Reviews of O2 Institute Birmingham. (Night Club) in Birmingham (West Midlands).

O2 Institute Birmingham

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343 Comments

Night club

Live music venue

78 Digbeth, Birmingham B5 6DY, United Kingdom

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Information of O2 Institute Birmingham, Night club in Birmingham (West Midlands)

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Reviews of O2 Institute Birmingham

P. W.

The institute is a great venue to catch those up and coming bands before they hit the bigger venues. Great view from all areas but the seating on the balcony is just a padded bench. This isn't an issue for us, but if you had a back issue or struggle to sit for long periods, this is not the area for you to sit. Staff are great, security are spot on and helpful. Loved the place!

C. H.

Visited recently to see Foxes perform there. This was a rescheduled performance due to covid. On arrival there were some issues queueing outside as one of the Showsec staff kept moving where everyone was queueing as he wasn't sure where we should be standing. When we got in eventually, our tickets wouldn't scan as it had been rescheduled and we had to wait 10-15 mins for a member of staff to sorry this out. The gig was in the room right upstairs. It's not that large and made for a nice intimate performance. Toilets are conveniently just outside the room and the bar is at the opposite end of the stage. Drinks however are horrendously overpriced for the venue and are around £6 per pint and tasted watered down and soft drinks not being much cheaper.

S. O.

The 02 Institute is one of the best small live music venues around. Intimate, great bars, good high stage so the little folk at the back can see!

P. S.

Went to see Duran Duran last night they were brilliant as I knew they would be .A great setting for an intimate concert everyone there a proper fan .No screens or special effects just the band doing what they do best entertaining there loyal fans ,I felt privelaged to be there

A. L.

Such a great Venu for smaller gigs, really great to be back out experiencing live music again. The venue ensured everyone was covid negative before entering the building and when an incident happened during the performance, on site medical assistance and other staff were quick to help out. Standing is available on the ground and seating above on the balcony so it's accessible for everyone. Will definitely book to go to another concert there.

A. C.

Great music venue, sound was a bit distorted Saturday night 🌙 but The Dead Daisies put on an excellent show and Glenn Hughes still has a powerhouse of a voice for a 70 year old man and the added bonus of being in a beautifully decored building ( can't think of the style at this moment lol )

A. O.

Came here for the Rina Sawayama concert and had a blast . I was in the upper balcony and it was very comfortable and the seating was cool and a bit retro. The views I got were amazing and the security staff were very lovely and ensured it was a safe night for all. Can’t wait for my next concert here

P. F.

Great venue, very friendly and helpful staff. Great views from all areas of the hall

M. L.

I found it awkward that the gig was put back an hour and we just had to wait outside, and security, although polite had to enforce the no bag bigger than a4 paper size, luckily I didn't fall foul of this but some did and were not allowed in. Apparently it's all in the t and c,s, which I never read and dont think anyone does, also, once we were in we were in! I would have planned my evening differently had i known. The band were outstanding, I have no idea why tall people stand where they must know there blocking the view tho! Nice intimate venue, have to know where to meet taxis due to roadworks

M. H.

Great place for live music. One of the smaller more intimate venue's. Went to see Ella Eyre. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

A. L.

This is the best music venue I have ever been to. The set up is perfect. The bars and toilets are so easy to get to. The security staff are the friendliest I have met. It feels intimate and special. The building has real character as well. Most of my favourite gigs have been here. I love this place that much that I commute from Leicester to see bands here.

K. M.

Nice venue but if you don't get here hours before the event or pay for top balcony you won't be seeing your act, which was disappointing. Brilliant security team tho very on the ball and good at interacting with the crowd

l. a. g.

Queues were super long in this cold weather Guys u will need to do a covid test to get in so be aware the venue was OK, u got served quickly at the bar and the queues to the toilet were not bad. They could have been a bit cleaner based on it be so covid focused But never mind I had a good time 😊

C. C.

Small venue but leaves a big impression. The staff were all really nice and I felt very safe at the venue. The venue was clean and the sound for the performance was good. Bar is a little on the expensive side as you'd expect at a music venue like this, but staff were happy to give you a cup of water whenever needed.

C. W.

Lovely venue, good view of stage all round

R. G.

Seen Jimbob here the other night, my second time visiting the 02 Institute and a great venue in my opinion, only issue here is the extortionate drink prices (but that is common with most of the 02 venues)

N. S.

I’ve visited this venue twice now (once in the big room and the other time was in the second smallest room I believe) and I can’t fault my experience! I didn’t really interact with staff during my first visit due to being on the balcony but my second time I decided to wait out for barricade and the security were amazing. they made sure to pass out water to everyone who needed it and they were kind enough to let me leave my bag and jumper on the floor during the show :) I will definitely be visiting this venue again (hopefully march 2022 👀)

E. A.

Good size venue for the concert and super accessible as just across from the train station or a short walk from the town centre. Security staff were helpful and bar staff were fast and friendly. Only suggestion is that the toilet facilities were more hygienic but nothing unusual for these events. Overall, a good venue for a gig!

K. H.

The Institute itself is a great venue bit the problem is the waiting time to get in. It took so long queuing in the rain. Doors should have opened at 7pm. We finally entered the venue at 8.40 pm and had missed the supporting band ! This is disgusting when you've paid to see a full show . Also had O2 priority but the staff weren't bothering due to roadworks. Understand that everyone has to be searched so Doors should open much earlier. Pay the staff for a couple of extra hours! It was a mess-up!

D. J.

You certainly get up close with who's on stage..two bars, but one wasn't up and running properly and the cider was off😟 good night's entertainment..when they got going..tricky to get out when full.

C. H.

Really helpful attendant who helped me and my friend who needed to sit down, find a better space. Good view of the stage from the balcony, and the queue went down really quickly due to efficient staff.

T. H.

Went to see kranium last night, which was amazing however the drink prices are a joke. I paid £17.90 for 2 single drinks. I about hit the roof when I saw my bank statement. Other then that all in all a good night

T. F.

Very busy night tonight, watching the mighty Skindred supported by Saint Agnes and Raging Speedhorn. The venue is a smaller venue and was almost impossibly full and at a girthy 6'4" I felt like a human turnstile for most of the night. The building itself is in great condition and very smart, the staff were all professional and curteous. We ended up standing to the front right of the stage, the sound here is...ok. to get the better sound experience, we would have been better off standing in the middle of the floor in front of the stage. There was no way we were getting there. I've seen LOTS of bands here over the years and I've never been disappointed. Cracking place. We were going to the aftershow party at Subside, which is across the road from The Institute and back towards the centre a bit. By the time we got there, it seemed that everyone from the gig was queuing up to get in. We ended up in The Kerryman before getting the last train home. Great night.

A. T.

One of the best venues I've been to, don't feel like you're 100 miles away from the stage and is very easy to get to and park near!

Could do with a lick of paint and it's a little grimey. Beers tasted like copper, think the pipes might need a clean. Good venue for music though.

J. G.

It's a great looking venue with loads of atmosphere as you would expect from an old theatre! We paid for balcony seating but as we were at the back of the queue there were no places left ! There were however stools at the back of the seating on the walkways and the staff ran around until they found us some !!! Great night! It was a bit difficult to park as there are major and I mean major road works going on in the area and the carpark nearest the venue was closed! We did manage to park in a side street close by but only by chance .

L. M.

First time at the Institute, great night. Duran Duran did not disappoint.

R. S.

Great intimate venue, lovely building, but a bit hot

s. h.

