The Eventim Apollo — widely known to generations of music fans as the Hammersmith Apollo — is one of London’s most iconic live music venues. Located in Hammersmith, West London, it holds up to 5,039 people for standing concerts and 3,632 for fully reserved seated shows, ranking it among the largest indoor venues in the capital.
Opened on 28 March 1932 as the Gaumont Palace cinema and designed by Robert Cromie in a sweeping Art Deco style, the building has hosted nearly a century of landmark performances. Today it is a Grade II* listed structure jointly operated by AEG Presents and Eventim UK — a venue where The Beatles once sold out 38 nights and where Kate Bush staged her long-awaited return to the stage after nearly 35 years away.
Quick Answer: Eventim Apollo Capacity
The Eventim Apollo has a capacity of 5,039 for standing (open floor) concerts and 3,632 for fully reserved seated events. The auditorium is split into two tiers — Stalls on the ground level and Circle above — and sits in Hammersmith, West London. It is the same venue as the Hammersmith Apollo; the Eventim Apollo name has been in official use since 2013.
Venue at a Glance
Location: Hammersmith, West London. Opened: 28 March 1932. Standing capacity: 5,039. Seated capacity: 3,632. Architect: Robert Cromie. Listed status: Grade II* (Historic England, 2005). Operators: AEG Presents and Eventim UK. Nearest tube: Hammersmith (District, Piccadilly, and Hammersmith & City lines). Originally known as: Gaumont Palace, later Hammersmith Odeon, Labatt’s Apollo, Carling Apollo, HMV Apollo.
Eventim Apollo Capacity: Standing and Seated Configurations
The Eventim Apollo’s total capacity shifts between two main configurations depending on the type of event. For concerts where the ground floor is left open as standing room, capacity reaches 5,039 — one of the highest figures of any indoor music venue in London. For shows requiring fully reserved seating throughout, the venue accommodates 3,632.
The flexibility comes from the Stalls floor, where the seating is removable. Introduced in 2003, this system lets promoters choose between a standing configuration for high-energy gigs or a fully allocated seated arrangement for theatre productions, comedy shows, orchestral performances, and family events. The raised Circle tier remains fixed in a seated configuration for all events regardless of how the Stalls are set up.
Within the standard seated layout there are also small designated standing areas: a zone directly in front of the stage at Stalls level and a rear standing section in the Circle accommodating approximately 178 people. These provide an option for fans who prefer to stand even during otherwise seated shows.
Seating Layout: Stalls and Circle
The auditorium divides into two tiers. The Stalls occupy the ground floor and hold approximately 1,417 seats arranged across nine sections. Rows run from A at the front through to FF at the rear, with the widest rows containing up to 70 seats. Multiple aisles make movement easy, and step-free access into the Stalls is available from street level.
The Circle sits above and holds approximately 1,924 seats spread across eleven blocks. Rows A through F at the front of the central Circle blocks are widely regarded as among the best-value seats in the house — they deliver unobstructed views of the stage and are typically priced the same as rear Stalls rows where sightlines are less clear. The Circle requires climbing at least 40 steps; there is no lift access to the upper tier.
Two dedicated wheelchair platforms in the rear corners of the Stalls accommodate up to 16 guests (eight access ticket holders plus one companion each) with step-free street access and unobstructed sightlines to the stage. Hearing loops are available throughout the auditorium for guests with compatible hearing aids.
History and Name Changes
Robert Cromie’s Gaumont Palace opened on 28 March 1932 as a cinema seating around 3,500, distinguished by a Moorish-influenced Art Deco facade and an ornate, lavishly decorated auditorium. It operated as a cinema for three decades before transitioning to live music in 1962 under the name Hammersmith Odeon — a name that would become synonymous with rock and roll in the years that followed.
The venue has been rebranded several times through commercial naming-rights deals: Hammersmith Odeon (1962–1993), Labatt’s Apollo (1993–2002), Carling Apollo (2002–2009), HMV Apollo (2009–2013), and Eventim Apollo (2013–present). Throughout all these changes, fans and the music industry have continued to call it the Hammersmith Apollo.
