Union Chapel

We visited the Union Chapel for an excellent classic concert/reading related to the Wolf Hall television series. The show was excellent with a combination of music conducted by the original composer along with readings from the script by one of the actors. This is a great venue for such an event as the acoustics are excellent and the space is large enough for a decent audience but not too huge. The only downside is that the pews are rock-hard and pretty uncomfortable after an hour. So bring a cushion! We did take advantage of eating at the pop-up restaurant which they have here before the show and that was a good decision. You could choose between a chicken biriyani or a lentil curry and both were tasty and filling. You also get to file into the chapel early and so bag a decent seat.

Visited Union Chapel recently for An Evening with Matt Haig - which was fabulous. The chapel is a Grade I listed building with beautiful gothic architecture and great acoustics. I agree that the seating isn’t the most comfortable, but for a couple of hours it’s doable. Seating is unreserved - so it’s first come first served! There is a bar with some seating. The queue wasn’t too long when I went in (20 minutes before the event started) but alcoholic drinks aren’t allowed inside the chapel, meaning I had to guzzle my drink before going in to watch the show. There are also bathrooms available, which were clean and well maintained. All the staff were friendly and helpful - even the security team!

What a great venue. Musical night are fantastic. Great location. No seat reservations so get there early. Hard seats so take a cushion. Bar and kiosk available. No alcoholic drinks into seating area and no glass. Toilets ok. Brilliant acoustics. Great gig listing. Melissa Etheridge epic😁 Overall great experience 😁🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🎤🎶

I’m not a christian so this is not a religious comment. I visited here for a concert. The staff were lovely. The building is amazing. The acoustics are wow. It’s cold, but a wonderful lady bought us blankets. It’s pew seating, so hard in the bum.

Really beautiful music venue - I came here to see Seth Lakeman and had a lovely time, but there are some improvements that could be made. The food smelt delicious but was very expensive for what it was. A lamb curry was £20, which seems excessive for canteen style food. It was also poorly organised during the interval. The bar is in the wrong place, which means you can't even get through the door when it's full. We sat on the second level, which had a great view, but the pew shelves aren't made to holding up drinks and snacks (which is what everyone was using them for). Ours kept slipping, and a few people's belongings went flying. The seats were also incredibly uncomfortable after only a short period of time. The sound also didn't seem to travel well up to the second floor, which meant we couldn't hear the words that Seth was singing, which was disappointing. Despite these niggles, the venue is still gorgeous, the staff helping were very friendly and we had a great time.

A Magical Music Venue in London! Union Chapel in Islington is hands down one of the most atmospheric and unique music venues in London. A working church by day and an intimate gig space by night, it offers a stunning setting for live performances, blending history, acoustics, and ambiance in a way that few other venues can match. The acoustics are simply breathtaking. Thanks to the chapel’s high ceilings and original Victorian Gothic architecture, sound carries beautifully. Every note feels rich and immersive, with a natural reverb that adds a special warmth to the music. The is traditional church pews, which adds to the charm but can get a little uncomfortable for longer gigs—bringing a cushion is a pro tip! However, the space is intimate enough that most seats offer a great view of the stage, unlike larger venues where you might feel miles away from the action. The soft lighting, stained glass windows, and historic setting create a magical and almost spiritual experience, making gigs here feel extra special. If you're looking for a music venue with soul, history, and incredible sound quality, Union Chapel is a must-visit. Just don’t forget that it’s an unlicensed venue—so no bar, but there’s a lovely café serving tea and cake, adding to the cosy, community feel.

Great venue for small gigs. It was lovely even in a very hot day

Lovely venue, very atmospheric. We saw Noah Gundersen here and it was amazing. Remember though; it’s a large old building, so can be cold.

