O2 ABC Glasgow

O2 ABC Glasgow was a nightclub and live-music venue on Sauchiehall Street in central Glasgow. The venue occupied a highly adaptable historic building whose entertainment history extended back to the nineteenth century. Constructed in 1875 as the Diorama, the building was subsequently known as the Panorama and was later converted into Hubners Ice Skating Palace. In the late nineteenth century it became the Hippodrome and hosted Hengler’s Circus, while also being used for film screenings when circus performances were not taking place. The building was among the early Glasgow structures to receive electric lighting, reportedly in 1888. The site returned to dance-hall use in 1927. In 1929 it was converted into ABC’s flagship cinema, designed by architect C. J. McNair and offering approximately 2,359 seats. Its retained architectural features included a substantial roof structure, twin entrance staircases, balconies and a lower-level entrance arrangement. The cinema was later expanded: in 1967 the original auditorium became known as ABC 1 and a smaller ABC 2 was added. ABC 2 had a capacity of approximately 922 and was described as the first new cinema to open in Scotland after the Second World War. The complex also included a licensed bar. The cinema configuration was substantially altered again in the late 1970s. ABC 1 closed for redevelopment in 1979 and reopened on 13 December that year as a four-screen cinema with capacities of approximately 906, 306, 206 and 192. The four-screen building closed in October 1998, while the other cinema building closed in October 1999. The site then entered a new phase when David McBride of Regular Music identified demand for a Glasgow music venue of comparable size. A major interior conversion of the former ABC 1 building began in 2002, with the fit-out completed in 2005. The converted venue presented live music and club events in two principal spaces, ABC1 and ABC2, supported by five bars: ABC1, ABC2, the Red Room, the Pod Bar and the Polar Bar. Its weekly club programming included Jellybaby, Propaganda and Love Music. In March 2009, Academy Music Group acquired a majority stake and the venue was rebranded O2 ABC Glasgow, aligning it with the O2-branded network of music venues. The venue’s operating life ended after a major fire during the night of 15–16 June 2018. The blaze began at the nearby Glasgow School of Art and spread to the ABC building, causing extensive damage and the collapse of the main roof. A demolition-related building warrant application was submitted to Glasgow City Council in February 2019. On 7 August 2024, the council served notice requiring unstable parts of the building to be demolished by 9 December 2024. The site therefore remains significant both as a former entertainment venue and as part of Glasgow’s built heritage, although the O2 ABC venue itself is no longer operating.

The building later associated with O2 ABC Glasgow was erected in 1875 as the Diorama. It was renamed the Panorama in 1878 and converted into Hubners Ice Skating Palace in 1885. By 1888 it was reported to be among the first buildings in Glasgow to use electricity. Its next major entertainment identity was the Hippodrome, under which it became a venue for Hengler’s Circus. Between circus engagements, the building was also used for public film presentations. In 1927 the property was returned to dance-hall use. Two years later, ABC converted it into a flagship cinema designed by C. J. McNair. The auditorium retained much of the existing structure and accommodated approximately 2,359 people, with stalls, upper seating and balconies. The building’s lower level included a car park and entrance facilities, while the principal public entrance was reached by twin staircases and lifts. An additional cinema, ABC 2, was created in 1967, when the principal auditorium became ABC 1. ABC 2 seated approximately 922 people and included a licensed bar. In 1979, ABC 1 was closed for redevelopment into a four-screen cinema. The replacement arrangement, opened on 13 December 1979, comprised screens with capacities of approximately 906, 306, 206 and 192. The four-screen operation closed on 29 October 1998, and the other cinema building closed on 12 October 1999. The site was subsequently selected for conversion into a contemporary music venue. David McBride of Regular Music recognized a gap in Glasgow’s market for a venue of this scale. Interior conversion work began in 2002 and the fit-out was completed in 2005. The resulting operation contained two principal performance spaces, ABC1 and ABC2, plus five bars: ABC1, ABC2, the Red Room, the Pod Bar and the Polar Bar. Programming combined concerts with nightclub events, including Jellybaby, Propaganda and Love Music. Academy Music Group became the venue’s majority shareholder in March 2009. The business was then renamed O2 ABC Glasgow, placing it within the O2-branded live-entertainment network. The venue operated as a recognizable Glasgow stop for live performances and as a recurring club-night location until June 2018. During the night of 15–16 June 2018, a large fire that began at the nearby Glasgow School of Art spread to the O2 ABC building. The resulting damage was extensive, and the venue’s main roof collapsed. It did not resume operations. A demolition-related building warrant application was submitted in February 2019. In August 2024, Glasgow City Council served notice requiring unstable sections of the building to be demolished by 9 December 2024. The property’s long sequence of uses—from visual spectacle and ice skating to circus, cinema, dancing and live music—made it an unusually layered entertainment site, but the O2 ABC brand is now defunct.

