This summer, the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith is offering rare backstage tours of its Grade II*-listed Art Deco interior, giving the public access to dressing rooms, hidden corners and the corridors where decades of music and comedy history have unfolded.
Venue Tours: Behind the Scenes at the Apollo
Scheduled for Sunday, 23rd August, the exclusive behind-the-scenes look will take visitors into spaces rarely seen by the public. The tour includes a complimentary drink and a photo opportunity on the famous stage — the same boards where The Beatles, David Bowie, Queen and countless others have performed. Originally opened in 1932 as the Gaumont Palace cinema, the venue was designed by theatre architect Robert Cromie in the Art Deco style and is considered one of the UK’s largest and best-preserved original Art Deco theatres. Its history includes multiple name changes — Hammersmith Odeon, Labatt’s Apollo, Carling Apollo, HMV Hammersmith Apollo — before becoming the Eventim Apollo in 2013. Since 2012 it has been owned by a joint venture between AEG Presents and CTS Eventim, who have overseen significant investment and refurbishment, including restoration of ornate plasterwork, original fixtures and fittings, and the revival of two marble staircases that had been concealed. A Compton pipe organ, reinstated in 2006 after years in storage, also remains a feature of the auditorium. Depending on configuration, the venue can seat between 3,300 and 3,650 people, or accommodate up to 5,000 standing.
Centre Stage: Your Chance to Be the Headliner
The summer programme, branded “Eventim Apollo: OPEN”, also includes a rare opportunity for music fans to perform on the same stage themselves. The “Centre Stage” event on Saturday, 8th August offers a “headliner for a day” experience designed for groups of up to six performers. Each booking includes a ten-minute sound check, a 45-minute live set, space for up to 30 guests, and a one-hour post-show celebration in the VIP bar. The venue provides the PA, backline and a drum kit; performers need to bring their own instruments and pedal boards. Each booking also includes two cases of beer and two bottles of Prosecco. Slots are available between 12pm and 9pm, with prices starting from £1,750. It is a chance to follow in the footsteps of legendary artists who have performed at the Apollo — from The Rolling Stones and Bob Marley to Bruce Springsteen, AC/DC and Kate Bush — and to experience what it feels like to be a headliner for a day.
H+F Spotlight: A Community Celebration
Rounding off the weekend, Sunday, 9th August sees the “H+F Spotlight” — a community celebration in partnership with H&F Giving, a charity established in 2020 that has already distributed over £400,000 in grants to local groups. The event will showcase local talent, grassroots organisations and the cultural diversity of Hammersmith & Fulham. Performances are lined up from CabLab Studios, The WILDE Foundation, Ghost Dance Troupe, The Diamond Foundry Agency and Passion Gymnastics. The evening will be hosted by Jonathan Stadlan, founder and MC of “Live Next To The Apollo”, with comedians Wilson Milton and Prince Abdi. All profits from ticket sales will go directly to H&F Giving and its community grant programmes, which focus on community cohesion, financial hardship support, health and wellbeing, youth development and digital inclusion — including having distributed over 1,500 digital devices. The venue, located at Queen Caroline Street opposite the Broadway Shopping Centre, is a two-minute walk from Hammersmith Underground station and is generally accessible with step-free access to the stalls foyer, bars and box office. Two accessible viewing platforms are available in the stalls, each accommodating up to eight wheelchair users plus companions. However, access to the circle level involves 30 steps and there is no lift, so circle seats require a minimum of 40 steps. A strict A4 bag policy is enforced, and larger backpacks are denied entry. The nearest 24-hour car park is behind the Kings Mall, accommodating 1,000 cars. For those attending the tours, the performances, or the headliner experience, it is a summer that offers unprecedented access to one of London’s most storied venues.