Went to watch the Eagles of Death Metal, having only been to the venue once (pre Covid.) Plenty of parking very close by. There was a queue but the staff were quite quick, even with checking certificates and carrying out rapid flow tests at the door! I didn't buy anything extra so can't comment. Staff inside were happy and smiling. The gig itself had a reasonable crowd, the venue is a good old style concert hall with downstairs standing and upper seating so everyone is catered for. Sound was quite good, augmented with their in house PA, safety barriers at the front give an area for security to look for people in difficulty with a crush. All in all a great night out and a venue I will return to again and again.

J. S.

Great little venue... its like a small theater.. has a balcony with seating and a standing area.. even when I was standing, i could still see everything .. bar well stocked and easy to get a drink at.. Will definitely go back here

P. P.

Great intimate venue, bit of a queue to get in, the upper balcony is pretty steep but great views.

S. T.

Went to see blue october there, it sucks when they have multiple shows on at same time and there's no signs where to queue or which doors to go through and no sheltering for people queueing outside either when it's raining otherwise its not a bad venue.

C. A.

The venue itself was great, but 2 events at the same time meant signicant queues. Nearly 2 hours to gain entry to a music event, queueing in the rain and wind was not great, stroppy and rude attendant outside completing metal detector searches but all other staff were amazing. 4 stars as weather conditions could not be controlled but the stroppy attendant could be dealt with appropriately.

Visited the venue for my first event since covid to see Rina Sawayama. Staff asked to see covid passes, welcoming venue.

P. D.

A great venue for live music. Been several times now and never been disappointed by the place.

S. T.

Nice venue, not too big, not too small....beers usual gig prices!! Sound was brilliant

S. R.

A great venue for gigs, with friendly staff. The air conditioning is pretty good for an old building as well, so you won't overheat in the crowds

A. S.

Nice sound and lighting, enjoyed the music. The venue security were rude to my girlfriend, and they let far too many people into the standing area meaning we were squashed against the back.

N. P.

Good concert venue just off city centre. Seats in balcony, standing downstairs. Right size to get close to your favourite bands.

K. L. P.

Nice place. Friendly door and bar staff. Stalls chairs not that comfy though. Didn't pay much more attention than that as was focused on the show we'd gone to see.

m. l.

No bags over a4 letter size ,doors put back an hour, once in, stay in, all probably standard but new to me, all in the t and c,s, but who reads them! so made for a long time standing waiting for the excellent Alabama 3.

T. W.

Great venue for live bands. Great sound. Just the right size to get a great view of the band. If you're not keen on all the mayhem that standing can cause then the balcony is perfect. Parking just around the corner.

C. L.

Venue hasn't changed much in 30 years but that's not a bad thing. St Etienne were good but not their best gig have seen them several times including 1993 when they were supported by Oasis !!

Decent venue! I've seen varied artists here over the years, most recently Miles Kane and then last weekend, The Game. Car park round the corner, a short walk away. The venue has a bottom floor where the stage is and then unreserved seating with balcony standing. There are toilets and a bar on both floors. I always stand in the balcony area. Its a small intimate venue and the sound is brilliant

N. G.

Small intimate place to watch live music, great location...enjoy

G. B.

Great venue. Easy access, parking nearby, clean, good staff.

A. B.

Great little venue, altho bar service was a slow.

D. W.

Great place , nice and small acoustics are very good too ,

P. F.

Went to watch a few bands, great room and atmosphere, had a great night!

E. F.

Good venue, came here to see Satyricon play. Decent sized place for a close knit gig, two bars in the hall I was in too so not everyone is crowding around one which is a neat idea. Sound was decent, lighting all good, no complaints!

M. K.

Incredible little venue love the atmosphere every time I go

G. H.

Great venue. Very intimate and close up to the stars.

S. L.

Great gig with Mike Peter's on stage the crowd wear on top form full house 🏠

M. L.

A fine venue with very professional and friendly security staff. I’ve been here a lot over the past 30+ years & it is currently in the best state of repair I can remember. The main auditorium has been restored really well. Sound and lighting are top notch too. My only gripe, as with all O2 venues is the exceptionally poor choice of beer. I always volunteer to be the designated driver when I go to a concert at any O2 venue!

D. W.

Venue is really good, sounds great and plenty of space for the 2000 odd people it can fit. Only downside was that the drink prices were a bit outrageous so make sure you drink before you get in

A. W.

Well organized staff getting rowdy crowd for three events in the one venue. Would recommend the venue for those who remember the old days of intimate gigs before stadiums

J. B.

Went to see Black Pumas there 3 weeks ago, and the venue is really good, last time I did go to this venue it was The Sanctuary and Godskitchen used to host their friday nights there

P. S.

Quite a nice venue. Never been before. Lots of nearby parking. Very nice interior like an old theatre. Balcony has mostly good views when seated although could do with new cushions that are actually soft :-D Saw LP there and can confirm the sound setup there is also excellent.

A. B.

Such a great venue for both acoustics, but also space and access to various bars so the queues are usually not too long! Good access for those with visible/hidden disabilities too!

Not a big place, made the concert a very personal experience, well organised and nice staff. 👏

J. W.

Just seen Heaven 17 here. Good sound and intimate venue with good security and COVID-safe procedures. Made for a great atmosphere.

N. M.

Great little venue for live music Staff were fantastic and friendly Beer was a little overpriced but that's to be expected Definitely use it again

L. A.

Great intimate venue. Not too small but enough to be really close to the artist regardless of where you are in the room. It's an old theatre so it looks great too. Drinks could be a bit cheaper but it's worth the nice venue. Came here recently with a broken ankle and they offered to swap my ticket for a seated one just to be friendly. Fantastic venue. I would definitely recommend to friends and family.

J. L.

Great intimate gig venue on the Digbeth high street! Very close to both the coach station, New Street, Moor Street, Bullring shopping centre and most city centre locales. 😎👍 Pics are from 'White Lies' new "Five" UK tour!

p. m.

This is a good venue, looks tiny from the street but you can get plenty of folk in. Bar is simple, bit enough choice to keep you entertained and set up let's you see, even if your at the back!

C. G.

Great venue only be prepared for long queues getting in was queuing for 45 minutes to get in but once in great small venue wad great been close up to stage will come again

C. J.

Great venue, easy access to the 2 bars, had a great night watching EODM. £5.95 a pint of Carlsberg

S. O.

Sound quality is excellent here. Obvious the light and sound techs know what they're doing. It's a really good building and great for gigs. Shame the O2 Academy can't be the same!

A. B.

Good concert hall and close to city centre. Beer 🍺 expensive but pub next door.

S. a.

A great venue in Birmingham that is both sizeable enough for a good crowd and also compact enough for the gigs to feel more personal. A great place.

M. N.

Been to the O2 on many occasions but this was the first time for a concert. The security staff were friendly but efficient. My only negative would be the bad sound quality, this seems to be a trend with O2 venues. Other than that I had a great experience.

L. T.

Great small venue. Parked in Bull Ring Car park, 7 min walk and open until 12am.

My favourite music venue. Love going to this place.. after 18 months of NO gigs. Was good to be back

E. B.

Saw Set It Off here. A fantastic venue with a great vibe, although do be warned that it gets super packed if the artist sold out. I unfortunately had to visit first aid, but the first aider was incredibly polite and respectful, and all staff in general were very polite. You do have to get patted down at the entrance, which is new to me, but that's a small gripe. -1 star for the lack of anywhere to sit other than steps in the entrance and how packed it gets.

J. M.

Great little 2000 capacity venue. I attended a Godsmack gig and it felt intimate and alive. I would definitely return again. It was worth the 4hr journey from Plymouth.

