O2 Academy Leeds facts for kids
Front exterior view of the venue (c.2010)
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| Former names | Leeds Coliseum (1885–1938) Gaumont Coliseum (1938–61) Coliseum Theatre (1961–92) Town and Country Club (1992–2000) Creation (2001–07) Leeds Academy (2008) |
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| Address | 55 Cookridge St Leeds LS2 3AW England |
| Location | Millennium Square |
| Coordinates | 53°48′07″N 1°32′49″W / 53.802043°N 1.547069°W |
| Owner | Academy Music Group |
| Capacity | 2,300 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 15 July 1885 |
| Renovated | 1895, 1938, 1992, 2001, 2007 |
| Architect | William Bakewell |
The O2 Academy Leeds is a popular music venue in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It used to be known as the Town and Country Club. This venue is managed by the Academy Music Group, which runs many other music spots across the UK. In 2010, the Academy was even nominated for an award as the country's favourite venue!
History of the Building
The building where the O2 Academy Leeds stands today has a long and interesting past. It first opened its doors on July 15, 1885. Prince Albert officially opened the building. It is a special Gothic-style building, which means it has a unique old design. It is also a 'grade II listed building', which means it's protected because it's important.
When it first opened, it was called the Coliseum. It was a busy place, hosting all sorts of events. People came for political meetings and even circus shows in the early 1900s. Later, between the 1930s and 1990s, the building changed its purpose many times. It was a cinema, a television studio, and even a bingo hall!
In 1992, the building became a music venue called the Town and Country Club. Many famous artists played here between 1992 and 2000. Bands like Placebo, Blur, and The Stone Roses performed on its stage. However, the venue closed down in 2000.
After a big £7 million renovation, the building reopened in 2001. It was then known as Creation Nightclub. This nightclub operated for six years but closed in February 2007. The Academy Music Group then took over the building. They made plans to open it as the new Leeds Academy in November 2007.
What's Inside the Venue?
The O2 Academy Leeds has a large main room that can hold up to 2,300 people. This includes a balcony area where about 500 people can stand. There's also a smaller room in the basement. This room is perfect for new and upcoming bands, and it can fit around 400 guests.
The Kaiser Chiefs were the first band to play at the venue when it officially opened on October 8, 2008. Since then, many other well-known musicians have performed here. Some of these include Twenty One Pilots, Marina & The Diamonds, Ellie Goulding, MGMT, and Hot Chip.
In November 2008, a big announcement was made. Telefónica Europe, which owns the O2 Network in the UK, became the new sponsor for all Academy venues. This deal means that all these venues, including the one in Leeds, are now called "The O2 Academy". This is similar to how the Millennium Dome in London became The O2.
Gallery
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Hot Chip performing on stage at the Leeds Academy
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Event schedule
