The worst experience I've ever had going to an organised event…read more Unfortunately I have to carry epi pens and other such items in a back pack for my health which I was told to ditch or throw away by the head of security after my bag was checked three times by other security and a drug/bomb dog. Had life saving medication on and the guy didn't care, I either threw my bag away (£70) as he wasn't letting me in with it. It could have been rolled up and put into the black bag I was given by one of his subordinates after he stormed off like a child. He also said that women were allowed in with theirs as their bags are "fashionable" accessories. I'm sorry but mine saves my life!!! I went to see a comedy show, this wasn't the start I wanted and hated my experience/night that I paid good money for. I lost my £70 bag as it wasn't there when I came out. Head of security needs some more training

No more trekking over to Manchester to see anyone remotely decent is the hope…read more I'd had my reservations going in, from the outside I think it looks somewhat like a little bit of a monstrosity, but once inside that's forgotten - the First Direct Leeds Arena has arrived, and it's goooood. So very very goooood. The build quality and the finish on the place is fantastic and when you couple that with the really helpful staff they've managed to find somewhere, my feeling is that the Arena is brilliant. I was lucky enough to be the guest (albeit paid) of Gaucho and in their box, and again much like the whole of the Arena, the finish quality is fantastic, kitted out with fridges, sofas, comfy chairs and then a bank of arena seating for when the acts come on. The Cadbury chocolate which was branded for the act was a nice touch too. Holding only 13,000 people it's apparently a 'small' arena, and that's a good thing for me because as someone who loves going to gigs but really cant abide standing 800 metres away from who you're watching, the idea of the arena held thoughts of being too far away to see the act. This isn't the case, and with 13,000 people it still almost feels intimate. I can honestly say that I'm really looking forward to seeing who it attracts, because it really is top notch, it really should bring Leeds some great, really big acts. And yes, I'm really looking forward to not having to trek over to Manchester too. Also, Elton John totally rocked on the official opening night.

This is the home of Darlington football club, a 25,000 capacity stadium built by George Reynolds…read morewho swore to take the club all the way to the Premiership from the 3rd division.Sadly he only took us to the play offs at Wembly where we lost; that was the beginning of the end of for George as results and the crowd turned against him. But he saved the club from extinction and left us with a marvelous stadium that recently saw a great concert from Elton John with others in the pipeline. The club are involved with the community and hold classes for youngsters who are struggling at school. With facilities for functions such as weddings and a wonderful restaurant open on most nights and Sunday afternoon; the club are looking to the future and have plans to build a training ground and hotel with links to a province in China for future trade.

I love the pavilion - it is a great sports venue and caters for all age ranges from the childrens…read moreparties and fitness classes ran in school holidays to the gym and fitness classes, tournaments, and OAP classes. Check out the teesactive.co.uk website for details of all the facilities this place offers. I am a gym member and the gym is great - it was recently refurbished and has top of the line new machines and well trained staff to help you get the best out of your gym sessions. If you get a monthly gym membership (lots of packages on offer) all the fitness classes here, and at the Forum as well as the swimming pools in billingham, thornaby and stockton are included at no extra charge. Well worth the subscription you pay and it is reasonably priced unlike some gyms in the area.

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As you would expect from a music venue really, a little walk out of the main centre (up hill from…read morethe train station, so prepare to be out of breath if you're running late!), expensive bar as per (drink before and after, I vote after party on call lane, or 52% frankly), better value, nicer drinks. Sticky floor as per, toilets you'd rather avoid, as per, but the stage is great, the sound is always pretty good. One thing I wasn't very happy about on my most recent trip there (my fellow gig goer even more than me), I know security is very important, but to make me chuck away things I needed for medical reasons, not even just a case of shoving them in the coat check area until later, was a bit of a gripe. It's never amazingly organised, and it is a bit of a pest to find your way around, but that's all sort of the gig experience that hasn't changed since I was a teen metal head!

The O2 Academy, previously the Carling Academy, and even more previously the awful club Creation,…read moreis a welcome addition to a city lacking a music arena. While the 15000 seater Leeds arena is being constructed, the academy has played host to the biggest music acts to come to the city in recent years - the autumn 2009 line-up for example, includes David Guetta, Massive Attack, and The Cribs, revealing the wide range of genres attracted to playing here. It's a good, if tiny, venue for acts of such magnitude, as two and a half thousand sweaty revellers are packed into very little space ensuring a proper gig-style atmosphere. Less impressive however, are the Academy's standard nights, such as Pet Sounds on a Saturday. While drinks are cheap and the music is good if you're into indie, the set-up of the venue just doesn't really work as a nightclub. One huge room with a sticky stained carpet means that it feels more like a high school disco than anything else. This is an aspect of the Academy that you fail to notice when you're watching a band play, but something that becomes hugely evident when there's nothing but booze and a DJ to occupy you.

