O2 Institute Birmingham Reviews Summary

Accessibility

Pros:

• "Staff were super helpful, couldn't ask for better."
• "Box office staff were really helpful on the day of the show to accommodate for a change in circumstances that required us to switch ticket types."
• "Tasha and her team were able to make arrangements for us to access the balcony area and be as comfortable and as safe as we possibly could be."
• "As a disabled person I found the advice and help from all staff attending to myself and companion was excellent and very helpful thank you so much for giving us such a great time we will be back!!"
• "By far my best experience at a gig since being confined to a wheelchair. Staff went above and beyond."
• "As a temporary wheelchair user, I experienced the accessibility zone for the first time while watching a band."
• "Very good accessibility. Has step free access and a lift."

Cons:

• "Although the venue has gone to the expense of installing a lift to take wheelchair users to the balcony, they then place you so close to the stage you can’t see anything."
• "A wheelchair user had a real struggle throughout with people coming past the narrow balcony pathways."
• "It's not brilliant for access so I would not recommend it for wheelchair users."
• "Unfortunately the venue, like the O2 Academy, is terrible for disabled access."
• "Shocking lack of disability awareness. Attitude to customer care is terrible."
• "Slight delays and confusion with where to stand in line for those who are disabled but otherwise a great night out!!"
• "The worrying fact was that he stopped at my knees and never detected my metal prosthetic leg with his wand."

Staff and Security

Pros:

• "The staff were so lovely, I don't know her name but the lady who helped us round was really kind and talkative, she was so helpful and lovely - thank you."
• "Great venue. Security there a probably the best in the business."
• "Security friendly, efficient and helpful too."
• "Absolutely amazing staff, thank you Molly C and Jamie (I think it was) we went to see Vukovi tonight and they were so welcoming, friendly."
• "The staff were excellent and the layout superb."
• "Security and bar staff were all very friendly and helpful."
• "Staff were also super helpful especially Helen! Made it a brilliant experience thank you."

Cons:

• "Came for a concert, we were asked and ushered into an o2 priority queue after having proved we were eligible. 5 minutes later we were ejected from that queue and made to join the back of the main queue."
• "Their aggressive security staff tried to confiscate my hearing aid batteries."
• "Only down fall was not with the venue but the way the security acted, completely disrespectful."
• "Security didn't seem to know what was happening, for example sending people (including myself) to the wrong line."
• "I am absolutely appalled by the way my friend and I were treated by the bar staff."
• "No participation from the staff, they weren’t even aware when told."
• "On arrival there were some issues queueing outside as one of the Showsec staff kept moving where everyone was queueing as he wasn't sure where we should be standing."

Price

Pros:

• "But bar facilities are decent with a good selection of snacks and drinks and moderate prices."
• "Parking was easy nearby (Digbeth High Street carpark) and was still reasonable including the CAZ charge."
• "And 3 VK blue for £10, bargain."
• "Decent sound, reasonably priced beer for a gig venue."
• "Friendly enough staff and a reasonably priced bar."

Cons:

• "The price of beer is the only outrageous thing I can complain about. £5.10 a pint!"
• "The drinks prices are extortionate at £7 per pint (May23), so if seeing a gig next time I would have a drink locally before going in."
• "Drinks at the bar weren’t cheap, £6.50 for 2 Pepsi’s, £6 per pint."
• "Drink prices are extortionate.. won't be drinking at o2 venues going forward."
• "My biggest gripe involves the beer prices. I genuinely can’t believe a pint of shipyard costs £7.50."
• "Very expensive drinks compared to other venues."
• "The drink prices are a joke. I paid £17.90 for 2 single drinks."