The day I landed in London, my sister told me about a Keb Mo concert the very next night - I looked it up and the venue was SO close to my friend's house that I decided to head over. I'm so glad I did - the concert was amazing and the venue superb. Honestly - these are the best acoustics of any show I've attended in a long time - but, it makes sense, right? Churches were built to convey sound to the audience in times before electric amplification -- and it was really important to get it right in design of the building. The building is gorgeous - though I was there just at twilight - it was so easy to see the stage and all the glass windows illuminated from outside really made it special. Highly recommend seeing a show here if you have the opportunity while you are in London.

Wow, now *this* is the perfect venue to see a Jameson Cult Film Club Screening of Dracula on Halloween! Or, you know, to worship God on a Sunday... The acoustics are phenomenal with the dome ceiling and stone walls, and the seating is accessible with a large octagonal ground floor and wrap around balcony. You're always right up in the action and though the building is massive, they certainly did a fantastic job maintaining the intimate vibe. I mean, Victorian Gothic architecture is all the rage these days for true expert concert goers... With all of the nightclub-come-churches that try unsuccessfully to pull this dual purpose venue thing off, Union Chapel does so flawlessly, allowing people to participate in worship of their choice (whether it be religion or rock) on a weekly basis.

Great idea for a music venue! This place is a church on it's music days off. Imagine popping into the local church and seeing some great musicians play where the priest usually stands! The sound system is fantastic & it's an intimate venue, seating is free for all so get there early to pick your seat! I wish all churches doubled as a music venue! Check it out if you get the chance. Recommend!

Love going here to my local haunt whenever there is a gig on. Saw Mark Lanegan one time and the sound is set up for acts like this and is incredible quite honestly. Also got the organ back and working. I've Recently discovered that they do a 'daytime sessions' acoustic acts each Saturday. Seen some varied acts and it's a very mature crowd be uses of the area and that's why I love it. Quite a different local vibe. Nothing crazy. You can even get a mug of tea to take into the church aisles.

Even though I am up in Angel all the time, I don't tend to venture up as far as Highbury and Islington, so I never realised how lovely this church is! There's some lovely stained glass (on one side - the other side was bombed, in what made Highbury corner). I took a group for the free organ recital they do once a month, on their refurbished organ (there's loads of info about it on their website, http://www.unionchapel.org.uk/about-us/the-organ-project/). As the building is a church as well as a music venue, they're pretty well equipped for the organ recital. The organ is behind the pulpit, so they set up a camera and a screen so you can see the organ being played. It has two keyboards as well as foot pedals, not to mention all the stops, so it's really interesting to watch. Admittedly I'm not much of an organ music aficionado, so after about 15 minutes my interest waned, but I could easily have left without disturbing anyone (but I was there for work so I stayed). I had arranged for a short talk on the chapel afterwards. It's been through many iterations over the years, and is currently an entertainment venue, as well as a church. They do a lot of outreach work with marganalised/homeless people as well. Worth stopping in for a quick look when they're open on Wednesdays from 10am-1pm, or to arrange a free guided tour on Sunday afternoons.

Shhhh, don't tell anyone but they let a Jew in this church! Seriously, there I was sat in a house of Christianity, watching an event which was a celebration of a Pagan festival... looking shifty. It's fine though, apparently they'll let anyone in here. If you are looking for a seriously quirky venue for live music or movies, this will be the spot for you. Take a pew and enjoy the atmosphere that radiates from it's 100 year old stone walls. I came here for Jameson Cult Screenings and although I didn't stay for the whole event, I can tell you that this was an epic evening. Actors wandering around, free drinks, popcorn and a cult movie. What more could you ask for at Halloween. In the past there have been some pretty impressive artists that perform here and now I'm been once, I'm totally going to come back and watch something soon. One tip though, give yourself time to find this place, myself and a few others found it quite difficult to find.

