The O2 Arena

[John Etherington]

I made my first visit to O2 last night to see the Eagles, and I have to say it is the most unlikely place for Leonard to play in London! The O2 Arena (Millenium Dome) is much much bigger than it appears from the outside. Once you're through the main entance (and before you get into the arena) it's like a city of its own incorporating merhandise areas, restaurants, The Tutankamen exbition, another concert hall (Indigo), vast empty areas, and of course an O2 phone shop. Quequeing at Starbucks took half an hour. The arena which holds 20, 000 people is initally quite soul-less. I can understand why they warn those who suffer from vertigo not to take seats in the "gods". To re-climb the stairs to the bar or loo is like a mountaineering expedition. On a positive note it was easy to get a drink, but the queque for the loo took longer. I was at the front of a tier about halfway back and could just about make out which Eagle was which. There are screens on either side of the stage which I could see clearly, but they still seemed distant. The Eagles made up for it with a spectacular semi-circular movie backdrop to the stage. On the plus side, the sound was exceptionally good from where I was, and the lighting very effective. However, unless you're in the front area, don't expect anything remotely intimate!

Love to all, John E

P.S. The Greenwich station on the Jubilee line is very close to O2. After the show, myself and a friend rushed to the exit, at the end of what we presumed to be the final encore. Otherwise, I suspect it would have taken much longer getting out, and onto the tube.

[the end]

It is massive, I couldn't believe how many shops, bars and restaurants etc there are in there. Its handy that you can get food or a drink before or after a gig, we had an amzing Chinese takeaway from one of the restaurants in the O2. When we went, there was even a 'beach' with sand, palm trees, deckchairs etc.
Still think its an awful choice of venue for LC though.

[John Etherington]

Hi The End,

Apparently the area with sand appears in the summer (for the kids,I hear). That was the main empty area last night...and they could fit a concert hall into that area alone! I noticed there was quite a queque for Pizza Express, so no-one should expect to just be able to walk into a restaurant there.

All the best, John E

[the end]

Hiya, yeah I'd allow a lot of time if I was planning on eating there before a gig. We were alright with a takeaway after the concert we were at as it was pretty quick and we just sat outside next to the fountains to eat it.
That sounds about right for the sandy area coz it was August that we were there.

[dharma]

On a positive note it was easy to get a drink, but the queque for the loo took longer.

and that's with 548 toilets...!

[gingermop]

On a positive note it was easy to get a drink, but the queque for the loo took longer.

and that's with 548 toilets...!

And that's the men's? I'd hate to think what the Ladies' queue is like!

Fine, fine, I just won't start chugging vino before the concert. Afterwards, however...

G

[Padma]

We were also at the Eagles concert - and had tickets on Level one. The acoustics were brilliant. I wasn't really looking forward to the O2 but it was an experience!! We came out of the O2 after the final encore and there was no problem with huge crowds or having to wait for trains. Yes, a warning to anyone planning to eat at the O2 - allow plenty of time - queue after queue after queue - for food, for drinks, for loos, and to get in.....
Padma and Harry

[the end]

I had no problems with queing when I went, we arrived a bit later than I usually would when going to a gig as our flights had been delayed but I think that worked in our favour as there was no bad queues for anything, guess its down to luck a lot of the time though