The building located on Highgate Road in Kentish Town has served multiple purposes throughout its existence, having operated as a cinema, dance venue, and live music space.
Originally constructed as a super cinema, the establishment first welcomed audiences on December 17, 1934, when it opened under the name The Forum.
The Art Deco structure was crafted by architect J.
Stanley Beard on behalf of cinema magnate Herbert Yapp, who also owned comparable venues in Ealing and Fulham.
Spanning 2,175 seats, the theatre featured Italian Renaissance design elements, most notably elaborate columns adorning the upper exterior.
Like other venues of its kind during that era, the cinema incorporated a fully functional stage for live performances alongside a Compton Organ.
Industry publication Kinematograph Weekly documented the opening ceremony, which featured actor and comedian Sydney Howard receiving an enthusiastic reception from overflow crowds gathered in the surrounding streets.
The inaugural programme included a trumpet fanfare, the national anthem, a Pathe newsreel screening, and orchestral entertainment provided by Alfredo and his Orchestra.
Within twelve months, control of the venue passed to Associated British Cinemas, which rebranded the establishment as ABC Kentish Town in 1963.
The cinema’s final day of operation occurred on July 18, 1970.
Following its closure as a film venue, the property transitioned through various uses, functioning briefly as a bingo establishment before becoming an Irish dance venue.
The venue experienced a significant revival in 1985 when comprehensive renovations transformed it into the Town and Country Club.
Under the management of entrepreneur Ollie Smith, the establishment cultivated a strong reputation within London’s indie and rock music scenes, hosting performances by numerous notable acts.
The venue also served as the largest pub operated by Scottish and Newcastle Breweries.
This combination of sold-out concerts and bar revenue proved attractive to venue entrepreneur Vince Power, whose Mean Fiddler Music Group acquired the property in 1993 and restored the original Forum name.
Subsequent ownership changes resulted in the venue being known as the HMV Forum and later the O2 Forum, with major artists continuing to appear at the location.
Significant performances throughout the venue’s history have included Björk’s inaugural solo concert in September 1993, a secret appearance by Arctic Monkeys in 2006, and shows by Dave Grohl, Jack White, and KISS.
Forthcoming events at the venue include performances by Graham Coxon, Supergrass, and The Pogues.
Renovations carried out in 2007 and subsequent years have maintained modern facilities while preserving the Grade II listed building’s original character as a surviving example of cinema architecture from Hollywood’s golden age.