I attended the Ocean Film Festival at the Union Chapel which has been touring throughout the UK. Based as few minutes walk from Highbury & Islington tube it's very easy to get to. There was security as you walk in and a couple of friendlies to sign you in. As you walk through there's like a little 'tuck shop' where you can buy sweets and hot drinks. Sadly the hot chocolate I brought was made with just hot water as they said they didn't have the facilities to heat up milk at the church. There is seating up and downstairs and the area is quite sizeable. Although I arrived early the 'good seats' were taken up by bums on seats or people leaving their coats there to reserve them. The only decent seats I could find was 3 rows from the front on the middle, a bit too close for comfort but better than being on the end of a row. I noticed when the film started a lot of the people sitting at the front to the far left and right moved seats as they could not see. The various films were projected onto a big screen. I was glad there were mini breaks and a longer interval as it wouldn't be comfortable sitting on wooden seats for long periods. For the Ladies you'll find queues at the toilets as there are only a few cramped cubicles. Surprisingly though, there is a huge bar upstairs with lots of space to mingle and seating to chill out. A very well organised event, I would definitely come back to this venue for this event again.

How is this all-inclusively $FREE.99? Thank you Yelp London for sending me an invite through elite-mail! To get into that Halloween spirit, it's a must to take a visit to the Union Chapel for a Jameson Cult Film screening! Although Quatermass and the Pit was a 60's original "classic" film, I didn't enjoy it much. I just chuckled at the special effects and felt bored with the film. Nonetheless, I quite enjoyed my three complimentary Jameson cocktails (2 Bloody Jemmies and one Jameson and Coke) The free popcorn was awfully stale, but I wasn't complainin'. The decor of the chapel was amazing and definitely gave a gothic-spooky, Halloween feel! Thank you for a good night!

A beautiful, unique and cool venue to see a ticketed event. We came to see the live Stuff You Should Know podcast and every aspect was great: Getting in was a breeze, the line moved quickly and efficiently. We sat upstairs, which provided a great view, there were a few "bad" seats without good visibility, but not many. The acoustics were spot on, absolutely no issues with sound. There is a bar and drinking area but the ling was very long and it looked understaffed. Also, since it IS a church, you can't take alcoholic drinks to your seat, you have to drink them in the bar area. Snacks were the usuals, soda, chips/crisps, peanuts and candy like M&Ms. A few more substantial items like quiche and prepared items but nothing looked that great. Bathrooms were clean and fully functioning.

