HMV Picture House

Since the sad demise of Liquid Rooms (RIP), indie kids and music fans in Edinburgh have been lost. Thanks to HMV Picture House, we have found our way again.

Offering a variety of gigs, this venue is fantastic. One of the best gigs I have ever been to was here (Eagles of Death Metal, 2009 BOOM!) and I have had a few good nights out here too. The venue is not too big so you can generally get a good view of the stage, and there is the upstairs seating area also. The drinks are a little expensive of gig nights (£1.60 for a coke!) but that is to be expected.

Now Picture House used to do a great Friday and Saturday night club night. It filled the hole which was left by Liquid Rooms and it was incredibly popular. That was until the evil people at Lava & Ignite (Cav) ruined it and took them to court because the Picture House was so popular they felt it was taking away their customers. So sadly, they are only open on a Thursday night for club night. But hopefully this will change. Doesn't change the fact this is an awesome gig venue.

In my mind, HMV picture house is a special place - not only is it a great venue for concerts, with some famous bands (and some not so famous any more) being constantly on the bill - it is also a fantastic night club.
On the night I turned up with a group of my friends, there had been a concert of some sort, so the place was already rather full - but it didn't matter, because to my suprise, this place was huge inside.
Once I had gotten over the shock, I realised several things.
1) The drinks were cheap.
2) The music was GOOD.
3) It wasn't full of Chavs or Rockers, it was a nice middle ground for normal people.
These things combined to make one fantastic, and very messy night. I havnt since been back, bt as soon as my exams are over, I will be here to take advantage of such a great place.

I rate the Picturehouse as one of the best live music venues in Edinburgh, it is a really fabulous place to see a band. I don't know much about acoustics, but things sound pretty amazing in here - it might have something to do with the incredibly high ceilings.

Given the crowded nature of the venue I have never actually made it to the bar, but I go to gigs to see bands, not drink to over-priced lager from a plastic glass. (It might actually be really cheap, I am just making some assumptions...)

A lot of people bemoan the fact that it gets pretty packed and can be difficult to actually see the stage, these people are obviously not in the know. Every time I've been to see something I've stood in the same spot and, not only can I see the band, I have room to dance too (I'm afraid I have to keep my exact location a secret...). Basically if you push through the throngs of people in the middle, there's usually room to spare at the front. And if you don't like standing up, there's always the option of the seated section upstairs. Sorted.

Housed in what used to be good old Revvy (Revolution), which if I'm be honest, I wasn't the grandest fan of, although the odd crazy dance session back in the day to Faithless and Delerium is hazily coming back to me...

I think the Picture House absolutely suits its reinvention as a gig venue. As a club, it was probably just a bit too huge, and never seemed to fill up enough to give it the atmosphere it needed, whereas getting awesome bands to play here and using it as a live venue is always going to pull in the punters. There's the bottom level next to the stage for standing space when gigs are on, and a great upstairs level with loads of seating, if that's your preference when watching live acts. I saw Bloc Party here and it was one of my favourite Bloc Party performances, because I could actually see them for a change, due to the relative intimacy of this venue in comparison to other gig displaying establishments.

Edinburgh was often criticised in the past for a lack of decent gig venues, but with the opening of the HMV the tide has turned somewhat. It looks brilliant inside, and in terms of the bands it brings in and the club nights it does, it's now a pretty high profile venue on the Edinburgh radar. It's quite possibly taken this blueprint from the ABC in Glasgow, as to be honest it's practically the same venue in all but name and location.

More mainstream than it claims to be it's still an essential addition to the local music scene.

The number of international acts that come to Edinburgh is quite exciting, and they usually head over to the HMV Picture House to perform!

I've been lucky enough to see two of my favourite bands, first the Editors last October, and Vampire Weekend on Valentine's Day (come to think of it, it's probably been my best one!) HMV is far away from being a stadium, and is extremely cosy. It's made up of two levels, the upper one being seated, and has a bar on the opposite end of the stage on the main floor.

