Reviews of O2 Academy Newcastle. (Night Club) in Newcastle upon Tyne (Tyne and Wear).
O2 Academy Newcastle
Westgate Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1SW, United Kingdom
Description
Information of O2 Academy Newcastle, Night club in Newcastle upon Tyne (Tyne and Wear)
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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Map
Open hours of O2 Academy Newcastle
Sunday
Closed
Monday
12–4PM
Tuesday
12–4PM
Wednesday
12–4PM
Thursday
12–4PM
Friday
12–4PM
Saturday
12–4PM
Popular times
Reviews of O2 Academy Newcastle
s. f.Smaller venues are definitely better for live music, the O2 Academy makes seeing and experiencing live artists feel more 'personal'. Loved every gig that I've been to here.
L. R.Been here loads of times for different gigs and I've always had an amazing time!
G.My absolute favourite venue, could see anything here and have a brilliant night
L. D. A.Had such a good time at the Disco wonderland event... The music was good, and drinks are reasonably priced. . I was nervous about being around so many people but the fact they where checking people's IDS and covid passports actually made the event better. Would definitely go again.
A. W.I have been many times, often as photographer for bands. Good sized venue. The experience often depends upon the different lighting and sound crews as well as the bands playing. I have always found the staff to be very courteous and pleasant, even when customers are proving difficult.
V. V.We went to see the Mersey Beatles staff were great security was excellent. I didn't expect to see chairs on the dance floor but fair play O2 supplied with the ages in mind. There are 3 flights of stairs to the toilet with a break on each flight. The balconies are also 3rd and 4th flight. No parking around the area I'd recommend going to one of the city car parks if your not used to driving in Newcastle it can be a nightmare. Still it's worth the trip so I'd highly recommend
A. H.Great venue, saw The Dead South here Feb 2019, two bars either side of the stage, great acoustics, ground floor rises to the back to allow good all round views upper deck if you prefer to sit down, only niggle exit planning at the end of the gig could be better
P. A.Great venue for music. Only downside is having to queue for 25 mins to get a drink.
N. D.Travelled from North of Scotland for a Blackberry Smoke concert. First time visit to O2 Newcastle. Doors late opening but a clear November evening that was quite mild so no problem. Once in went to the bar for a beer. The barman did ask if I knew what the price for a pint was? When he said £5.50 I was somewhat surprised but it's not outrageous for a concert venue. The beer itself was good. First support band was on stage approx. 15 minutes late and were absolutely wonderful. The Quaker City Nighthawks are certainly a band to watch. I could have watched them all night. The second support band were Junkyard and were well received. Personally though I thought they had a most unpleasant distorted sound. This certainly could not be blamed on the sound system as the first band's sound was superb. The main band were Blackberry Smoke. A brilliant performance in every respect - there really is nothing else that needs to be said. A great place and apart from the price of beer a top class concert venue. Would certainly return. A great evening with top class bands and a wonderful atmosphere.
K. R. J.All standing venue that was perfect for watching Nirvana UK. This allowed the crowd to mosh to their hearts content. Big enough not to be too crowded but small enough to be intimate and atmospheric.
The Academy is in a great location - we stayed at the County Aparthotel which is literally over the road from the venue. Great value parking at Grainger Town multistorey - free after 5pm and £3 all day Sunday.
Staff at the venue were all friendly. Drinks prices were a bit pricey, but par for the course in venues like this. Looking forward to going back soon
S. S.my favourite live music venue 👍 went to see Myles Kennedy was a great show .
W. f.Music absolutely amazing, service at the bar absolutely terrible, as bar staff don't pay any attention to was there first, had a guy basically try to shoulder me out the way and when I resisted he asked me if i wanted a fight lol 😅 Go for the music but have a drink elsewhere beforehand is my advice.
G. J.Shed seven still one of the best live acts to see. Great venue for real bands and real fans.
L. T.Good size venue for musical events, they get some great bands playing here! Bars are always difficult to get served at unless you are there extremely early and as is the same with most venues there are never enough toilets. The way you are thrown out after the bands have finished is a bit ruff but it is a good place to see live music.
A. A.Came to see Giggs and security was lit and done an excellent job ensuring safety without being over the top.
Bar is easy to get to and plenty space to see the stage. All good
P. J. C.Me and my lass went and it was the best night av had for a long time THANKS TO QFX & main MC TA TA TA TA TAZO STOLE THE SHOW from beginning till the end WELL WORTH THE COIN BOYS AND GIRLS
l.Love it. A great venue to get up close and wotsit to the bands. Sound is usually fine, bars easily accessible (if a tad pricey, but hey-ho). Staff are really friendly and helpful. Along with the City Hall a much better venue to see a band (compared to the aircraft hanger across the city).
S. G.First time at the O2 Academy, brilliant old school live music venue, down in the stalls midway, where it's all happening.
Skunk Anansie, what can I say apart from outstanding. Got to be one of the best live bands I've seen for a good while. The passion & energy they play with 25 years on is something special.
They had the audience bouncing from the first to last song nearly 2 hours on.
What an amazing sound they had tonight, testament to a great sound crew & PA at the O2.
10 out of 10, will visit again.
a. m.Fantastic venue bringing some great bands to the north east. The Dead South were excellent, with a full house cheering them on
K. R.Good venue for great bands! A bar on the ground floor, great room for standing to enjoy the music. Upstairs has seating for a different experience. Saw Rend Collective there last night. It was awesome!
S. Z.A great venue, security are friendly and helpful and local crew are easy to work with.
P. E.Decent venue for music, but you need a good sense of humour for the toilets and the bar prices - for the amount of money they make on the door and bars, they need to think about reinvestment in the venue and facilities.
P. K.Went to see Roger Taylor Gig was Amazing. But at the bar they had no white wine or larger so not a great selection. And the floor was very sticky. But don't let that put you off it's a great place to go and will definitely be going back.
T. N.Been in here a few times for England matches, once for Beady Eye and last week for the Clone Roses. Had a great time at all events. The prices at the bar are a little expensive though. £9.90 for a 2 Pinter of Carlsberg 🤢 which is rank stuff like. Wish they would get Stella, Carling or anything other than Carlsberg!
K. K. a. G.We've been here a few times it's a great small space. We went to see sting and shaggy this time it was a fun night out.
