Shepherd's Bush Empire Finally Reopens


With first concerts at venue since closing for repairs seven months ago

The O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire has finally reopened, exactly seven months after closing for emergency repairs.

The venue on Shepherd's Bush Green announced the news on Twitter yesterday, July 5, saying @O2shepherdsbushempire: " Tonight we reopen!"

The first concerts at the restored Empire, last night and tonight, July 6 headlined Band of Horses, with the next featuring Sturgill Simpson on July 15. You can see the future line-up in full here.

The reopening has been repeatedly delayed throughout this spring and summer following the Empire's abrupt closure last December.

The Academy Music Group, which owns and operates the venue said repairs to the building required propping the roof from inside the main auditorium and added that it was working with independent experts and advisors to complete this maintenance as quickly as possible.

The Grade II listed Empire is one of W12's most historic landmarks. It was originally built in 1903 for impresario Oswald Stoll as a music hall. In 1953 it was sold to the BBC and became the BBC Television Theatre, before becoming a music venue in 1991.


July 6, 2016