Reviews of O2 Academy Bristol. (Night Club) in Bristol (Bristol).

O2 Academy Bristol

0 Reviews

322 Comments

Night club

Live music venue

Frogmore St, Bristol BS1 5NA, United Kingdom

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Information of O2 Academy Bristol, Night club in Bristol (Bristol)

On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.

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Open hours of O2 Academy Bristol

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Reviews of O2 Academy Bristol

L. L.

It's a small venue so the gig feels pretty intimate. It's all standing, with a balcony upstairs too. On O2 priority I got into the venue in 2 mins, and pretty much left the venue within 5mins despite the massive crowds. My first time in Bristol, so pretty happy with the experience.

E. B.

Great views wherever you are but I'd definitely recommend the balcony view. Drink prices were high but if you are a non alcoholic drinker like me there is soda water and ice on tap which I really liked. Staff were all first class. Was able to watch the incredible Snoh Aalegra and the young and incredibly talented TORA-I

b. h.

The venue makes for a more connected experience being relatively small and low key. The acoustics were decent for who we went to see. It was standing only but a seating area was available for less able and wheelchair users. I don't know if seating is avaliable upstairs as it was blocked off. So be sure to wear comfy shoes as you could be on your feet for a while. The stage has good sight lines from the floor although there is a distinct vantage point. Which is on the same level as the bar above the sound and lighting tech booth. ( you'll need to arrive early for that lol) In my opinion the security were over officious but I guess we all have a job to do

A. D.

Great venue, live music felt personal and up close again. Skunk anansie gig. Pricey bar but expected I guess for that kind of venue. Well organised by staff marshaling people.

E. L.

We had the best time at Reef on fri 22nd April 2022. The warm acts were all amazing too! Drinks were lush - particularly the 'Cheeky Hooch'

L. W.

Went to see Amyl And The Sniffers last night, brilliant night out. The venue was completely fully booked. Great atmosphere too.

A. S.

Fantastic gig venue. Nice layout and fab sound. Loads of great bands on throughout the year. Big multi storey car park right next door for convenience.

D. C.

Honestly had the best time of my life here. It's the perfect venue to watch any amazing band. It's a comfortable size and has great, friendly staff. Definitely recommended!

S. J.

Great venue in the heart of Bristol. Recently attended for Billy Bragg and then The Courteeners a few days later. Both gigs amazing for different reasons but The Courteeners had the place absolutely bouncing. God Bless the Band.

C. M.

My first big venue this century. Staff friendly and helpful, toilets surprisingly pleasant. The spectator space is smaller than I expected, but not a bad thing.

R. B.

Love this place. Travel here to watch a lot of gigs rather than watch anything at the much nearer Motorpoint in Cardiff (awful venue). Can fit in a lot of people but also always feels quite intimate (especially for the Biffy Clyro gig recently). Great venue.

T. C.

Really impressed with the venue. The sound at the gig I went to was really good (partly down to to the artist). The size of the room isn't massive but great for smaller gigs. There were searches at the door on entering the building but the staff were efficient and respectful. I found the staff really friendly generally, also when the gig finished there were plenty of exits so getting out was easy enough. Lastly, it's situated right next to a car park. It only cost us £3.50 for parking for the evening. I would see another artist here.

_.

went here to see the Royal Blood concert last week. was amazing! staff were kind and helpful, excellent coronavirus safety. atmosphere was amazing, good to be back!! you can't bring any bottles of water in though unfortunately. can't wait for the next concert!

H. L.

Went to see Gary Numan which was amazing. I found the actual venue not a very helpful place. I hadn't realised it's standing only I am disabled with arthritis and fybromyalgia I cannot stand to long having one partial foot after amputation and a deformed lower spine and hip. The best they could offer me on the phone was finding a bit of railing to lean on, so I had to miss the support artist so I wasn't standing to long. I found a spot with my brother and sister at the top of some stairs like a little landing out of the way so I could sit on a stair if I needed to, but we were moved on by an unsympathetic member of staff who was agressive saying railings are for VIP pass people only😡. Getting in and out of the venue is a bit like a cattle market with only one exit open so everyone pushes all directions trying to get out. On a plus the security staff did an amazing job as did the bar staff. Great atmosphere, clean venue with Aircon. I just wish they were more helpful for walking disabled people, my evening was spoilt by the pain I was in. They have one tiny area for 2 wheelchairs out of a 2k capacity, nothing for anyone not in a chair. Gary Numan and his band were awesome. Defo a great place to go but plan ahead if you struggle standing you are stuffed.

J. G.

Couldn't get anywhere close to the stage and had to settle for standing close to the bar. Couldn't see Aurora, which was a shame. Staff were lovely though.

M. J.

Came here to watch Neck Deep. Overall a great performance, neck deep are a great band and good performers who care about their fans. Security kicked a guy out for touching a woman inappropriately so hats off to them, O2 Bristol is good on their security. In general the venue is pretty good as well.

V. N.

Great place for a gig. Not too big so it still feels intimate.

V. A.

Great UB40 show ... 02 is a very large club with an upstairs balcony ... not great without screens for those upstairs 2-6 deep⁉️ We had no chance of seeing the stage let alone the band. The sound was truly excellent but for concerts ... the venue is visually lacking without screens up high in the wings. Shape up 02 ... if you're gonna take our money guising as a concert/show/club facility then please invest in the technology so we can get value for money, the whole visual and audio experience. I wish I'd taken more pictures whilst upstairs... I was literally watching UB40 via phones from people videoing from the balcony front rail ... what's that about⁉️

P. C.

Good location- city centre. Good spaces for concerts- though does depend on how busy/ crowded it is. Saw inhaler Monday night, yungblud Tuesday- obviously the less crowded the better view etc. Drinks bar very very expensive- paid £12 for Malibu single shot and coke, with pint of cider- so learnt lesson the next day and drank before going!

A. G.

Fantastic venue with really nice polite staff. I was using my walking stick last night and although didn't need to sit down the first thing a member of staff asked "would you like a seat". Even though I said no she td me to find her if I changed my mind. Also the sound was fantastic.

M.

Good club type venue holding max 1900 people. There are bars on every level but the only toilets are downstairs near the entrance; which can be a long journey if the place is very busy and you're with friends on the top floor.

S. H.

1st time in here ever so when we got tickets for ali cambell and ub40 we were overjoyed. we went straight to the bar and got 4X2 pint jugs £49.60 (WOW) but worse was to come it wasn't ali cambell but his brother ??? we were conned by the organisers,but as we were there we thought lets enjoy it anyway 😉 thoroughly a good night

D. C.

Great venue, seems all, but it holds 1800 people. Sound system is great, ques for the bat not so much, but.....there are three bars. Head for the top floor, not too bad up there.

c. d.

Great concert. Good and friendly security. Covid aware venue.

T. S.

Collected a fine for being forced into the bus lanes as part of Bristol council's robbery programme so the place has seen the last of my money which is a shame. Drinks very overpriced but the venue is comfortable and small enough to make gigs intimate. The Furs were simply amazing so I am glad I went.

D. G.

First time at the 02! Mothervulture, A and reef!! Great night!!

D. C.

Great location in centre of Bristol. Small compact location with excellent sound and views. Fantastic vibe with excellent covid appliance and checks. Saw Rag’n’Bone man who was awesome as well as his support acts. Staff were excellent and the double jack daniel’s went down lovely.