R. T.

Went to see Luke Combs last week. Good venue, with seating on the balcony if required. 2 bars in the hall, but could have done with a few more staff or barriers to keep people out of the way when trying to buy drinks. Cash point in a shop front a few doors down and plenty of parking available nearby at a reasonable price - £3 daily charge. All in all a good venue for a concert.

H. B.

Good views from the standing area to the stage, bar is easily accessible. Very bottlenecked exits, though.

B. K.

Very nice location for musical performances of all genres. Its directly next to the coach station so easy to get to. And also there are more night clubs in the area you can go to after a concert.

Great venue for live bands. Drinks are a bit pricey but still a great live music venue.

C. R.

I prefer this place over the main O2 venue that is in Brum town. Great sound and a great stage, by this I mean that the ceiling isn't that low like it is @ the main 02 therefore restricting views from various places when standing. The price of beer is the only outrageous thing I can complain about. £5.10 a pint! Yes you read that right... Anyone would think we were in London.

T. S.

First time at the Institute to see Newton Faulkner (also a first), fantastic venue all round. Drinks are obviously very expensive but it's to be expected. Loved it!

T. G.

Whilst this is a great intimate venue, the bar situation is utterly abysmal. If they could actually serve the beer as fast as people want it they'd make a fortune.

J. T.

Saw blue october here. Really good venue, bit crowded at times.

D. W.

Great place for concert, gigs ect

N. M.

Lack of a disabled entrance. Drinks are extremely expensive. Over £6 a pint for substandard beer. Not a pleasant experience. Drum kits blocking accessible toilet... That hit a bum note

N. M.

Very good concert venue. High prices for drinks knocks a star off.

C. W.

Great venue been many times.First time I used toilets last night for Duran Duran gig.Got in 8.15pm.Not one soap dispenser had any soap in ladies loos nearest the stalls entrance.Please sort this.Not acceptable at any time but even more so during a pandemic.

A. K.

The venue was good and small enough to actually enjoy the band. The bar is horrible though. It took 20 minutes just to get a beer, and the staff moved extremely slow.

S. C.

Brilliant atmosphere, terrible seating (basically just a bench with a VERY thin cushion)no actual "seats" so you end up with people crushing to get in & a pain that you can't take your own drinks in.

A. C.

Great venue! Been to lots of concerts here and never had a bad one, that may be down to the acts rather than the venue but it’s warm and indoors so who can complain really.

D. S.

Had a wonderful time on Saturday at the Frontiers Festival. 1st time at the venue and was impressed with the ease of parking nearby and getting to the venue. Staff were all friendly and helpful and the acoustics were superb. Definitely a venue I will be going to again although it is a long drive from Sussex.

K. “. B.

What a beautiful venue. 😍 Went to bassmans last bash. Its was insane. The sound system blown my mind and such a friendly atmosphere. Best night of my life 😍 can't wait to go o2 institute again

G. F.

It's a nice venue. A bit on the small side but it's still fairly big. Holds around 2000 people I think. Saw Billie Eilish live so naturally I'm gonna have good things to say! 😂

J. H.

Absolutely loved visiting this place, nice old school feel to it, a bit like rock city in Nottingham just styled nicer, brilliant for a rock gig! Only down fall was not with the venue but the way the security acted, completely disrespectful, I got pulled out of the gig I went to because I was apparently making too much noise...so for this reason I give it 3 stars, would of been 5 if it wasn't for showsec security, other then that I'd recommend

G. M.

Recently was lucky enough to get tickets for Duran Duran! Fantastic intimate venue! Even if you're at the back you're at the front!!

G. E.

Fantastic hidtoric setting to see your favourite performers with a very intimate feel, thanks to the building's age and claustrophobic layout. Pillars can block views around the balcony areas, so site yourself accordingly. Be aware that, as with most venues, drinks are charged at festival prices.

H. H.

Whenever I go here for concerts it's all ways great (I go to a lot of concerts) but some times the organisation can be a bit bad

i. c.

Went to little simz concert. It's a nice place. Good well. 👍🏿

D. a. A.

Lovely venue for concerts. No need for big screens as you get an excellent view from every area.

M. A.

Enjoyed my night went to the 02 academy first tho 🤦

E. C.

Great small venue, even if your at the back, you can still see the band easily

N. M.

Very good concert venue. High prices for drinks knocks a star off.

N. M.

Lack of a disabled entrance. Drinks are extremely expensive. Over £6 a pint for substandard beer. Not a pleasant experience. Drum kits blocking accessible toilet... That hit a bum note

c. c.

Great night and great place we'll recommend

M. D.

Cool venue old skool theatre style..!

C. E.

Very good night out, not impressed by the bar waiting times staff and prices

P. D.

Great venue, good staff. Really good atmosphere.

H. H.

Whenever I go here for concerts it's all ways great (I go to a lot of concerts) but some times the organisation can be a bit bad

A. R.

Great venue.

A. M.

Great little venue, even when bands like Duran Duran perform there!!

C. R.

C. H.

Great venue for music. Went to Uproar event there was Awesome. Multiple arenas but main had great size & feel to it. Plenty of bars and fairly good service bit don't expect any O2 priority offers on anything if its a Rave or so called club nite despite them all wearing t-shirts with it written on the back. Security is over the top on entry using dogs and a guy who looks like he in SAS or sumet. Will defiantly go again for the Hardcore or dnb events there.

D. M.

Great venue for music and easy to get to from the train station

G. E.

Saw Duran Duran here. Venue ok. V high ceiling so sound is not great. Saw one person in 1600 wearing a mask. Nice loos. Long queues. Take your NHS QR code for COVID-19.

K. S.

A great venue in a handy location.

G. A.

Bit of confusion over covid rules by one security personnel, just booted me out the line next SP said he didn't know what he talking about. Bit of a squeeze but good night

N. S. (.

I have been to larger venues so it was great to be at the back near the exit, next to the bar and still be close enough to see the band.

P. D.

Great venue, good staff. Really good atmosphere.

S. P.

What a venue, great vibe, great acoustics. Beer is a bit pricey though.

O. C.

It's a great venue with an intimate vibe; great sound system to boot and the acoustics are great.

M. T.

Great venue but extortionate bar prices.

C. W.

Great music venue, saw the New Power Generation there this week. Great sound, great atmosphere!

A. M.

Great little venue, even when bands like Duran Duran perform there!!

Lovely little venue. Great atmosphere

R. M.

Great venue. Superb views and acoustics from balcony. Embrace were fantastic. (5th April 2018)

G. T.

Beautiful and intimate venue. Good sound. 1500 capacity. Staff were v pleasant. LP was... Brill!

C. l.

I had fun was pretty good and enjoyed it seeing Freya Ridings

M. A.

It was great experience. Well organized, historical building with wonderful architecture. Loved the place. Recommended place to visit when you're in Birmingham.

D. C.

Excellent venue! Watching Turin Brakes who were superb!

T. C.

An amazing venue, nice and intimate Went to see the one and only Ghetts and heard ever word he spat surreally !!!

R. H.

Excellent venue always a pleasure to visit.

V. B.

Good door staff for quick entry, adequate bar staff to get the drinks queue down and fantastic sound/lightning. Doesn't compare to the old Carling academy and atmosphere thou.

M. M.

This was an awesome venue, I saw a cavetown concert there, loved it

C. E.

Very good night out, not impressed by the bar waiting times staff and prices

M. F.

Good venue, nice and small, good access to bars, sound good, nice building. (Elvarna, Elvis style Nirvana cover band pictured).

