'I still can't get over what two drinks and snacks cost me at new venue - madness'

The launch of Co-op Live has been riddled with problems. From the get-go, car park delays have plagued the venue and just this week, fans were made to wait in two-hour queues to see former One Direction star Niall Horan's gig.

Another common complaint from visitors is the sky-high prices for food and drink once inside the venue. With food and drink from outside prohibited, attendees are at the mercy of vendors inside the arena, many of whom charge exorbitant prices.

While it can be argued that no one is being forced to buy anything, attending gigs seems to have become more time-consuming and costly than ever. What should be a fun night out with a few drinks and a bite to eat now feels like quite the opposite as the price lists suck all the joy from the event.

When Emma Gill, an editor at Manchester Evening News, and her daughter attended the Niall Horan show, they tried to go for one of the more affordable options of just chips and soft drinks. However, when faced with the bill, Emma was less than thrilled.

"I was taken aback to discover that even this cost me £30.60," she said. 

Emma continued "We ordered loaded fries topped with barbecue pulled pork, pickled chilli and sour cream, but as you can see from the photo, the portions aren't particularly generous, especially not for £10.50 each. The soft drinks, which were actually Pepsi, were nearly £5 each."

Emma, who had spent a lengthy time queuing outside the venue, expressed her frustration with the refreshment situation: "After waiting so long to enter the venue - our queue extended far beyond the Etihad Stadium - we needed something to eat and drink. And like all such places, you're not allowed to bring your own food and drink, leaving you with little choice."

While the food inside the venue is reputed to be of good quality, boasting a range of offerings from numerous vendors, the steep pricing can dampen spirits considering what fans already shell out for the event tickets themselves. Emma revealed that a standard 330ml can of pop costs £3.80, while a pint of lager is around £8.

Not all visitors were put off by the high prices. As Emma waited for her food, she saw many concertgoers splurging on 'double pint' beers, setting them back about £16 each. She said, "If you've paid over £100 for a ticket, which is becoming increasingly common, these prices are seen as part of the experience."

Speaking about the high prices, Oak View Group's CEO Tim Leiweke described the pricing structure as comparable to other venues. This came as critics blasted prices such as £8.95 for a single pint of Guinness and £11.50 for a burger as 'an absolute joke'.