Glasgow's iconic Barrowland Ballroom has been named the UK's best music venue by Time Out.
Dozens of British acts were asked to choose their favourite venue for a feature celebrating the country's many live music spots.
Their views were then combined with the knowledge from Time Out's editorial team to come up with a definitive ranking and we can't help but agree with the top pick of our much-loved Ballroom.
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The historic east end venue is only one of two Scottish venues (along with The Albert Halls in Stirling) that made the list with the help of some sentimental words from New Order, Mogwai, and Leftfield.
Phil Cunningham of New Order said: "‘It’s a good size at just under 2,000 cap and has a sprung dance floor. It feels like the whole place is bouncing when you get a good crowd in. We played a chaotic but great show there back in 2001 when I had just joined New Order. Bernard and Hooky had a slight disagreement after the show; I can’t remember what it was about.
"Anyway, a champagne bottle was launched across the dressing room, smashing a mirror. By the time we got ourselves together to get back out onstage for the encore, the audience had nearly ripped the place apart as we hadn’t played “Blue Monday”. Things are a bit more chilled out nowadays."
Stuart Braithwaite added: "My favourite UK venue is the Glasgow Barrowlands. It’s actually probably my favourite venue on the planet. It sounds amazing and is steeped in history. I’ve loved so many shows there and been lucky enough to play there as well. A truly legendary place."
While Neil Barnes of Leftfield explained: "The venue holds a special place in my heart. The building is so special, it’s got an enormous frontage that looks like a kind of pleasure palace, with the biggest neon sign I’ve ever seen.
"The last time I played, we did two nights and there was a heatwave, and it was about 90 degrees in there. Celtic were playing Rangers, but inside the rivalry seemed unimportant and people just danced. Barrowlands is probably a favourite because of the people who go to gigs there.
"They seem to just be more open to the vibe of the music, more ready to let themselves go and enjoy the experience. They are noisy and excited from the beginning. It’s great playing to people like that. It gives us confidence on stage to keep giving more."
The top five venues on the list span the length and breath of the country with The Palladium in London, Clwb Ifor Bach in Cardiff, the O2 Brixton Academy and Mountford Hall in Liverpool all being given a nod.
Huw Oliver, Time Out’s UK Editor said: “We like to think of ourselves as experts here at Time Out, but who really knows our music venues better than the people who have been up there on stage, night in, night out, singing and stage-diving and striding on for encores? We asked dozens of legendary British artists to name their favourite stages to come up with a spectacular snapshot of the rich and varied musical landscape in the UK today. Because at a time when many grassroots venues are threatened by closure, it’s well worth reminding ourselves every once in a while of just how brilliant they are.
"These are venues that are authentic, that are committed to promoting properly good music and emerging acts, venues that have energetic crowds and excellent sound quality. There are huge production-heavy concert halls, tiny stages hidden under record stores and even some places we didn’t even know existed before now. They’re all special in their own, unique way – and they’ve (of course) seen their fair share of mosh pits.”
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