J. H.

Historically it's a great venue. On the whole I like it, but I've been going to gigs there for 30 years. Not sure why it's always so cold in there, and it suffers from bad sound, and the drinks prices are extortionate. Was so cold last night that I was kinda wishing that the bar sold coffee. Mind you, it'd probably be £6 a cup.

I have seen some great bands at this venue and never had a bad experience. It's not too big so you don't see the acts but it's big enough to attract quality bands. As it's the old civic hall it is also a nice feeling place with old staircases and upper balcony area for seated views. The staff always seem pleasant and handle people well and with respect and some seem to be genuinely enjoying the job (go figure).

d. s. G.

Great venue and I was watching Europe the band best concert best band ever X Dona Salina

G. J.

Fabulous concert venue, very intimate, great atmosphere, fantastic sound quality and easy to get to

N. K.

Great little venue for seeing bands up close..especially good if you hold the same belief that music should NOT be experienced sitting down in a giant stadium... Expect some temporary hearing loss if you stand up front... and also to have a bit of a wait to get served at the bar...but it is worth it to see bands like Ride and Ash up close. to see their faces, and feel the energy in the room.

j. c.

Band was great, but venue is not good. In main hall can hear the band belows music bleed though to our concert. Closed off top balcony which we had seats to make the gig seem fuller and could not get seat on balcony. Don't sell tickets to areas you cannot access, honour the ticket. Venue needs improvement.

J. W.

Great Venue. Friendly staff. Accessible. Looking forward to more gigs here.

P. R.

Great venue. Small but not renewing a large space for rocking. Seats and standing if you want it. Not too expensive on brinks for a venue like this. Always friendly staff. Top crowd everytime I've gone.

C. R.

Brilliant night! Brilliant gig and the venue was awesome, really intimate and we had a great view from the balcony. We will definitely go back for more gigs. Handy parking nearby in oxford street, easy to get out of the venue too.

I. A.

Awesome as ever!

M. H.

Very good for live concerts. Must be able to stand for a period of time being it can be standing only downstairs. But once you are having a great time you don't notice it has been 4 hours or more. Great event

C. S.

A good music venue, with good view of the stage from most places. It could do with extra bar staff as the wait is always so long, and drinks are still vastly overpriced. I paid over £14 for a double rum and coke and a small bottle of Pepsi. Friendly professional security staff, quick polite search.

m. g.

Not a bad venue and they do seem to get some really good artists here for the size of the place. Plus it even has a good bar, with good staff and the venue prices to go with it. Acoustics not the best, but for the size of the place it could be a lot worse than what it is Ideal location to get to, if you travel by coach, train, or car, with stations and parking nearby. But when booking, if you book a balcony or seats, it's often the case that you may not always get this, so just bare that in mind.

Really tight venue with a bar 5 steps from the dance floor. Nice balcony with great view of the stage whilst downstairs is also a good view. Only 10 mins walk from our hotel which was a bonus.

J. G.

great atmosphere door staff were extremely helpful! very close to the stage regardless where you stood. amazing acoustics. smoking area accessible without having to leave the venue.

P. B.

Friendly staff good view

M. D.

Cool venue old skool theatre style..!

L. J.

Nice litte place for small concerts.

I. H.

Great venue and bands. Sound was turned a bit too high for the venue. A bit distorted and unbalanced. But that's probably more the sound tech than the venue. Could use better toilets. Never queued for the gents before. Enjoyable night.

C. M.

First visit. Impressed. Small and intimate. Lovely old building. Reminded me of Old School gigs in the 80's when pubs had back rooms. Staff were hood. Simple but efficient bars so no editing ages for drinks.

R. K.

The venue has always been fine, nice security. Its just so small for the amount of people that goto these gigs. Leaving is always a commotion. However the cloakroom is situated inside which is unlike say "The arena" where it's on the other side of the building so that's good. The smoking area is huge, and the staff are great.

A. F.

Great, smaller venue with A/C and good lights. Would recommend to anyone considering seeing a show here, especially if you're anxious about the amount of people (there is plenty of space and there are seats/tables and an upstairs section).

J. D.

I really like this venue even though the drink options are sub-par the layout is pretty standard with a separate bar on each side of the bar which is nice. Can feel rather packed for busy events though. And its worth noting that the stage isn't very tall so shorter people will struggle to get a good view. I'm no audiophile but I think the sound is okay.

K. M.

Ok venue, a lot of stairs up to the balconies. Good security staff. I wouldn't want to be there if it was a sellout, quite an intimate venue. But seriously O2 - £5.40 for a pint of cider? I think security is less about weapons and more about stopping patrons from bringing in their own drink. So, venue ok to good, great staff, ripoff drink prices.

H. W.

It's a small venue but that allows for more intimate gigs. Their door staff are so fast and so helpful. Toilets are easily accessible and they'll give out free tap water if needed.

B. H.

Great venue.. amazing atmosphere.

J. C.

Catapult Club is one of the best nights for live music and @chuck_the_band are worth turning up for.

R. S.

Great smaller venue that holds about 900. It can get quite 'lively' downstairs so if you're not happy being in the 'thick of it' I would recommend getting upstairs tickets. Decent sound, reasonably priced beer for a gig venue and a couple of decent Indian restaurants within a five minute walk.

Great venue for live gigs. Quite intimate because of the size and a view of the stage wherever you are (unless someone taller than you stands I front of you). Recommend to all gig goers....

P. F.

Superb venue with great atmosphere. Pain to find somewhere to park but was worth it. Friendly crowd on the night we went and very upbeat staff (both behind the bar and Show security) definitely worth a visit

M. C.

A good smaller venue, looks like a old fashion music hall, watched sleeper here.

V. N.

Interesting interior. Good sound. The beer is about 5£, which is ok. Clean toilets without long queues.

J. L.

This is a perfect sized venue.. You can see the band from the back of the room without the need of a screen. The. CApacity is around 4 or 5 hundred and the sound is excellent. The only downside as usual is the bar prices over £9 FOR 2 PINTS. When will these places ever learn?

R. R.

Good venue, beers aren't cheap but reasonable by venue standards. 3 different "venues" in one building, all of them have decent sound and layouts, only problem is if they all let out at once it's a nightmare getting out. In an unusual twist for a venue it's really cold in there, the staff were all wearing coats and scarves, even behind the bar, so that's a slight issue, otherwise pretty good.

J. H.

Disabled access was great until we got in there, the woman who was supposed to have taken us up didn't show so after a while one of the other girls helped. The seats are terrible, no backing, high and plain uncomfortable. Show itself was great

K. L. T. T.

Lovely place for concerts as you're not far away from the performance. Bar staff looked like they were struggling a bit but that's understandable as there was over 20 people trying to order at the same time. As usual the drinks are over priced, not as bad as London but still not amazing. Might consider the stalls as the tall people seem to get right in front of you.

Y. S.

Really great venue! Have good disables access, great venue cap size for big and small headliners. Fair drinks prices, it helps to be on 02 as they run a lot of deals here including early access.

P. E.

Great venue. Quick to get drinks. However the queue was sub to get in and as a result missed more than I would have liked. Better queue management would be appreciated here.... there were 2 events and everyone was in the same queue...

S. S.

Beautiful building and the gig sounded great

R. ..

I'm a huge fan of live events and I can't say how much I was impressed with the level of professionalism that I found in O2 institute. Staff was brilliant!. Very proactive. Seeing them serving water to people near stage was a positive shock to me. Well done to everyone involved delivering such a great experience during last Sunday LP show.

