too far. Not to mention it's Salford." "Here" was the Manchester Cathedral, where this passer-by saw me studying my handwritten directions to The Lowry. I had my DSLR in my hands, and his comments were to the effect that it wouldn't be in my hands much longer had I continued on my way, especially as his intonations for "Salford" was as if I was about to head into Mordor. But if there's anything I learned from living in New York for 1.5 years, it's to walk with purpose and look like you know exactly where you're going, even if you have no bloody idea. No one will screw with you. Granted, this scheme so far in Manchester has instead prompted pedestrians and drivers alike to ask *me* for directions, so maybe looking confused and up at buildings while holding a giant map in my hands is a better strategy after all. ANYWAY (sorry), I contentedly ignored the concerned Mancunian's advice and marched into Salford in quest of The Lowry. After many detours due to road closures which had me backtrack a number of times and walk through a whole collection of council estates, I finally reached the Salford Quays and soon stood in front of The Lowry itself. Architecturally, I appreciated its steel facade and odd assortment of shapes, curves, and angles. A very tame, much less fluid version of the Guggenheim in Bilbao, so to speak. Inside, however, the place was a bit more underwhelming. Part of my march down to the Quays was specifically to catch the Warhol exhibit since I'd seen it advertised all over town, but the galleries were obviously not the focus of this venue. The theatre was, but even the entrances to that didn't seem designed too well. Where one should go once entering the building wasn't all that intuitive or well marked. I did eventually find the galleries up the escalators, however, and enjoyed the three exhibits: 1) Nadav Kandar's celebrity portraits were a great intro to the galleries. Really well done portraitures of David Lynch, Spike Jonze, Morrissey, Ian McKellen, etc. And, on a cultural education front, from this exhibit I also learned that Take That are back! (granted most other visitors seemed much more enthused about their portraits than I was - apparently being from the States I'm missing something here). 2) Warhol & The Diva - Great series of Warhol's works, mostly on loan from the Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh. 3) The L.S. Lowry exhibit - Honestly, I knew absolutely nothing about L.S. Lowry before coming to Manchester. But going through this exhibit I've definitely become a admirer of his work. His style with the sketches and paintings, the stories behind them, and all their ties to his life in Manchester were pretty fascinating. As a newcomer, it definitely gave me an interesting creative perspective on the city's past, especially as what I observed walking around the Salford Quays was anything *but* the past. Afterwards, I was feeling hungry (having walked through Salford after all) so I looked at the offerings of the Lowry's cafe as well as its restaurant. Neither menu looked all that inspiring, so I left to hunt for a meal elsewhere. And as I walked out, two photographers with loads of equipment set up were standing in the courtyard in front of me. I apparently walked into a wedding photo shoot, as all the wedding guests were whooping and clapping on the balcony over my head, and the bride and groom were patiently standing behind me, smiling and waiting for my internal light bulb to go off so I'd discreetly walk away. Whoops! All in all, I'll give the Lowry 3.5 stars but I'll round up higher for now. Not sure yet if collectively what's offered inside (including a lot of purple) matches the potential of what you'd think is in there, but the galleries were definitely bright spots and I'd recommend them to others. Would I go back to check out the theatre and catch a show? Probably. But I've got a lot of Manchester to explore ahead of me, so who knows when that'll happen. 4 Stars (including my walk through Salford) read more

I've been to the Lowry quite a few times since moving to Manchester. It's a great pace to come and see Comedians, the tickets are usually quite cheap and they always have a wide variety of things going on from plays to exhibitions. Most nights when I've been they've had multiple events on, due to the amount of theatres they have this causes no problems and there's enough space for everyone! Throughout my visits here I think I've pretty much sat everywhere within the theatre and I must say I've always had a good view no matter what tier and even the floor seats were fine. If you are a little on the short side like myself there is always a risk of getting a tall person/someone with big hair obstructing your view! but there we go, that's not the venue's fault! My only problem with this venue is during the intermission everyone rushes out to the small bar and you have to wait ages for a drink, given that you may only have 15 minutes, there's a chance you might not even get served so that's the only thing really! The drinks are a little expensive also, but they tend to be at venues, it cost us £6ish for a pint and a lemonade. oh and It's really easy to get to from the city centre and surrounding areas which is a cheeky bonus! read more

