N1 Centre,
16 Parkfield Street,
Islington,
London,
N1 0PS
0905 020 3999
The ViewLondon Review
An intimate Islington venue perfect for peering at rock stars and dancing to top DJs until the early hours. A sticky floor, cheap beer and a sharp sound system make this an indoor, year-round festival-like find.
The Venue
A few minutes walk from Angel Tube station could see you in gig heaven. The O2 Academy Islington with its maximum capacity of 800, is not as impressive or grand as its flagship family member The O2 Academy Brixton (which holds a whopping 4,921 party people). It has a small, almost hidden entrance within the N1 Centre that leads you to an arena that, although modestly-sized, has hosted a huge amount of moshing. However, the lack of space is easily made up for by the novelty of being able to see the main stage action from almost anywhere you stand. Even the Mezzanine Bar overlooks the main stage and dancefloor so you can watch ravers bubbling whilst the bartender pulls you a beer, or see the singer throw his scarf into the crowd as you slurp a sneaky shot.
As the O2 Academy was purpose-built for gigs and club nights both of these genres benefit hugely from the refurbishments that were made to what was once The Marquee. The sound systems and lighting are good enough to have pleased Craig David, Eminem, Muse, The Cure and countless clubbers since 2003 and look set to continue helping the venue in defining a decade of decent but delightfully-dingy performance spaces.
The Atmosphere
Having hosted a whole range of acts, events and club nights the staff are laid back, polite and pretty damn perky! The size of the venue generates a genuine feel good atmosphere amongst the clientele. Expect to leave having a few new names to find on Facebook.
The Music
Anything goes at the O2 Academy. From hard rock to soft soul via rowdy rap and thumping drum and bass, check ahead for full listings.
The Drink
There are often good deals on drinks at the O2 Academy, but even if you miss out on those, your wallet won’t be too wounded with beer costing £3, wine £3.35 and a spirit and mixer averaging £4. Don’t expect premium brands, however, this place is all about the music.
The Last Word
Leaving the generic luxury of gentrified Islington behind, the basic design of the O2 Academy leaves you free to concentrate on what it is you came for – the music.