If you spend the night at my place and your clothing ends up strewn across the floor, I won't mind…read morethat you left your Bra in My Hall. (brainmyhall) as long as your Lane down in my bed. In fact this stadium is named after the concept... Brainmyhall Lane. First-Hand Experience: More info about my personal experience at this stadium - I absolutely love Bramall Lane. It's infinitely better than Hillsborough, the other Sheffield stadium. I've seen Oxford play here (and get beaten) a long time ago, but recently I saw a Sheffield home game in League Two, and the fans were just as loud as any Prem stadium! They're such amazing passionate fans and this is just such a cauldron. I've seen maybe 3 games here and can't wait to go to a 4th, probably in 2016. I have pictures of my time here and will always consider a part of me a SUFC supporter because of these intense experiences. I've been to most UK & US stadiums, due to lifelong obsessions with travel, sport & especially footy (soccer to Americans). Born & raised in England, I followed Oxford United (hometown team) to stadia all over the country at away games, and later Liverpool (fave team) around. Every stadium review - like all my reviews - are from first-hand personal experience, usually from several visits. In 2011, I was on music tour in the UK, and visited most stadiums for fun in my spare time. As recently as Fall 2014, when I was "stuck" in UK for 3 months, I went to hundreds yet again while travelling. I have pictures of me at most, which I'll post later. Also, when back in UK I'll take more pix, and add more stadia! *** return to regular review *** This is one of the best stadiums in England, easily. It's loud, obnoxious, intense, modern and rebuilt, but old and historical. It's closed in, it's beautiful, it's fantastic. I don't even particularly love Sheffield United, but they have a hell of a tradition, a hell of a support, and a hell of a team. The Blades. Bramall holds 32k people and gets intense crowds for sure. It's right near town and is a wonderful place to watch footy. It was built way the hell back in 1855 too so it's one of the oldest grounds in the UK. Back in those days, rent for the ground was 70 pounds a year... haha. 1862 was the first footy game... Sheffield FC vs Hallam FC. England have played here 5 times. There are 10 or 12 other reviews for this stadium, but they are incorrectly under the club page for SUFC. Hopefully theywill be moved over here soon.

Edgeley Park is a very Edgy Park in that all of the boys and all of the girls in this park tend to…read morewatch football in the nude. At least in my dreams they do. First-Hand Experience: More info about my personal experience at this stadium - I used to live just down the road from here in Chorlton Cum Hardy and my friend Derek used to live right by this ground. When I was a kid, I saw one game here, and then as an adult, one more in 2007. It's a fantastic, huge, intense, passionate crowd and ground, and I look forward to seeing another one. I hope they get back into the league very soon. I've been to most UK & US stadiums, due to lifelong obsessions with travel, sport & especially footy (soccer to Americans). Born & raised in England, I followed Oxford United (hometown team) to stadia all over the country at away games, and later Liverpool (fave team) around. Every stadium review - like all my reviews - are from first-hand personal experience, usually from several visits. In 2011, I was on music tour in the UK, and visited most stadiums for fun in my spare time. As recently as Fall 2014, when I was "stuck" in UK for 3 months, I went to hundreds yet again while travelling. I have pictures of me at most, which I'll post later. Also, when back in UK I'll take more pix, and add more stadia! *** return to regular review *** Easily the best and biggest stadium outside the Conference Premier and Football League, and hopefully it won't be for long. The once-mighty Stockport County play here, and were in League One for awhile. See my review on this team for more info. This stadium holds over 10k people and as lifelong fan Jonny says, has excellent pies. Unless they've ran out of them, in which case you'd have to ask, who ate all the pies? Probably the Geordies. Or Mike Ashley. Or both. This is a real stadium and a real English football experience, unlike the commercial corporate overpriced Manchester giants, so give it a go and see what you think of "the way it used to be." Yer avin a larf.

I have to give the hallowed turf and spiritual home of Stockport County a five star rating…read more I've been coming to Edgeley Park since I was a wee nipper and the only thing that's changed is a slightly more crumbled stadium, a scoreboard that makes its own mind up of when it's going to work and a slow and painful drop for the team through 5 divisions in 10 years. But - this is real football! If you can't afford to attend Utd or City each week and want to enjoy the pints in the pub beforehand, the banter on the terrace and the fact that you can meet and chat to the players before and after the game, then Edgeley Park is the place to be each Saturday. County are now in the Conference North, playing teams that get around 10-20% of the 4000 a week attendance we get, so the 2013-2014 season could be a good place to start for anyone up for a bit of glory hunting At £15 to get in and a little over £3 a pint (with local brewery Robinsons well stocked - just make sure you sit in the Cheadle End) it's a cost effective place to enjoy a few hours each week. The pies aren't half bad as well, as everyone who I meet for the first time tells me once I say I'm a County fan - just ask the Geordies I know who attend about 4 times a year and can't wait for their lunch time treat at half time!

Trent Bridge, the home of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club, is a world famous cricketing…read morelandmark. Recognised as one of the finest cricket venues across the globe, it has acted as host for county and Test cricket since 1838 and is the world's third oldest Test ground. It can now host 17,000 people on a match day and is regularly sold out for Test and One-day Internationals, as well as offering many other facilities to visitors and guests from around Nottingham and further afield. The stewarding is friendly and helpful, the bars plentiful and efficient, and there is a good cricket shop. The Club Library houses a terrific collection of books and you can while away time there if rain should intervene.

Trent Bridge is a great place to whittle away the hours watching both international and domestic…read morecricket. With a capacity of 17,500 (after the new stand was erected) the grounds are certainly not small in stature but it is able to maintain its friendly and welcoming nature which is helped by the many staff and stewards who are on site. Although I'm not the biggest cricket fan around, I have been here several times with my partner and have still always enjoyed the whole experience. It does seem to be particularly exciting when Trent Bridge plays host to Test cricket.