One of my favourite corners of Manchester - the architecture around here is unrivalled. The Lowry being no exception! I make a point to try and visit a few times a year, most recently this week to watch The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (which I would also give 5 stars to, in a heartbeat). This venue is just exceptional - great views no matter where you sit, fantastic friendly staff who really go above and beyond, lovely bars and bar areas inside. Even the intervals are well handled with several pop-up snack bars to accommodate everyone. If you're interested in local culture head in to their gift shop too - some fab quirky gifts in there! read more

The Lowry - Best seats in the house! - Music Venues Near Me - Salford, XGM

#Memories, light the corners of my miiiind...# Sorry, I'm getting all nostalgic today. And Meet the Fockers made Barbra Streisand extremely cool so don't mock me. Come on, she played a character who wrote a book called 'Is Your Vagina Happy?' I've had many life-affirming moments in the Lowry Theatre over on Salford Quays. I'm not a giant fan of the Quays themselves, as apart from the Imperial War Museum there doesn't seem to be very much to get excited about, but this space station of a building is very dapper and despite the strange, childrens' television-esque colour scheme inside, chances are you'll see a great production in here. My mother and I went to watch The Duchess of Malfi, a play by one of Shakespeare's contemporaries, Christopher Marlowe. Conspiracy theorists mull over whether or not they were the same person, and if Marlowe is real, that's distinctly unfair as the poor chap has been eclipsed by Will throughout history (that said, the fact that I typed 'if he is real' kind of stamps all over my point). It's a superb play, absolutely heartbreaking and tragic, the kind that stays with you for a long time. This adaptation was spot on, slightly modernised and made excellent use of the theatre space and the lighting. I also got to walk the stage myself when I graduated. Graduating's a weird anti-climactic experience, when you think of how stressful university can actually be, then you have your degree under your belt and it's kind of... unnerving. But it was a spectacular venue in which to wear my cap and gown, and my grinning little face clutching my first class honours certificate says plenty about the pleasant day I had - they set the whole thing up for us stunningly. My third venture to the theatre takes us in a completely different direction. I went to see the outstanding Mighty Boosh live show here, a pantomime-style performance utilising bizarre costumes and superb effects... sheesh, I thought, you could almost take kids to watch it. In fact some folks seemed to have taken that advice literally as my Irish housemate was sat next to a 'wee lad' and almost wanted to cover his ears when the Hitcher character started his potty-mouthed tirade about what he wanted to do with the severed heads of Vince and Howard. Errrr, perhaps not quite a kids' show then... just because there's a talking gorilla doesn't mean it will suit young ears. I do think this is a great theatre though, and if a show I like the look of comes to this particular venue I won't think twice about booking it. The staff are friendly and can point you in the right direction, which is handy as all those primary colours start to blur into one incomprehensible Magic Eye painting after a while. And that's not because of booze, let me tell you. A glass of champers was £6 at my graduation. How very dare they! I got a hard-earned first! They should have been paying ME to drink THEIR champagne by the bottle-load. read more

In third year I was totally pov'd, and had to hand out flyers to pay for my fags and gin. On one such flyering trip, I had to hand out flyers for the Opera, outside the Lowry, because there was a performance of the Russian Kirov Ballet's Don Quixote on, and obvio, ballet people are opera people. Standing on the huge concrete forecourt, bothering people with my shiny pieces of card, I was deeply jealous of the ballet-goers. Then I handed a flyer to a lovely woman and her flamboyant young friend. Me: La Boheme at the Oper House? She: OOOOH, fantastic! He: Oh I love the opera! Me: (caught up in the gayness of it all) Me too! She: Well, are you coming to the ballet? Me: Oh I wish! He: But dahhhhling, remember, we have that extra tiiicket because you got a press-pahhhhhss! She: Oh! You must come with us! Me: I am the happiest I have ever been. Thank you, wonderful people. It was a truly wonderful night. The ballet was incredible, and the Lowry was the perfect venue. I think...I thiiiiink, I have experienced every performance space here. I have certainly been in the big one, the medium one and the really tiny one. Are there more? I'm not sure. I'm recalling another space, but I might just have been on a different level of the big one... Anyway, all the spaces are comfortably seated, with great views throughout. Strangely, I have managed more than once to get the best seats in the house, for Simon Amstell, the tickets for which I booked verrry late, and for Patrick Wolf, where we were standing at the back as we'd gotten guest list for street-teaming for support act Lightspeed Champion, and we noticed some EXCELLENT seats going begging. I enjoyed Mr Wolf singing a heartbreaking rendition of Joni's 'River' from what was almost a Royal Box. The Lowry books a wide and varied variety of acts and performances, from niche amateur dramatics (from the Uni, par example) to large scale productions of Calendar Girls etc. Some of it will not be to your taste, but I embrace the excellently varied programme of events. There's something for everyone here. As well as performances, The Lowry has a great gallery space and a programme of events. Plus, you can join a club and be a Friend, and support this excellent arts venue. read more

