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Bridgewater Hall, Manchester

Fri 11 Jun 2004, 18:30

Contacts

Last minute contacts on the day should be made direct to staff of the Bridgewater Hall:
Tel: 0161 950 0000

North-West@open.ac.uk

Address

The Bridgewater Hall
Manchester
M2 3WS

Phone number

0161 950 0000

Website

http://www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk

The location

Manchester

As one of Britain's major cities, Manchester receives hundreds of thousands of visitors each year from all over the world. Famous for television's 'Coronation Street', Boddingtons Bitter, magnificent Victorian warehouses and hosts to the enormously successful Commonwealth Games in 2002, Manchester is a bustling cosmopolitan city.

There are many attractions in the Manchester area, for a flavour of some of these visit: http://www.manchester.com/java/guidebook/attractions/home.html

Bridgewater Hall

The Bridgewater Hall is a state-of-the-art international concert venue in the heart of Manchester. It acts as a base for the Halle Orchestra, as well as playing host to many concerts and shows by visiting international orchestras, comedy, jazz and popular music artists.

The Hall itself is a striking addition to the Manchester scene. Inside, the Hall's Marcussen Pipe Organ towers over the auditorium. Outside, the spectacular glass prow provides views over the new canal basin.

http://www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk

Overnight stay

The Choice Hotels Europe Group, in association with The Open University, is offering special weekend rates to students attending graduation ceremonies, at a wide range of Quality Hotels and Comfort Inns.

For further information, or to make a booking, telephone the Central Reservations Line: 0800 444 444 (+44 (0) 20 7808 5600). Remember to quote the special 'Open University Graduation Day' code number: 58667.

In addition to this, Manchester has a wide range of guest houses and hotels. The Virtual Manchester website lists some of these:

http://www.manchester.com/java/guidebook/accommodation/index.php

Getting there

By car

Manchester is well served by the motorway network: M6 from Birmingham, Preston and London; M56 from Chester; M62 from Liverpool; M61 Bolton; M66 from Bury and the M60 ringroad.

Parking

Please note that parking is expensive and limited in the city centre particularly on a Friday afternoon. Should you choose to bring a car, the most convenient parking to the Bridgewater Hall is the NCP central car park underneath the G-MEX centre, from which there is an undercover walkway to the hall. Central car park is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week, it is patrolled regularly and operates a CCTV surveillance system. Please take care to ensure adequate time is left for parking before arrival at the hall.

By train

Manchester has good rail connections with most parts of Britain. The main Victoria and Piccadilly stations are connected to Bridgewater Hall by the Metrolink tram system. The Bridgewater Hall is within walking distance of St Peter's Square Metrolink station and about a 10-15 minute walk from Deansgate train station.

By bus or coach

Manchester has a good bus and tram network. Use the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive's journey planner:

http://www.gmpte.gov.uk/

On the day

Arrival and registration

You are advised to arrive early and not later than 17.00. This will allow sufficient time for collection of robes and for photography. Registration will take place in the Foyer.

Robing

Robing will take place in the Charles Halle Suite from 14.30.

Details of gowns can be found under Helpful info.

The ceremony

Graduates and guests may enter the auditorium from 17.30 onwards.

Pronunciation

If your name has an unusual pronunciation that you would like to clarify for your on-stage presentation, please telephone the Ceremonies Team on 0161 998 7272 as soon as possible to ensure that the Graduate Presenter pronounces your name correctly.

Photography

The photographers will be available from 14.30 until 18:00 (scrolls are provided).

Details of the service provided by Ede and Ravenscroft Photography Ltd can be found under Helpful info.

Facilities

Refreshments

The Open University will not be providing refreshments on the day, however there are a number of outlets providing a small range of snacks (crisps, chocolate, danish pastries) and drinks on a cash sales basis within the Bridgewater Hall. In addition the Bridgewater Hall will be selling sandwich platters on the Circle Level between 11.00 am and 6.00 pm. Due to the high numbers attending, this will be a limited service and will operate in a separate seated area. Guests are asked to make their purchase at the Circle bar where they will be given a table number which allows entry into the seated area. PLEASE NOTE that there is an expectation that once guests have taken refreshment they will depart this area to allow other guests to be seated. The bars on Level 1 (Stalls Bar) and Level 3 (Circle Bar) will be open throughout the day.

Sandwich selections expected to be available are as follows:
Ham and coleslaw £4.00
Tuna and mayonnaise £4.00
Emmenthal cheese, tomato and pesto £4.00
Smoked salmon £6.00

The venue is located centrally in the city and there are many cafe bars and restaurants nearby should graduates and their guests wish to have something more substantial before or after their ceremony. In addition central Manchester has a wealth of bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants within walking distance of the venue.

Access

There are lifts to all levels. These have a voice announcer and level information in raised lettering on the control panel. Seats for wheelchairs users are available. All bars have low level counter positions.

If you or your guests require special arrangements and have not advised us, please contact Joanne Rostron at the North West Regional Centre.

All wheelchair users need to be accompanied by a helper and for safety reasons are required to remain in their chairs during the ceremony. Seating is provided in specially designated areas. The Bridgwater Hall fire regulations permit a maximum of 20 wheelchair users to attend any one event and this includes the area designated for graduate seating.

Toilets

Public toilets and a unisex disabled WC, are available on each of the four levels of the Hall.

Cloakroom

Cloakroom facilities are free but are very limited. You are asked only to bring essential items with you.

First aid

TFull first aid is provided by fully trained Bridgewater Hall staff.

Emergency evacuation

Should the need to evacuate the hall arise, an announcement will be made over the public address system. Graduates and guests will be marshalled out by Open University and Bridgewater Hall staff.

Creche

There will be no creche facilities available on the day.