O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Great little venue. Good acoustics and the size of the venue allows for an intimate concert. Would definitely recommend.

The acoustics in this venue are fantastic I only wish the venues health & safety was half as good.

The acoustics in this venue are amazing. If this review was on acoustics and charm and the feel of this venue, I’d award all five stars but unfortunately, this review is about the experience as a whole. So, here we go.
I’ve been to two shows at Shepherd’s Bush Empire, Rascal Flatts and Darius Rucker. For the former, I was not an O2 customer, therefore had to join the gigantic level 1, 2, and 3 queue which snaked around two city blocks. For the latter, I was an O2 customer and was able to join the super short O2 Priority queue.
Note: People start queuing up about 1.5 hours before the doors are scheduled to open. Since this venue does not offer assigned seats, it’s important to get there early if you want good seats or if you want to be near the stage if your tickets are for the ground floor (standing only).
I really despise not having assigned seats for many reasons — the super early queuing, the mad rush when the doors open, and having to sit through the opening band. The worst part about this is that the doors open around 7pm for an 8:45 (main act) start time and when you add in getting there early to queue, you end up being at the venue from about 6:30pm-ish to 11pm-​ish, which crosses over the dinner period and there is NO FOOD offered at the venue. DANGER ZONE!
Queuing:
There are three queues: Standing (ground floor), O2 Priority, and Level ½/​3. The queues are not marked well, so as you are facing the entrance, they are in left-​to-​right order as stated above.
Being an O2 customer, I expected that when the doors opened, that they would open the doors for the O2 Priority queue only and once all O2 customers had entered, the doors to the standing and level ½/​3 would open. NO, NO. NO. That’s not how this works. All three doors open at the same time.
Additionally, the O2 queue moves more slowly because ticket-​takers need to verify on phones that customers in the priority queue are O2 customers. Oh, and then if someone ahead of you isn’t or the ticket-​takers scanner isn’t working, the queue will be held up as it was last night. All of us poor O2 customers stood in the priority queue at a standstill while hoards of people in the other two queues filled the venue because the ticket taker’s scanner in our queue was not working properly.
Overall, we were about #‘s 20 – 21 in the O2 Priority queue and there were approximately 100 people from the other two queues who were able to enter the venue before we were. GET IT TOGETHER O2. There is no benefit in a priority queue when that queue is not given priority. Pissed every single one of us off last night. People were fuming. I thought a fight was going to break out.
Seating:
Yes, the seats are old but they do have padding and there is ample leg room. We have always sat on level 1 which has seating and standing areas. The first time we sat in the second row but off to the side. The second time we sat in the 7^th row but in the middle. My recommendation is to get as close to the stage as possible, even if you have to sit on the side. Those are better seats than seats that are further back but in the middle because the lights in the aisle behind the seats (there are about 10 rows of seats) do not turn off and it’s a bit agitating to have the light on behind you.
If you have tickets on level 1 and you can’t find a seat, there is plenty of standing room. Most people were able to lean against the short wall behind the last row of seats and set their drinks on this half-​wall and have a perfect view of the stage.
Beer/​wine/​drinks:
Terrible. If you are going to order any drink containing alcohol, go for the wine or bottled beer. The tap beer (Carlsberg) tasted rank. I believe their tap lines are dirty. Also, my husband’s Corona smelled skunk. My wine wine was OK but not worth the price. Don’t try to smuggle in drinks. You will get caught and all this will do is hold up the security queue and piss off everyone behind you. Thanks in advance.
Food:
Your choices are crisps or crisps or if you are American, chips or chips. There is virtually no food served in this venue and I’m not sure you are allowed to bring any in.
Toilets:
Oh, dear God. Hold your pee if you can. I can only speak to the toilets on level 1 and there are only two physical toilets for women. The bathroom is super small and I think my hands would dry faster if I blew on them rather than used the hand «dryer.» The toilets/​bathrooms cannot handle the load of people seated in level 1.
Dress code:
Whatever you want. I’ve seen everything from dressy to sweatshirts to NFL jerseys to business casual.

