The Venue

ABOUT

The Venue was a music club at 160-162 Victoria Street, set up by Virgin Records' Richard Branson and Nick Powell in the former Metropole cinema. It opened on 1 November 1978 with Graham Parker and the Rumour, seated about 550 people at tables, and closed in 1984. The auditorium site was built over in the mid-1980s, and the Victoria Street front was demolished in 2013.

SIGNIFICANCE

U2 supported Doll by Doll there in December 1979, when Bono told the audience it was the band's first time playing cabaret. Sonic Youth played their first London show there on 1 December 1983, a short set that ended when the curtain came down and the power was cut.

MUSIC & CHARACTER

SOURCES

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

1. https://londontopsoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Newsletter-No-78-May-2014_20pp.pdf (official website)Supports: The auditorium site became Allington Towers in 1985-86; the foyer block at 160-162 Victoria Street, latterly an Ask restaurant, was demolished in 2013.
2. https://web.archive.org/web/2020/http://www.sonicyouth.com/mustang/cc/120183.html (official website)Supports: Sonic Youth played their first London show at The Venue on 1 December 1983; the curtain was lowered and the power cut mid-set.
3. https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1978/Music-Week-1978-10-21.pdf (news article)Supports: The Venue opened on 1 November 1978 with Graham Parker and the Rumour, followed by the Alex Harvey Band.
4. https://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/venue-with-a-menu/8771 (news article)Supports: It was set up by Virgin Records' Richard Branson and Nick Powell in the former Metropole Theatre and seated about 550 people at tables on five levels.
5. https://www.westminster.gov.uk/media/document/victoria-neighbourhood-plan-2025---2040-submission-version (official website)Supports: The Metropole opened as a cinema in 1929 and was a live entertainment venue until 1984, after which the front became a restaurant.
6. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/70s/79/Record-Mirror-1979-12-29.pdf (news article)Supports: U2 supported Doll by Doll at The Venue in December 1979, and Bono told the audience it was the band's first time playing cabaret.