London Astoria
Encyclopedia : L : LO : LON : London Astoria
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| Venue | |
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| Location: | Soho, London |
| Spaces: | 1 |
| Layout: | theatre style |
| Promotions: | G-A-Y |
| Licensing | |
| Capacity: | 2,000 |
| Licensing authority: | Westminster |
| Business | |
| Opened: | |
| Owner: | Mean Fiddler |
| [website] | |
It opened as a Crosse & Blackwell pickle factory and has been a music hall and a theatre. It is now exclusively a music venue with a capacity of 2,000. The Astoria is connected to the Mean Fiddler such that the two venues can function as a single venue where needed. By far its busiest nights are the G-A-Y promotions.
It has played host to many up-and-coming bands, such as Radiohead's performance for MTV in 1994 and the grunge band Nirvana in 1989, as well as world famous bands wishing to play low-profile shows, including The Rolling Stones in 2003, and Oasis's first performance of their 2005 tour. Blur also played a five-night residency in 2003. The venue plays host to the popular nightclub G-A-Y, which sees many celebrities visit and perform music for the assembled crowd.
Mean Fiddler acquired the London Astoria in May 2000, 'securing the future of live music at one of London’s most famous rock ‘n’ roll venues.'
However, it was recently [late June '06] sold to property group Derwent Valley Central for £23.75m, who plan to convert the site to a combination of shops, flats and offices to raise money during the Olympics. It will continue to be rented to the Mean Fiddler group for £1m per year until 2008.
External links
| Major London nightclub venues |
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Astoria |
Electric Ballroom |
The End |
Fabric |
The Fridge |
KOKO Marquee Club | Mean Fiddler | Ministry of Sound | Scala | Turnmills |
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