M. N.

Compact venue, great vibe but bustling at ub40, water was free, easy to get to, 5. Mins from centre, good sound, enjoyed it.

J.

Positives, nice venue, pleasant staff, near to a car park. Negitives, a bit on the small, size. However, great for an intimate concert where you can almost touch the band, if you're into that sort of thing.

C. T.

Venue was good but they failed badly with the O2 priority entry. Was advised to join this shorter queue, being an O2 customer, and then watched as they allowed the non-priority queue to enter ahead. Staff at bar excellent, especially the young woman who assisted in getting my daughter out quickly when she was a little unwell later in the gig. Nice sized venue for the (standing) gig.

A. W.

The sound acoustics are not clean, and this is probably the worst venue for sound quality. I do not blame the band or roadies who I am sure have done their best to get the best sound. It is just ‘off’. Standing area on lower level is sizeable, but intimate, with some stage facing spots to stand in front of bar area, with good, uninterrupted views of the stage. People standing on stairs and upstairs balcony front facing also get views. Anywhere else not so good.

P. s.

What a great venue. Quick and Easy ‘in and out’ with a large car park next door.

B. M.

Been here tonnes of times over the years. Professionally security, good bar service and reasonably clean toilets. Only downside is how expensive the beer is when a gig is on 4 pints for £23

J. T.

Venue can be a little cramped, some might prefer that for the atmosphere but as a personal opinion I like a bit of room. Be warned of drinks prices as I paid £2.50 for a small bottle of water which is quite a markup. Sound system is very clear and security staff were very polite

A. G.

Good venue for decent acts. No seating so all standing. Can be an issue as usually all one level and not tiered. So visibility takes a hit. Main reason for 4 stars is the drinks are SO expensive. Otherwise good!

A. H.

Great venue, acoustics are excellent, staff are helpful and friendly. Bags searched on entry and they have security scanners to walk through. Felt safe and great music

G. T.

OK, so the gig wasn't 'heaving' but... Staff courteous and helpful. Clean venue. Good views. Good atmosphere. Reasonable drink prices. IPA available! But no Bitter. Close to city centre. However, although Trenchard St carpark is perfectly located for the O2 Academy, access to the carpark was tricky. Accessible via a discrete, narrow road just before the upper exit of the carpark (whilst going uphill past the Children's Hospital). Not being a local, I missed it twice, despite knowing where it was.

R. H.

Went to see The Shires... they were awesome, shame the venue wasn't. From the the time doors open, took 1 hour to fill the venue (entrance the size of a little sweet shop front)... we missed first support act. The space is rammed when at capacity, so getting upstairs is difficult with people occupying stairwell. Security need better earpieces... yelling at each other through music... o2 comms irony! If you're smaller than about 5'4", you won't see much (if anything) if you enter later than first 15mins. The space is definitely intimate... it's a relatively small space where you're close to the performers, but there's also so little standing space that you'll literally not be able to turn around without brushing other people. No queues for the bar, so that was a plus and the men's toilets have the sweetest smell, I really must ask my work if they'll get something similar. Tips: queue from 1 hour before doors open or join o2 for priority treatment. The hatchet pub nearby serves good food and drink but no bar snacks. Between 60-30 minutes before the o2 doors open, hatchet bar queue very long and no spare seats.

C. B.

Nice little venue. Easy to get to. Staff are friendly and very professional

C. D.

Great venue with reasonable costs. Gallery gives great view and close to the bar

A. M.

Love the venue, lost count how many times I've been there!!

R. R.

So just based on the venue, I gave it 3 because I felt that the security could have been a bit more observant. It was at capacity which wasn't the problem, the way that only a few members of staff managed to usher people to where they were allowed to be was not enough. My experience was spolit by an obnoxious woman and her friend who talked really loudly through pretty much 70% of the act, and not 1 member of staff approached her, yet 3 of them looked over at her several times. Disappointed as we drove from London, not by the act but by the venues lack of attention.

S. K.

Great venue and easy to get to bars. Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes plus the supporting acts were brilliant, Lynks especially!!

A. Q.

Great venue, good view of the stage from most places. Good ventilation (covid). And apparently there are tons of cubicles in the Ladies WCs, so that's even better! 🙂

A. C.

First gig since the lockdown. Great gig - Mike Rosenberg aka Passenger brilliant and his support Gabriella Aplin, she was good too, check her out in March.Venue was good, Covid checks prior to going in, however wearing masks in confined areas should have been enforced. Although Government's lack of authority in choice over compulsory wearing to optional wearing masks is a usual cop out. Setting that aside the organisation of the staff at the venue was good.

J. W.

Good sound and lighting and always a good vibe. It does feel insanely cramped when at capacity - and not just in the pit!

j.

Watched soul to soul here a very good gig and a well run venue with a good sound system Drinks are over priced.

S. T.

Amazing venue. Even if you're stood at the back, you're only 10 metres from the stage. Nice and intimate. Saw an amazing show with Steve Vai!

M. T.

Great place to catch a gig. Mezzanine setup makes viewing a dream as you can choose to get into the thick of it or watch safely from above. Drinks prices are steep though (read daylight robbery).

S. O.

Great venue but overfilled for the event I was at. Beers at the bar all flat - ordered 4 pints throughout the night (7pm-10pm) and every one of them flat. Cmon O2 Bristol, improve quality of what you’re serving! Staff great though, and bar service super fast.

S. K.

Very cool venue , absolutely willing to pack people in. Excellent sound quality. Helpful staff , great bartenders ( shout out to Dan , great service) taxi ramp close and great pin directly across street ( The Hatchett )

R. S.

Absolutely fantastic door and venue staff. So very helpful and kind as I have mobility issues and was walking with a stick. Thanks everyone for looking after me!

N. D.

Brian Fallon gig. Clear communication from security about what we should do and friendly. Standing area shallow and safe and sound clear. Always a good live music venue

M. R.

Great venue with excellent sound quality.

P. h.

One of the best nights of my life. Watching UB40 loved it

C. R.

Went with a person on crutches and she received excellent 121 service from the staff here. Taken to disabled seating with good views of the stage. Thank you!

D. K.

Decent venue but as per with concerts mega over-priced drinks. They had so many toilets in the ladies though which is a first for venues I've been too lol! Went to see wolf alice and had a great time.

1.

Great venue great sound easy to find. If you have a physical disability they will o out of they're way to help. Awesome staff 👍👍👍

S. C.

Staff are so polite and compassionate. A shout out to Ben the manager for always being swift to reply and giving me utmost confidence that the venue is safe and accessible.

R. G.

Great venue for a concert. A fantastic evening. Shame about the parking attendant at the carpark in Trenchard Street!! Very rude and unhelpful. Also no signage to say where the parking paypoints were. It would be a good idea to have the pay machines on the exit floors.

s. s.

We saw rag n bone, who was amazing, thoroughly recommend you see him. Really down to earth, engaging, amazing vocals and band. Venue itself.... Just ok for me. The concert was obviously a popular one so it was very busy. Viewing points were limited unless you got there early. We walked around a bit (which was a task in itself) to find a tiny gap where we could potentially see the artist. Upstairs was pointless unless you were 7ft tall. We eventually found a place where we could see the stage through gaps of people. Accoustic wise, been to better venues. No queue in ladies toilet as there are lots of them. Blessing for ladies as there are always queues.... Served quickly at bar and able to leave the venue easily. Great pub opposite the venue too.

