O2 Academy / Majestic / Gaumont

The Academy is a major live music venue in Newcastle located on the corner of Westgate Road and Clayton Street. The history of the Academy site goes back to the Picture House cinema, which opened in February 1912 and closed on 5th March 1927. The New Westgate Cinema, opened 31st October 1927 and seated 1,870. The Cinema was taken over by Gaumont in February 1928 and a Wurlitzer theatre organ installed in 1929. The Gaumont closed on 29th November 1958 with “In Love and War”. (Cinema Treasures)

The building became the Majestic Ballroom opening on the 26th February 1959. During the 1960s many of the top bands played at the Majestic including: Beatles (1963), Kinks (1964), Moody Blues (1965), Who (1965), Yardbirds (1965) and Small Faces (1966). Reputably the Beatles wrote 'She Loves You' while staying at the Turk's Head Hotel, after playing at the Majestic in 1963. The Majestic closed in 1967, after which the venue was used as a Bingo Hall until 2005.

In 2005 Academy Music Group Ltd bought the building and restored the original ceiling features, stairways, stage and balcony to create an atmospheric gig space. The Academy opened on 14th October 2005 with Sunderland band the Futureheads, Field Music and Kubicheck! In 2008 it became known as the 02 Academy following a change in sponsors, formerly it was the Carling Academy Newcastle.