O2 Guildhall Reviews Summary

Location & Accessibility

Pros:

• "Centrally located and near transport links as well as bars."
• "It is near the train station and some multi storey car parks, and there's restaurants and bars just outside which is very convenient."
• "Close to a shopping centre and restaurants."
• "Brilliant location right in the heart of Southampton."
• "Situated close to the centre of Southampton, and not far from the Avenue, it offers convenience for locals and people travelling into the city alike."
• "Travelled by train and station is only 5 minute walk away."
• "Parking a short walk away just off the ringroad is £3 after 6pm."

Cons:

• "Parking is a 5 min walk away in a multi story car park."
• "Nice location in Southampton although parking can be tricky as it doesn't have its own car park."
• "No lift makes things difficult."

Sound & Acoustics

Pros:

• "Decent sound."
• "The view of the stage was brilliant."
• "A great sound surrounding the hall when bands are playing."
• "Good accoustics."
• "Sound was really good as well."
• "The sound quality is good."
• "Watched Joanna Lumley for an evening. Excellent acoustics."

Cons:

• "Sound for the show we went to see was rubbish."
• "The sound quality was awful... it was just a mush of mid range noise."
• "Acoustically the venue is not very good. It's basically a big box with 2 huge speakers either side of the stage."
• "Sound system was appalling (so couldn't hear much)."
• "The overall sound system was absolutely rubbish from the bands."
• "Sound is never going to be great due to the stone walls, nothing to stop the sound from rebounding."
• "The acoustics in this place are awful. Could hardly hear the vocals over the instruments and backing track."

Facilities & Amenities

Pros:

• "Hidden underneath the two black boxes either side of the stage and in the loft above is a huge 50 rank Compton pipe organ, unique as the only dual console (left side cinema/theatre, right side classical) organ in the UK."
• "Very limited queues, especially at the bar for what was a packed night so really impressed."
• "The toilets were quite clean."
• "Getting drinks was so quick and easy, didn't have to wait at all and they were all very polite."
• "Gives people of the south an opportunity to see some good bands, efficient with getting people through the door."
• "Toilets were clean and well stocked."
• "The staff friendly."

Cons:

• "Drink prices are really high, choices are limited and the queues are always huge."
• "Drinks are expensive, £2 for a bottle of water."
• "There is one disabled toilet on the ground floor and the vast majority of the audience were elderly and couldn't manage the stairs."
• "The guildhall was very dirty and smelly the seating was dirty and well used it could do with a lot of TLC."
• "Hot as hell though. I suspect this venue lacks air conditioning."
• "Seating can be uncomfortable, especially for the longer legged individual."
• "The carpets and seating are in urgent need of renovation."

Staff & Security

Pros:

• "The staff were quite helpful in directing me to where to go."
• "Thought the staff were very helpful and the cloakroom attendants were excellent."
• "Security staff were brilliant and very friendly."
• "Well organised & helpful staff on site to assist."
• "Friendly staff."
• "Cannot fault the place, security, floor and bar teams were so friendly and welcoming."
• "The staff on the doors were quick and kinda nice."

Cons:

• "Rather overzealous security staff given there were so few people at the event."
• "Absolutely awful venue security mainly the manager and supervisor, not professional spoke to us rudely looked down at us."
• "Security were lax and left people who were clearly drunk hanging out of the bar doors which completely ruined our experience."
• "And staff very unhelpful."
• "The door staff could do with better training and or replacement for people with better and more basic skills with customers."
• "The staff who we spoke with were insincere over the fact we had not receive proper information relating to a meet and greet."
• "Security threatened to remove them but didn't follow through!"

Value & Pricing

Pros:

• "Bar is relatively expensive, but within range for a venue of this type."
• "Bar isn't over priced (for a gig venue)."
• "Very pleased that bar now has tribute compared to last visit when it was just horrible larger."
• "Bar was less expensive than usual, which was nice."
• "The bar is always super quick service drinks are decently priced for a venue."
• "Bars a little expensive but well staffed and enough variety."
• "Good beer selection, though more ales would be nice."

Cons:

• "Couple that with being charged £15 for a single rum and coke and a can of beer."
• "The prices at the bar for soft drinks was astronomical."
• "Bottled water was the only non-alcoholic drink available at the front bar very expensive for a small bottle."
• "Expensive bar with very long ques. Bar closes when the acts are playing."
• "Typically the drinks are expensive."
• "The price of drinks it was extremely expensive for what you were buying."
• "Seats are noticeably cheap and not the most comfortable."