The forum may just be one of the most under-rated places in London for gigs, we went to see All Time Low there and couldn't fault the place at all. The only issue i found was the lacking of suitable parking near by and the downside of waiting in the snow for nearly 20 mins to get in, that aside the venue was clean and welcoming,the staff pleasant. The drinks were about what you would expect to pay £2.60 for a bottle of water or pint of coke.
The sound quality was great even from upstairs, it was a shame for us that we had to wait until the end of the show to go downstairs to get a t-shirt but it's a very minor issue.
Overall a really good experience, sort out the local parking and your on to a winner. :-)

I have been to three gigs at the HMV Forum, of which one was superb and two were naff. Of the two naff gigs, one was the artist's fault, one was the venue's.

First: The superb gig. James Brown in 2005. 72 years old, came out and danced his ass off. Packed with hits, including a few lesser-played treasures. One of the greatest gigs I have ever been to.

And now to the naff gigs. The first was Paolo Nutini. He came onstage really late and seemed to be drunk. The second was George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic.

The sound at the George Clinton gig was absolutely atrocious. A complete and utter disaster. It was turned up so loud that it felt like I had my head in a washing machine. Lots of people around me requested earplugs. On top of that, whoever was manning the mixing desk should have been fired on the spot. I'm an enormous fan of George and co, but for much of the gig I couldn't even work out what songs they were playing. It was just a wall of indecipherable noise.

There were times where vocalists were stood literally about five feet away from me and I could see them belting into the microphone, but couldn't hear a single word they were singing. Bad for the punters, who can't hear the gig properly. Bad for the performers, who are going all out, not realising that the audience can't hear them.

Apparently the sound was better in the rear half of the venue, but only marginally.

I just read the review on the HMV Forum and was completely shocked - I've been to 6 gigs at the HMV Forum over the last couple of years and have had nothing but a great time. There's always such a great crowd and the atmosphere is one of the best in London. To add to that drink prices are not over priced, which is always a bonus. I fully recommend getting along to a night at the forum.

We went to see an act called Imelda May, of which the tickets were purchased for my birthday, i waited 3 months and when the night came on Friday, i was met with lots of talking and was unable to hear the act.

It was very frustrating and made the venue feel like a 'bar' where the 'Londoners came to wind down after a week at work'

For the people who wanted to see the act and travelled into London to see the act just couldn't hear them.

It was upsetting that we had to leave after 30 minutes because you couldn't hear anything apart from a noise of talking.

Two people behind me, as the music got louder, their talking got louder as well.

People around, who came to listen to the music, were constantly looking to see where the talking noise was coming from.

There was no input from venue to ask people to quieten down and frankly it ruined the night.

We will not be going back to the HMV forum, I am not paying alot of money for tickets and travel to leave after half an hour.

AWFUL!