Carling Apollo Hammersmith

I was astounded by the size of the place when i first went, but when Franz Ferdinand started playing I was disappointed, not by the group, but the accoustics, they were pretty shoddy to be honest, at the back you could barely hear it, there was no atmosphere and no proper gig feel.

I'd go again but only if I could get near the front.

With it’s sloping floor The Hammersmith Apollo is like the younger brother (or sister) of Brixton Academy. Unfortunately however it just doesn’t live up to the greatness of its older sibling. Though I wouldn’t fault the venue for sit down performances (it’s just the perfect size for the larger comedy tours) it just somehow doesn’t seem as atmospheric when bands play. It seems to sit uncomfortably between being an intimate venue and a larger venue when you want to be part of something big…

It’s perfectly placed for travelling to (if you live in West London…). Drinks queues are exasperatingly long (though in fairness I’m yet to find a venue where they aren’t) and the Apollo operates the most bizarre cloakroom policy I’ve ever seen. All your belongings go in one large black bin bag. Though it saves you paying twice to put your coat and bag in I do feel pained upon leaving the venue and seeing several hundred discarded bin liners flying across the Hammersmith gyratory.

If your favourite band is playing then by all means go and see them at the Apollo, i’m sure you’ll enjoy it, but given the choice and central location of other London venues I’m afraid I would recommend the likes of the Astoria or Brixton.

Large music venue , also shows comedy gigs. I've been here plenty of times and had always had fun. Most recently seen Tenacious D, which was very funny. The floor gently slopes to the front so it's easier to get a good view. It does get a bit congested entering and leaving as the capacity is large and getting a drink can take a while as there is one small bar down stairs which you have to leave the auditorium to visit. Remember to keep you ticket or they wont let you back. Upstairs the bar is bigger but still very busy before things start or in any intermissions. It's best to pop out quickly during the show. Wider range of drinks than most London venues but still slightly more than pup prices.