Bowlers Exhibition Centre

The Bowlers Exhibition Centre, also known as the BEC Arena, is situated in Trafford Park on the outskirts of Manchester. It is a large multi-purpose venue that hosts music festivals and club nights, exhibitions, fan conventions, sporting events, fairs and corporate events.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the venue and tell you about past and upcoming events.

General description

The Bowlers Exhibition Centre is hardly your average exhibition hall. The venue is designed to accommodate a variety of formats and can be reconfigured to suit the event. It comprises four arenas, the Cantina Space Bar, an outdoor car park area, loading bays and technical facilities for large-scale events. The organisers also provide audio and visual equipment, security and an event manager.

• The main Arena 1 has a floor area of 2,960 m² and a height of 6 m. It is the largest venue at the BEC Arena and features a column-free space. It is used to host concerts, exhibitions, conferences and sporting events.
• Arena 2 covers 1,400 m² and is suitable for small music events, retail areas, food courts, and additional spaces during exhibitions.
• Arena 3 is considerably more compact: 700 m² with dimensions of 35 × 20 m. It is used as a retail area, a venue for photo shoots, autograph sessions or catering.
• Arena 4 covers a further 252 m² and can also be used to set up small specialised areas.

The total exhibition area is 7,850 m². The organisers state separately that the capacity for events ranges from 300 to 4,500 people.

The Cantina Space Bar holds a special place – a fantastic replica of the space cantina from "Star Wars", it is unlike any other bar in the UK. The perfect venue for private events, VIP receptions, cocktail parties, after-parties and much more, the Cantina Space Bar also serves as a stunning "Star Wars"-themed escape room.

Venue Hire

BEC Arena offers venues for a wide variety of events. Organisers can choose from individual arenas or combinations of several spaces. The venue can be used for exhibitions, conferences, presentations, corporate events, concerts, sporting events, markets and fan conventions.

There is also an open-air area that can be used for film shoots, family events, charity events and exhibitions. This unique space is a blank canvas that can be transformed to create the perfect outdoor event for the client.

For organisers, the venue provides loading bays, a 400-amp three-phase power supply, free Wi-Fi, a public address system, bars and technical support. Catering, a ticket office, security and cleaning services can also be arranged on site. 24-hour access to the venue is available by prior arrangement.

The rental cost is not fixed; it depends on the premises selected, the duration of the event and the services required. To obtain a quote, BEC Arena recommends contacting the lettings department directly.

Cultural significance and events

The Bowlers Exhibition Centre (BEC Arena) plays a vital role in Manchester’s cultural life. Over the decades, it has evolved from a legendary nightlife venue into one of the city’s most versatile event spaces.

The 1990s rave era

• A pioneer of electronic music: In the 1990s, ‘Bowlers’ became a cornerstone of the British rave and dance scene, attracting thousands of electronic music fans.
• Iconic club nights: This venue regularly hosted legendary rave events.
• The tradition continues: Even after its modernisation, the BEC Arena remains the top choice for large-scale dance events, such as the multi-hall festivals Slammin’ Vinyl and Compulsion NYE.

Fan conventions and festivals

Today, this venue is widely known as a host for large-scale pop culture fan conventions, particularly those organised by Monopoly Events.

Regular highlights include Comic Con Manchester, For the Love of Horror and For the Love of Wrestling.

Sporting events

Professional boxing: The arena has a rich sporting history, having hosted high-profile boxing matches such as the historic title fight between Ashley Crawford and Carl Thompson on 31 October 1989.

Today, the complex remains a major venue for local sport, hosting professional tournaments in MMA and Muay Thai (such as the Hitman Fight League) as well as amateur boxing events.

Upcoming events (2026 – 2027)

• 18 October 2026 – Submission Series 23 (Jiu-Jitsu & Grappling tournament);
• 24 October 2026 – Manchester Adored (Indie & Electronic music festival);
• 31 October 2026 – Sidewinder Halloween Festival (UK Garage, Bass & Urban music event);
• 7 – 8 November 2026 – Damnation Festival 2026 (Europe's largest indoor metal festival);
• 14 – 15 November 2026 – For the Love of Horror (Major horror-themed fan convention);
• 28 November 2026 – Cage Warriors Manchester (Professional MMA tournament);
• 29 November 2026 – Cage Warriors Academy (Amateur MMA showcase);
• 12 December 2026 – RnB Winter Ball featuring Jagged Edge (Live concert);
• 12–13 December 2026 – Manchester Card Show & Free From Festival (Trading cards & Healthy food exhibition);
• 30 – 31 January 2027 – For the Love of the Force (Star Wars fan convention);
• 6 – 7 February 2027 – For the Love of Wrestling (Wrestling fan convention & star meet-ups);
• 13 – 14 February 2027 – For the Love of Time & Space (Doctor Who themed convention);
• 20 – 21 February 2027 – For the Love of Vampire Diaries UK (Vampire Diaries cast convention);
• 6 March 2027 – For the Love of Anime (Anime & Japanese culture festival);
• 24 – 25 July 2027 – Comic Con Manchester (The region's biggest pop culture fan event).

Contact details and location

Telephone: +44 (0)161 876 0007

Email: [email protected]

Address: Longbridge Rd, Trafford Park, Manchester M17 1SN

How to get there

• By car: The complex is just a 2-minute drive from Junction 9 on the M60 motorway (next to The Trafford Centre shopping and leisure complex). It takes about 15 minutes (around 3 miles) from Manchester city centre.
• Tram (Metrolink): Get off at Parkway. It’s about a 15 – 20-minute walk from there to the complex.

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