O2 Forum: Art Deco cinema's journey to iconic music venue
The Kentish Town building, designed by J. Stanley Beard, has hosted Arctic Monkeys, Rihanna, and Björk.
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The O2 Forum on Highgate Road in Kentish Town, which opened as The Forum on December 17, 1934, has a rich history as a cinema and a prominent live music venue. The building, designed by architect J. Stanley Beard for cinema magnate Herbert Yapp, was an Art Deco picture house with Italian Renaissance features. Its opening event on December 17, 1934, included a performance by comedian Sydney Howard, who was met with a large crowd, as reported by Kinematograph Weekly.
Transition from Cinema to Music Hub
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Associated British Cinemas (ABC) took over the venue the following year, renaming it the ABC Kentish Town in 1963. Its operation as a movie theatre concluded on July 18, 1970. Following its closure as a cinema, the building served as a bingo hall and an Irish dance hall before being renovated and reopened as the Town & Country Club in 1985. Under entrepreneur Ollie Smith, this iteration of the venue established itself as a significant location for independent and rock music performances.
The venue's status as a key music destination continued under subsequent ownerships. Vince Power's Mean Fiddler Music Group acquired it in 1993, renaming it the London Forum. Over the years, it has been known as the HMV Forum and currently as the O2 Forum. Throughout these changes, it has continued to attract major musical acts. Artists such as Björk, who performed her debut solo concert there in September 1993, Arctic Monkeys, who played a secret show in 2006, and others including Dave Grohl and KISS have performed on its stage.
Preserving Heritage While Hosting Modern Acts
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Refurbishments undertaken in 2007 and subsequent years have aimed to modernise the venue while maintaining its Grade II listed character, reflecting its past as a grand cinema from Hollywood's golden era. The O2 Forum remains an active live venue, with upcoming performances scheduled by artists such as Graham Coxon, Supergrass, and The Pogues.
Questions this report answers
+When did the O2 Forum in Kentish Town first open?
The venue, originally named The Forum, first opened its doors on December 17, 1934. It was designed by architect J. Stanley Beard as a luxury Art Deco picture house.
+What was the O2 Forum before it became a music venue?
Before becoming a music venue, the building operated as a cinema until July 18, 1970. It later served as a bingo hall and an Irish dance hall before reopening as the Town & Country Club in 1985.
+Which notable artists have performed at the O2 Forum?
The venue has hosted a wide range of artists including Arctic Monkeys, Rihanna, Björk, Velvet Underground, Pixies, Tom Jones, The Smashing Pumpkins, Blur, and Radiohead.
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