25 October 2008 468 views No Comment Print This Post  Email This Post

Chance’s are, if you’ve ever been to the Carling Academy, its been for a concert. And while the Academy boasts some of the best live acts every year, its also known for its club nights, and is a great place to have a special night out. Previously the Bedford Cinema, the property was purchased by promoters AMG in 2002, and turned into the spectacularly well designed Carling Academy.

Going back to the 20s, the Bedford Cinema restoration cost £3,000,000 and its no suprise, with the academys extravagent settings making it the perfect place for a night of music. For most concerts theres no entry fee (provided you have your ticket of course!) and a selection of 5 bars so you never have to worry about the queue. Bottles most nights will cost just £2, with various promotions throughout the year, depending on when you are there, and while there’s no student discount per se you are unlikely to be ripped off (other than by a bands merchandise) throughout the evening.

You have super choice drinkswise with the Island Bar, set in main lobby, being the perfect place for pre-gig drinks. The Mezzanine Room has a large bar, with a selection of plasma screens and sound systems relaying the event downstairs, and upstairs, and if thats not enough there is the spectacular VIP Bar at the rear of the balcony with excellent views of the main stage as well as two forward bars next to the dance floor.

The toliets, more then enough to cope with an average sold out performance, are always kept to the highest standard and cleaned regularly. Any trouble and staff are always on hand to sort it out, but being honest, none should be expected on your average night. The Academy also operates a cloakroom, to take care of those personal belongings on busier nights, and it costs just £1 for piece of mind. On a general note, it would be wise to collect your belongings quickly before the encore, when a queue forms en masse and could take 20 minutes to clear.

Good acoustics and excellent reverb mean that while you’re unlikely to hear yourself think you won’t miss a beat, and if you want some peace and quiet, the newly designed smoking area on the ground floor allows you a breath of fresh air without the hassle of shouting over that snare drum. It also gives you a break from the heat that can form in any given circle/mosh pit.

While its unlikely to appeal to the average clubber, the Academy provides a friendly and safe venue for a concert of every genre, while providing you with drink friendly prices and a choice of bars. For those more experienced clubbers it might not be ideal choice but its always nice to give somewhere new a try and for experienced concert goers its a lot more intimate then the massive SECC.

Carling Academy
121 Eglinton St
Glasgow, G5 9NT
0141 418 3000