D. J.Went to see Electric Six. Laughable covid checks on the door. Rubbish sound mix for the support act.
Thankfully it would take a major disaster to put Electric Six off their stride, so 5 stars for the acts, just let down a bit by the venue.
P. B.Always a cracking good time at the o2 academy, some of the offers when using your o2 priority account make a difference between a large and small night out, the last event I was there for was the Dizzie Rascal night and he had just jumping the great thing about the Academy is the ability to change your view at any time and move around the area to check out different view points, great place each time
J. H.Fantastic venue, The Darkness were top draw. Beer a little pricey at £5 a pint, but as a one off, all is OK. Staff were brilliant.
N. H.Went to see Scouting For Girls here, and it it was a good venue, excellent sound system. Could do with a lick of paint and a tidy up though, looking a little bit shabby in some places.
B. S.Great live music venue in the heart of the Toon that still attracts gets great acts who never disappoint. Excellent staff who keep you safe and the ale flowing while you take in the show. 😊
P. S.2nd time in five days at the O2 Academy Newcastle this week. Main acts being Shinedown (Monday) and Blackberry Smoke (Friday) who are both rock bands. The venue is a great size at just under 2000. Full to capacity on Monday, more two thirds on Friday. The main bar is raised offering a platform for smaller patrons to view the bands. Two more bars flank the audience. The price of admission is around £30 for the more popular bands. Drinks are over £5 for a pint.
J. H.Great venue, very intimate surroundings for a gig. Beer is pricey.....captive audience I guess.
C. C.What a great night we danced all night and the cover bands were amazing X
J. G.Saw of monsters and men here and it was absolutely incredible!
The arena is sizable, but still offers a surprisingly intimate experience with the band.
Will visit again.
R. B.Great place for a gig - staff were phenomenally helpful, looking after a friend who fainted
n. f.Good music venue, drink is not cheap though!
L. J.Average live venue. Poor drink selection. What you’d expect from an O2 academy.
B.Venue layout is decent enough, drinks are extortionate compared to the rest of the Toon but they do offer the rare "double pint"
Only issue I have is that the sound is incredibly hitty-missy, seen numerous bands from numerous genres here over the years, the most recent being The Dead South. Couldn't hear a bloody word being sung. Same with heavier bands, the venue isn't conductive to heavier music, the sounds blend into one. Having said that, saw Lenny Kravitz here in 2009 and to this day it was one of the best gigs I've ever been to. Swings and roundabouts, venue is average on the whole
L. S.First gig I've been to since the pandemic started, been numerous times in the past. Really enjoyed it, well managed getting everyone in with the covid pass etc.
w. m.Cracking venue, was in the small venue to see Monster Truck while Papa Roach were in the main room. Despite 2 gigs the staff coordinated everything really well and ensured everyone was safe
A. M.Always seems to be long queues to get into the venue, filled to busting and two girls doing their best to serve at the bar. The sound always sounds a bit muffled and underpowered.
J. W.Fantastic venue, amazing atmosphere. Would definitely recommend and im definitely heading back there to see a gig in the near future.
G. W.Venue very expensive not a great selection of drinks, you need to wrap up warm as it's freezing in side but show we went to see was great
J. G.Great venue, first time here, security staff great.
Bar staff not the best, check your change before you leave the bar.
P. S.Great atmosphere, shame about the people who think it's more important to talk to each other rather than watch/listen to the band!
A. J.Great venue. Good sound and light, easy access to bars. Downsides, sticky floors and toxic bogs.
L. M.Everything ran smoothly when I went to see yungblud tonight, people came round in advance while queing to check vaccination status and/or lateral flow results and gave out wrist bands so you didn't have to keep showing them at different doors, staff was friendly and helpful. Can't fault anything!
T. M.Had a fantastic night. Clone roses and happy mondaze were first class
J.Your best chance of seeing a big name in Newcastle without having to go to the awful Metro Radio Arena, the Academy is a great venue for live music, with decent acoustics and a cracking atmosphere when full. Unfortunately the bars are tiny, only stock awful beers and are horrendously overpriced to take advantage of their captive market. Do yourself a favor and check the stage times before you go, and spend the build up in a decent pub instead, minimising the amout of time you'll be tempted to waste £10 on a pint of Tuborg + a pint of coke!
l. y.Great venue for live music. Right in the centre of Newcastle, so easy to get to.
Has a cloak room which was free with o2 priority voucher
B. S.Went to see Alestorm had fun, didn't drink rum as I don't think I could afford a 2nd mortgage nor did I shoot any guns
R. B.Quite a dated venue now, poor selection of alcoholic drinks.
Good atmosphere though when it has a big crowd in
p.Great venue in an easy to get to location. PIL were amazing as always.
B. R.Great venue. Could do with a better variety of beers. Haway, Academy, get a couple of local craft beers in bottle or can. There's plenty to choose from🤪
S. B.A good venue for music but the sound system needs updating- the speakers are well past their prime
S. W.Saw the Amazon's here, quality show, venue was good and had no problems getting in. Drinks are reasonably priced.
K. H.The staff especially Emily in the box office are really professional and lovely. Everything works like clockwork for our disabled reserved seats. Staff go up and beyond to make our visits excellent
L.Alestorm my first gig in nearly 2 years
T. D.Want a night with slade
J.Enjoyed every gig I have been to here so far. Usually friendly staff.
A. P.Great little room, with a view of the stage from anywhere inside, only downside is the amount of stairs that you have to go up and down as you enter and exit, even worse for me as I'm a smoker so glad I was wearing sensible shoes!
V. M.I saw a band in the smaller room and it was a great venue. Clear view to the stage, with bar and some raised bar style seating to the sides. So its ideal if you can't stand for long periods of time, as you have an even clearer view of the stage if you take a seat there. I thought the sound was brilliant; sound can sometimes ruin a live performance, but it was fantastic. The staff were so helpful and friendly. Drinks are pricey, but that's usual with gig venues I feel. I'd definitely go to see a band I liked at this venue again without hesitation.
