The Astoria (London) > Reviews > One of London's Most Popular Venues

Author's product rating:   

Value for Money	Average
Standard of Menu	Average
Atmosphere	Good
Standard of Service	Good

Advantages:	Central location, friendly security, seating available upstairs
Disadvantages:	Overpriced drinks, shabby interior, early curfews

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

~~Venue Details~~

Address: 157 Charing Cross Road, London
Directions: At the North end of Charing Cross Road, opposite Centre Point at the crossroads with Oxford Street.
Tube: Tottenham Court Road
Parking: None
Capacity: 1600
Age Limit: No Under 14's. Under 16's only admitted with an adult. No under 18's for club nights.

~~History~~

The Astoria was originally a Crosse and Blackwell pickle factory. It has since been reincarnated as a music hall, theatre and the live music venue and nightclub it is today. The venue was acquired by the Mean Fiddler group (now part of ClearChannel) in May 2000. Bands to have played on the Astoria's stage include Nirvana, Black Sabbath, Metallica, David Bowie, Oasis, Prince, U2, Eminem and The White Stripes.

~~Inside the Venue~~

The Astoria has been used in its current guise as a gig venue and nightclub for over twelve years, and unfortunately it shows. What was presumably a once stylish and clean interior is now somewhat dilapidated, with worn carpets in the foyer, stained walls, sticky floors and a generally dated and anonymous feel to the place.

Upon entering the venue through the front entrance, you first come to the foyer, which houses the reception, box office and is usually used to search patrons upon entry. From here, you proceed up some steps to the cloakroom, which can often become a very crowded area on busy nights. Beyond this, up a few further steps you can either enter the main downstairs floor or head upstairs to the balcony, which has its own separate bar. This balcony is not always in use at shows with small attendences.

The main floorspace is fairly large, black and anonymous, although not as big as it used to be with the new sound desk taking up a lot of space at the back of the venue. The stage is of a good size and viewing is adequate from anywhere in the venue. Merchandise is sold at the stand at the back of the downstairs floor area, by the bars.

Upstairs is the entrance to the backstage area, VIP area, limited seating and a terraced area. Views of the stage from here are very good, with nothing limiting your view. There is a bar on the balcony and also in the upstairs foyer, where merchandise is also sometimes sold.

~~The Astoria Gig Experience~~

While many would disagree, in my personal experience and the experiences of others I know, the Astoria is not one of London's better sounding venues. Granted, there are many aspects which can affect the live sound of a band and venue, but all too often, sound at the Astoria is muddy, badly mixed and distorted. Of course, this isn't the case all of the time, but I have found on far too many occasions that the sound hasn't been up to scratch.

Security is generally very good, with most staff having a professional and friendly attitude to their work. Problems in the crowd are dealt with swiftly and the FOH staff are always on the ball. Staff are always willing to assist if you have a problem in my experience.

A common complaint about gigs at the Astoria is the curfew's imposed by the venue, specifically on Friday and Saturday nights when the headlining band must leave the stage by 10:30. This is due to the GAY club night held at the venue once the live music has finished. Unfortunately, if a gig overruns, as is often the case, the management will pull the headlining band offstage at 10:30 on the dot. I have seen many excellent bands have their sets cut short as a result of this, which is a real shame, especially considering it is for the venues own commercial gain.

As a knock on effect of this early curfew, many weekend gigs have doors as early as 6pm, not ideal if you have to come from work!

~~Bars~~

An important part of any concert or club night! The Astoria has several bars, including two at the back of the main downstairs floor, and a further two upstairs in the foyer and on the balcony. The downside is the extortionate prices charged for drinks. These can vary, but on my last visit a can of Foster's was £3.20. A bottle of water is £2 and I don't even want to think about the price of spirits! My recommendation would be, if you want to drink, to head to the Wetherspoons just up the road for a few quick drinks prior to the gig!

~~Club Nights~~

I personally have never experienced the GAY club night held five nights a week at the Astoria, but it is reknowned in the UK and worldwide as being one of the biggest and best gay nights around. It plays a mix of pop and disco music and regularly attracts live acts, such as Westlife and Girls Aloud.

~~Disabled Access~~

Access to the Astoria for disabled customers is not easy, largely due to the steps inside the venue. Assistance is happily given however, although the venue recommends that you contact them in advance to make arrangements. Disabled customers are entitled to bring one assistant with them free of charge.

~~Tickets~~

Tickets are available from the usual outlets, the Mean Fiddler website and the Astoria box office, which charges no booking fee on any purchases paid for with cash.

~~Rules on Cameras etc~~

No video cameras or recording devices are allowed in the venue. Specific rules regarding cameras have been known to change from gig to gig, but generally most cameras are allowed with the exception of 'professional' SLR type cameras.