Somehow, despite frequenting the Shepherds Bush area quite, err, frequently, I never noticed this place until I saw my first gig here (first gig in London, even! Whoo hoo look at me — I’m so hip!). Saw Clean Bandit here on May 9, 2014. The venue is alright, nothing to write home about. It’s kind of grody and dark — the kind of place in which you’d expect to come across cobwebs, dust, and illicit sexual encounters in various shadowy corners. Which excites me a little, I must admit.
If I come back here, however, you can bet your ass I’ll be toting my own stash of liquor in a hip flask, as everything about the bar service SUCKED. Bartenders are slow and poorly trained, the wait time is at least 20 minutes, and the unmarked bottle of liquor from which I was served was marked «vodka» in scribbled black marker — and gave me a hangover that comes only from shitty alcohol.
In terms of sound quality, I wasn’t impressed, but then again — I stood all the way at the back against the wall (I figured that was where I’d be most likely to stumble upon one of those aforementioned illicit encounters *wink wink*).
Not bad, but not good either. Meh…

Who wouldn’t know O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, right?
Well, in case you would not:
O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire is a fairly large ‘used-​to-​be-​theatre-​turned-​gig-​venue’ in (surprise surprise) Shepherd’s Bush. The sound is great, experience positive. Downstairs is usually standing area (unless deliberately filled with seats) and balconies on two levels reserved for seating.
Drinks are served in plastic cups for about £5 a pint and cloakroom £2 per item.

Really beautiful and old theater with some really great bands coming through. I went to a show on a wednesday and it was perfect, not that many people were there and I learned the valuable lesson what «stalls» meant seats.
They’re sticklers with tickets people, and the front area is seating so if you’re standing, you are in the back by the bar. They don’t take card below £10 so keep some cash on you.
awesome venue.

I had my first gig here on Friday, and was really shocked I had never been here before! The sound was great, and standing at the back on the little raised area made for great viewing for a tiny person like myself.
Entry was quick and easy which is a bonus as I find some gig venues really long it out and keep you waiting around!
The only disappointment was the amount of younger ‘kids’ being sick in the toilet before half 9, and that having not been cleaned up!

This place has never had the greatest acoustics. From the first time I ever visited the place to watch Coldplay and every single time since, I’ve always come away with the feeling that whoever was on the mixing desk was doing a bad job, but it can’t be them every time, surely?
The place has a similar setup to the Brixton academy (my hands down favourite medium sized venue) and there’s plenty of nearby pubs to get warmed up before the event you’re seeing. It’s just a shame that the acoustics don’t lend themselves to a good performance.

Une salle de concert aussi bien prisés par les artistes en quête de reconnaissance que les confirmés.
L’O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire est en quelque sorte l’équivalent londonien de l’Olympia pour sa capacité d’accueil (maximum 2000 personnes environ) et sa décoration intérieur dans le style théatre avec fosse et balcons.
On voit très bien quelque soit l’emplacement et la proximité entre le premier rang à la barrière et la salle est assez impressionnante. L’acoustique rends formidablement, personne n’est lésé de ce coté là aussi.
Le quartier est animé à tout moment de la journée, forte circulations de véhicules et deux stations proches stations de métro se trouvent à quelques pas.

I came here to see Jessie Ware live and she was brilliant! I doubly enjoyed the show because of the amazing space.
Though I would normally stand at a concert, I opted to sit in the balcony so that I could have a better view. Plus, I didn’t expect to jump around at an R&B concert. I loved the old theatre décor and the plush seating. The laid back vibe made for a perfectly pleasant evening.
There is a bar in the concert hall (of course), but they do not serve food. Luckily, they allow you to bring your own (or at least they let me through with my crisps lol). But there are plenty of places to eat before a show, especially since it’s down the street from Westfield Shepherd’s Bush.