B. M.Good venue, good sound, went to see UFO, would have given it five stars but not the atmosphere of the old Mayfair!
T. A.Wonderful venue with friendly staff. Huge improvement to sound quality as of recently. Good sized venue with plenty of bars, drinks prices are as expected for a music venue so nothing to really complain about. The security are thorough and all friendly and informative. There is a cloakroom which can be used for £2 per item. The box office is open from 12-4 on weekdays and Saturdays too. It can get very busy during gigs but there are bars located all around the room and there are two bars upstairs also in the smaller room for more intimate gigs. There is no cash machine inside the venue anymore but all bars do take card however I would recommend bringing cash just in case for the cloakroom or for merchandise. The toilets are spacious but smell. All of the staff are friendly and helpful and seem to enjoy their jobs.
R. P.Went here to see yungblud and it was amazing! The venue was a bit packed though. They definitely over sold the tickets
J. M.The gig (Gary Numan) was great. Plenty of & easy access to bars. The venue was a bit smelly & very sticky (glad I wore boots as could feel them sticking to the floor!). Quite small too. But was still one of the best concerts I've ever been to, so won't let the stickiness put me off going again
E. M.Have to say many thanks to the staff. From arranging accessible tickets, great communication, to arriving and being guided to our front row seats, the staff were exceptional.
C. A.Fantastic venue to watch live music 🎶
R. O.Seen Sting and Shaggy performing, had a seat front row in the balcony section, view was fantastic. Recommended if not a floor standing fan.
Acoustics not the best (one star off for this) but atmosphere was great, as venue is small and performance is enhanced by the cosiness of the place.
Parking available nearby and free after 6pm.
S. T.Canny venue, although they seem to like turning the bass right up so you feel it in your soul haha
M. H.Came to see Volbeat tonight and always love the atmosphere here. The staff are always friendly and efficient. It's such a tight sounding venue and far better than the big arenas where you end up 3 miles from the stage!
Come along - they also have a great selection of tribute bands too!
G. V.Nice little venue for gigs. Steep prices at the bar. Good space at the entrance.
R. T.Great venue with world-famous acts! The venue is home to some of the greatest artists of our generation and those before, and the actual design is as minimalistic as it gets to let you focus on the music. The prices for big shows are pretty extortionate though, so even if you snag a deal on tickets make sure you have plenty of cash for drinks.
A. I.Good venue , just like all the O2s in the uk , fantastic gig
A. A.Decent bar location, 2 small either side of standing area. One large bar in middle. Not enough seats at back, and very drafty when doors are being opened. Good gig area in general, acoustics not too bad, bands playing at small venues should try this if they are looking for a bigger gig.
S. R.Brilliant venue,great atmosphere so much better than big concert halls and stadiums
d. c.The venue is ok for live music. But the drinks are grossly overpriced ( small coke £2.55, 1 pint and g and t -£14.20). Having to show your ticket everytime you wanted to use the toilets was a needless pain in the arse.especially when they encourage you to have the tickets on one mobile phone.
B. W.Good small-sized gig venue. Generally a little bit less well maintained than you'd like but staff are always good and the acoustics carry well. Seated balcony available. Drinks prices are obviously in line with the fact you're a captive audience, but not so eye-watering you think you've been charged twice as some places.
K. S.Great venue, wasn't too crowded the night we went to see Jax Jones. The music was banging!
J. D.A think the 02 is an excellent venue for bands never been disappointed been going for years now sometimes 5 times in one year and would more if had a bit more money . They do some excellent gigs . Drinks are a bit expensive but other than that it's one of my very favourite places to go. Seen some excellent bands there at a very reasonable price . Always look forward to going. I prefer it to larger gigs as the atmosphere is so much better. Can't fault it really and would recommend anyone to go 😊🎶🎶
J. M.I like being able to see live gigs, there's a great line up every year and I've seen some great shows.
But the drinks are a bit over priced, the toilets need a revamp for sure, and the venue can be a bit chilly inside.
Other then that, it's a great place for gigs!
C. G.Very nice venue. Have seen multiple concerts here and have been impressed everytime. Even in the darkness the place is very easy to navigate around and the prices for drinks are very cheap in comparison to some locations. There's a huge variety of events happening here, meaning it's suitable for everyone depending what event is life. Love this venue and will visit again.
J. A.Amazing show and decent venue but staff aren't very good. They don't let you know you need your ticket to get in the standing area before putting it in the cloakroom which meant I had to wait in the queue for another 15 minutes to retrieve my ticket. Security are overpowering and rude too.
K. O.Good size, sound is good, upper level at back and plenty of bars
a. b.Proper spit and sawdust venue but poorly ventilated and a bit over priced for drinks. Overall a good venue
J. P.Great atmosphere, good helpful staff, always a good night!
K. T.It was great but trying to get to the toilets when act was on was awful as all the stairs were blocked. Other than that the staff were very good.
C. R.Gets great bands in a semi-intimate atmosphere , much prefer it here to the larger arena venues. Drinks prices were ok but high as usual for a venue like this.
A. K.Visited the Academy many times for live music, having seen bands in the main room or the smaller room upstairs (Academy 2) - Personally prefer the upper room as it's smaller with better acoustics and provides a really intimate experience when watching up and coming bands. The larger hall is still enjoyable, although the bar has been understaffed and could do with a secondary sighting.
G. B.Decent live music venue. This visit was to see New Model Army who were first class and had the crowd bouncing. 2 stars dropped for the vastly overpriced drinks. £5 a pint in plastic glasses is nothing but a rip off.
G. A.I don't come here for the decor, if you do you will be hugely disappointed.
There's always a decent gig on and it is a good venue for emerging local bands to showcase their talents.
It probably could do with a bit of a revamp but that might take away some of its character.
D. B.Great intimate venue. Seen Mastodon last night fri 18 jan and its superb for live bands.
N. M.Great venue to watch bands. Lots of seating upstairs, not always available though. lifts for less able, and attentive door staff always making sure you're able to use stairs or letting you know about lifts.
M. M.A terrific place to go see your favorite
Performer and more .
The staff are more than happy to help you
if you need help .
I've been to some great gigs there including
The Dickies
I've also attended some horrible gigs .
I think that the staff are starting to remember me because I'm going to
several gigs there than I use to .
If you are a beer drinker , ask for a
Two Pints of your draft Beer .
If you need a seat , PLEASE alert the staff with plenty of time to get you sorted .
Don't leave it to the last minute .
S. H.Saw some great bands there🎸👹
C. D.Great venue although drinks are ridiculously priced!
n. f.I love the 02 Academy. There's nothing better than experiencing good live music whatever your taste. So many great memories on so many different occasions. On the plus side the staff are generally great too sometimes putting up with a lot of should we say interesting character's! But do a good job. I love this place.