A. (.

Beautiful venue in an old theatre. The main room is a great size with great sound. The prices are reasonable and the place is kept in a good condition. The downsides - the toilets are tiny. The main men's toilet only has a urinal big enough for 2 people. The entrance/exit is just 1 tiny door. This means getting in and out takes way longer than it should. Also when I was there a show in one of the smaller rooms finished at the same time as a big show so it was highly congested. It's hard to fix these things due to the building limitations. It's just something to be aware of if you aren't good in crowds.

D. C.

Small slightly scruffy venue but just as to the excellent atmosphere. Parking near it is a challenge as most of the car parks close at 10.00. Not great when you are going to an evening gig. Security staff were pleasent, polite and great fun.

E. O.

The drinks are priced quite fairly - the stairs however are an absolute nightmare on a night out with all the drinks spilt on them. Accident waiting to happen. The security need to be a little stricter when it comes to "rave" events as I feel their could be serious consequences from the lack of searches taken place.

S. B.

Good venue for a small concert, went to see Charli XCX perform. No problem seeing the stage or Charli. Has a few bars about the place, we had our own bar up in the balcony which was great. Drinks are a bit pricey, but that's what I expect. Was quite comfortable sitting in the balcony, plenty of space, even though it was a sell out. Won't mind returning here in the future. Sound system could be a bit better, but still enjoyed it. It was too basey & not enough treble.

K. B.

Such a great venue. Great atmosphere and I love how intimate it feels and up close it feels with the bands. I saw Old Dominion and it was one of the best concerts I have been to.

G. R.

Saw Feeder here, GREAT performance (as always)

N. B.

A great live music venue. A little slow at the bar due to volume of people attending. For a a club in the heart of Brum the prices aren't too bad. All in all a good time was had by everyone, myself included.

S. M.

This is an interesting venue for a gig, you go in on the ground floor and have to go upstairs to get to the stalls, and up again to get to the balcony. Its 1500 capacity, but the layout is a little weird with the sound booth being right in the middle on the ground floor. I saw Tremonti there, which was great, but the sound sounded slightly blown out. Like the venue was struggling to handle it. Decent location though, near to several car parks. Seems to have a 10pm curfew all the time.

B. M.

A great small venue for around 1500 people. Some seating in the balcony, and 4 bars ...

M. L.

The place itself is rather small which is nice. Visibility of the scene is good and drinks are served on both sides. Standing audience only. They host a slew of local and UK bands, you should definitely check it out.

c. c.

Great night and great place we'll recommend

C. F.

Great live music venue.

Small venue, best to get seated tickets on the balcony bit as you dont get such a good view standing, the night I went the sound was underwhelming, couldn't hear the vocals for most of it, tickets are cheap though so can't complain too much, toilets are very clean and there is a smoking area

S. D.

Great location superb acoustics. Watched Bret Eldridge. Fantastic location. Would be 5 star but the bar charges are a ripoff! Get preloaded before being ripped off.

I. S.

Very atmospheric and historic looking venue. Stage has proscenium arch stage and level dance floor in front for standing/moshing with balcony seating and standing on three sides with a further seated upper balcony above that. Looks and feels like an old theatre and comes with some of the visibility issues of these old buildings with very thick columns blocking the view in some balcony areas particularly. Seen many gigs here of all different music styles and there can be a lot of variation in sound quality. Partly that must be due to the touring equipment but this space is definitely part of the sound character and it feels a bit echoey. The ceiling is high! If you're not in a seat then it's usually quite easy to walk about to find the best location. As with most of these types of venues the drink choice is lousy and restricted to just a few bigger brands. I know people don't come here to drink but why can't you get a bit more choice? One bottled beer if you don't want fizzy tasteless lager isn't a good choice. One thing these venues do get right is general security. Entry queuing is organised and there is plenty of personnel on duty to deal with tickets and searches. Movement once inside the venue is easy enough even when there are multiple gigs on at the same time.

S. H.

Great venue for wheelchair users. You need to arrive early to get a good view at academy 3 as there isn't any viewing area. Early Access is given so you can get to the front. Would recommend taking a companion though to fetch drinks etc.

G. M.

It's well situated venue for small and medium scale events. Yet staff are letting the place down by lacking the knowledge of the services provided and options available for the visitors. During a 4 hour visit after speaking to more than 10 crew members not one of them could confirm if there is a smoking area at the venue if so where... 😕. And the biggest let down was security crew implementing their own policies and closing the balcony area just before the headline act even though I've specifically ordered a balcony tickets... Well disappointed...

S. C.

Great venue, not too big. Maren Morris was fantastic, parking was just around the corner £3 all day. Two bars with fair prices. Will go back again

A. J.

Venue very good - J P Cooper fantastic, shame band/sound set-up drowned him out. Couldn't hear him properly, it was a shame because he is the best I've ever come across. To many people let in, both stair cases crowded , if there had been a fire people would have not been able to get out. I've still given a 5 Star rating, as the venue in my opinion is very good, especially when you can get so close to the performers and makes it very personal. The sound system was a let down, as the drummer drowned-out J P Cooper when singing, which I'm very sure he would have not been happy about, if seen from an audience prospective! J P Cooper is one of the best singer/song writers, EVER, and I'm 61 yrs of age and this man is my favourite, beating the late Marvin Gaye in my books just. I love all types of music, but soul/Northern soul are my favourites. ALL THE BEST J. P. COOPER, IT WAS A REAL PLEASURE TO SEE YOU PERFORM AND SING. MY FAVOURITE BEING'' SEPTEMBER SONG' WHICH TAKES MY BACK TO WHEN I WAS 15 YRS OLD IN 1973. I'D LOVE TO MEET YOU AND SING THAT SONG WITH YOU, IT IS MY NUMBER 1 ON MY BUCKET LIST BEFORE I PASS! Thank you for an excellent experience, it made my year! Regards Anthony James Newhall DE11 0TY

A. C.

Bit pricey on the beer but otherwise a great events venue.

N. T.

Great venue for gigs, I've been to a number of gigs here in all three rooms. It never disappoints as no matter what room you're in the atmosphere is always good and the sound is always at a top standard, haven't been to a bad gig here yet. The only disappointing thing I've found is in the main room in the seating area you can't stand up and dance which is a lil disappointing.

T. P.

I saw Sparks here; it was a great gig. The staff were friendly and helpful. Good cloakroom and toilets. Bar was uncrowded and not too expensive. The auditorium is beautiful with good accoustics. We got a taxi home straight outside. We felt very safe.

P. M.

Great experience, Friendly staff just expensive drinks but this is as expected

s. D.

Saw godsmack here a couple of weeks ago. It's a good little venue but a butt load of stairs here. The 4 stars are for the drinks prices if your buying spirits but other than that it's a good intimate venue that your not going to sweat to death in.

W. C.

Very long queue to get into the venue, it wraps around almost the whole way but the venue is overall fairly good. If you can, try to steer clear of the balcony seats, the upper balcony are much better, with clear view of the act and it doesn't feel too far away. The balcony seats have big pillars in the way and we felt very sorry for everyone there as half couldn't possibly be able to have seen the act. The staff were excellent and they passed around water for people in standing and even helped people who felt overwhelmed climb over and leave the crowd if they needed to. Only issue for us was the sound balance for the mic, it was quite difficult to hear the singer over the music a lot of the time, which is a shame. Parking is also close by at the bullring.

T. S.

Really love this venue. The range of room sizes is great. Even at the back of the biggest room you still get a good view. Which ever promoters it is that cover this venue, they are doing a great job on range of acts.