Returned to the Union Chapel again last night to see the wonderful Unthanks sisters, Becky and Rachel, play a set comprised of Anthony & the Johnsons and Robert Wyatt covers. I think this venue is just a little bit inspirational and it has always brought out something very special in the artists I have seen perform here. Last night was no exception and the music the ladies and their excellent band summoned up was so good it hurt. Anyway the purpose of this slight refrain of a review was to comment on the café/bar. Having had a look at the food offering on our last visit we decided we should give it a go. We arrived at just after the 7pm opening time and managed to get our coats down, to reserve our seats, on the third pew from the front. Good start to the evening. The café/bar was already pretty busy and there was a good queue at the food "station". I managed to grab a comfy sofa and B got us a chicken curry and a veggie lasagne. At £6 a plate and with the profits going to the homeless you really wanted to like this food. Well, it filled the gap but the food was very much of the eat to live school of cooking; it reminded me a little bit of school dinners. B was slightly more complementary and declared herself reasonably satisfied. Perhaps I was suffering from having high expectations but I was hoping for something a bit more authentic and therefore tasty. Having said that I'm not giving up on the café and will no doubt be back next year. On the drinks front Bishops Finger and 6X were available by the bottle and there were cans of Red Stripe for the larger drinkers. The red and white wine by the glass seemed to be going down very well. All at pretty reasonable prices and if you manage to get a seat it's a very nice space to spend some time pre or post gig. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx After my third visit to this beautiful venue last week to see an absolutely storming set by 'I am Kloot' (previous gigs have been very special outings by Laura Marling and Max Richter - I think this venue brings out the best in pretty much any perfomer) I am fast coming to the conclusion that this is my favourite live music venue in town. In general you will have a great view of the act at reasonably close quarters; the sound quality is awesome (and that's a word I hardly ever use); and atmospheric doesn't even begin to describe the vibe. Worth bearing in mind at this point that in my "youth" I was very fond of the Brixton Academy. Anyway, I thought I would share a few tips and general musings with fellow qypers: Get yourself on the mailing list, in my opinion they have a great booking policy and no shortage of acts that I am keen to see. Getting a ticket can be a problem if you are not qucik off the mark!! Its a working church so bear this in mind, seating is un-allocated and is in pews. Picture a church in your mind and you will soon realise that if you turn up late in the day you will be left with seating on the sides with the (relatively) limited view etc that entails. Although as it's a church, the view is pretty good wherever you sit and it's on a slight rake towards the back which helps too. However, on the three occasions I have had the pleasure of watching live music at the Union Chapel, a quaint but lovely old-school tradition still holds good - the 'bagsy-ing' of your spot by leaving a coat, jumper or whatever on the pew while you trot off to the bar for cold refreshments. Much to my amazement this arrangement is respected and you can be sure of your spot only ten feet from the stage on your return. How much do you love our London ways!!!! Food and the bar in general seemed very, very much improved from my visit earlier in the year. B and myself had already eaten some pretty bog standard pizza in town before we headed over to the gig, but the guys had a constant queue for their curry, lasagne, and quiche, which looked and smelled very tasty - on my next visit I will definitely give it a run out, and for well under a tenner it looked to be great gig food. Seating and general ambience in the bar was lovely, think members' club crossed with a youth club, and is a great place to spend an hour or so. Some decent ale on tap and this could be totally divine. So to sum up my advice would be to turn up early, doors seem to generally open at 7pm and on this occassion 'I am Kloot' were on stage at circa 9pm after an excellent support act, bagsy youself a primo spot in front of the stage and then head off for some tasty food and a cold refreshment of your choice. Then, sit back and imbibe the music!

Absolutely blown away by this venue. Went to watch a gig here (Aurora) and it was incredibly atmospheric. I knew the venue was a church but didn't realise how big and grand it was! I was sitting upstairs on the balcony, three rows from the front and could see most of the stage apart from the far right. The acoustics are amazing....if I could watch all the gigs I go to here I would! I wasn't drinking anything but there looks like there's a bar upstairs...but most people I saw had mugs of hot drinks. Can't wait to come back.

I never thought that I would see a show inside a church!! Union chapel was a great venue for intimate concerts and what brought me there a live podcast, Stuff You Should Know. I was stocked to find out it was still a working church. Felt strange to have a bar in the corner, though you were able take alcohol in to chapel. It was amazing. Fantastic acoustics. Being a working church, pews are not comfortable to sit on for 3hrs.

Islington's lovely Union Chapel is, in fact, first and foremost a beautiful church. Its round chapel area also happens to host frequent performances by acoustic indie stars, secret gigs by megastars like U2, and a certain breed of folk-rock singer-songwriter. I saw outsider artist Daniel Johnston here and it was one of the most moving gigs of my life. It's seating only, with long, curved church pews. Artists perform up on the stage, as if preaching to the crowd. You're never far from the performer, which makes it feel very intimate. The acoustics are amazing as well, like many churches. The interior is beautiful (again, as you'd expect from a church), and it really adds a feeling of importance and grandiosity to the performance. There is a café room on one side, and toilets on the other, but don't expect all the comfort and concessions of a purpose-built theatre or music hall. It is, simply, an ornate place of worship that recognises there are things besides the divine that are praiseworthy.

