02forumkentishtown Reviews 

Dreadful. I'm trying to book Accessibility tickets. I have left 2 voicemails and 2 emails. No response to anything. Unimpressed

I attended a Sierra Ferrell gig on a hot July day (30c+). There was no discernible air-conditioning in the building and it was sweltering. We saw people being carried out.
The sound from the stage was the worst I have heard in more than 30 years of regular gig-going. From the balcony, all we could hear was an echoey mush. Even when Sierra was talking between songs - with no musical accompaniment at all - we could not understand what she was saying. We'd travelled hundreds of miles. Never again.

Accessibility at O2 Forum Kentish Town was very poorly handled at the ARTMS concert.

Both my daughter and I are disabled and have CEA cards stating we should not queue. Despite arriving early as instructed, there were no staff managing accessible entry, no clear access lead, and we were left standing outside in cold, rainy conditions for over an hour. I asked to speak to an accessibility lead but this was not provided.

Entry was chaotic, early access was not respected, and we were admitted only minutes before the concert began. I have attended many other O2 venues and have never experienced this level of disregard for disabled patrons.

Not acceptable, and I would not recommend this venue to disabled concert-goers.

What can I say? I booked for my daughter and I to attend a K-pop concert; Odd Eye Circle (a sub unit of the recently disbanded Loona, I'm led to believe) at this venue. Usually, I am all over the access arrangements for disability, but as my daughter wanted standing (near stage, of course) plus early entry, soundcheck and meet and greet, I thought that this would be too much to ask for, so to my detriment, I didn't.
Queue was out of this world when we arrived at 2pm stupidly thinking that this was what early entry meant! All down the side of the building, along the road for two or three more buildings, and then some. Apart from the heaviest rain I've seen in a long while, the queue was excitable with some of the most amazing outfits I have seen in a long time; me being Mum of course, I dressed smart black trousers and a cardigan that made me look like a humbug (black and white stripey, in case young minds do not go back that far, regarding confectionary!)
The standing in the queue for me, a double replacement knee recipient, seemed as if it would be unbearable, however, the 02 crew had it under control; everybody in one line, then then one of the 02 crew would walk down the queue asking for everyone that had the top tier entry to stand out and follow him up to make a new queue; They did this every 20 people or so, until all the top tier people were in their correct places. This was then done for the next tier, who joined the back of the top tier line, leaving the General Admission people in the original queue.
At the time the wait seemed intolerable and unbearable, but that was only because of the torrential rain; had it been a beautiful day, the queue would have been alive with music and singing, and mutual admiration.
When we got to the door, I briefly chatted with one of the 02 crew enquiring about access arrangements for disability; obviously I SHOULD have done this in advance, but she assured me that if things got too much for me, in the standing area, to find one of the 02 crew and they would endeavour to find me a chair.
We were then ushered to the counter where our barcodes for the top tier early entry were scanned from our phones, twice in our case as my daughter is under 18, and then we showed our official ID which was passports. Very quickly we had our wristbands fitted by another lady; All exceptionally efficient - During this time, I spoke to the same 02 crew lady and asked about using the toilet as I am disabled, my daughter has autism and neither of us was looking in a good way; My God! This lady got somebody to cover her position at the door and took us up to the toilet (inadvertently hearing some of the soundcheck as we passed) This was without doubt some of the best customer service I have ever experienced! And given my age at 55, that is a lot! She waited with us, and without rushing, escorted us back downstairs and out the door to re-join the new queue.
We didn’t have to wait too long, despite it chucking it down with rain again. This time the queue moved very swiftly as we had our Ticketmaster barcodes scanned as we went through the doors, our bags checked with great haste, then we were in the actual hall. Obviously, everyone’s thoughts were to race to the front of the stage, however with the inside 02 crew, everybody seemed to behave themselves with a fast walk, thank God!
Due to my daughter having befriended somebody in the queue with which to stand, a seat was looking more and more necessary. Luckily same outside 02 crew member was now ushering inside. I explained my new situation and she offered me a seat upstairs; this would have usually been okay but due to said daughter having autism, I couldn’t be too far from her. Within minutes I had a new wristband, and was seated behind a red rope (very VIP) overlooking the standing area; far enough to not get in the way but close enough in case daughter needed me.
What can I say? The rest of the concert was awesome and I felt that I was made especially comfortable. Thankfully, prior to her disappearing off to do her duties, I found out the crew member was called Sam, and I promised I would give her a shoutout, for helping this (older) mother cope at a K-pop concert!
For the amount of people, she had to deal with that afternoon, you would have thought I would have been lost in the crowd; Not the 02 Kentish Town: Your team are beyond compare. I shall never worry if I have to attend there again. Well done!