I love the Lowry for several reasons. Firstly, it is a fantastic theatre. Located outside the city centre in Salford Quays, it doesn't quite get all the big commercial productions and musicals but it does have some absolutely fantastic productions, some of which I have been incredibly lucky to see and always at a great place. The theatre is blackbox style so it lends itself to any production, it's very modern and has very comfortable seating too. Prices are very reasonable and transport from the city centre is very easy via the Metrolink tram. They also have a huge amount of parking based just accross the pavillion at the Lowry Designer Outlet. Obviously the Lowry is predominantly an art gallery, not something I'm hugely interested in myself but I have recommended it to people who are and they've always said good things. The other thing about the Lowry is that is also an event space too. I went to a charity ball here last year and it was absolutely amazing. We started with a champagne reception in one of the galleries which was very unique before moving upstairs to our suite which was at the top of the iconic building, overlooking the quays on a beautiful summer evening. The wall to wall windows made it so you had panoramic views as the sun went down, it was spectacular. The service provided was fantastic, the food was great and we raised a ton of money for charity so it really was a great night. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone looking to host an event/special occasion in the city, it suits all needs. read more

I don't really know how to write a review on a place like the Lowry, but I'll try. The theatres are theatres, but clean with enough leg room. Its a great venue for comedians of which I have seen three here, and also dance shows. The Lowry exhibit is fab, but the best part of this place is the part next to Lowry's exhibit which changes every couple of months. Most of the displays I have seen here over the past couple of years have been photographs. And they are free to see but they do ask for donations. Even if you aren't interested in photographs or art you get a good view over the new Media City across the way. (See not a good review). The food at the bar is excellent but be warned it gets extremely busy on show nights - obviously. Salford residents can get a Lowry Card which gets discounts to certain performances and discounts in the bar and coffee shop. read more

Never really looked at any Lowry before but I very much enjoyed the 'Favourites'. Compelling works with a lovely blend of simplicity, abstractity and precise observation. Well worth visiting and coming back more than once. read more

I love multi- arts and and entertainment spaces. I really am a sucker for them. Now I demand at least a theatre, bar, art gallery, restaurant and shop. So here we have the Lowry, the jewel in the crown of the Salford Quays re-development which holds a special place in my heart for two reasons. One. I studied Salford Quays in GCSE Geography and even went on a field trip to sketch the new offices, flats and the shopping centre in all their glory. Two. Lowry (the local painter, if you didn't know) patted my mother on the head once when she was a child and they lived on the same street. Ok, lets concentrate/ back to the Lowry itself from those dizzying heights of family fame. It's a controversial building - make up your own mind when you first realise, yes that is the building in which you will see La Boheme or The Nutcracker or whatever it is. I was once lucky enough to see a restoration drama from the second row: and from all the spitting I could see I developed a new found respect for those who take to the stage. Just how do they carry on? Salford Quays is definitely day out material, so just make sure you've booked your evening's entertainment at the Lowry and you're set. And you never know, in a few years time they may be sharing the Royal Opera's House's Northern programme if they fight hard enough for it over the coming months. read more

