Girls Aloud at AO Arena - seating plan, set times, setlist, parking and everything you need to know

First announced back in November, Girls Aloud's long-awaited reunion is finally in full swing. If you want a sense of the appetite for this comeback, the first run of dates sold out so fast, they had to add 15 more nights.

Cheryl Tweedy, Nicola Roberts, Kimberley Walsh and Nadine Coyle kicked off ‘The Girls Aloud Show’ at the 3Arena in Dublin over the weekend, and will play Belfast tonight and tomorrow (May 20 and 21) before three huge shows at Manchester’s AO Arena on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It marks 11 years since the girl group toured and the first round of shows since the death of bandmate Sarah Harding who passed away in 2021.

Billed as a ‘celebration’ by Girls Aloud, the huge tour marks the 21st anniversary since they were voted winners of ITV’s Popstars: The Rivals. Fans who have been waiting for the tour to kick off will be hoping to hear some of their biggest hits from Sound of the Underground and The Promise to Call the Shots.

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Those who have already been lucky enough to see the four-piece back on stage have circulated videos online showing 00s nostalgia at its best, with plenty of outfit changes, lively dance routines and classics including Love Machine, Can’t Speak French and Biology. There’s moments of poignancy too with Sarah Harding commemorated through a number of tributes.

The biggest-selling girl group of the 21st century first formed on Popstars, but they’re real success followed the release of ‘Sound of the Underground’, an instant hit that took home the UK Christmas Number 1 and spent four weeks at the top. Their debut album of the same name came in 2003, followed closely by ‘What Will The Neighbours Say’, ‘Chemistry’ and a first arena tour in 2006.

Following success with their fourth album ‘Tangled’ in 2007 and a BRIT award nomination for best group in 2008, the released their final studio album, ‘Out of Control’, before announcing a hiatus in 2009. Their most recent tour of the UK and Ireland was in 2013 with Ten: The Hits Tour, before announcing their reunion this year, which is dedicated to Sarah Harding.

Who is the support act?

Support for Girls Aloud at the AO Arena will come from Florence Arnold, best known as Florrie, a singer-songwriter, drummer and model from Bristol. Linked with Xenomania - the production house, Girls Aloud’s main collaborator - she joined as their in-house drummer in 2008 and has played live and on record for stars including Kylie Minogue and Pet Shop Boys too.

Also on support will be DJ Mr. Theo, a DJ from London who will be on hand to make sure the crowd are suitably warmed up and ready to go when Girls Aloud take to the stage.

Stage times

Stage times are always subject to change and the best advice is always to get in and find your seats as soon as you can. However, we've been given a rough guide for the stage times for the show. It's worth noting they were slightly late to stage on the first night, coming on at 9.20pm and 9pm on other nights of the tour.

Stage times are:

• Doors – 6pm

• Support – 8pm-8:30pm

• Interval – 8:30pm-8:45pm

• Main Act – 8:45pm

Seating plan

For those who have been lucky enough to secure tickets, the seating plan for Manchester's AO Arena has been confirmed. On Ticketmaster website, the seating map shows standing in front of the stage and tiered seating in three sections including suites.

There is also a section immediately in front of the stage coloured in yellow for VIP tickets labelled as the Gift Wrapped Kitty Kat VIP Zone.

Girls Aloud setlist:

As a guide, we've taken a look at the setlist for the Dublin shows that took place over the weekend - and it features a staggering 20 songs, so no doubt there will be something for everyone from across the group's pop-fuelled back catalogue of hits.

Here is the setlist from the 3Arena in Dublin on Friday, 17 May:

• Untouchable

• The Show

• Something New

• Love Machine

• Can't Speak French

• Biology

• Whole Lotta History

• Wake Me Up

• Sound of the Underground

• Girl Overboard

• No Good Advice

• Graffiti My Soul

• Long Hot Summer

• I'll Stand by You

• Sexy? No No No

• On the Metro

• Jump (For my Love)

• Call the Shots

• Something Kind Ooooh

Encore:

• The Promise

Is there food and drink in the AO Arena?

There are a number of bars around the concourse of the AO Arena serving a range of drinks. In terms of food, it’s mostly bar snacks like burgers, nachos and bags of sweets and chocolates in the main public bars.

Drink prices are around £8.50 for a pint of beer, while a glass of house white, red or rose is £9 for an 187ml measure. A full bottle of wine will set you back about £35 - although there is an offer of two bottles of wine for £50 - and this would save you £14.

Meanwhile, soft drinks at the AO Arena are £5.10 or £6.20 for a large. Bottles of water are £2.70.

If you're wanting a more substantial meal before the show, then the AO Arena is located in Manchester city centre where you will find a number of bars and restaurants. The nearest food and drink hubs are The Printworks entertainment complex and The Corn Exchange which offers a range of dining options.

For those with tickets for the AO's VIP spaces, including the new Mezz, private boxes or hospitality suites, then food is likely to be included - it's best to check your T&Cs before arriving.

Is there parking at the AO Arena?

There is a large multi-storey car park based next to the AO Arena, with access through the car park to the main entrance to the venue on Trinity Way. However, after the shows, Trinity Way will be closed southbound between Great Ducie Street and Cheetham Hill Road for up to one hour, to allow concert-goers to safely exit the venue.

If you’re parking at the arena car park, you will still be allowed to exit during this closure but you will have to turn right and follow local diversions.

There are some 7,000 parking spaces at other car parks within a short walk to the arena as well.

What are the public transport options?

The AO Arena is centrally located in the city within the Manchester Victoria Train Station complex, serving both mainline trains and a tram stop. The next closest tram stops are at either Exchange Square (next to the Arndale Centre) or Shudehill (behind The Printworks and close to the Northern Quarter).

Manchester Piccadilly, which also serves a range of Greater Manchester locations is around a 15-20 minute walk away from the AO Arena.