E. B.

saw everything everything here, had such a great night! also staff were handing out water later on in the show which was a really lovely thing to do - would definitely recommend

N. J.

Awesome venue, 🤘🤘 bit dated, but adds to the occasion 👌👍.... Beware of the multi story car park next door.... Long queue, s to get out 🤣🤣🤣🤘🤘🤘

D. M.

Had a great night there. Watching Reef last Friday

S. D.

Over packed, over priced, bad viewing. Too many acts Dodie when we eventually "saw her" through our phone was good. Never going there again. Should have been at Colston Hall or whatever it's called these days. Venue is too small!

A. H.

Just visited for Bears Den concert, lovely friendly venue, small enough to be intimate big enough for a brilliant atmosphere, I contacted the venue for accesability seat and they were very helful and friendly, thank you, I would love to go again, well done to venue and Bears Den brilliant concert.

J. A.

Great organisation, lovely helpful staff. Just annoyed I couldn't take my camera in. Place could do with a make over looking tired but that does not reflect from the great gig we went to watch

J. S.

Great venue, been going for years. Only suffers from over enthusiastic entrance searches (peanuts confiscated), and erratic drinks pricing. Same drinks were £12 on Tuesday and then £8 on Friday.

n. m.

Great sound, Great venue...went to see the bay area thrashers...Death Angel, Exodus and Testament...what a gig..up close and personal..much better than an arena gig. The atmosphere was intense. The venue has a couple of bars and the one on the upper floor is card only.. toilets were clean (yes us metal heads do behave) and their located on the ground floor near the entrance. It's not the first time I've seen bands here and it certainly wont be the last...if you get a chance to go then go.

a. m.

Awesome up close venue.Poorly lit steps on balcony resulting in me falling! Lovely security helped get me up.Big ouch.Gary Numan...legend 💜

B. T.

I've been to fletcher concert ,it was briliant ,but honestly it was too hot inside with maybe more than 100 people inside there was no air conditioning ,bad ..

L. F. P.

Saw skunk anansie 12/04/22, good acoustics, friendly staff, drinks aren't too over priced so I'd say we'll worth a visit👍

M. G.

Solid venue, good sound, reminded me of the London Astoria so quite intimate. Smoking area location was the only thing letting it down...

C. C.

Bands and sound were amazing, great to be back at this venue. Drinks very expensive but that's alright

o. r.

Really good! A bit over capacity in my opinion but it didn't make much difference to the experience. Thanks to the security guard who let my daughter stand on the step for her first gig! 😀😁

P. E.

Great venue o2 priority que. In early found good place. Couple of pints and Robins UB40 back to their best.

R. l.

Great venue, lovely size.

T. M.

Parking next door, very easy to get to. A nice venue on multiple levels and a reasonable temperature all evening

J. K.

Good venue for a gig in central Bristol. Got to see Bloc Party on Monday who were amazing

C. H.

Power cut meant all staff were called into action. Everyone acted calmly and responsibly and we had a great time.

R. T.

The place has a good sound quality, small enough to feel close to the action, and see the bands that play here. Although if the band is a big crowd puller, you to get in early to grab your viewing spot.Bar staff are good, drinks at normal Bristol prices, and crowd control staff polite and friendly. Facilities were clean and tidy. All in all a good venue to use.

G. N.

Great venue. Can't go wrong with any of the O2 academy venues really.

s. n.

Took my daughter here to see Jessie J perform it was a very intimate venue we were very close and to the stage we interacted with Jessie J there was a bar there that you can get drinks at and also at the front whilst the show was on there were people handing out glasses of water so people don't get dehydrated. It was totally packed you can't move anywhere so bear that in mind if you needed to go to the toilet it's basically impossible it was a great experience and I definitely go there again to see our favourite people., Jessie J was so interactive with the crowd everyone showed so much love for Jessie J everyone was singing along and laughing and joking with her

J. M.

Visited last night to watch Embrace. A good venue with easy access, local parking, nice staff and a good view of the stage. Drinks prices were average. Toilets are a decent size and pretty clean considering the amount of people using them.

S. C.

Great venue and staff are always compassionate, considerate and respectful. Ben the manager is always helpful regarding accessibility.

C. H.

Went to Breakin Science DnB event there which was Excellent. Definitely one of the better and bigger O2 accademy venues in the country that we have seen. Good layout mostly with great balconies overlooking main arena and aircondioned well at the top.2 small arenas which wernt owt special. Sound and lighting at this event was Brilliant. Very long que to get in due to tight but good professional security searching for Weapons drugs etc but not to intrusive. We had VIP so skipped most of que. Security present everywhere making it safe but relaxed. Bar was good got served quickly. Unfortunately on these So called 'Club nites' 02 customers which are supposed to get Perks such as free clock room and cheap drinks dont get anything despite Posters signs and staff shirts saying we do? This is same at all 02 venues weve been too, as a faithful customer this annoying When they make a big deal of it in emails advets etc then wont do it just because it's a hard dance or dnb event. Shame. Overall tho very good had a great nite.

M. G.

Arrived at O2 with a married couple and we went through security. When they went through they just looked into their bags and went through. When l went up the security woman searched through my wallet looking through all the notes receipts cards as if l was trying to sneak in drugs. I asked why haven't they done that to any other person or to my friends but l guess there is a specific way to search black men. Apart from that Soul11Soul was excellent.

H. B.

A pretty good venue, with decent stage view from the upper balcony. Bar staff are friendly (and offer earplugs). Nothing stand-out, but definitely adequate.

E. G.

Pretty good venue it has a cloakroom, toilets and a bar. It really is a good venue for any concerts. Only issue I have is it does get quite cramped once full. An intimate venue.

T. I.

Absolutely my favourite concert venue. I'm in a wheelchair, and the accessable area is close to the stage and slightly raised so we got a brilliant view. The staff were really helpful, especially Henry who looked after us really well.

R. P.

I'll be honest last 2 times I've been it seems like about 500 people too many in there. OK if you are happy to get down the front at 7pm and stay there for the night but I like a beer. I barely saw the performer, just crazy.

R. R.

I wanted to see the Black Pumas for a long time and the Bristol O2 was the closest venue so popped over the bridge. This was our first time to this venue and there was a nice direct route to the O2 from S Wales. Huge car park attached to the O2 with hundreds of spaces and reasonable rates after 6pm. A nice pub called the Hatchet across the road to have a pint before the concert. O2 was a great venue with more of a club size and atmosphere so it felt like a more personal gig. There were good bars on both levels with a balcony and seating area upstairs. Venue was crammed for the Black Pumas (so be there early for a good view) and it was an awesome performance, even though I am a huge fan. Now that I know how convenient it is to visit the O2, I will definitely be back in the future.

M. B.

Medium sized venue with plenty of good viewing spots to watch performances as they unfold. There is a bar with reasonably priced drinks along with well designed toilet facilities.

S. M.

Great venue, being an O2, I had assumed it was a big venue, but actually it's the perfect size, large enough for great atmosphere, small enough to see and feel the band. Standing only, so get there early of you are short. Reasonable bar.

S. D.

Four of us went, three of us came out with covid. Apart from that, decent venue with a chummy vibe, and not overly expensive bar. Will be going again.