Overall, the Lowry galleries are a little disappointing and the two sets of visitors I have taken there also seemed underwhelmed, so much so that I probably won't take anyone else unless it's for a performance [UPDATE: I saw an operetta here performed by the fabulous Opera della Luna and it was GREAT - really nice staff ushering and at the bar as well]. Two main issues: 1) The collection of Lowry paintings, sketches and other material is outstanding. The works are luminously beautiful. However, the space is pretty terrible. Some of the rooms are particularly awful - cramped, dark red rooms, dark lighting so that you can barely see the paintings/cast your own shadow over them. They need rooms with higher ceilings, light walls and more space to appreciate each piece, in my opinion. Perhaps there is some curatorial reason for doing it like this but as a uninformed member of the general public I can't imagine what. 2) The two other exhibitions I've seen there have been a bit sub par. I love galleries and am rarely disappointed by any exhibition, however one in particular really lacked interest - it sounded like it was going to be about local music history, which would certainly be a rich subject, but it was really about various random Mancunians reminiscing about this one time they met someone famous. Maybe they were trying to do something different but I did not think it came off well. All this said, if you like Lowry this is a must see because his paintings are just about the best thing ever. read more

A great theatre facility with several theaters under one roof. The largest is the Lyric Theatre and modern with great acoustics and comfortable seats... Yes comfy seats! Woop woop!!! There is a costa coffee inside and a full bar service. In the neighbouring mall lots of restaurant choice too. Great location with the tram (Metrolink) stop of MediaCityUK on the doorstep. read more

The Lowry - Music Venues Near Me - Salford, XGM

Went to the Lowry for the first time last week to see* the inimitable Tim Minchin. I'd never been to Salford keys before and generally quite impressed by the scale of the place and the nice stroll it affords you. The Lowry itself is a strange place. If I was trying to come over all cultured in my criticisms I'd say that it looks like a cubist painting brought to life. But I'm not so I'll say it looks like the Venga bus has crashed into a Charlie Chalks. It's all acute angles and primary colours and the bar, though in possession of a lovely view, has all the flair and charisma of a Gordon Brown speech. Saying that it is at least an interesting space to walk around as, with barely a right angle in view, you always end up somewhere other than where you thought you were going! The actual theatre is much more intimate than I expected, and every seat has a good view of the stage. The one minor change I'd make would be to take out the end seat on each row where it meets the wall- it would have spare me the embarrassment of making everyone to my right stand up each time I needed the loo. (*for 'see' read 'gawp in envious amazement'- Tim you're a bad man and you've crushed my spirit with your mighty talent!) read more

The Lowry - Music Venues Near Me - Salford, XGM

The Lowry theatre gets a good selection of touring productions. The main theatre has a large audience capacity and you get the feel that you are in an Arts centre rather than just a theatre building because of the gift shop and the other exhibitions on show - a creative hub if you will. It's location allows for a romantic feel as it's right beside the river. This is contrasted with the big Christmas festival productions and family activities so it's inclusive of everyone. The building itself is really impressive and is a beautiful structure - definitely worth a touristy picture. There are a plethora of bars and cafes in the vicinity it can become an expensive night at the theatre if you make a real go of it. read more

The Lowry is one of the flagship venues of the city of Salford and its very modern, angular design sits nicely alongside the Imperial War Museum and soon to be accompanied by BBC's MediaCity to make this area a centre of cultural excellence. Although I had seen one theatrical performance here a couple of years ago, I was here only last week for my graduation ceremony so got to enjoy the food on offer at the restaurant found on the ground floor over looking the water front. The venue is massive although if you are up on the top gallery it's a bit of a steep view overlooking the stage. The food in the restaurant was very nice -sounds bad doesn't it, nice. But it was, the lamb was a little over cooked for my personal taste but was very delicious while the Nicoise salad was very tasty, a good portion of Tuna steak and delicious dressing. read more

I've been to The Lowry a few times, when it first opened to the exhibitions and since to see 'Animal Farm, 'Slava's Snowshow' and then last night to see 'A Comedy of Errors'. The building itself is pretty cool and the interior if a little baffling at times is quirky. I really like it here. Can't really remember that much about the exhibitions was so long ago, should really try to get there to see them again sometime. Lets face it given the namesake it's going to have some of the North's favourite artists best pieces at least! The theatre is great, not too big, so no matter where you sit you always seem to get a good view. Also if you park in the outlet mall remember to hit at least one of the shops before heading over the theatre as they will validate your parking ticket for you if you buy something, lets face it you'd rather another pair of socks and free parking rather than pay the £5 or so it'd cost otherwise. (The theatre don't validate tickets as far as I know) read more