It's a nicely put together place, and the size is perfect; big enough to get a ticket to see your favourite acts, but small enough to give a gig-like feeling. Ofcourse I may be biaised, having gotten a t-shirt signed by every member of the Editors and then being serenaded by Ezra Koenig on Valentine's Day!

In a city that generally lacks some seriously good music venues (well...it really does!), the HMV Picture House has provided us with a perfect stage on which to see some fantastic bands (Over the past couple of years I've enjoyed (among others!) Friendly Fires, Gomez, Bonobo and, as of tonight, Noah and the Whale!).

The HMV Picture House is a beautifully restored building, with oodles of Art Deco features (for those of you who appreciate such architectural traits!) including a fantastic stage area! The inside of the building is spacious and even at 'sold out' gigs, it never feels too crowded. There's always space to jump, wiggle and generally get your groove on!

If you don't fancy standing or jumping around, there is a slightly more peaceable balcony area upstairs where you can grab a seat (although get one early if you can...they fill up quick!), and the view of the stage is pretty good regardless of where in the venue you're standing/sitting!

There are bars both up and downstairs but it can take some considerable time to get served...and then even longer to pick yourself up off the (sticky!) floor when you find out how much the drinks cost (£4.80 for a rum and coke!). I'm sure they could certainly lower their prices....until such a time, I'm sticking at a 4 star rating!

There was also a distinct lack of loo roll in the ladies toilet, but in throwing the one remaining roll from cubicle to cubicle, I'm sure new friendships were formed!

I know acoustics can be a wee problem at times, but overall this is a fantastic venue and I love coming here to see great bands. We could really do with a few more venues like it!

HMV Picture House is just grand.

It has everything I love in a music venue - high ceilings, springy floors, ornate decoration, an air of history and fantastic acoustics.

I think it was built in the 1920s and in its former life used to be a cinema - I could be wrong. Whatever its past, its future seems bright as many big bands play here when they visit Edinburgh and everyone seems to love it. Along with its grace, it has great functional attributes, including good acoustics and raised flooring so small people like myself can actually see over the crowd! Which is nothing short of a miracle.

I've only been here once and it was filled to its capacity but it didn't feel cramped at all. Security were pleasant and less militant than in some places, the atmosphere was relaxed and the people manning the bar zapped the queues in no time. Drinks prices were no more outrageous than other gig venues and staff were efficient at getting everyone out the building without making us feel rushed.

But it's still the atmosphere that you get in these old, unique gig venues which I love the most. You can soak up the energy in this venue and totally revel in it. It's got personality and class.

This is a great venue!! It helps that I went to see one of my favourite band here but the venue definitely helped make it a really good night.

There is a touch of old school glamour about the place and you feel as though you are going into an old theatre when you first walk in. Inside is a huge bar and then steps down into the main area infront of the stage, this is for the gig watchers who don't mess about with seating and are just there to party.

If that isn't your cup of tea then upstairs is theatre-esque and you can sit in what would be in a theatre, the dress circle. I didn't sit up there but had a nosy around and it does give you a great view of the stage and I suppose depending what kind of gig it was you might be better up here.

I've never been to this venue for a club night so unfortunately can't comment from that point of view but as a gig venue it is exactly what Edinburgh has been crying out for for years.

For too long have we Edinburgers had to travel through to Glasgow for decent gigs since the Liquid Rooms was always too small and the Corn Exchange just too dodgy with its acoustics (saying that I've been to two amazing gigs there; Deftones in 2000 and Polyphonic Spree 2003), but what the Picture House offers is that middle sized venue ideal for touring bands who cant quite sell out the SECC.

The main floor is wide enough to get nice and close if you want to and the fact that the bar is on a raised level means that if you want to stay in the mix but get a good view you can stand up there. Then the balcony above all of this offers you the opportunity to sit down and watch the gig. So it really caters for all types of fan who shell out a tciket for the gig.

The bar is reasonably priced and the staff as happy as bar staff can be with sweaty music fans waving their tenners at them.

If you've never been I'd suggest you check it out. I guess the only grip would be that the venue doesn't seem to have made the impact with certain touring bands but maybe it just needs time to cement its reputation and create memories that people share in order to draw acts to it.