D. O.

Aurora was great! A fantastic show! However, my only observation is if it says Doors at 7, it should be Doors at 7, not 7.15

C. E.

Great venue really helpful staff. As a wheelchair user they look after you really well. The only issue was with parking in the multi-storey car park next door the access in and out is incredibly steep. I almost fell out of my chair giving down to the entrance of the academy. After the gig getting backup to my car was really tough but thankfully other patrons helped me. Next time I must find somewhere else to park.

L. W.

Went to see The Darkness here recently, very well maintained and safety procedures good. Security staff were amazing, toilets clean and air conditioning made it so we weren't over heating during the gig!

L. H.

Nice place to enjoy live venues only con is drink selection is not great and not a wide range to select but overall nice place

J. E.

Great venue. Staff are very helpful, friendly and efficient. Thatchers on tap would be amazing 😏

T. k.

Awesome show. Not too packed tonight. Some shows we've been to here we've been packed in like sardines, with no room to move! Try not to use the toilets if you can help it!

M. A.

Looking at pictures on Google I thought I was going to hate it as it looks so cramped but it's really spacious, I guess it just depends on which concert you see, the bar is surprisingly cheap a round of 4 drinks were £12.95 and 3 of us got free crisps with our drink which was a bonus, clean place, very well organised, if you have o2 then you are let in first which we had no clue about but it was great, so worth taking someone who is on o2, plenty of bathrooms so no ques, again very clean and smelt good.

K. R.

Great place with plenty of space. Clean toilets and helpful staff. Made my experience all the better! X

K. C.

Nice little music venue - you can get a decent view from almost anywhere thanks to the 3 tiered layout. Drink is expensive, but that's par for the course. We saw 3 Doors Down and Pop Evil here and were impressed with both the bands and the venue.

M. K.

Nice intimate venue, unforgettable night with Tom Odell💓

J. C.

Place is well prepared for the concert. Security does its job. Room is spacious with 2 levels. Big screen behind adds to the atmosphere. I went there for the Rasmus band with my family and we had good fun.

K. B.

Bar prices were outrageous. Otherwise a good venue.

T. P.

Get there early to make sure you have a good spot on the balcony. Especially if you are short. My favourite venue for gigs in Bristol.

J. M.

Fun venue although not great for viewing if youre below 5ft 5" like my partner. Great location with a multistorey car park right next to the venue. Would 100% return to this venue.

L. H.

One of the best O2 Academies I have been to. Fantastic atmosphere and wherever you stand, you end up feeling close to the band and immersed in the experience. Seen both Sigrid and The Goo Goo Dolls in the past 12 months and both times I have come away with fantastic memories.

O.

Snug venue, you can get super close to the stage which is really cool. Drinks prices not so cool, but as expected.

S. T.

Great place for concerts very intimate which provides a great atmosphere to the experience

A. B.

Here with my son to see Headie One last night. Quite an experience for a 57 year old man!😂.

S. E.

Fantastic place to see bands. Well organised venue and friendly staff

S. R.

Love this venue really close too the bands and great pub just next door!!

K. H.

Everyone needs music in their life and there are some bands that make live music is a truly great experience.

S. B.

Decent acoustics but often hard to see and bars are often very full! Often queuing to get in in the cold as well!

R. H.

One of my favourite live music venues - Big enough for a good crowd and decent bands, but small enough that you never feel too far away from the action, and you get solid acoustics from anywhere in the room. Two good sized bars with decent selection of drinks, too. Ample NCP parking is also close by, which is handy.

A. O.

Great venue, brilliant band, Alabama 3 on top form.

K. A.

Great music venue for Bristol, long may it last

A. T.

First gig after COVID & we'll managed. Good venue to see live music

G. S.

Nice intricate venue. Staff great, toilet to bar route gets easily congested, bit of a pain.

F. F.

Great to be back at gigs after 2 years .one of my fave venues

S. B.

Lots of good bands come here only downside is poor view from many places.

P. R.

I haven't been here since it ceased to be an ice rink. It still has pretty savage air conditioning! Otherwise ok as a central live music venue without seating... uncomfortable if you arrive early.

O. J.

Awesome venue. Went to see Oh Wonder, and it was great!! Like that it’s a bit smaller than most venues so you get quite close and ‘feel the music’. Reasonably clean also. No food and drink allowed in many events.

I. D.

Great venue for gigs, sweaty and intimate Latest visit pics added, Feb 2022

k. n.

Great venue I've seen many bands there, stage is awesome, drink prices are reasonable. Staff and security are very friendly. I would definitely recommend.

K. B.

Good concert venue with easy parking at Trenchard St multi storey. Cloakroom costs £3 per item. Drinks are expensive: a pint of San Miguel is £5.50 & a single spirit with mixer is the same.

C. b.

Fantastic place although you may need to take out a loan if you want to stay and swig all night, very expensive, there's a pub across the road witch was reasonable, so we filled our boots there , the pubs name is (the hatchet ) we went to the 02 academy for garage nation, cracking night everything is well placed , meaning the dance floor and the bar , you overlook the dance floor from the bar witch is nice , security was firm but reasonable aswell , knowing they would not mess about but at the same time to the people who are where there to enjoy they were friendly enough

S. D.

Bowling for soup 18/4/22 amazing. Bar staff were a great laugh!

R. B.

The best Concert Venue I've ever been to...Perfect size, layout. Staff were 👍great...Extra hassle for them with Covid certificates required or flow tests done on site. They were patient and professional. I have already recommended to friends and family. To look out for Concerts of bands they would love to watch at the Bristol O2 academy.

S. C.

Always a great gig , sound is excellent and loads of places to get a good view of the band

g. p.

Cracking place to watch a band... really good sound ...view to stage from every angle...

S. (.

I do enjoy the O2, even though the floors do try take your shoes sometimes. It's got ample space and probably the most well known concert location in bristol. Good acoustics and decent bars although you will be fighting to get a drink.

M. B.

This was my first visit to the 02 Academy, watching Elvana with Attic Theory in support. Both bands had a loud sound and the sound system coped admirably, which is my main point of concern with any gig. The light show was also to a good standard and the 2 pint glass was handy, saving another trip to the bar. Even though I'm in Plymouth, I wouldn't hesitate to see more bands play here.

S. M.

Saw fantastic Passenger concert in Sept 21. Venue perfect size - small enough to feel intimate but big enough to feel a bit wow. Friendly staff. Easy parking nearby.

G. E.

Gigs need measures for us smaller fans. Not being able to see and getting hurt and shoved might be "part of the experience" to some, but it shouldn't be. Small venue , but lovely staff , good tending to everyone with water and a medical need. just overall think venues need some changes for our safety and enjoyment

H. J.

Good venue for seeing bands. Not so big that you are miles from the stage and not so small that you feel like you are in a church hall. Capacity for concerts is 2000 I believe. Theres are big car park right next door which is reasonably priced. (cost me £3 to park for the gig)

S. H.

Been frequenting this place for years - weirdly it hasn't not really changed inside despite the name changing several times. Really one of the best "big" live venues in Bristol - not massive like Colston hall so still has intimacy, but equally attracts some bigger bands.

S. R.

Great night, not packed in like sardines, which meant we could actually see!

r. K.

Drinks are absolutely extortionate, 6.50£ for 2 Pepsi's. If you have bottled, you're not allowed the lid. Venues a good size. Majority of staff are nice enough.The fact that you need to go to the first floor then back down again for the outdoor area is ridiculous, especially if you have mobility issues.

I. R. (.

Visited 10th December 2019. I enjoyed the Scouting for Girls Concert

n. s.