G. P.Great night watching Rag and Bone Man. Very packed and some drunk idiots near us but the performance was brilliant.
P. M.Great venue to see live rock bands. Delivers a much better atmosphere than larger venues. Take your ear plugs, especially for youngsters. Only negative is staff need to crack down on smokers who think it's ok because it's an e-cig - its not!
I. M.Saw Stiff Little Fingers at the O2 last week. Good entry arrangements, plenty of staff on behind the bar and great atmosphere. One dick throwing a drink was the only blip. Nothing the venue can do about that. Drinks already served in plastic glasses.
Great venue for live music.
d. m.This is a great venue with a good selection of bands and events. If you want better sound at the gigs though, get in amongst the crowd as it's pretty lousy at the back off the auditorium for some reason!
s. m.Wham bam sound system great, dated interior could do with a good refurd.
L. T. :. C.Fantastic venue...
Train are one of the best live bands...
L.The positives about this place is the sound and acoustics are excellent and I did love the gig, staff were really good too and ladies toilets were huge and clean... Negatives are this place is seriously old and could do with a lick of paint, could smell the gents toilet as you walked to the balcony floor.. seats are tiny and very close together.. I was over £11 for 2 drinks.. But maybe that was just my choice of drinks. Wouldn't put me off going again for the right gig but would be good if they spent some money on modernising the place.
A. B.You can stand up look straight at the stage, dance, have fun and let loose. Proper night out.
Not an arena venue so you won't leave with a Crick in your neck from looking left at the turn on the stage all night...
G. H.Bands I have seen here have rarely disappointed. Sound system has improved over the years. Contactless payments at the bars is much easier now, if expensive for drinks (although the Star Inn across the road provides convenient and more reasonable pre-drinks).
J. C. C.Had a great night at festival of the dead. I don't know why it had so many bad reviews, the staff were curtious and helpfulYep the toilets smelt a bit but what do you expect in a small venue. The drinks were expensive but it is city priced . Will definitely go again
R. S.Venue decent, give local bands the chance to perform live in the smaller room upstairs, nothing wrong with it other than the price of the drinks. Nearly 6 quid a pint on a plastic cup that's not topped up all the way is scandalous in Newcastle!
A. C.Just been had with daylight robbery at the box office buying two tickets for a gig!
I've been a regular patron at this venue since it opened, even before it was the 02 and have seen hundreds of bands with various priced tickets over the years but feel the need to comment about the recent over inflated 'extras' now added to basic ticket prices.
Was told by the Box office they now charge a sly 12% of ticket price in booking fees so just paid over £7 extra ontop when paid in person with cash!
Used to be a couple of pound at most and non at all when paying with cash but no difference to online now. I should have just bought my priority tickets online.
02 Newcastle, this additional pricing structure needs to be made more transparent online and at the box office instead of just adding it on to general ticket price and expecting paying customers to accept it without question!
N. A.Great acts and atmospheric venue but the sound can be a big let down. At a recent gig (23rd August) couldn't hear the vocalist, decipher what the dj was saying or hear some of the instruments for the overpowering bass. Place could be cleaner too but that may be part of the allure.
Shouldn't invite big acts to perform if they can't do the sound justice....
Bar prices are expensive but I think that's standard for these sorts of places.
Staff are friendly though
j. b.Rough and ready I think you'd call this place!😮 i remember it as a cinema and think it was probably better suited to that but that was MANY moons ago! Have been twice this month to see Glen Hughes and the fabulous Shinedown - ears still not working quite right 12 hours later! Standing room downstairs and seating upstairs in main area holds about 2000. Pints almost £5 but service is pretty quick.
J. C.Not the best experience Ive had going to a gig .
Being disabled I was happy to hear Id be able to have early access to the venue as due to having arthritis Im unable to stand for any length of time without being in significant amount of pain. However after arriving I was told Id have to wait at least a extra half hour past the time I was told to arrive.
As you can imagine by the time i got in I was in agony and this spolit the gig I was seeing .
The staff did there best to help once I got in, but by then it was to late .
Wouldnt recommend this venue if you have mobility needs .
L. M.A good venue to see a band - usually a decent line up of gigs too.There is a main stage area and an upstairs room that is a bit smaller. I have watched bands in both and really enjoyed the upstairs room as its more intimate and you can see the bands well.
The staff have always been pretty friendly and helpful when booking or making enquiries.
R. M.Went to see a band here for the first time (I'd been in before on a night out years ago). Place is really run down. We put our coats in the cloak room at the start of the night. Got out drinks.. ridiculously expensive. Floor was so sticky!!! The sound was good enough but the venue was crammed pack. It was hard to get to the loo as you have to. Squeeze past everyone and go upstairs. I only went the once. At the end of the night getting back to the cloakroom was chaotic. It wasn't very organised at all. We all had to go up the stairs to join a queue to come back down! Bit having the loos up there meant other people were wanting up there and then back down.
The number of bars is good just need to lower the prices. The place needs a revamp. Maybe have some loos in the room even just one or two. Change the ones upstairs as they're awful. Also something was dripping from the ceiling.. it would be a much better place with a bit of tlc as it's in a handy place!
C. M.Great view from everywhere. There is a lift for disabled people but you can only get 1 or 2 people at a time. Very few seats, if you require one it is best to phone and reserve one. Beer is very expensive.
D. B.Attended a 90s night mainly to see 2 unlimited 😊but all the acts were good. Great atmosphere to
but the lack of toilets in a big building and lack of cleanliness in it.
drinks were expensive and where hit and miss.
S. F. (. S.Very small lift for wheelchairs. We really struggled to get in. Great atmosphere and a better, open lift to get to the disabled viewing area after accessing the upper level. Not great for wheelies trying to get to the toilet or bar as there is no pathway due to the audience standing and boxing you in. Fab staff though and a smashing venue apart from the access issues. I also wish they would ban vaping. The smoke plumes stunk and irritated our eyes.
N. S.A good music venue , reasonably priced gigs and attracts a lot of alternative artists. Accessibility is limited due to the nature of the historic building, drinks are priced as you'd expect for a venue like this.
