O2 City Hall Newcastle Reviews Summary

Seating and Comfort

Pros:

• "Unlike most venues like this, there is a very good view of the stage from all angles and just about everywhere."
• "The place has very good acoustics, quite spacious and not overly cramped."
• "Seats in the balcony have great visibility but legroom is diabolical on the side slanted seats."
• "Once I was seated in the auditorium, which now has vastly improved seats, (much more comfortable & with better legroom)."
• "Our seats in the stalls were comfy with great leg room and decent visibility."
• "So much better with the new seats put in. There is actually leg room!"
• "The seat's are comfortable and no matter where you sit you'll have a great view."

Cons:

• "Sat in the upper section and found the seats uncomfortable with little or no leg room."
• "This is the worst venue I have been to..you can't sit in the front rows in the stalls without getting a stiff neck that's stiff for days."
• "The seats are so close together you have all this body heat as well."
• "The balcony seating doesn’t really accommodate for the chip munching bodies of today."
• "Good venue but seats in balcony too close together for comfort unfortunately."
• "The seats are small and cramped and super uncomfortable."
• "The seating is so cramped."

Staff and Security

Pros:

• "I just wanted to say a big thanks to the security team who work there in yellow coats."
• "Staff incredibly helpful with a member of my party with physical problem."
• "Fantastic night great atmosphere friendly staff."
• "Staff always on hand to help find seats etc."
• "The team couldn't be more helpful especially Jill who was so professional and polite, nothing was a problem and we had a brilliant night."
• "Special thanks to Eilish who was not only attentive and approachable but had an awareness of customer issues."
• "Staff were efficient and polite, friendly."

Cons:

• "The whole 1st half of the show was ruined as there were people constantly moving about on both sides of the balcony."
• "Lovely venue with fantastic shows, however staff let this place down."
• "Security not interested in asking people to stop shouting over the concert or stopping people from vaping in the crowd."
• "Event staff were unhelpful and downright rude."
• "In addition no-one on the venue staff appeared at all concerned regarding the situation."
• "Very disappointed with security staff searching my wife's bag."
• "Security left a lot to be desired. If you can't handle a drunk woman, get a different job."

Facilities and Amenities

Pros:

• "Plus points first - there are so many loo's there really won't be much queueing and they are lovely and clean and look new."
• "Fabulous historic building. Small concert hall. Great views of the stage."
• "I love the work they do to keep as much of the older architecture as possible in these old buildings."
• "New seating is comfy and has reasonable leg room."
• "This venue is well managed and the staff are great. All of the staff were friendly and we were served quickly at the bar and merchandise stands."
• "Staff are polite, professional and very helpful, everything well signposted."
• "The bar downstairs is massive and no long wait, plenty of drink options."

Cons:

• "The downside that it is now run by the O2 group so the bar prices are now extortionate."
• "The bar drink selection is really poor, prices are high."
• "You need more disabled toilets."
• "The only thing I think doesn't live up to the Academy is that the bars are so small in the main hall and so took a really long time to get service."
• "Drinks are an absolute rip off, £6.50 for a warm can of Carlsberg or Somersby cider."
• "The prices of drinks, you're having an absolute laugh, there's a Weatherspoons outside."
• "Expensive drinks once you actually manage to get to the bar! Could do with more organisation regarding the bars."

Overall Experience

Pros:

• "Just love the City Hall."
• "The venue, itself, is excellent and the acoustics superb."
• "One of the few genuine music venues with superb acoustics and wonderful atmosphere."
• "Been here recently to see Paul Weller. Other than that, this is a great venue."
• "Came to see Sophie Ellis Bextor at the venue, the Customer Liaison Eilish was super helpful and friendly and chatty."
• "This place is absolutely outstanding for music. The acoustics are amazing, and as a venue for music, it cannot be faulted."
• "Simply one of the best music venues anywhere."

Cons:

• "The security were so so so distracting."
• "The mid break was almost an hour which killed the vibe."
• "Ridiculous behaviour of security ppl to block off the pavement in one direction to force ppl onto the road."
• "At £8 a pint and there for 5 hours I won't be going back."
• "When we were given the tickets, we were told disabled friendly, but when we arrived the tickets were upstairs and there is no lift on the premises."
• "We were told by the security guard that we can’t leave."
• "Not enough bar staff means you either have to get in 2 hours before the show starts or stress about getting a preshow drink or missing the start of the show."