Never been before and really enjoyed the experience. Really lovely venue, well planned out for maximum viewing potential. Not oversized like so many music venues are lately. Found the staff very welcoming and helpful.

M. C.

Quite small compared to other O2 Academy's, but good enough for some gigs. The sound achieved is decent and the prices of the drinks are reasonable. They serve two pint cups during concerts.

O. A.

Very lovely and great venue to perform, all we needed was provide for, great sound and beautiful equipment 👍👍👍👍👍👍

D. P.

Fantastic venue 👌great for all the gigs not to big and not to small

M. G.

Great venue with solid acoustics. There's plenty of viewpoints and space for people to enjoy a concert however they wish to. Good, clean facilities with plenty of space and a great atmosphere.

M. D.

Quite a small venue but unique & compact, would definitely go again.

s.

Great venue in bustling Bristol. Good location and easy access. Nice wide stage so you feel close to the band (the amazing Black Pumas when we were there). Good sound and lighting too.

N. H.

Excellent venue,hada brilliant night,a lot of security measures but meh SLF WERE EXCELLENT AS ALWAYS

A. M.

Great venue, will be back for more gigs, good view from everywhere, easy to get out and back from drinks with no bar queue.

P. S.

Saw Biffy Cyro. Had a great night. Make sure you have lateral flow test proof or double jab-nhs proof.

m.

Can't wait to go in October, but already have a good feeling about it because of outstanding customer service from Ben.

S. H.

Very disappointed that there was no space in the disabled area for me to enjoy the concert. Fair play to the lad on the phone because he really tried to help. The ladies toilets are in a daft place as well. No Guinness or bitter so had to suffer with rubbish alcohol all night

M. L.

Had a great evening. 1st concert since lock down x

T. B.

Excellent venue, disabled customers well catered for

m. c.

Great concert, the O2 staff were so helpful for us 3 sisters to stand near where our disabled mum needed to be seated. Thank you SO MUCH!

G. P.

Amazing night to see Sleaford Mods and Nova Twins. Brilliant venue, great sounds, air con really effective too and the staff were brilliant.

R. j. M.

It was good.(gents toilets accepted and excepted cos expected) The staff were all pleasant and helpful. Shame they removed the cash machine. Only issue was the drummer in the band showered us with champagne. I didn't appreciate that. Its OK if it was a special celebration.... But if I can't drink IT I don't want to wear IT ! lol lovin'the FUNk.

D. K. (. P.

It's a great venue for the fans, but a horrible venue for the production.

I. P.

Well organised Post Covid gig 🤘🏻

M. W.

Good music venue. Saw Suede there last night and they were amazing! Could do with a few more security inside venue for drunken idiots shouting at the bar.

P. A.

Good night out. I would have preferred they were more careful with COVID checks. Just as we were about to be checked they stopped and said we would be checked nearer the front of the queue. We weren't, and ticket checkers just shrugged.

T. W.

A bit hidden away if you don't know the area, however it's really close to central bus routes etc. Brilliant venue and lovely security! Laid out very well

K.

The bass rattled the whole building. Nice venue though with helpful staff - they suggested as I was on the short side that i might get a better view from the balcony.. they were right, and its right next to the bar

S. C.

Extremely crowded, could not see large screen whilst upstairs due to numbers attending. Really could do with side screens so you could see the band play. Sound quality was excellent though.

F. H.

Rend collective were great, but the place was so cold. The ventilation system was full blast and we had gone prepared for indoor temperature. We were told that it was for COVID but it made for an uncomfortable evening. Early warning next time please and we will come prepared.

P. H.

Always a great atmosphere at gigs here.

C. W.

What a great venue to see a great band. While it was in no way a socially distanced venue, various checks were in place and it was clean, friendly and wonderful venue.

J. G.

A small venue perfect for medium sized gigs. Bar service and two levels. Standing om the stairs is allowed for good views

R. W.

This place is clean with friendly staff, gigs always have the volume levels set right, and security were safely pulling crowdsurfers from the pit, during the metal bands slow song they were handing out loads of cups of ice water for the moshpit people as it was a warm evening. Only concern was that covid status was not checked at all, for my group or anyone in front of us, went on 06/09/21 so not sure if it was a legal requirement by then.

M. H.

Not a bad venue. Cam be over crowded on sell put gigs though. Feels like there isn't much room to move

G. H.

Small but sounds good in there. Good atmosphere when we visited

N. K.

Our ticketmaster app didn't have any barcodes but they sorted us out with an old fashioned paper ticket, also a handy souvenir. Staves were fab. We were expecting three of them so were a tad confused at first but all was explained (baby). Some people behind doing very loud talking but got shushed by the crowd. Few if any masks. It did feel a bit weird. Loved it but there was a backdrop of covid/not much ventilation/eek. I guess many people there have kids at school like us, all of whom seem to have classmates perpetually off with covid. I really hope we can keep going to gigs through the winter. Does feel like a stolen privilege right now.

D. R.

Another awesome night in a really great venue. Easy to access. Great staff. Loads of history in the place. Love it!

A. S.

🎸🎶Great venue, far more intimate than other Bristol locations, and the drinks aren't overpriced either.

N. 9.

Great venue, great Gig ... Both my wife and l were not checked for Coronavirus double Jabs, disappointing 😔 ... We kept our masks on for the whole evening as majority of people were not wearing them... Staff and security were wearing masks 👍 ... Shame Gig goers were complacent about the Pandemic, that night !!!

T. B.

Been here many times over the years tonight was Teddy Swims and the place rocked

J. J.

Always a great gig venue. Can get really overcrowded especially for popular acts.

S. B.

Great venue, very helpful and friendly staff.

U. A.

A mighty arena small enough for 300 + people 3 drinks bars one on the left before entering stage area one middle stage and upper middle deck get the drinks in there reasonable prices still ;)

M. P.

We went to watch the specials on there 2021 UK tour, the staff got you in fast with a friendly manner, the venue was a little on the small side, there was a sell out of 1600 tickets, and the atmosphere was amazing... Something never to forget

O. H.

Fantastic venue, comforting atmosphere, friendly staff. Saw Declan Mckenna

M. B.

Great location, excellent staff and superb bar service

A. O.

Fantastic venue in central location of Bristol close to bars and restaurants. Sound is awesome, large bars with quick service

C. D.

What a night at the O2 seeing Craig Charles.. Awesome music.. Can't wait to do it again 😜

P. F.

Great for seeing bands but expensive for beers

O. L.

Great sounds and lighting. Drinks are quite expensive tho.

M. O.

Interesting venue with a second level to view bands playing live. Easy to find with car parking right next to the venue.

B. G.

Had a great night seeing The Wailers. Parking right next to venue

M. C. (.

Went to see Royal Blood. The O2 academy staff were well organised and entry was quick and painless even with covid negative test result checking. A great venue to see any performance up close and personal. I will return 👍👍

H. P.

Good venue, lots of space to choose where to view the band from

D. V.

Not a comfortable experience..if you expect to stand, get very hot, pushed and drinks spilt on you..you'll be fine.

A. S.

Great venue for live acts, well managed. Easy parking.

E. U.

Great place. Pity venues charge so much for beer

c. k.

Really enjoyed myself. Can't wait to go back!

A. B.

Quite a large venue but still feels very intimate as you're never too far from the stage.

C. D.

Great venue for gigs..not to big good sound

R. W.

Good club night, shame that particular club night was the last one. Overpriced drinks though.