W. C.My first ever visit to the O2 with my family since relocating to the North East from Merseyside. As a disabled person I found the assistance afforded by all staff to be absolutely exemplary, from bar staff to security and front of house every single member of staff went out of their way to help me and make my visit memorable. I can't thank the staff enough for the help, assistance and support.
D. D.Not a bad venue. Good show only spoiled by an idiot who couldn't say excuse me on the numerous times he tried to get to and from bar. Instead, he thought pushing people out of the way, despite the fact that it was so packed they had nowhere to go last, out of the way. I'm surprised he didn't get knocked down! Oh, and the beer prices aren't cheap. Next time I go there for a gig, I think I'll take on a few beers at the nearby Wetherspoons first!
G. M.A small and intimate venue located close to the city centre. Saw Eric Martin along with 2 support acts, thoroughly enjoyed them!
Only issues were that it was quite cold in there and the drinks were quite pricey
A. S.I always love a gig at the O2
Always difficult to get to the bar but it doesn't matter when you're lost in the music
S. B.Excellent venue for live music. Went standing and was able to get a good view from across the floor. Drinks prices are a bit steep but expected that.
E. c. “.It was great! The show was amazing also. However they do not have anywhere to buy food only drinks so make sure you eat beforehand. :)
A. S.My daughter & I had a great time watching Elbow. O2 a bit tired & grubby. Needs a refresh desperately.
D. M.Good live music venue, now hosting alternative and club nights
R. P.Good gig venue, bar prices a little high unless one of the offers appeal. Being with O2 an advantage - shorter queues. An overhang where the majority of people queue would be useful when it's raining!
M. M.It's a nice music venue but can feel small, but if you like the intimate gig feel (I do) it's got a good layout so wherever you are you don't lose sound clarity
L. W.Great location for gigs, went to see Twisted Circus 2 and had a great view of the stage despite being near the back of the standing area. Drinks are very expensive when there is a show on.
S. B.Been to a number of concerts here over recent years.
A couple of things always stand out, it's looking a bit old and tatty, drinks prices are expensive, and the atmosphere is always great. Sound quality is sometimes a bit iffy though.
p. h.Good venue, sound quality is decent. Bar is very expensive.
v. r.It's a good venue for live music. All standing in front of the stage so you can get close to the action. The drinks are expensive and very limited in selection.
S. B.I loved the place. Unlike many places this one had air-conditioning, Good sound and loved the lighting effects. It had at least 3 bars so not much waiting for a drink too.
S. R.Lovely venue with sensible, thoughtful and helpful staff.
Good bars (one each in seating and standing area).
Seating area had unobstructed views and felt perfectly atmospheric.
P. R.tough for staff during Covid times but friendly and organised great venue location
I. B.Good venue. Clear view of the stage in the large main hall. The drink prices and quality are exactly as you would expect. Always room for improvement.
S. Y.Good venue, good sound and intimate stage
A.Loved The Straits UK, drinks are pricey in the venue and my shoes were literally stuck to the floor at the bar. However, all the staff I came into contact with were polite and friendly.
J. G.Huge building, perfect for gigs.
T. M.Awesome venue, amazing and intimate!!
P. D.Good central location. Grainger Town multi storey car park nearby, which is free after 5pm. However drinks are v expensive and views from the upper seating area are hampered by a large black steel rail. If you can stand to stand, do that :)
L. C.Great venue, better band.
C. D.Gig was amazing, drinks were expensive.
K. C.Great venue with a wide range of entertainment. I have only ever attended music gigs over the years but always return. Great location in the city centre - handy to walk to from a car park / train station.
B. S.Great live music and comedy venue showing a large variety of acts. Get the O2 Priority app for queue jumping, free cloakroom access and drinks deals.
J. B.Great atmosphere for live bands. Big enough to make you feel part of a crowd but still small enough to get close up if you want.
K. H.Gets all the best bands
K. K.It's a good venue, it's a night club on Friday and Saturday nights alternating between different music genres (unless there is a band playing)
However if you do go and see a band, don't get there too early unless you have a fat wallet, I went to see an artist with a friend, we were pretty excited and got there for the doors opening, got upstairs and it was empty, I went to the bar and it was £6 a pint... Yeah I know right, so I tried to leave and the bouncer said once I leave I can't come back... So yeah I there for 3 hours on £6 pints.
J. R.Decent bands play here, beer is more expensive than it was but tastes a lot better. Good size for gigs and great atmosphere.
k. d.Quick entry after doors were opened, a couple of bars meaning people were split up to make getting a drink quicker, decent sized toilets meaning not much of a wait and a decent sized stage with raised areas making it very easy to see from any part of the room.
V. B.Decent venue but it's not clearly signed inside, i nearly waked into the toilets when trying to find the right stage for the band i went to see. Could be made clearer where to go
A. W.Great place to see a band and listen to great music
A. M.Saw a band here obviously, they ran out of Jack Daniels and the prices are expensive. But the venue for music was fantastic, we were upstairs. Close n personal, loved it.
D. G.G4eat venue for gigs fantastic acoustics right in the heart of the city for a great night
R.Good venue for a gig. Definitely beats other similar size venues such as Newcastle uni. Prepare to spend £10 for 2 pints though
T. V.Fantastic very visited to see lots of artists
P. W.Great place for gigs! Loved it.
L. D.Great venue that gets some fab acts in, smaller upstairs venue is lovely for intimate gigs, and downstairs holds a lot of people while still managing to serve at the bar quickly.
b. g.A great to to see concerts enjoyed the experience of seeing dare live
K. P.Fantastic line ups and drag shows, would recommend this arena!
C. J.Great venue, as with anywhere you go it's just really busy, the staff tried to work as quickly and courteously as possible, a fantastic gig did help the rating mind 😏 ha
L. K.Great night loads of stairs though
C. S.OK venue, acoustics a bit iffy sometimes, very hot and sweaty, beer prices a rip off and tastes of nowt. It's a nightmare to get parked anywhere near but handy for the Central Station.
R. M.Good venue, stupid expensive bar, but aren't they all. Seen loads of bands in the main room and academy 2 upstairs. The floor bounces a bit, but again, a good venue.
J. H.The Rita Ora gig was just brilliant. I was well impressed with her vocals, her dancing and the over all show. I would most definitely go and see her again.
