Tucked into the heart of Hammersmith in West London, the Eventim Apollo stands as one of Britain’s most storied live music venues. Designed by architect Robert Cromie and opened on 28 March 1932 as the Gaumont Palace cinema, the building’s sweeping Art Deco facade and lavish auditorium quickly established it as a West London landmark. Today it is a Grade II* listed building jointly operated by AEG Presents and Eventim UK, welcoming crowds of up to 5,039 for fully standing shows.
The venue’s lineage spans nearly a century of groundbreaking live music. Known variously as the Hammersmith Odeon, Labatt’s Apollo, and HMV Apollo before adopting its current name in 2013 following a £5 million refurbishment, it has been the stage for some of rock and pop’s most celebrated nights. Its original 1932 Compton pipe organ — fully restored in 2007 with around 1,200 pipes — remains a rare surviving relic, still rising through the stage on a hydraulic lift.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Hammersmith, London, England
- Type: Concert Hall
- Opened: 28 March 1932
- Capacity: 5,039 (standing) / 3,632 (reserved seating)
- Architect: Robert Cromie
- Listed Status: Grade II* (Historic England, 2005)
- Famous for: Beatles’ 38 shows (1964–65), Bowie’s final Ziggy Stardust concert (1973), Kate Bush’s 2014 residency
An Art Deco Gem with a Century of History
Robert Cromie’s design gave the Gaumont Palace a striking Moorish-influenced Art Deco exterior and an ornate auditorium seating nearly 3,500. After decades as a cinema, the venue transitioned to live music under the name Hammersmith Odeon in 1962 and never looked back. Historic England recognised its cultural importance with a Grade II* listing in 2005, placing it among the country’s most significant protected buildings. A major renovation completed in September 2013 — overseen by architect Foster Wilson at a cost of £5 million — restored the auditorium to its former glory while bringing the technical infrastructure up to the demands of modern touring productions.
A Stage That Made Rock History
Few venues can match the Eventim Apollo’s catalogue of landmark performances. The Beatles performed 38 shows here across 21 nights between 1964 and 1965, while David Bowie’s farewell concert as Ziggy Stardust in July 1973 was filmed by D.A. Pennebaker for a celebrated documentary. Queen, Dire Straits, and Iron Maiden each recorded career-defining live albums within these walls. Riverdance broke box-office records during its 1995 UK debut, running for 23 weeks. More recently, Kate Bush chose the Apollo for her 22-date ‘Before the Dawn’ residency in 2014 — her first live performances in nearly 35 years — cementing the venue’s place at the heart of British music culture.
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Eventim Apollo FAQs
What is the capacity of the Eventim Apollo?
The Eventim Apollo holds up to 5,039 for fully standing shows and 3,632 for reserved seating configurations.
When did the venue get the name Eventim Apollo?
The venue adopted the name Eventim Apollo in 2013, following a £5 million refurbishment and a naming-rights partnership with ticketing company Eventim UK. Before that it had been known as the Hammersmith Odeon, Labatt’s Apollo, Carling Apollo, and HMV Apollo.
Is the Eventim Apollo a listed building?
Yes. The Apollo is designated a Grade II* listed building by Historic England — a status upgraded in 2005 — recognising it as a particularly important example of Art Deco architecture and a key site in British cultural heritage.
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Photo: Edwardx / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.