R. H.

Great venue had a fantastic time, security staff kept crowd well controlled and looked after the well being of people by providing drinks of water to people at the front where it was very warm. Smoking area attached so no need to leave venue and que to get back in. Bars were well located and reasonably priced.

g. i.

Great night great atmosphere great venue

T. J.

Great venue, large enough to get a good sized crowd but small enough to feel an intimate experience with the band. Beer is expensive but you'd expect that. Has an accessable outside area for a smoke.

K. O.

Not a bad little venue. We saw Melanie C there (yes, her from the Spice Girls!). Drinks are a bit expensive, but always are in venues were there's a captive audience. Was really nice being in a small place where you are really close to the performer.

S. (.

Great show cinematic orchestra. Venue could do with an update

J. M.

As far as venues go this one is pretty nice. We were in an upstairs room seeing UMO and it was a great performance, no problems with sound a set design, however the merch table didn't take card so would suggest bringing cash if you were planning on buying something

S. j. (.

Awesome evening with Kamazi and my husband! Venue spectacular as usual, beautiful building!

L. J.

Went to the 02 Institute, Birmingham to watch Reverend and the Makers. The venue was very intimate (small) and I felt everyone was on top of me.. I'd think twice if you claustrophobic.. I enjoyed my time but very difficult getting up and downstairs and many people congregate to get a better view making it very unsafe. I prefer the other 02 academy but overall an enjoyable evening.

L. S.

Bears Den 4th November 2019 Venue great and easy to find. Long queue but quickly inside. Staff plentiful,helpful and friendly. We had unreserved upper balcony seats.Alot of stairs to climb but that was ok.Plenty of space.Great view of stage. Acoustics amazing. No issue getting out of venue. Would definitely come here again. Great little place.

S. (.

Good sound, which is rare for an O2 venue. Overpriced average beer, though. And they don't respond to requests for set times, which is shoddy nowadays. One of the better O2 venues, but that's a low bar.

A. C.

Bit difficult to find at first but nice venue

T. P.

Great venue, with varied room sizes. Decent bar that takes cash and contactless card payments. Seating is limited, so if you want a good view but can't stand for hours get here early. Cloakroom is £2 an item.

T. S.

As a music venue, I love as it's not to large and wherever you are standing there's a good view. I would like to give it a thumbs up, even the toilets are clean, looking forward to our next visit

C. N.

Been to this venue a hand full of times. Good employees behind the bars and staff are happy to always point you in the right direction. Some people would complain about the toliets but I expect it from a venue.

S. D.

Great venue to see a band

S. R. J.

Saw #DXP19 AMAZING sounds bass all around. Standing area was good just left with a very very achey back. But quality and closeness to everything was incredible. Drinks quite reasonable for a show, (still a bit steep).

M. J.

Well organised intimate venue, presume Edwardian building, convenient location less than 10 minutes walk from the bull ring, we watched the New Power Generation there, really fun night. Bar service was quick and no queue for the loos, makes a change, maybe we were lucky on that front.

E. K.

The venue is generally good for music events but if you have to stand in the balcony area expect to get a black band in your eye line. This is the underside of the top level. There's also large pillars that block the view on the balcony....not a problem if you the first person at the hand rail but if your further back it's naff. The stalls is fine in the main hall and if you want to sit, that looks fine too. I prefer the basement location for smaller gigs and the top floor is just alright. You might end up here if ticket sales are low for the Academy (formerly The Dome).

A. H.

The venue itself is great, however there are issues and mainly with security! Showsec couldnt manage a piss up in a brewery. There were 2 event going on simultaneously and our live music event finished first. People were still shopping at merch stands for the bands as the second event was finishing. People were ordered out of the building with no care given to if they were wanting to support their favourite band by buying merchandise and were left annoyed that they couldnt have photos taken or buy anything all so the second event could empty. Secondly is the dangerous barriers they employ in front of the stage. These have a base to them which stretch a few feet into the crowd, where they end there is an inch height drop to the floor.. something I found out jumping in the mosh pit to my favourite band, landing on this edge and badly twisting my ankle. When I tried to get the attention of security to say I needed to get out and for help they didnt want to know!

E. H.

Love this little venue!

This place is such a good venue, and after the concert we attended we had a medical emergency, the staff were superb, so kind and responded quickly. Thankfully with their care we were able to leave for home.

p. g.

Great old school concert, they were bang on form

P. W.

Surprisingly intimate venue, given the size. Good sightlines from anywhere, and decent sound quality. Plenty of toilets, pleasant staff, and generally well organised. Convenient location too, right opposite the bus station. Loses a star for the ludicrous drinks prices, though - how is £5.40 for a pint of Carlsberg possible in Birmingham??

J. m.

It's a good venue. Even though you're waiting in a queue for ages it's okay once you get in there. When I first walked into the venue I noticed it was a bit dark and hard to see. Maybe put some lighting up. We then noticed there was a balcony and decided to go up there. Good decision since I had a good view but the pillar was in the way so my good friend couldn't see any view of it at all. There is good sound in there but one complaint the microphone of the singer was not very good. I couldn't hear much of what he was saying clearly enough. I will have to think if I want to go this venue again.

Having an anxiety disorder and a bit of a meltdown during a gig the staff were so helpful, understanding and didnt make me feel silly which has given me more confidence to attend again. Only downfall is it can get a little too crowded for such a small space and a step which seems to be invisible. Great metal gigs though!

S. S.

Have been to see a couple of bands here and it's been consistently great! The place is fairly small, so the capacity is quite low, but this makes gigs much better! It's just the right size for a great night out!!

A. B.

Great venue , good concerts here all the time.

M. C.

Didn't get standing tickets but even the balcony seats were great! Get here early for the best view.

G. T.

Great place to see a band .

V. B.

Saw Newton Faulkner there only thing found difficult was finding your way round all the roadworks and parking.

C. _.

Someone sick.toilet overflow.brawl. My kind of night.

M. N. 5.

Amazing shows, lights and sound but every show the main singers mic is not loud enough so far we have seen MOTIONLESS IN WHITE, PRETTY RECKLESS, THREE DAYS GRACE and this has happened EACH TIME....... (shout out to George in malia)

L. P.

Moshpits make a concert way better!😁 Lads toilet on the left and ladies on the right. Not a very large institute, but gets a better atmosphere. It's pretty well air conditioned but if packed it'll get hot. U wont be able to take in liquids, but who said u cant bring an empty bottle and ask for tap water🤫

First time to the venue 12.12.18. Saw Bury Tomorrow + 3 support bands. Expensive drinks, but a great venue and good size. Security, cloakroom and toilets all excellent 😀

A. G.

Great venue. Loads of space even though it was a big lineup event. Sound and visuals were good as well. Also plenty of bars so wating times were low. Overall good experience while there.

D. C.

We saw Atilia's Way, Hoobastank and Buck Cherry. Great vocals, awesome drumming and great guitars. Fabulous venue. Really nice security staff and bar staff. Plenty of clean toilets - no queueing. Really great night.

M. M.

Saw The Hunna here. Great little venue.

T. L.

The Venue was easily accessible especially as I have a disability and I'm not able to use stairs. I was advised that the balcony area or space around the bar would be available but when I turned up I was told the balcony was actually closed. But the security staff that wear on duty were absolutely great they brought a stool from downstairs up into the lift and made sure that I had a seat available to sit on when necessary within the main arena. The only problem I did have was when it was time to leave to find a member of staff who could call the lift for me to bring me back downstairs took quite a while. So the bar staff radios down to security Who told me to go and stand by the lift and it eventually came up with a member of staff inside ready to bring me back down. The Venue is in a great location and easily accessible from bus stops & the coach station and the train station is a short walk away. Drinks are a bit pricey so I wasn't in any major hurry to keep buying drinks at the bar.