K. M.The sound was all over the place. The '68's guitarist could barely be heard, the guitar for Alien Ant Farm sounded great, it's just a shame the bass sounded dreadful (because he was using orange, neon strings which sound....awful. on any guitar.) and it sat horribly with the guitar in the mix. You can ruin a 6k Gibson with £30 neon strings in very little time as they make any bass they touch. "How would you rate that Gibson bass over there for £6?", "I would say it was one of the greatest basses I've ever played, that is until my tech thought it would be really cool idea to put green neon strings on. The bass went from a 10 to a .5". "So what happened to your tech?". "I fired him. But he managed to get a job teching for Fieldy from Korn.
m.They didn't open the balcony seating until after we'd been in half an hour even though our tickets were for balcony seating. Due to autism this added stress into my evening and it out a dampener on the rest of the night. Was glad they did decide to open it in the end apparently due to others speaking up.
J. T.I bought a concert ticket to see a band called the Wildhearts. They are a band who formed in 1989 in Newcastle. I have seen them live quite a few times before but I still like to see them.
They have had numerous bust up's and various problems with drugs over the years (the last proper rock and roll band).
They do a song called Geordie in Wonderland which is always emotional when they play it, simply because the Geordies are such proud people.
J. g. w. f.O2 everywhere. I could easily breathe and watch the gig. Thank you o2
R. W.Gary Numan, as awesome as ever, improves with age. Great show.
J. C.Great concert/wrestling venue but drink prices are a bit high for what they serve. Guinness over £4 but just down the road it's £2.69.
L. F.Love this venue. Not too big so you get close to the action. Very small queues at the bar.
S. M.Been here twice now to watch Defiant Wrestling, first time was Brill, all the staff were really friendly and you could vape inside the venue, on the second occasion a couple of weeks ago they had stopped the vapeing... please 02 bring the vaping back...
A.Good venue friendly staff. Plenty of room. However sound technitions aren't the greatest audio needed better mixing.
M. C.Sexy barmaids draw you in to an expensive pint BUT to say there was more than one even in that place is soundproofed well! Not the best if you don't like stairs but don't pass on it because it's actually decent
N. H.Great place to see live music.
D. H.No standing allowed in Circle for Rend. Spoiled the experience for all in our group
M. G.The show was great, but the Showsec staff, while courteous, left us outside in the rain until 15 minutes after the doors should have opened - with no explanation.
s. r.Good venue. Good bands. Friendly staff.
Extortionate beer prices for floppy glasses of warm piss.
I. G.This is a great venue there's nothing obstructing your view and the sound is good the only downside is the price of the drinks apart from that it's great
D. T.Not massive but see Ben Nicky there unbelievable he is the man
C. W.Saw KRS-one in the upstairs room, very good gig. There's a bar upstairs so no need to keep going up/down carrying drinks.
A. M.Too many stairs no lifts, not enough toilets and cleanliness is obviously not an issue, lot's of bars spread everywhere. Been to plenty of O2 venues and in my opinion this is the worst.
C. T.Good venue for gigs.
Major downfall is the bar prices.
£6.60 for 2x bottles of water....
Really. Complete rip off
J. M.Great venue but painfully slow to get everyone out after gig. Would not want to try to escape if there was a fire!!!!! The management need to sort this out immediately.
M. R.Not my favourite gig, but good.
K. A. T.Great music venue. Seen quite a few bands here. Always had a good night. Friendly staff.
H. E.A great venue! Been there twice for a night out now, and both nights were really good, especially love the buckets of cocktails you can get!
C. S.Very good venue but seating is abit tight and I ended up under no fault of my own sharing part of my seat with a larger size person.
L. C.Brilliant venue, beers abit pricey but it's to be expected. Great views of the stage wherever you are stood which is always a good thing!
M.Seen Bob Marley Experience they were brilliant
G. H.We went there to watch Cadillac Three and Brothers Osborne. Great show and enjoyed the venue. I did think the drinks were a bit expensive though.
K. A.Always like visiting this venue but there never seems to be enough bar staff. Obviously people are going to want to drink and they have a fair idea of how many people will be there and to staff accordingly. But other than that I like watching gigs here.
C. D.Suede where great. Toilets? When does the cleaner start May ? Ode de building site . Venue floor made you feel like Spiderman. That sticky made you feel you could walk up walls after standing on it. Any need for it to be like this? I mean they take enough
R. T.Good venue with excellent staff. Drinks are a bit pricey but what can you expect from a music venue.
L. M.Really well organised great place to see a concert
S. C.Good venue sound can sometimes be a bit poor depending on attendance but that's often down to the crew as opposed to the venue the bars inside however are down to them rubbish beer ridiculously expensive with bar staff who often serve the first person they see instead of looking around and remembering who's been waiting the longest
j.I had the best day of my life here. I went to see Lukas Graham in March 2017 and it was a great concert and Lukas even held my hand.
J. K. S.Great venue, two stages the one upstairs is very small and intimate, the main room is excellent for the type of rock gig I go to.
J. K.Absolutely Class, great venue and sound was awesome when I saw Jauz. Great atmosphere. Definitely more than half decent.
C. M., Good music venue in the centre of Newcastle, 5 mins walk from centeal Station, has seat's upstairs in balcony area, £5 for a pint, good security, well run event management,
A. T.Five stars for the band, the Dead South, but the venue itself is dirty and in dire need of an update. Good atmosphere though.
T. D.I LOVE THE O2. I have had so many amazing gig experiences here. The vibe is great, the sound is great. Basically an all in one package.
R. M.Really good venue, nice and personal feel, only down side is location of toilets, but all in all a good venue for gigs
B. E.Loved it. Seen Johnny Marr and he was excellent.
C. W.I love this place when you can strike lucky and go see one of your favourite bands or singers! Intimate gigs, fortunate enough to see a lot here!..xx
T. J.Awesome Venue, travelled up couple of times for gigs and never been disappoints... and the have 2 pint's of beer... what more could you want!
C.You're kept a safe distance from the artists with a nice solid barrier, and Showsec security are always friendly. Bar prices are reasonable.
L. B.We came here to see postmodern jukebox and had such a nice night! Everyone there was so nice and even saved our space for us and the staff were so helpful. I would definitely come back!
