O2 Forum Kentish Town: capacity, where to stand and what to know

The short version: 9 to 17 Highgate Road, NW5 1JY, about 2,300 capacity, a big standing floor downstairs and unreserved seats on the balcony. Kentish Town station is a three minute walk. Pack light, because the bag rules are strict.

Capacity

Wikipedia, Vendry and Gig-guide put it at about 2,300. Songkick says 2,350 and credits a £1.5m refurbishment in 2007 with raising it. Treat 2,300 as the working figure: big enough for a proper night, small enough that you can still see the band’s faces from the back.

The building

It opened on 17 December 1934 as the Forum Theatre, an Art Deco cinema built for Herbert Yapp. The architect was J. Stanley Beard, with interiors by his partner W.R. Bennett, and the opening was conducted by the star Sydney Howard, with music and films. The original seating was 2,175 across stalls and one balcony, according to Cinema Treasures. It is Grade II listed, and the venue calls itself one of the UK’s best preserved, original cinematic theatres.

ABC took it over in 1935 and closed it as a cinema on 18 July 1970. It then became a bingo hall and a dance hall. In the 1980s it turned into the Town & Country Club, a must-play on the indie circuit. Fandom’s gig archive lists Nick Cave, Buzzcocks, Teenage Fanclub, Lush and Lynyrd Skynyrd there between 1986 and 1992. Since 2015 it has been the O2 Forum Kentish Town, under Live Nation ownership. The venue itself names Dave Grohl and the Sound City players, Jack White, Rihanna, Bobby Womack, Justin Timberlake and KISS among those who have played.

Where to stand and sit

Downstairs is a large standing area. Upstairs is the balcony, with unreserved seating. Fan reports on A View From My Seat describe the balcony view as elevated and unobstructed. It is split into a front block and a block behind a walkway gap. One visitor said standing was not allowed up there, and another found the back row of the front section gave not much view of the standing crowd.

• Want a seat: unreserved means first come, first served. One TripAdvisor reviewer queued about 30 minutes before doors for exactly that reason.
• Want to roam: check your ticket. Seated ticket holders must stay in their assigned area, while “Freeflow” tickets can move around.
• Floor position: barrier, sound desk or side is a matter of taste. One reviewer stood in front of a gangway so nobody was in front of them, which is a fair trick for shorter gig-goers.

Bars, bags and the box office

The official FAQ lists bars, snack food and free drinking water. Reviewers grumble that drinks are pricey and that one bar did not take cash, so bring a card. Outside food and drink are banned, chewing gum included, and so are glass, cans and liquids over 100ml.

One small bag per person, no bigger than A4 (29.7 × 21 × 15cm). Bigger bags can be pre-booked into Stasher storage. There is a cloakroom with a small fee per item, free for O2 Priority members, who also get a priority queue. You may be searched on the way in.

The box office opens only for that day’s event, from one hour before doors, and you can buy on the day if the show is not sold out. A venue restoration levy is added per ticket. The FAQ page is undated, so check the venue site for current rules before you travel.

Getting there and home

Kentish Town station, Northern line High Barnet branch, is a three minute walk. Tufnell Park, Camden Town, Kentish Town West and Chalk Farm are the other stations the venue lists. Kentish Town West (Overground) is about half a mile away on Prince of Wales Road, with direct services to Stratford and Richmond.

Buses are the 134, 88 and 214. Southbound buses leave from stop KF outside Kentish Town station. The 214 goes towards Liverpool Street and the 134 to Tottenham Court Road. Check TfL for any station works before you set off.

Full details are on the venue’s getting here page, the FAQs and the prohibited items list.