The Lowry is a lovely place. Its just out of town but you can easliy drive or get the tram right outside. I have seen a few music events, comedy and performance events here. Staff are lovely, its a clean, elegant place and has a lovely atmosphere. read more

It's strange to think that The Lowry has been around for ten years. I still think of it as being quite new and I suppose it is when compared with many of Manchester's theatres and galleries. The iconic ship-like building with its striking silver exterior and bright interior walls houses two theatres, the Lyric and the Quays. Tucked away at one end of the building the Quays theatre is my favourite space. Small and intimate it provides a great venue for some of the less high profile events. Over the last decade I've seen a number of plays and shows here and have never been disappointed. We always try to arrive a little earlier when possible, to allow time for a quick drink. The Terrace Bar overlooks the quay and is an ideal venue for pre-show drinks. Though I've never eaten here, a restaurant and café provide all day snacks and pre and after show meals. In addition to the theatres, The Lowry provides gallery and exhibition spaces. Alongside the changing exhibitions of contemporary art and photography you can view the work of LS Lowry, the venue's namesake. If you're visiting Manchester make sure you check out the website to see what's showing. It makes a great evening out, away from the hustle and bustle of the city's pubs and clubs. read more

The Lowry is a nice place to visit for half a day or so. The outlet centre is good but won't satisfy those Trafford centre worshippers as there aren't that many shops there. There are some nice places to eat and drink including an all you can eat Chinese and Lime is always worth a visit as they do some fantastic dishes. The Lowry itself is a good place to look around, as well as having Lowry paintings and a video of his life there are always special exhibitions on. The waterfront makes for a lovely walk if the weather is dry. read more

The Lowry Theatre is impressively designed and comfortable, and very deserving of a place alongside Manchester's other historic theatres. On the downside, it is the most expensive theatre I've visited in the region. I'd normally expect to pay no more than £15 and sometimes as low as £10 for a straight play, but at the Lowry I've paid in excess of £20. Having said that, the programme is excellent, with a variety of shows on offer, from dramas and comedies to musicals, kids' shows and concerts. The surroundings are pleasant, with the Lowry gallery, a few shops, cafe and bars in the same complex, and the Lowry Outlet Mall nearby if you fancy a bit of shopping. read more

The Lowry is a magnificent modern building which hosts a range of theatre, art and educational events. The main theatre is a clean and modern area which is very comfortable to watch a performance from. The gallery space is equally appropriate. The location on the Salford Quays, although perhaps not wonderfully picturesque on a drizzly Manchester afternoon is a beautiful setting in the evening when the Quay is lit up. There is a bar, restaurant and shop available in the Lowry should you wish to spend a little longer there before a performance, and there is ample parking available under the Lowry shopping mall. read more

Shopping at the Lowry is really good. For some reason it never seems to be that busy but I think that's a good thing. I was able to walk round without being flustered by other people. I have used the park & ride and parked at the car park and had no problems with either. I'd recommend the park and ride as the traffic around the area can be hectic. It also means that you could go to Manchester as well without incurring any parking fees. As previous reviews state you do need to spend over £5 to get the free parking (not something I found to be a problem!). read more

The Lowry is a great way to spend an afternoon, and an impressive structure for anyone visiting the area and wanting a slice of Manchester's art history. Not only does it house a collection of the great artists work, but also a theatre for various different acts to appear attracting a varied range of people. After spending some time perusing the artwork, there is a café and gift shop. The Lowry is right opposite the Lowry Outlet Mall, where you can enjoy a drink in one of the bars or a meal in the many restaurants. Or maybe even enjoy all the discounted shops on offer. There is four hours free parking with any purchase here so plenty of time to enjoy the Lowry and the shopping! read more

The Lowry Art Gallery is a must see for anybody visiting Manchester. The selection of art works by the Gallery's namesake is impressive, and really gives the visitor a feel for Manchester life. It is free to enter the art gallery, but a £3 donation is welcomed. As well as the selection of works, there is also a short video explaining the life of Lowry, which is quite fascinating. The art gallery is also a theatre, showing various productions throughout the year particularly at Christmas time. There is a small café and gift shop within the gallery, but if you want a place to chill out after your visit, go to one of the many bars and restaurants within the Lowry Outlet Mall which is opposite. If you park within the Mall you can benefit from four hours free parking, allowing you plenty of time to mooch around the gallery, the various shops and then take in some lunch afterwards. read more