P. J.Great place for a gig
H. C.Decent venue. Fairly small so close up for a gig. Good ventilation so it didn't get too hot and sweaty
P. R.Drinks are a bit pricey but aren't all venues! Great atmosphere at every gig
S. B. (. B.Excellent venue, featuring great live music, although the beer is a bit on the steep side.
C. S.Great venue, always a good atmosphere just wish the toilets weren't so far away
S. C.Fantastic, been to see Elbow best band in the world.
R. H.Small but it hosts some decent bands. So unlike the boring, mainstream, vanilla detritus you get at the arena just down at the river.
S. T. D.Beer didnt taste great for almost a fiver a pint...... floors were sticky as were surfaces..... staff a were great and the event we went to was amazing......
l. g.Belta place for all sorts of stuff from watching your fav pop group or sports or a charity event it's not that easy to get to I just got a taxi as I don't think I would have found it on foot.
M. R.The entire staff are the most Friendliest people that I have come across .
Not once did I ever have any problems with the staff .
If you have Special Needs , PLEASE inform them and they will go out of their way to help you out .
H.Great venue. Lots of atmosphere. Can see some evident wee stains on wall though. Not big problem.
S.Go to the café across the road while waiting for the 90 minute queue to go down. You can work your way to a decent position when you get inside the venue.
J. G.Great venue, Michael schenker fest!
b. c.Wheelchair access. Two bars inside, drinks not as expensive as I expected. Good venue always great atmosphere
a. d.Good atmosphere drinks a bit over priced xxx
T. B.Great acoustics 2 bars and they do a double pint as well. Top notch
A. P.Always feel like gigs are more intimate and up close here. That could be the gigs I go to but always have a great time.
L. D.Love the academy, no matter where you stand you can see the stage.
M. T.Really well organized event with polite and friendly staff
d.Live music venue in central Newcastle.
Expensive drinks in plastic beakers.
Quite often I find the sound not very good but it depends a lot on where you stand in the venue.
j. r.I am disabled and at the gig tonight the help that they OFFERED (I didn't have to ask) was unbelievable. Made a lovely change not feeling like a burden
h. t.The venue is good, prefer the main room over the acadimy 2 however the only downside the the crazy beer prices (£10 for a 2 pint cup)
S. L.Excellent venue. Intermate gig due to size but acoustics better than some big arenas.
J. R.Really great venue. They get the queue into he venue quickly, and the event staff are always really friendly and helpful.
M.Good fun
V. B.Great venue. Cocktails to suit the band's Alien ant farm and POD. I've been here a few times and will return
D. H.First time here and what a great venue, loads of bars, close to the band. Will definitely be back
E. L.Excellent venue for live music. sore White House's last night excellent up and coming band a must see.
C. S.Yungblud was amazing! As we're both support groups
L. R.I love the O2 as a music venue, it's a great size and has a great vibe. Drinks are hella expensive though.
G.Not a very big place but was OK for a nice venue I think there should of been more seats like, the beer and lager were rubbish as weak as tap water and not worth the price, it was like a fight for your life at the bar everyone pushing in and expected to be served before you staff worked really hard to realise who was next to be served took me 15 to 20 minutes to get served as people were pushing in luckily I am a mild mannered man but it was very annoying, then eventually opened another bar which was better but this should of been opened in the first place
T. I. D.Awesome venue for gigs, been going here for years to see gigs in both rooms and always brill.
J. T.Seen many gigs here. Best venue since the Mayfair (rip). Not sure about the quality of beers (carlsberg, tuborg)
O.Great venue but no matter who is on there's always a queue to get in or get a drink
G. A.Good venue, not too small or too big. However toilets are absolutely substandard. Make impression of never cleaned.
F. H.Great space, great atmosphere, awesome show
M. C.Cracking venue for gigs. You can get right to the front if you want to. The only negative point is the lack of decent beer. It's ok if you like Carling!!
S. M.Great venue, great atmosphere. Reminds me of gigs at the old Mayfair back in the day.
E. W.Absolutely love the O2 academy, they’re forever hosting great live shows, ADTR was one of the best nights of my life!
d. h.Great place for gigs
W. M.Great venue, been for loads of concerts. The drinks price are extremely high though.
B. R.Security was good, venue feels a bit 70s inside, bands were great, drink prices were ridiculously overpriced.
B. J.Amazing venue small and intimate for any act easy to get up close and enjoy them to the very best !
A. D.The best venue.
S. H.I work there so of course I think it is great. Kind of traditional, seedy music venue, what more could you want
j. s.Great backstage crew and sound. Accessibility is still an issue. Overall a decent venue.
I. T.smaller venue upstairs better,make sure you have a good drink before you go in! lager and cider expensive and rank!
g. c.Brilliant well organized venue ! Big shout out to the staff who do a great job of keeping everything under control !
g. m.Brilliant venue well layed out host some great acts staff are excellent and friendly and professional
k.Seen 2 bands I wanted to see for a long time in 1 night of music...great venue highly recommend....
J. S.Great place if you can get tickets for popular bands. Nice small events venue with great acoustics.
i. c.Excellent night.myles Kennedy was brilliant.
M. B.Great venue.... But the band made the night.. Amazing gig...
W. A.Great venue , 1st time at the smaller academy 2 , to see clem burke & bootleg blondie. Great being so close to the band
M. S.Good gig. Good venue. Didn't take forever to get in either. And parking is brilliant nearby
S. C.Awesome venue for gig and have witness a lot of amazing bands and still more to follow
P. P. A. P.Really great time!! Fantastic that seats were provided.
The show was also great a walk down memory lane !!!
s. s.Great venue an you can get a pint without missing any ov the show.
D. D.Only been the once few months ago. Definitely go back ,love small venues. Downside is I thought was very scruffy.
K. L.Poor queue management getting into the show but as soon as we got in everything was seamless & I believe everyone still got in before the show started
L. S.Hollywood undead were amazing but j3t didn't rap as much as I expected and the drinks were expensive but were expected in a venue like this
m. o.Great bands, expensive drinks, sticky floors, good atmosphere.
1.Love this venue always get great bands and artists parking free if you wait till after 6.30 and not to far from the academy
P. D.Unique venue with some great acts
M. G.Great venue, get drunk before you go though because the beer is very expensive
M. L.Great venue, good sound..drink price just like every O2.. .
S. N.Great place to enjoy a band or performance, floors can get a but sticky depending on the crowd
L. A.Excellent night, need more bar staff
R. W.Love it here. More intimate than the arena but big enough to attract good acts 👌
H. R.Love this venue, steady flow of greats acts and geat sounding stages.
c. e.Always a good vibe in here. Excellent venue, drinks can be on the pricey side for what they serve.