Saw Modest Mouse here. Sound was good and location is perfect. I know venues can charge what they like and that they have expenses but drinks are way overpriced. I also tried to buy beer for myself and my friend but was told that I could only buy my own and that my friend would need to go to the bar and buy his own to prove that he was over 18. I had ID obviously and my friend was holding our place in the crowd. The next time I ordered, that wasn't necessary apparently so I guess it depends who you get. Seemed very arbitrary and was irritating

M. S.

Great venue, fairly intimate, some big names playing here. Only downside, if at all, is that there's not much seating if you're not one for standing.

r. e.

Great venue and good gig but the ridiculously long wait to get in when the doors opened was horrendous in the freezing cold. We gave up and went to the pub instead opting to wait until the queue had gone down but missing choice of seats.

B. R. (.

Came here to watch Newton Faulkner play, fairly small venue but really great atmosphere and friendly security staff. Would recommend balcony seats as you get a pretty good view!

r. s.

Building is worth five stars and aithough a great venue for visuals and sound as saw Behemoth here the price of drinks is extortionate. No wander the local pubs were full. Plenty of security staff around

S. O.

Attended a gig here, was an intimate venue often preferred to the big arenas. Drinks were quite expensive for Birmingham, and the ATM charges so make sure you get cash before you go in. The cloakroom only takes cash and charges per item.

J. F.

Great live venue. Great sound. Queue was hellish. Don't take your own water, they will take it off you and it's standing only, so if you want, or need, to sit down, you're out of luck.

B. W.

Went to see sleeping with sirens and it was an amazing night would highly recommend

P. G.

Great event good atmosphere

C. H.

Great venue, used both upstairs and downstairs rooms in this place and everytime I have been impressed with the sound, the only issue I have with this place is the ceiling is quite low if you are stood at the side in the main room, this can mean you can't see the live act if you are stood at the side

r. s.

Room with bar either side. Sticky floor. Sound better for main artist. Pretty standard as small venues go...prefer other o2's. The gig was good though...

R. D.

Great venue for music and concerts.

B. W.

This place varies. I think the acoustics are odd. It"s ok as as long as the greedy venue arent trying to pack too many people in. I prefer The Academy but my favourite bands seem to play here more often.

V. J.

Nice smallish venue, two bars in the auditorium and then it depends on the artist(s) you pick. Saw Billy Bragg and he was excellent.

J. B.

If your favourite band ever play here grab a ticket but get there early if you want a seat! Brilliant intimate venue with fabulous atmosphere and acoustics.

H. T.

Gorgeous venue, the bar service is a little slow, they should have more staff on serving at the bars. Some restrictied veiwing areas, but the sound quality is great and fantastic atmosphere.

P. F.

Nice to see a great old building being used for something useful. Pretty good sound quality for such a place. The only downside is that with one door, you'll queue all the way down the street to get in, and you'll be caught in a huge crowd trying to get out. It's beyond me how this place meets the fire escape regulations.

D. M.

Great place to see a live band!

L. M.

Nice venue to see your favourite band

S. H.

Great intimate venue for a gig, sound was amazing. One of our favourite locations to see new up and coming talent and a smaller gig for the more accomplished musician.

W. (. C. D.

This architecturally beautiful venue is a pleasure to visit. With friendly door staff and a streamlined merch and entry point, you will be in and out like a flash. Seeing your favourite band here is a blessing.

J. H.

Small venue but great atmosphere would definitely recommend seeing your favourite bands here. Drinks reasonably priced and bar queues move quite quickly.

A. B.

Good size, nice interior and sound quality was good and loud. Saw The Struts, who were great but as a venue can't really fault it.

R. F.

excellent venue for up and coming bands. went to see KALEO . was amazing snug place. i was on the upper balcony. and it was clean and tidy. the bar is small but smart! the prices are little ott but u get that at every venue. the bar staff was dead friendly. they held my tour tshirt i brought behind the counter in a safe place so i didnt lose it etc.. really good place. will recommend it!

S. M.

Well organised place, friendly staff and a great show

M. F.

Fantastic night, new favourite venue, immense fun, 24 hour parking at two locations very near, 4 minute walk, bit scruffy but suits the bands I like to see, highly recommend

Great venue! Boasting a good sized floor space and seated balconies to the right, left and rear adding to the venue's intimacy.

L. M.

This venue usually has some good performers on and you always get a good view with it being a nice small venue. Highly recommend a visit if you like who's playing

S. E.

Small, intimate venue. Acoustics are good and staff are helpful. My only gripe would be that the bar was understaffed so the queue was in the middle of the crowd.

T. E.

A great venue for very intimate gigs with many different artists show casing a diverse mix of music. Staff are amazingly helpful. Only grip is in the cold months the venue is freezing!

P. O.

Bit of messing about if your a wheelchair user as it's an old and very tall building. Only 1 very slow lift to take disabled up to their viewing area so takes an age to get up there. Disabled viewing areas are in a bit of a naff spot as they are all the way at the sides meaning you don't get much of a view of the stage, also means you are closed in by all other customers so toilet trips and trips to the bar are VERY hard work.

D. O.

Great venue with 3 different stages.

B. R.

Fantastic venue, polite staff, and excellent facilities.

K. D.

Great venue but don't buy balcony tickets tickets if you're under 5'3" as it's unlikely you will see anything!

J. C.

Beautiful old theatre building, which makes for lovely acoustics and an intimate atmosphere. Saw The Struts, who were absolutely awesome. Wonderful energy.

A. W.

Excellent venue, might be abit small but makes it up with plently of character and not having to worry about been to far back to not been able to see the stage.

j. b.

Really characterful venue I've only seen one band here, bust they sounded really really good in a nice intimate room. A great location only a few minutes from the centre of town!

Top venue, very intimate. Toilets are a bit scary though! Usually massive queues for the bar too, but that could be said for most gig venues.

The gig was good, the bar folks were nice. It a bit on the massively expensive side for booze? But prob standard for this kind of place.

M. J.

J. D.

L. T.

Great venue. Small but perfect, even at the back you're not too far from the stage. Brilliant sound in there as well.

G. M.

b. L.

Better drinks served here than the o2 academy which was really bad. It stinks a little in there but I suppose it's all the sweaty bodies in there coked of their heads.

M. H.

If your favourite band every play here GO AND SEE THEM! Intimate venue. Great sound.

T. S.

Loved the venue. Friendly helpful staff grear night

3 drinks 20quid,nice venue,you can even smoke inside. Free street parking before the building

Y. S.

Really great venue! Have good disables access, great venue cap size for big and small headliners. Fair drinks prices, it helps to be on 02 as they run a lot of deals here including early access.

I can understand some of the poorer reviews of the venue, especially ones by disabled visitors or those with leg problems as it is noticeable that - apart from the balcony in the largest of the three rooms - there is limited disabled access. others describe things such as audio technicians (that often tour with the band, not the venue) and this would be unfair to review the venue on. I've been to the venue several times in the last two years, most recently Yesterday to see the Hoosiers, who played the smallest of the three rooms. the temple (smallest room) is fairly intimate with a small stage , a good view to be had no matter where. bar at the back, no seating at all, however standing at the side of the room or by the bar acts as an alternative In the largest of the three room i've seen the likes of Spector and Swimdeep, great room, no seating, literally just a room with a bar and a stage, good for a night of raving along to your favourite band, not so fun i'd imagine for those expecting a classy night in Birmingham The other room is - again- seating less but fine for gigs where you're expecting a packed crowd rocking out I really love the institute, but can understand why others don't. if you're going, expect a night of standing, often crowd packed, rocking out - Dave

P. G.

Great venue but price of 3rd rate beer is way too much nearly 6 quid a plastic so called pint but looking forward to next Thursday seeing Zac wilder doing black sabbath

C. B.

Great venue to see bands. Only thing stopping 5 Star is could have done with more bar staff and shut extra bar outside of main room early evening??