J. P.

Convenient, affordable parking right next to venue . The venue is quite small but well organised . There is minimal seating upstairs but the view from the balcony is quite restricted unless you are right at the front due to it being flat and not inclined. You do get that up close and personal feeling with the band when down stairs. Event staff were friendly and helpful . Most importantly.... the acoustics are great and the bands sound fantastic.

N. T.

Great venue and good COVID measures in place. Great to be back seeing live music again

J. J.

A fantastic venue where you get a great view from just about any where. The stage is high, and the floor space not too deep, with multiple levels. On top of this there are loads of toilets, and also a large bar meaning queues are minimal. I would definitely come and see a band playing here over other venues they may play on the same tour.

D. g.

Amazing place, drinks bit pricey but worth the money, loved seeing bugzy malone! Thanks for having us and looking after us!

A.

Great medium-sized venue

S. S.

Good venue for live music with a downside of frequently have to stand for over 3 hours

R. V.

Been to the o2 academy in Bristol twice now and both experiences were great, the security staff were brilliant and the events were both very well managed.

N. M.

Great venue. Nice and intimate.

C. E.

Great venue. Inglorious were awesome. Looking forward to visiting venue again.

K. B.

First time coming to this 02 and it was a pretty good establishment, got to be quite close to the stage so didnt miss anything

M. C.

If make a 200 mile round trip on a wet Tuesday evening to see your favourite band of the moment, it's a relief when the venue is a proper place to see a band like the Sleaford Mods! Cracking!

R. I.

Not the best venue in the world, unfortunately the layout of the main room lets it down. There isn’t a ton of floor space and upstairs, unless you get there early you won’t find yourself a decent place to stand and see what you’ve paid for. The sound, which I had heard wasn’t great, was fine whilst I was there and getting out was easy enough at the end of the evening. There is a car park right next door which is only £3 after 6pm so not too expensive at all. I’d only suggest coming to this venue if you absolutely adore the person you are seeing.

t. c. v.

Staff was super nice, everything was clean and well organised

J. C.

First visit here for a gig. Brilliant venue. Saw the wonder stuff, who delivered as usual. 2 albums performed all the way through. What more could you ask for. The venue is well laid out, quite narrow in shape. I drove up from London, easy to park above the venue.

A. Q.

Was here for Courtney Barnet. It's a good venue but when it's sold out or nearly full don't expect to see the stage unless you are 6'6".

H. S.

Good venue, always have a great time

c. l.

GRIFF WAS AWESOME, LOVE O2 ACADEMY BRISTOL SECOND TIME RAGNBONE BONE WAS FIRST 🥰🥰🥰

L. B.

Yesssss looooved it....it's good to know all the words for a change...

M. T.

Cramped venue with very expensive drinks and freezing air con in winter..

N. J.

Staff were great at checking COVID passes, and the airflow is good. Felt very considered in these difficult times. Thanks!

D. J.

Been to many events here, great venue for concerts!

A. J.

City centre based dance and music venue - next door to a 24 hour car park. Holds about 1500 people so a good sized venue too. Popular with the student population and events on most nights. Security taken seriously, searches and scanners, large well serviced bars and remarkably clean and decent bathrooms. Not bad at all. Oh, and 5% off with a Barclaycard!

m.

Great venue .decent sound .you need to go to experience it 👌

A. H.

Good music venue but not if you are small!

R. R.

Very good venue for a city of this size (Bristol). They have more recently renovated the outside. The stage and audience is relatively small though. There are 3 balconies on top of the standing up area but don't arrive late or you will only be able to stand at the back of the balconies where you won't see nothing. Otherwise the acoustic is quite good.

K. S.

Saw example at the 02 academy and the staff was lovely and very friendly.

S. B.

Had a fantastic night at Beartooth, but that's due to the quality of the band rather than the venue. Awkwardly laid out, bar is an absolute nightmare to get to in the actual concert room and it's really not built for the number of people there when it sells out. There is also two really awkwardly placed staircases at either side of the stage leading to the upper levels, which means there is a constant stream of people pushing and shoving to get up or down. Great night as said, but hands down the most uncomfortable venue I have ever been in for live music.

m. m.

Great little music venue. Friendly staff. Recently went to see Miles Kane who was fantastic as always

R. W.

Good venue overall, but can get very crowded. The bar is situated parallel to the stage so people often stay there and watch the bands from there, can be difficult to muscle in to get a drink! Easy to get to and park by and the Hatchet Inn is just opposite. A good venue all in all small but big enough!

S. E. K.

Good sized venue with plenty of bars and decent sound. Staff can be a tad over zealous - I got hassle for checking my phone whilst walking upstairs, which was quite unreasonable, but as I was there on the guestlist I didn't want to protest and make things awkward.

J. M.

A venue barely changed in years, sticky floors, limited view if you aren't very tall and don't get there early for a gig. Could do with some updating, bar choice is poor, but some really good gigs have played there and bands come back, so not all bad.

S. N.

There's a balcony so you can look down on the bands. Rock stars have legs! Who knew? Great venue. Bar and loos are really accessible. A good sized venue. Loved it.

G. C.

Friendly, safe venue. Always great for gigs.

S. C.

amazing venue great time last time cart wait to see Enter shikari tonight

M. S.

To be honest it was so busy I didn't have the opportunity to suss it out properly. Standing room only but the music was fine although I suspect the room is not kind to anyone trying to get a decent bass sound. The few staff I met were friendly and helpful. Not sure how disabled people would cope.

A. R.

For a 'larger' venue this has an intimate feel with a dance floor , bar area and viewing area and a balcony with stairs that appear to be able to be used as viewing platforms too! Although I imagine security gauge the crowd and will sometimes prevent punters viewing from them. Security were subtle and professional . Decent sound system with a pretty good lighting bar too. Talking bar...nice staff but prices hefty but hey....who needs to drink to enjoy themselves? Forget the advertising screens and enjoy your favourite bands.

D.

Great venue for live music!

E. E.

Incredible service given by the staff here, my partner is legally blind and they gave extra effort to help us around the venue. pat/pad the medic was wonderful and knew exactly how to treat and guide a blind person verbally describing upcoming stairs or ramps, he gave us access to staff only areas/toilets so my partner could use his cane without being in crowded areas and he even held a spot near the barriers for us while we went to the toilet. When the music began we weren't aware how loud it was going to be and my partner became incredibly uncomfortable, the staff behind the barrier gave him free ear plugs and he thoroughly enjoyed the live show, he keeps talking about how great it was just from the help alone :) once the show ended everyone crowded the exists, I always ensure we wait until last to leave and yet again the incredible staff were there for us and let us exit through a back door. I was so shocked at how incredible the staff here were, we had visited Royal Albert Hall weeks before and they did nothing to help us so I wasn't expecting anything during this visit. I'm so happy with the service provided here, management should be very proud of the people they hire!

K. L.

Went there for dj sodas show. Great place but it was pretty cold inside and floors are very sticky. Great staff

A. E.

I had a generally nice night but large venues and shows are generally bad for anyone under 6 foot 4, so I've never been a huge fan of O2 arenas. I couldn't see the band a number of times throughout the show. Lots of people don't have good gig etiquette when it comes to getting photos and videos. Half the crowd had their phones in the air for the first hour. Tip: if you have to put your phone higher than your own head to get a photo or video, just DON'T D-head.

c. f.