She Bu (shay boo) was the very first music venue I visited after moving to London (to see Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros).
At the time, I was bowled over — the grand theatre feel of balconies, plush red velour seats and carpets and the intricately carved ceilings and archways. This was a far cry from the dumpy, box-​shaped and black-​interior bars I was used to seeing live shows at in AZ. Little did I know that many of the city’s great theaters have been repurposed for hosting bands.
The character aspect is lovely, but that’s not all there is to a great venue, am I right? There’s sound quality and staff and drink prices and bathrooms and can-​i-​get-​a-​good-​view? to consider. Thankfully, She Bu completely delivers on all fronts. Security is competent without the attitude, bar line moves as quick as can be expected, and I’m happy with my balcony seat where I can see the show without having to feel the sweaty back or eat the hair of the person in front of me.
It’s the perfect size to feel like you’re really experiencing a live performance of the band you love but not so small that you feel like you’re inhaling sweat vapors and beer breath fumes all night.
Also, you have loads of options for eating, shopping and drinking before the show at the nearby Shepherd’s Bush market/​mall.

Awesome old theatre. Seating was cramped in our section but not too bad. It helped that we were right at the top next to the bar, booze makes everything better. Standing room only in the front stage area and side vip seating too.
The sound was great and the band I saw that night had the huge screen playing various animation to match the songs. Not sure if thats always available but it was a cool addition to the musical experience. No laser light show needed.
One of the (possibly only) ladies toilet upstairs only had two stalls??? sheesh that was annoying.

I like concerts and gigs and London is a great great town for this. Have been a couple of times to Sheperd’s Bush Empire and always really liked my venue and the atmosphere.
Of course as mentionned before, you don’t pick a concert for its concert hall but for the band performing there but if you wonder what you will get, here is some tip !
Sheperd’s Bush is located some 200 meters from the tube station and is really easy to access. At first it was a theatre and you can still admire the decoration from its previous use.
The
Theatre means good view on the stage wherever you’re located in the hall but also it has a really good sound quality. The place is not too big so you’re never too far from the band playing and the decoration really gives a vibe to the place.
Depending on the price of your ticket you’ll be either seated on the first floor seat as usually not marked so first there first sit or stand in the hall. There is an intermediate floor behind the electronic monitory where you can also stand above the crowd.
There is cloackroom and bars where you get the usual pint of beer or soft drinks. No much choice of food just some crips and really classic beer. You always pay expensive price for this but this how it works everywhere the same !

I nice venue. Plenty of space for a decent-​sized crowd yet small enough so that everyone can feel close to the stage. Beers cost around £4.50. I saw the Avett Brothers here, so I’m sure that I score this place higher simply based on that fact.

Living only a couple of minutes walk away from the Hammersmith Apollo, I sometimes find it tricky to haul myself to any other venue. But just two visits later and the Shepherd’s Bush Empire has soon become one of my favourite venues.
The first time I saw Jose Gonzalez play to a half full seated venue. The Empire is so beautifully intimate his delicate voice filled it and made him feel like he was playing above a tiny pub. The second time, last night at the Tallest Man on Earth, the chairs were stripped out and it was full to the brim.
Being pretty short and stood behind, quite literally, the tallest man on earth, I sometimes found it difficult to see the teeny man strutting his stuff on stage. But once again it was the ideal place to see an acoustic solo performer.
If you’re in search of a nearby boozer, please walk straight past the Walkabout and pace an extra 30 steps to the Defectors Weld. You won’t regret it.

I saw the weird and wonderful Beach House here in late 2011.
If you’re anything like me, you choose what gigs you’re going to by the bands rather than the venue but hey ho, it’s always nice to know that the place isn’t a dump.
Shepherd’s Bush Empire is a great place full of character. After ignoring the man being arrested outside, and you can’t really blame them for that, it’s easy to get to, easy to get in and the staff were fine. The Cloakroom wasn’t too outrageously expensive. There are plenty of bike racks out front.
Standing downstairs it feels pretty intimate, and easy enough to get near the front if that’s your thing. But look back and up at the fire and you appreciate how big it is and that lends nice bit of epic grandeur to any set.
The missing star? Well that will be because I had little option but to buy a dull pint of generic lager in a plastic cup. And to do that I had to take out a small mortgage. Why oh why is a decent beer seemingly impossible when you’re seeing gigs in London?