J. F.

Disorganized queuing outside and for the bar but overall a great venue with character for medium and smaller gigs. Parking is ok and gigs tend to finish early ish in time for trains home.

A. F.

Saw the Hunna, great view of the stage for me being tall Andy mrs being smaller. Friendly bar staff and attentive door staff. Great all round venue 5*

B. M.

Great little venue. Great sound.

K. B.

Good venue but they over fill the unreserved seating area, so if you want a seat you need to get there early.

E. M.

Nice venue but lots of stairs! Recommend getting balcony seats if you're at a packed out show because it gets really rammed when youre stood up.

D. B.

Went to see Morgan James concert which was a hit! But venue could really have some heating. I don't mind the crowdbeing cold, but singer kept leaning towards small heater and tried to hide the cold. FIX THE HEATING!!!

S. M.

Was a bit small and crammed but the concert was amazing so made up for it. Drinks were pricey!!!! but that's what venues do overcharge you for over priced drinks.

J. C.

Tiny cramped upstairs venue, no air-conditioning or fans. Ran out of water,and refused to give us the tops to the purchased bottles of water. Not the best customer care unfortunately :( Seems like the performers also suffered as they didn't even get fans! Some fans and bottle tops would have made a big difference.

Drinks about usual price. Lots of function rooms of different sizes to match people attending event. Security onsite conducting searches. So hopefully those mindless few who have to carry weapons to make them feel hard are expelled before they step inside.

D. A.

Went to see miw and their supports, long cold wait, but so very worth it, amazeing gig, still bounceing but i got smacked on the head with a plastic pint container and have a jwadache, it qold be good if that was stopped, it could cause injury , but apart from that totally awsome

S. J.

Friendly door staff, great venue small and efficient!

T. M. H.

A very intimate venue with good acoustics. Can be difficult to find a seat/good place to see so get there early to queue up. Always worth it.

M. S.

Great music venue. Good facilities, good bar service and great sound system. Coat check will even accept a photo of your coat ticket if you lose your ticket.

k. (.

Excellent sound quality, good view from the balcony. Long queues for the bar but what can you expect at a music venue?

J. P.

Great venue, but very stuffy when full. Could do with updated air con. Also on big ticket events the drinks are very pricey. Lovely staff though.

The gig was good, the bar folks were nice. It a bit on the massively expensive side for booze? But prob standard for this kind of place.

J. R.

Because it was a theatre the sloped standing area means everyone gets a good view. Alcohol is way overpriced. Only sells cans off beer for £4.50

R. M.

Brilliant, great concert

K. P.

Loved the venue. Staff pleasant. Enough toilets. Great for sitting an standing. Bit pricey st bar

J. P.

Nice sized venue, good acoustics and well managed entrance/exit compared to a lot of others. Only downside is the O2 bar prices, literally double what you pay in the bar next door

T. R.

Went to see Roni Size. It's Ok inside, from what I can remember. Can be cold during winter because they leave the doors open for the smokers, so keep your coat on. Top Tip - Bars are small and get very busy so buy quadruple shots with a chaser in a pint glass😉

C. S.

Went to see the Shires a few weeks ago. Took a while to get into the venue as the queue was around the block. Which was not ideal in the cold. When we finally got inside the venue was packed, was difficult to see the stage. Will defiantly think twice before visiting this venue again in the future

Had a great night but if it wasn't for the mixed race man that cut in the queue for coats at the end of the night I would have given 4 stars. He claimed he owned the establishment and wanted his coat ASAP.

J. -. a. T.

Brilliant night at a brilliant venue. Expensive bar though.

S. S.

Just love it here. Perfect for intimate live gigs. And great looking buiding. Saw John Grant with Meilyr Jones supporting in June. Just superb! Have several future gigs already calendar'd for the coming months. Not many great smaller venues round my neck of the woods (Worcestershire) that host live music. Used to love the wonderful Malvern Winter Gardens in the day. Wish I could 'pick and lift'.

L. M.

Good venue had balcony seats and a good view of the stage. Only downside was that someone turned the a/c on and it was freezing. Everybody had their coats on. This was on Friday 17th November

p. “. m.

Come for Mel c, back in Oct for Ella Henderson

J. E.

Great intimate venue, never felt too cramped and easy to get to the bar. Such a great way to enjoy amazing music.

N. D.

Decent, historic venue. Like all O2 venues, drinks are very expensive. The upper balcony is very high and steeply-raked so beware if you don't like heights!

Good venue, Versatile were awesome & the girl on the bar was overworked but brilliant. We would recommend the venue for good live acts.

a. h.

Great venue downstairs - really intimate, clean bar, friendly staff and great sound. Loos aren't great but they'll do and you can't have it all!

K. G.

Venue was okay. A good mix of performers come here. Pj morton was incredible, soulful jazz leaving me moved and refreshed. Fab night!

J. D.

Great atmosphere and good music. Drinks coat wasn't overly extortionate either (about £5 a pint).

K. M.

great for smaller venue

P. S.

Historic venue with a range of rooms for seeing live music. Not a great drinks choice but always a decent place to watch a band.

R. J.

Institute 2: Good venue, bars serve quickly. If you come in via coach you essentially are dropped right by the venue. Does suffer from slightly invasive pillars which get in the way slightly. Plumbing went wrong during gig and men's toilets were flooded, which isn't ideal.

M. G.

Situated not far from New Street Station so for a people who usually are a drivers it may be a good argument to leave a car a and take a active contribution on befores or afters 'whatever '. I've been there once so far on Influens gig when they play support for Soulfly. I found everything what I was expecting from that venue, some booze, and a people whom know what the Metal is about (don't worry there is dozens of any other events placed in there) so In my selfish opinion that place is worth of recommendation

A. C. T.

A brilliant venue for an amazing gig. Toilets were clean and bars on every floor. Could not ask for more really

S. H.

As a venue it can be very cramped when it's full, and the draft beer was off, making things even slower for the solo barman at a jazz gig. As ever, the artist makes the memories, but this venue isn't really adding much

H. W.

Best gig I've ever been to, lovely venue and staff handed out free water through the entire thing, they saved my throat.

D. Y.

Absolutely ljt amazing atmosphere

A. C.

Went to see Roy Woods, there was a cloakroom avaliable to use that was fairly busy - easy to pick up things after the concert. A fairly small venue.

a. w.

Great small venue for gigs...just be aware sometimes youre not allowed to dance or stand on balcony!

S. E.

Love the venue. Plenty of free parking round the back. Frequent visitor, great bands on regularly.

J. W.

Saw The Mission's warm up gig ACE. Nice venue but boy the sound is bad in there which the band admitted to. Good night.

S. L. E. C. (.

The Institute is and most likely always will be my favourite music venue all of the staff here are so friendly including the door staff. I've seen so many amazing artists here over the years. The Hunna, Tegan & Sara, Lucy Spraggan, Rae Morris, Orla Gartland and I've got more booked for later this year. Love it Here!!!

A. R.

Great venue.