I've been here a vast number of times, as a gig venue; to the level that I'm not quite sure I could actually count it out. Hitting a sweet spot in venue sizes, and with not that many venues bigger until you hit 3Arena or outdoor arena sizes, its a permanent fixture on the touring schedules for mid-popularity brands and also the regular home of charity events.
Unlike the other gig venues, it's actually famed for its drinking facilities - all the bars on all floors are quite special in terms of design; but Maureens Bar is the best known, as it is still watched over by the now approximately 95 year old Maureen Grant, who has worked at the theatre since 1949.
As an old building, its been through quite a lot; including being saved from conversion to a dance hall by the then new planning laws in 1963, the collapse of the main arch in 1974, leading to a three year closure; and then its canopy being severely damaged by a truck in 2004. Both have been restored to their original glory and there are minor restoration works underway pretty much all the time to keep it going in decent condition.
I quite like this as a gig venue; although the Heineken Ireland products only bars do rather dampen the drinking experience!
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