O. R.The venue could be a lot better if something was done about the expensive drinks and the sound as it is rarely good.
S. M.Perfect venue for gigs/concerts!!
A. R.I really enjoyed the night 90s 2 unlimited where worth waiting for. So expensive for drinks and the toilets hummed but on the whole was good atmosphere
P. L.Great venue with a bar that won't run you blind. Makes for a good night out
M. W.Best place fo me to see conserts im in a wheelchair staff are brilliant and so helpful on reception mind last time there to see specials I was put at far side meaning had a bar to go past packed with people meaning couldnt get to lift or disabled toilet making it a bad experience
R. L.Great venue. Good drinks deals. I liked the apple fire bomb
P. “. L.Went to see Sting and Shaggy perform there on tour. Small venue, reasonably good.
H. D.Visit here at least twice a year. Great place. Shame beer is pricey but always an enjoyable night
J. S.Still scruffy looking and no water to wash your hands with good acoustics thpugh
J. H.Great place to see your favourite band's.
The floor staff very friendly and helpful
J. W.Love The 02, seen some good bands there, and some great nights, close to Central Station and Metro to get back to Sunderland after a gig
J. -. M. B.Usually pricey drinks but everytime I've been for a concert its been brilliant!
J. G.Some great bands at good prices. Beer could be cheaper for 5 stars.
M. C.Not a bad venue but bar prices a bit steep. £5.25 for a pint of Guinness in a plastic pint pot
S. W.Great sound, great venue, but the place is tired and needs some investment.
A. P.Great place for music although when it's full there can be a bit of a bottleneck on the stairs down to the main floor
R. B.Wasn't that bad but the bars and toilets aren't strategically placed. Plus I got a pint of piss thrown over me. Love it
M. N.It's a great place to see many different types of bands. It can get a little loud, depending on who you are seeing.
t. w.Fantastic venue and very polite door and bar staff. First class 😊
K. R.Great venue , great acoustics. Too long standing for me though . Not good on me legs.
n. w.On normal nights alcohol is very reasonably priced. Go to a special even and you won't get much change from £5 for a pint
S. B.Love this venue and they always have plenty of staff on bar.
J. D.A good venue for a gig. However it's let down by it's cleanliness, your feet stick to the floor and the toilets are dirty.
J. C.I went here to see Shed Seven on their Shedcember Tour 2017.
It took ages to queue to leave but other than that it was faultless.
S. D.Great old fashioned venue plenty of bars good views from wherever better organisation when retrieving coats hence 3 stars
T. (.Lovely venue buy drinks prices are a rip off.. be warned more expensive than London 4 pints over £30
N. T.Drinks are far too expensive. 5 quid for a can? Other than that nice venue!
P. C.Good atmosphere, drinks are crazy prices though and no food available.
L. D.Steel Panther, The Darkness, The Rews also Wayward Sons... two great nights, well organized.
W. J.Nice smaller venue, drink prices are a bit steep, staff are friendly and approachable.
S. M.Great place and be able to see the band(s) close up without giant screens!
A. M.Good venue been back a few times traveled from Inverness better than the O2 Academy in Glasgow.
A. U.The atmosphere was great loved the set up and the music was really loud and clear.
J. B.Good night, staff and security very professional
d.Enjoyed concert no problem getting in or out even get free water at bar
A. L.Good venue for music, but drinks prices you need a mortgage to afford.
A. K.Good venue for music but pricey beer and needs updating
S. A. D.Megan Dhalai was fab performing tonight 3rd year running and a great venue.
D. E.Great music venue with plenty of bars down both sides of venue towards the stage
C. B.Some great bands play here, looking forward to Pixes, Volbeat, Black Star Riders & Airbourne
S. L. (.Very fun, went to see enter shikari
M. N.Decent venue for a gig, but loses a star because of the poor selection of drinks, and all of which is at silly prices.
D. L.Fantastic venue, great atmosphere! The drink prices are extortionate!
T.Take ya big coat cos its freezing inside and needs a revamp but when the lights are out ya cannit tell ha, good sound which is the main thing i suppose
R. T.Amazing 80's Rewind Concert.
We were right at the front, next to the stage (and speakers)....
....and I'm now profoundly deaf!
D. C.Great little place this for gigs but beer is massively over priced at 4.95 for Carling
D. C.Great atmosphere and good acoustics
N. W.Excellent gig venue can get close to the band better than than a stadium gig anyday
R. L.Compact venue but offers a lot. Prices for drinks slightly high but great place
G. W.great venue easy to get to, fast bar service, quality sound system
b. m.Good but the drinks are extortionate
m. c.Good venue, bar and loos can get a bit busy, great sound.
C. S.Brilliant venue, well organised and helpful staff. Only downside was the prices at the bar.
R. N.Well organised gig venue & lots of room (2000) capacity. Ground floor (stage level) + 1st & second floors with seating 👍
A. T.Great venue in middle of Newcastle
S. R.Great venue but beer is ridiculously priced!
N. L.Saw a lot of great gigs here. Always have a good night!
S. O.Great atmosphere for gig but place became unbearably hot after a couple of hrs.... 😕
E.Average venue. Sound can be a bit muffled but it's the best mid sized gig venue Newcastle has to offer
D. G. (. G.Great music but sometimes the crowds are a little rough
D. H.One of the best music venues in the northeast. Great for viewing the bands
M. R.Totally blown away as it far exceeded my expectations, prices at the bar are a bit on the steep side but wait to be served was almost instant
d. j.Prefer other venues, but would go anywhere to listen to a good band. Just a bit grim.
E. B.It's really good for concerts and gigs. It's really the best place to go for a gig.
P. H.Excellent sound system and cosy atmosphere, drinks a bit pricey though
P. H.Great night at o2 seeing plan b
P. C.Great venue class concert
E. H.Great music venue but poor sound lets it down.
G. J.Good venue with Good view of stage from anywhere in the arena. Staff also very helpful
M. W.Great place to see live bands but the acoustics could be better
E. 7.Quite a hike to the toilets and its quite small but great other than that always has tickets at a good price
F. R.What a place to enjoy music and entertainment, with cheap beers and great atmosphere. Britpop atmosphere guaranteed
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