The Lowry contains two restaurants, two theatres and an art gallery. The building itself is an interesting, cutting edge structure that may not be to everyone's taste, but no one could deny that it's impressive looking. However, some of the interiors have become a little tired looking over the last few years. The theatre's usually host high-quality touring production, while the art gallery displays are changed regularly. read more

Good for: Living up to it's 'Vision is to be the most successful Arts Venue in the world' Bad for: Living up to it's 'Vision is to be the most successful Arts Venue in the world' read more

It's not very often I go to a gig and get to drink good wine out of an actual wine glass - made out of actual glass, but this was just one of many touches that madeThe Lowry Theatre in Salford, with its sophisticated and civilised atmosphere, the perfect venue for Laura Marling's performance on Monday, as part of her tour promoting her new album, 'I Speak Because I Can'. The Lowry is an impressive building situated at the end of Salford Quays, so to get there, I would recommend getting the Met and taking the beautiful walk along the edge of the water. The venue itself plays host to everything from standup to ballet, and its sheer size made it seem almost too grand for a gig. (Curtain calls for a support band?) The architecture on the inside is amazing, full of large curves and bright colours, while the huge glass windows give fantastic views out over the Quays. The auditorium itself has a great layout; the seats are comfortable and the semi-circle shape made the gig feel intimate despite the size. Throughout the show, the stage was kept dark and the audience managed to keep the hysterical 'We love you Laura!'s to a minimum, so the focus was completely on the music. As nice as it was to sip wine overlooking the water during the breaks between bands, cheap The Lowry bar ain't, and getting up to go anywhere during the show meant receiving a chorus of tuts and shushes. So, using a theatre as a gig venue has its drawbacks. There are, however, enough venues serving overpriced lager by the barrel, and I found it refreshing to go to a gig where everyone stayed quiet and listened, because it was certainly worth listening to. The sound quality was excellent, as you would expect from a proper theatre, and the atmospheric lighting made for a haunting stage show that perfectly suited Laura Marling's new, mature sound, and helped to make it the best performance I have seen from her yet. read more

A really good arts building, comparing this to other similar venues around the country it's arguably better but it's in the wrong place, it's quite quiet around the quays so lacks atmosphere esp at night however the Lowry art gallery and special exhibitions are always good to go and visit. The theatre has a lot of things on to cover a wide range of interests and there's some good coffee and food options. The staff there are also very helpful read more

Register for ticket alerts & snap them up for £10 if you are quick & don't mind making last minute bookings. This doesn't always mean you will be sat at the back - I was at Dawn French in Dec '14 & we were sat in the circle with a perfect view. What a great deal - makes the theatre so much more accessible to people on a budget. read more

My only experience at this bizarre silver space ship plunked right on the water's edge was a shabby one. A sweaty, over-eager Junior PM, or so he called himself, wanted to get pizza. He really nickel and dimed me, then showed off about his exploits of being a Junior PM, then made me take a cab instead of a bus and stuck me with the tab. Hmph. I could have been home eating McVittie's digestives and playing Bust a Move on my computer instead. read more

Classy theatre/art centre in the Media City part of Salford Quays. Situated next to a shopping outlet centre with national chain restaurants and on the dock. Pleasant feeling in pleasant surroundings. read more

Nice art but there wasn't much to look at to be honest. It took me only 15 minutes to admire Lowry's art (just on one floor) which was disappointing. I expected more and since it was a hot day outside I thought they would switch on the AC but it was soo humid and warm inside. However, at least it was admission free :) read more

Built on former dockland in Salford Quays, The Lowry opened in 2000 and is probably the best looking building in Salford (might be harsh to say that's not hard.) It houses three theatres - the Lyric Theatre, which holds over 1500 and is used for big productions as well as for Salford schools events. The Quays Theatre is a smaller, more intimate venue which hosts many stand-up comedians and acoustic musicians. There is also a smaller Studio space upstairs. The building also houses a large collection of Lowry paintings and other artwork in its own dedicated gallery. If you can get past the slightly garish purple and orange colour scheme, it's certainly well worth a visit for fans of the visual arts. read more