Barrowland Ballroom's illuminated star sign at night, Gallowgate, Glasgow
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Barrowland Ballroom

A legendary 1,900-capacity live music venue at the Barras in Glasgow's East End, built as a 1930s dance hall and famous for its sprung dance floor, barrel-shaped ceiling and illuminated star sign.

244 Gallowgate, Glasgow G4 0TT, UK
Up to 1,900
capacity
1 space
hireable
Contact the venue for dates and times
available for hire

About this venue

The Barrowland Ballroom is a landmark live music venue at the Barras in Glasgow's Calton, built by market trader Maggie McIver in 1934 as a function hall for her stallholders. It burned down in 1958 and was rebuilt to a larger design, reopening in December 1960; the room found a second life as a gig venue in 1983 after Simple Minds filmed a music video there, and its giant illuminated star sign was switched on in 1985. The Barrowland has since become one of the UK's best-loved concert halls, named Time Out's Best Music Venue in the UK by the artists who have played there.

The main hall is known for its barrel-shaped, star-studded ceiling and its original sprung dance floor, and hosts touring bands most nights of the week on a large standing floor with a balcony above.

The Spaces

Ballroom

Main hall

The main hall (the venue's 'Full Venue' space) under the barrel-shaped, star-studded ceiling, with a 64ft x 26ft x 4ft stage including PA wings and a sprung dance floor. The first floor has dressing rooms, a backstage kitchen (gas cooker, fridge, ice machine), a self-contained merchandise area (20ft counter, 18ft display wall) and a box office that can be staffed on request.

Capacity

Standing
up to 1,900
Seated
up to 500

The venue's own tech spec PDF gives 1,900 standing or 500 seated (chairs must be hired) for the full venue, superseding the earlier Wikipedia/press-sourced 1,900 figure.

Facilities

  • Bar
  • Catering / kitchen
  • Cloakroom
  • Merchandise stand
  • Box office
  • Green room / dressing room: Main band room and green room with toilets and showers, plus a separate support band room with toilet and shower, all on the first floor
  • Stage: 64ft wide x 26ft deep x 4ft high including PA wings; barrel ceiling clearance 22ft centre, 18ft side stage
  • Wi-Fi: Free Wi-Fi throughout the building
  • Loading dock / load-in access: Via hoist

Accessibility

  • Lift access
  • Accessible toilet
  • Wheelchair spaces / viewing area

Technical Specification

View full technical specification

Music equipment

  • PA system: Two PA wings, 12ft x 8ft x 4ft each
  • Lighting rig: 8 rigging points, half a tonne each

Gallery

Barrowland Ballroom frontage by daylight Wide night view of the Barrowland neon sign Plaque recording the ballroom's history Inside the Barrowland main hall, star-studded ceiling

Location

244 Gallowgate, Glasgow G4 0TT, UK

Contact Information

+44 141 552 4601 office@barrowland.co.uk

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