The London Astoria

ABOUT

The London Astoria was a music venue at 157 Charing Cross Road, on the edge of Soho. Built as a pickle factory and opened as a cinema in 1927, it ran as a nightclub and live music venue holding about 2,000 people from 1985 until January 2009, with a smaller ballroom venue, the LA2 (later called the Mean Fiddler), in the basement. It was demolished in 2009 for the Elizabeth line station at Tottenham Court Road, and the site is now part of the Soho Place offices and theatre above the station.

SIGNIFICANCE

Nirvana played Sub Pop's Lame Fest there with Mudhoney and Tad on 3 December 1989, and Radiohead recorded Live at the Astoria there on 27 May 1994. The Manic Street Preachers' shows on 19 to 21 December 1994 were Richey Edwards' last with the band, and they destroyed their equipment at the end. Blur played six nights there in 2003.

MUSIC & CHARACTER

SOURCES

Details compiled from public sources. Run this venue? Get in touch to confirm or correct the listing.

1. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7827999.stm (news article)Supports: It was demolished for the Crossrail station at Tottenham Court Road.
2. https://www.historyextra.com/period/modern/the-history-of-londons-10-greatest-live-music-venues/ (news article)Supports: The LA2 (later called the Mean Fiddler) was a ballroom underneath the Astoria, not a separate building next door.
3. https://www.loudersound.com/features/nirvana-nirvana-lame-fest-london (news article)Supports: Nirvana played Sub Pop's Lame Fest at the Astoria on 3 December 1989, on a bill with Mudhoney and Tad.
4. https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/manic-street-preachers-read-their-classic-everything-must-go-nme-interview-from-1996-764793 (news article)Supports: The Manic Street Preachers played the Astoria on 19, 20 and 21 December 1994, Richey Edwards' last shows with the band, and destroyed their equipment at the end.
5. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/jan/15/astoria-final-gigs (news article)Supports: The Astoria held 2,000; its sister venue the LA2 held 1,000.
6. https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/jul/21/london-west-end-new-theatre-sohoplace (news article)Supports: The site is now Soho Place, offices, shops and a theatre built above Tottenham Court Road station.
7. https://www.westminster.gov.uk/sites/default/files/media/documents/Tottenham_Court_Rd_East_Adopted_Crossrail_Planning_Brief_September_2009.pdf (official website)Supports: The building was a Crosse & Blackwell pickle factory, became a cinema in 1927, and ran as a nightclub and live music venue from 1985 until January 2009, when it closed for Crossrail.
8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjQZd8p-eBM (official website)Supports: Radiohead's Live at the Astoria was recorded there on 27 May 1994.