Great sized place to watch live music

K. J.

Nice venue. Staff were friendly and one even helped me through the crowd when I had to leave a sold out event early. If you are short, get there early to ensure a good view.

L. C.

Drinks we're pricey but that's expected really. Saw Nothing But Thieves here and it was amazing, really nice staff and not at chaotic (in a bad way that is)

K. S.

Nice place, but it's a pitty that you cannot buy some drink after the show.

D.

Great smaller 02 venue, good sound and a good atmosphere. Superb gig by the Blossoms + support tonight

L.

Came here for festival of the dead and it's an amazing venue with 2 floors, smoking area, 2 bars, stage. Drinks were good prices. Managed well. Had an amazing time. Just wish I wasn't the designated driver!

D. M.

Great venue, especially since the refurb. Emma and the bar team are always excellent. Sure the place can get busy but there's a reason for that! The atmosphere is electric and the drinks are reasonably priced for such a big venue.

T. M.

Brilliant intimate venue to watch your favourite band. At this venue, I've seen Bad Religion, Bowling a For Soup and The Wildhearts. If you want to get a good view, you'll want to get in early - there's so many people in such a small place it's hard to find a good spot if you go in too late! Great layout, lovely venue.

T. S.

A great venue, I've been here three times since moving to Bristol earlier this year, and I have to say that I love it. The fact that there are two bars, meaning that you don't have to wade through the crowds to get a beer, is a real bonus. The style of the main space is super cool, it's a wide auditorium on a number of floors, you can always get to see the stage from any level. The 'pit' is so close to the stage that you feel like the band are playing in your front room haha. So, you would think that this place couldn't get any better, but it just has! The techies working at this O2 Academy have done themselves proud with a recently improved lighting rig - the lasers are simply stunning. I saw the Happy Monday last night and the light show proved to be the main event of the evening. Well done to all involved.

R. B.

Great venue, easy to park

E. -. R.

Good venue get there early for a good spot upstairs balcony was good to see everything.

B. B.

They have some great bands but it's poorly laid out meaning that a lot of people can't see the stage. Beer is eyewateringly overpriced and poor quality. Access and toilet facilities better than average.

S. U.

Not a great venue, has really poor acoustics for live bands

H. C.

Amazing service thank you for looking after us.

J. H.

I've had a great evening thanks to the bar staff and especially the security Hassa, akil and (arian from prestige security) who made me fell welcome and safe

J. M.

Excellent intimate venue. Love travelling here from Plymouth to watch live gigs. The layout is simple enough and the bars offer a good selection. Staff are great, approachable and friendly. Would recommend catching a live event here.

J. B.

Very good venue for bands. Can always get a good view of stage

E. A.

Second floor could be done better. If tall people are sitting at the balcony nobody can see the scene or band...shame because we are paying same money to see the concert. Chairs at the balcony will be good ..same as cinema..maybe. Overall, being a shorter person couldn't see much but managed to take a few pictures at the end..

D. L.

The O2 is a great music venue. The floor in front of the band is not big, but very adequate and there are lots of balconies to watch the band from. From the If you are on the floor it's possible to get quite close to the band. On this occasion I saw the band The Dead South who were excellent.

J. D.

Brilliant venue. Drinks are pretty expensive, but was to be expected. Hold on to them too, as I had a whole pint nicked when I went to the toilet. Great place nonetheless. Saw MosDef here a few weeks back and was very impressed with the intimate space, lights and general experience.

J. F.

I have seen Queens of the Stone age, Eagles of Death Metal, LCD Sound System, The Rapture, The Bronx, Flogging Molly and Presidents of the USA (might have forgotten a few). The venue is great, intimate but plenty of bar space. All of the gigs have been great but in fairness so are the bands.

M. N.

One of my favourite venues. Great size and sound. Drive into Bristol from the south can be a bit of a pain but rewarded by having parking right next to the place. Had some great nights here

N. K.

Fabulous night at Festival of the dead. The venue was packed. Only negative not enough security.

M. T.

Sadly, Bristol lacks decent large music venues so you have very little choice when large bands come to town than to go to the O2. It's a soulless place, badly laid out and difficult to get a decent view of the stage when the place is crowded. Still, when there is so little choice of other large venues you have to put up with it.

G. M.

Great venue, one of the nicest 02's i have been to, the bar was big and service was friendly and fast. Big multi story car park less than 5 minute walk. Al in all a very pleasant experience and the band was good

G.

I've been to many gigs in many different venues, but this is the worst. If you don't get into the lower area or the balcony then go home as you won't be seeing anything. Update: I've been twice more and they seem to have taken reviews into account, as the barriers are gone. Much better, rating upgraded.

C. G.

Great venue offering a really good view of the stage, in my case Rival Sons, what a group! Would definitely recommend Bristol O2 lots of restaurants nearby, we had a cheeky Nandos and the O2's staff were top notch.

L. A.

A very sensible and secure place to watch a live show at. Security and staff are on point with crowd control even the live acts love this place, only issue is the size is quite small but not a massive problem.

K. T.

This is an awesome venue. Normal hight people can see almost anywhere. Big well staffed bars. Nice bouncers who are polite and considerate and a carpark next door. I love coming to this venue. Usually get by o see a band member or two if you hang around after the show.

J. C.

Brilliant venue. staff were great

S. C.

Excellent venue let down by hugely overpriced drinks. Have your beers across the road at the Hatchet before going in to see bands. Great sound. Good security. Just don't crowd surf as they'll kick you out.

K. W.

Great venue. Multiple levels and ways of watching the acts here. I saw Post Modern Jukebox and they were amazing. What always amazes me about this venue is how big the queue becomes yet it always goes down so quickly!

g. h.

Great when there's your band playing. Aint cheap for booze though.

S. F.

I thought this was a brilliant venue for a gig. It was very intimate, being able to get real close to the stage. Not sure about the bar as my friend went but it looked quite busy.

A. B.

I need to be able to sit down at concerts, even if the gig is all standing, as this one was. Despite not having notified the O2 Academy that I would need a seat in advance, the staff could not have been more kind and helpful. The medic that took me to my seat avoided all the crowds and also showed me where the accessible toilets were. At the end of the gig he returned to escort me to the exit, again avoiding the crowds. He couldn't have been more helpful and he and the rest of the staff helped me to have a thoroughly enjoyable night. Please note that I have given 4 stars for the venue - the staff deserve at least 10 stars, they were wonderful - thank you to all at Bristol O2 Academy 👍👍👍

G. J.

It's one of the biggest venues in Bristol so if a bigger band comes this is where they are gonna play, but in terms of sound quality it is always worse than any comparable venue. Never get the levels right, but I guess if we didn't have it we wouldn't get the same bands coming to town.

S. B.

A great litle venue. Small enough to give a real intimate feel to the gig, but big enough that you can pick between being in the middle of the action in front of the stage, behind the barriers on the ground floor or on the balcony. A couple of good sized bars, which are even better if you are with O2 and downloaded the priority app.... 2 for 1 drinks, queue skip and a free cloakroom. We'll located in the city centre, not too far from the train station, but closer to the bus/coach station. Loads of great bars along the harbourside nearby for drinks before or after the gig.

D. M.

What a great venue, we went to see Bjorn again it was a fantastic show!!! The down side was that I was on crutches after a knee injury. The staff there could not in anyway be more helpful. They let us go to the front of the que and go straight in, then we were taken by one of the medic crew to some seating they found for us. Sadly I forgot his name but he was a real star, a big thanks to all the staff. A wonderful time .

d. S.