After seeing two metal bands, followed by the documentary «Anvil,» only then to be unexpectedly surprised by a super secret live Anvil performance, the Empire will always get big love from me. For it was in this venue that somehow I not only tolerated heavy metal (and the long crimped hair, heavy eyeliner and pointy guitars that accompany), but actually greatly enjoyed it. There was magic in this venue, I tell ya.
I mean, not only has Charlie Chaplin, Bob Dylan and Page & Plant graced the stage, but a Eurovision Song Contest preliminary heat was held here! And that’s legit.
Go get classy with your bad self and enjoy the grandiose experience of Shepherds Bush Empire… or maybe go see a heavy metal band. Whatever.

The Empire is a lot like the Forum for me in that it’s a great place to be if you’re on the ground but if you’re in the balcony you start to run into some troubles. Ours was that we ended up on the third tier which I have to say, had really good sound for being that high up, but a few of the spots suffered from obstructed views… and there’s a steep vertical in there so you are reallllly high up, I hope you don’t get vertigo!
The floor can be a lot of fun though (and excessively sticky!!), just don’t try to get lost in the maze of stairwells while trying to find the coat checks or toilets. I can’t say it’s in my favorite of locations as it takes two buses for me to get home afterwards, but sometimes you just gotta make the trip.

I’m going to try and write this from memory as I might have been a little bit pissed last night. I came here for Fancy! club night and it was awesome. I can’t beleive I haven’t reviewed this already. I came here a while ago to see Jill Scott perform and it was fabulous. The Empire is old, really old and the theatre style seats make it so versitile.
I can compare it to Koko in its style but it’s better than Koko for 2 reasons, its small and therefore more intimate, and also, being way out here you don’t get the idiots who hang around in Camden’s bars at night cramping your style. In actually fact, it’s an almost perfect venue. The limited toilets make it a little frustrating when your full of wine and busting for the loo.
So having the opportunity to wonder around here dressed as a prawn with snow white, several pirates, a male nun and a cowboy was awesome. There are balcony bits you can stand in and look down at the dancing crowds, small bars filled with silent disco, a huge dance floor. It’s just fab!

I want to love the Empire because it’s so close to home (which is hard to find when you live in SW London), but this place sucks. I can think of many other venues I’d rather go to for a rocking night out. The problem with SBE? THE FLOOR. Do not make flat floors at rock venues! Just don’t! I’m pretty tall, well… taller than average. And I couldn’t see a damn thing last night in the middle of a packed crowd on the main floor. I just had to assume a band was actually on stage based on the sound (which was also pretty bad).
The good news is that you have plenty of pre-​gig libation choices around the Green. The bad news is that once you’re in, you’re in, and they like to close the doors before the headlining act even begins.
Next time I’ll not bother with floor tickets and opt for the balcony instead. They seemed to be enjoying themselves up there and could actually SEE the stage.

I have seen some great shows at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire which has become one of the biggest arenas on the London gig circuit.
The main floor can get pretty crowded during sold out shows and therefore you need to be prepared to be pushed and jostled a little during a live show. Then again you could argue that that is part of a gig experience. If you are short then it is well worth trying to get there a bit early as if you are in the middle of the floor you might have a job of seeing comfortably. Failing that you can head to the back where there is a small raised platform which is also where the bar can be found. Being at the back will not mean that you are far away from the action, Shepherd’s Bush Empire is quite small compared to other venues so even if you are at the back you can still feel close to the action.
One problem I find with the SBE is that the audiences tend to talk a lot during the shows which to me is a real annoyance. It may only have been the shows that I have been to in which this has happened (although other people I have spoken to have had similar experiences). You can kind of understand a bit of music related chatter as going to a gig can be quite exciting but too many times I have found myself involuntarily listening to people discuss how their meetings went that afternoon or what they’re buying their wife for their birthday DURING the performance. Luckily SBE is an all standing venue so if you have room you always have the option of moving away from such people.
Parking outside the venue is impossible but there is a car park next to the nearby shopping mall which charges or in surrounding streets which are parking permit until 7.30pm (I think, double check). For pre gig food and drinks there are plenty of pubs and restaurants surrounding the area so you can keep an eye on the queue if you were wanting to head in first.