The current era began in September 2013 following a £5 million renovation overseen by architect Foster Wilson, which restored the auditorium’s original Art Deco grandeur and upgraded the technical infrastructure for modern touring productions. The venue reopened on 7 September 2013 with a concert by Selena Gomez. Historic England had already recognised the building’s cultural importance with a Grade II* listing in 2005, placing it among the most significant protected structures in England.
Landmark Performances That Define the Apollo
The Eventim Apollo has a performance history that few venues in the world can match. The Beatles performed 38 shows across 21 nights here during 1964 and 1965. David Bowie staged his farewell concert as Ziggy Stardust on 3 July 1973, a night captured on film by director D.A. Pennebaker in the documentary Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. Queen, Dire Straits, and Iron Maiden each recorded career-defining live albums within these walls.
The venue’s range has always extended beyond rock. Riverdance broke UK box-office records during its 1995 debut run, which stretched to 23 weeks. In 2014, Kate Bush staged her 22-date ‘Before the Dawn’ residency — her first live performances in nearly 35 years — to overwhelming critical and commercial acclaim, cementing the Apollo’s place at the heart of British music history.
Today the programme spans music, comedy, dance, and theatre, attracting headline artists from across the entertainment world. The Apollo’s acoustic character and mid-size capacity — large enough for a true event atmosphere, intimate enough for genuine connection — keep it among the most requested venues on the international touring circuit.
Art Deco Architecture and Listed Status
The Grade II* listing conferred by Historic England in 2005 places the Eventim Apollo in the upper tier of England’s protected buildings — a category reserved for structures of exceptional architectural and historic interest. The designation reflects both Cromie’s original design achievement and the venue’s unmatched contribution to British cultural life.
Inside, the ornate plasterwork and original ceiling survive largely intact from 1932. The venue’s most remarkable surviving feature is its original Compton pipe organ, restored in 2007, which features approximately 1,200 pipes and a four-manual console. It still rises through the stage floor on a hydraulic lift — a theatrical flourish from the Gaumont Palace’s cinema days that remains a fully working piece of musical history.
eventim apollo london FAQs
What is the capacity of the Eventim Apollo?
The Eventim Apollo has a maximum capacity of 5,039 for standing concerts and 3,632 for fully reserved seated events.
What is the Eventim Apollo seating capacity?
When configured for reserved seating, the Eventim Apollo seats 3,632 people. The Stalls hold approximately 1,417 seats across nine sections and the Circle holds approximately 1,924 seats across eleven sections.
How many people does the Eventim Apollo hold?
The Eventim Apollo holds up to 5,039 people for standing shows. For fully seated events, the capacity is 3,632.
Is the Hammersmith Apollo the same as the Eventim Apollo?
Yes. The venue has been informally called the Hammersmith Apollo for decades. Its official name has been the Eventim Apollo since 2013 following a naming-rights deal with ticketing company Eventim UK. Previous names include the Hammersmith Odeon, Labatt’s Apollo, Carling Apollo, and HMV Apollo.
What are the seating sections at the Eventim Apollo?
The auditorium has two tiers: the Stalls (ground level, nine sections, approximately 1,417 seats) and the Circle (upper tier, eleven sections, approximately 1,924 seats). The Stalls can be converted between seating and standing configurations depending on the event.
When did the venue become the Eventim Apollo?
The venue adopted the Eventim Apollo name in 2013 after a £5 million refurbishment. It officially reopened on 7 September 2013. Before that it was known as the HMV Apollo, Carling Apollo, Labatt’s Apollo, and Hammersmith Odeon.
Is the Eventim Apollo a listed building?
Yes. The Eventim Apollo is a Grade II* listed building, a status conferred by Historic England in 2005. This places it among the most significant protected structures in England, recognising its Art Deco architecture and outstanding cultural heritage.
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