Great gritty venue awesome for metal gigs..

S. B.

Great bands, great venue!

S. D.

Seen plenty of great bands here. Atmosphere is entirely crowd dependant. Drinks are a £5er. Not the best venue layout, acoustics are okay. Metal detectors on entry.

R. C. (.

Great intimate venue for live music. Good views from any point in the venue. Good sound too. Possibly the best venue for its size in the South West. Comes a close second to Rock City in Nottingham.

C. R.

Small but good. I was on the balcony for the gig so I could see the stage perfectly (not too far either). There was even a long bench to sit between performances! :P The crew was helpful and nice too.

F. T.

The hospitality I received being a person with disabilities was unexpected and greatly appreciated. Made the night watching Hot 8 Brass Band a lot less painful than It could of been, with the staff making me feel as comfortable as possible. It was my first time in the O2 Academy Bristol. Had a great time & part of that was the treatment by the staff especially Patrick.

P. M.

The Stranglers were amazing

M. R.

As a rock & metal venue, this place is great. The clarity of the sound is always spot on, probably because it's neither too big or small, and you have the additional convenience of a large multistory car park right next to it.

J. S.

Spacious venue with a large bar, large toilets, cloak room, and a second stage upstairs. Great for gigs, and a good night out on Friday's - if you don't mind slightly expensive drinks and everything being a bit sticky. That's part of its charm though.

N. W. R.

Went to see Ash, they were amazing! The venue is great and the staff very friendly.

N. C.

Great little venue situated on the site of the old ice rink. If you're travelling there by car, parking in the multi story right next door to the venue makes it so easy. A visit to The Hatchet across the road - especially if you like rock music is a definite must.

G. !.

A venue a stone's throw away from the city centre. A venue that has a decent capacity and can often be described as intimate. For security you will need to go through a scanner and they will check bags if you have them. Also, as you go through another set of doors on the right, the Merch stand is on the left and the entrance to the venue is up some steps on the right. There are steps to the balcony either side of the main area, which has some decent views. To the right, there is a decent size bar though, over priced. It could do with more toilets and, it couple make drinks cheaper however, it is a good sized venue, in a good location. If you fancy a pint before the gig, The Hatchet Inn is just opposite. It's reasonably priced for a pub in the city, but it's more of a traditional pub with a decent range of drinks and pub grub. Lastly, parking is pretty easy for this venue. No on-site parking however, Trenchard St Car Park is next door, easy to get too, and itself, reasonably priced too. After 6pm, I believe it's £3 ALL night, so of you arrive before thay time, you'll also need to factor this in. For example, I arrived at 2pm (to do a little shopping and have food) and 4 hours (leading up to 6) is priced at £5.50 so, in total it came to £8.50.

N. C.

First visit here and have no complaints. Not a particularly busy night but thought the sound system was really good. 45 pence for a pint of soda water and lime, 4.90 for a pint of Guinness. Security ok, toilets not bad.

C. H.

Good to be back, does exactly what it says on the tin...

A. G.

Great venue, great size. Expensive drinks. Friendly staff :)

S. R.

Cannot see the stage from the balcony if not standing in first row. Aka not a venue for short people 😜

A. J.

Toilets are a right mess...not the first time I've had to hitch my trousers up before going in. Downstairs the venue is a nice size, the sound was okay, upstairs the sound is terrible, but unless you start camping 2 hours before the gig you won't get a spot where you can see anything anyway! Drinks are close to a fiver a pint.

I. T.

Rubbish view of the bands, place was jammed solid and we couldn't find a decent place to stand. The bar staff were very good, security were a bit over zealous but polite.

J. M.

Venue small and as a fairly big group on show was overcrowded. I am 6ft and struggled to find a decent view. Bar staff friendly enough. The screen between stage and bar does not help view either. Did not seem as well organised as Sheffield 02 or Birmingham 02.

S. E.

Great band, great staff 🙃

C. L.

Some great bands do come to this small venue. It's crowded and big acts do sell out quick. Sometimes I have witnessed warm up acts to sound terrible. In a good location for transport and not too far away from the car park

O. T.

Went to see slaves. Brilliant venue. Fairly small for an o2 but feels personal! Coats are 2.50 a piece and drinks are pretty expensive so come prepared! No food or drinks from outside allowed in x

C. H.

Went to a concert here good space, large bar. Three levels with stairs on both sides. Good sound and atmosphere. Only down side on the way out it bottlenecks up the stairs.

C. C.

Loved it. The venue had two floors both were fairly small which was nice for the smaller audience as it felt more personal when watching the band and their supporting acts.

B. R. (.

I watched Shed Seven here. I was impressed by the intimacy of the venue. The bar looked busy, so didn't go there. A couple of decent pre venue bars outside. Only a short walk from the city centre.

A. O.

Pleasently suprised, went to a grime gig, sound system was impressive and the general mood was good, plenty of security to sort any issues, although there were few. Drinks were a bit pricey £5.95 for a 500ml bottle.

N. L.

I was working there last night a really good night out

C. S.

A great atmosphere for a gig, feels quite intimate. It has a large bar and large toilets, but it's a strange layout (lots of up and down stairs) and we queued for the cloakroom for ages.

L. H.

Good size venue, it wider than front to back so you are fairly close to the band's even at the back. Plus has a balcony. Standing only at the gigs I've been to.

Q. B.

If you go to a gig here, you need to get in early enough to get a good spot otherwise you sometimes end up stood on stairs with no space to move or see anything. Also they tend to be quite early compared to other venues so they can turn it around for club nights after.

J. M.

Darius Rucker! Absolutely awesome. It was my first visit to this smaller, buzzing venue. Couldn't believe how close to the stage we were! Had a fantastic night. The multi storey car park next door was convenient too!

m. m.

Great venue and acoustics

R. B.

Good venue, while she sleeps were excellent

R. C.

Had a great time at festival of the dead, well worth going and I'll be back again in 2020.

J. W.

Love the Academy. It has sits flaws (toilet smells, access) but altogether one of my favourite places for live music. Always a spot to see and easy to get in and out of with a car.

K. K.

Best concert of my life, flatbush zombies, thank you worth travelling 250 miles too see

w. m.

Brilliant friendly staff. Exellent disabled provision. Good venue

N.

Great venue, don't listen to those who say there's no good views it's an intimate venue and a great atmosphere. Saw Opeth and the sound quality was also great!

N.

L9ved it really good show.

H. P.

Great place for live music. Not too massive, not too small, just right. Very good sound engineers and security personnel. Saw Periphery perform here. Amazing.

M. P.

It's a good venue. Normally you go wherever the act you want to see is playing, so if they attract a larger crowd it will probably be here. The drinks are not cheap, in fact they are pretty expensive. The range is pretty basic too.

K. F.

Been to this venue numerous times to see Levellers. Staff are brilliant, great atmosphere and it’s easy to get to. Would be even better if the drinks could be served in paper cups instead of plastic ones though.

D. J.

Good music venue, and without it, Bristol would be severely under-represented. It's a shame it's not bigger, but it does a good job serving the community. Strict security on arrival, which is a good sign.

T. D.

Great place although if you suffer from claustrophobia I'd probably give it a miss. I've been to a lot of gigs but this was just a bit too much for me and I spent most of the night outside in the lobby listening to the band

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