• 2024

  Council demolition notice

  [1]O2 ABC Glasgowen.wikipedia.org

  Glasgow City Council served notice requiring unstable sections of the building to be demolished by 9 December.

• 2018

  Fire closes the venue

  [1]O2 ABC Glasgowen.wikipedia.org

  A fire spreading from the Glasgow School of Art severely damaged the venue and collapsed its main roof.

• 2009

  O2 rebrand

  [1]O2 ABC Glasgowen.wikipedia.org

  Academy Music Group acquired a majority stake and rebranded the venue O2 ABC Glasgow.

• 2005

  Music-venue fit-out completed

  [1]O2 ABC Glasgowen.wikipedia.org

  The building’s conversion into a live-music and nightclub venue was completed.

• 2002

  Music-venue conversion begins

  [1]O2 ABC Glasgowen.wikipedia.org

  Regular Music began a major interior conversion of the former ABC 1 cinema.

• 1998

  Four-screen cinema closes

  [1]O2 ABC Glasgowen.wikipedia.org

  The four-screen cinema operation closed on 29 October.

• 1979

  Four-screen cinema reopens

  [1]O2 ABC Glasgowen.wikipedia.org

  Following redevelopment, ABC 1 reopened as a four-screen cinema on 13 December.

• 1967

  ABC 2 added

  [1]O2 ABC Glasgowen.wikipedia.org

  The original cinema became ABC 1 and a smaller ABC 2 was added.

• 1929

  ABC flagship cinema opens

  [1]O2 ABC Glasgowen.wikipedia.org

  ABC opened a flagship cinema in the building with capacity for approximately 2,359 patrons.

• 1927

  Returned to dance-hall use

  [1]O2 ABC Glasgowen.wikipedia.org

  The property was converted back to a dance hall before its next cinema transformation.

• 1888

  Early adoption of electricity

  [1]O2 ABC Glasgowen.wikipedia.org

  The building became one of the early Glasgow venues associated with electric lighting.

• 1885

  Converted into an ice-skating palace

  [1]O2 ABC Glasgowen.wikipedia.org

  The building was transformed into Hubners Ice Skating Palace.

• 1875

  Diorama building constructed

  [1]O2 ABC Glasgowen.wikipedia.org

  The structure that later housed O2 ABC Glasgow was built as the Diorama.

A large, centrally located Glasgow entertainment venue combining touring live music with recurring nightclub programming in a historically distinctive former cinema and circus building.

• Live-music venue · 2005

  ABC1

  The principal performance space within the converted former cinema building. Before becoming a music room, ABC1 was the main auditorium of the ABC cinema complex and later served as the larger of the venue’s two principal live-entertainment spaces.

• Live-music and club venue · 2005

  ABC2

  The smaller companion venue, originally created as a cinema in 1967. In the O2 ABC configuration it supported concerts, club programming and other live events alongside the larger ABC1 space.

• Nightlife programming

  Nightclub events

  The venue hosted recurring nightclub programming during the week, including Jellybaby, Propaganda and Love Music. These events complemented the building’s concert schedule and positioned O2 ABC as both a live-music room and a general nightlife destination.

• 2024

  Demolition notice issuedOther

  Background

  The fire-damaged structure contained unstable sections several years after the venue ceased trading.

  Action taken

  Glasgow City Council served notice requiring unstable parts of the building to be demolished by 9 December 2024.

  Aftermath

  The notice confirmed the continuing regulatory and structural consequences of the 2018 fire.

  Source

• 2018

  Operations end after major fireOther

  Background

  A fire originating at the nearby Glasgow School of Art spread to the venue during the night of 15–16 June.

  Action taken

  The venue closed after extensive fire damage and the collapse of its main roof.

  Aftermath

  A demolition application followed in 2019, and the council later required unstable sections to be demolished.

  Source

• 2009

  Academy Music Group acquires majority stakeM&A

  Background

  The independent Glasgow venue had been converted from a former cinema into a live-music and nightclub operation.

  Action taken

  Academy Music Group became the majority shareholder and changed the venue’s name to O2 ABC Glasgow.

  Aftermath

  The venue became part of Academy Music Group’s O2-branded live-entertainment network and continued operating until the 2018 fire.

  Source

1. 1O2 ABC Glasgowen.wikipedia.org