Ariana Grande fans share outrage after they were stopped from entering Manchester gig despite having tickets

Ariana Grande fans have shared their outrage after they were refused entry to the star’s Manchester Pride concert, despite having tickets.

The US singer was welcomed back to Manchester two years after a suicide bomber killed 22 people at her concert in Manchester Arena.

She told her audience she was "completely overwhelmed" following her performance on Sunday, but some devastated ticket-holders were unable to join in the celebrations due to a strict “last entry” time.

Manchester Pride Live tweeted a notice to revellers on Sunday afternoon, warning: “Last entry to Manchester Pride Live is at 19:00. All stages have a managed capacity so please arrive early if you want to see a specific artist.”

Ariana Grande - In pictures

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But furious customers complained this had not been made clear to them in advance of the event, which took place at an outdoor venue in the city centre.

“No mention of last entry being 7pm on tickets despite what staff at gates say,” wrote one Twitter user. “No one who knows anything is available to speak to. This is an absolute joke and I expect a full refund.”

“No warning. Nothing on tickets, email, Twitter or anything. Fans travelled £80 and travelled across country. Nobody from company showing face at gate. Unacceptable and illegal,” commented another.

“There’s hundreds of paying ticket holders outside you gig tonight unable to get in due to @FGHSECURITYLTD! #ManchesterPride,” added another.

Another said she had travelled four hours from Glasgow just to see Cheryl Cole and Ariana Grande.

“Not even a screen set up outside the venue to stream the performance - would be better than nothing for customers who have paid hard earned money to attend your poorly managed event,” she tweeted.

However, the event organisers have insisted they only had to turn away "away approximately 30 people" who arrived after 7pm "or left the site before and tried to come back".

The 26-year-old was headlining the annual Pride celebrations following a two-year hiatus.

She last appeared in the city in June 2017 at the One Love concert, which she organised to raise money for the emergency fund after the deadly attack at her show at Manchester Arena the previous month.

Twenty-two people, including seven children, died when suicide bomber Salman Abedi detonated a device as concert-goers began leaving Grande's show at the city centre arena on May 22, 2017.

Addressing the crowds on Sunday night she said: "I'm so happy to be with you, so thank you for having me.

“Sorry, I'm so nervous. I had so much more to say but I'm really very overwhelmed. So thank you."

Crowds gather at the Manchester Pride festival on Sunday
REUTERS

She played a shortened version of the set from her current world tour, but unlike at other recent shows, this included her 2014 single One Last Time, which has become an anthem to the arena attack.

The star has previously said she experienced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after the bombing.

In June 2017, Manchester City Council put forward plans to make her an honorary citizen, but a council spokesman told the BBC there was no time in her schedule to bestow the honour during her latest visit.

She has already played three dates at London's O2 Arena as part of her current tour, and will go on to perform in Birmingham, Glasgow and Sheffield before returning for two more shows at the O2 in October.

Grande posted a message on Twitter ahead of her Pride slot, saying: "On our way to manchester pride.

"Love u so much. can't wait to give u all our love.

“You're my heart in every way. see u soon."

A participant, draped in an LGBT flag, stands in front of a mural of singer Ariana Grande at Manchester Pride
REUTERS

Manchester Pride Live responded to ticket holders' complaints about the star's performance in a statement to the Standard.

It read: "Manchester Pride Live was an element of Manchester Pride Festival which is a multi site event. The festival ticket gained guests access to performances with managed capacities across the Mayfield site and the Gay Village and was not to see one artist.

"The last entry time of 7pm at Manchester Pride Live was published on our website and in the terms and conditions when purchasing tickets. We also promoted the closure via social media across the weekend.

"We had to turn away approximately 30 people who arrived after this time or left the site before and tried to come back."

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