I went here on Friday night to watch one of my favourite singers, Alice Russell - who's a soul-soaked firecracker from Brighton. She was doing an acoustic gig there, and I was a little overexcited to see her. The venue itself is easy to find, just a few minutes walk over the road from Highbury & Islington tube (direct connection from Ox Circus as well, so it's very accessible). Remember, it's a working chapel, so it's that huge building that looks unsurprisingly like a church. We went in and took some seats upstairs. After I'd settled, the full beauty of the place hit me hard. Twinkling lights, gorgeous stained glass window and seating for maybe 1,000 (downstairs and upstairs combined). No alcohol in the church itself, though there's a fully stocked bar out the back. I'm not going to lie however, we asked for vodka & coke, then sneaked it back in. Sorry God. The lady herself started well, though at first I was a little worried about the sound on the upper level. Something snapped into place about song three (Turn & Run, which gave me goosebumps), but eventually when things started getting a little funky we moved downstairs to really soak it up. She appeared with many of the band I'd seen her play with at The Big Chill last year, as well as some new faces. Her set was electric, and we all finished the evening in a rousing sing-song. Beautiful. It's such a good venue for her kind of jazzy-soul, but would also work well for something a little heavier I'd imagine. A great night, and one to watch out for if bands you love are playing there.

This church is one hell of a venue! (pause for groan) Came to see the Jameson Cult film series here, and was blown away by the atmosphere. Spooky, old, and slightly overwhelming, the venue alone made the night a success. Also, any church with a bar is good by me. I'm not sure the acoustics are quite right for a film screening, as I had some trouble understanding the dialogue in the movie I was watching, but everything else was as perfect as could be. I would absolutely love to see a band play here.

I adore coming here for gigs. How can music not sound amazing, with the acoustics of a church adding their magical touch to it? Buy a cup of tea, find a seat on a pew (not allocated) and enjoy the stunning surroundings. Disabled friendly: phone in advance and a seat will be reserved for you.

The Union Chapel is a beautiful, almost hexagonal chapel in Angel Islington. Though not particularly religious, I'm often a little uncomfortable about seeing pop gigs in churches, but here it is well done. There is a bar upstairs and an alley outside where you can hang out and smoke if you do. The place has a good, slightly slapdash, communal ethic which feels right. I went to see the Scottish band, the Twilight Sad, who sing about youth, loss, alienation, etc. with soaring vocals. It was a great band to see in the venue, both having a certain gravitas. The Union Chapel is a great, unique venue. The church itself also does lots of good work with the homeless.

This old church is a great venue for a gig. The acoustics are amazing helped by the great dome ceiling and stone wall, meaning that the worst sounding bands sound pretty good. I saw Draw Me Stories support the Treetop Fliers and Alessi's Ark as a fund raiser for the Anthony Nolan Charity, and I have to admit this was the first gig I have been to with a nice comfy pew to sit on for the duration. Out of respect for the church, alcohol cannot be taken from the upstairs bar into the venue, although I was surprised that this also included communion wine.

This is one of my favourite venues in London. It's atmospheric, and feels bizarrely wholesome which is refreshing considering the usual sticky fleapits of London I attend to fuel my music habit. I love the fact that you can carry a cup of tea to your pew. I love that you're sitting down and yet not a hundred miles away. I love the fact that the audiences are (typically) quiet and respectful. I love the selection of weird and wonderful music that they schedule. Big fan in general. And specifically an even bigger fan of their regular Saturday lunchtime free music afternoons. What better way to start a Saturday than a bacon roll and some folk? No offence to organised religion, but it's definitely my favourite way to visit a church at the weekend!

My friends' band played the Union Chapel last year and, again, this year for Mencap's "Little Noise Sessions". The chapel itself could not be more beautiful. The high, high ceilings, stained glass windows and pews give it such a real Christmas vibe. I'm used to seeing my mates play a full rock set but I absolutely love the acoustics in here for the Little Noise Sessions. Everyone seated makes a nice change. Everyone is calm and the venue gives the night such a serene and peaceful atmosphere. I also love the little bar in the venue. The bar is dark and atmospheric with little candles dotted about the place for extra effect. I quite enjoyed just sitting up there for a while, whilst waiting for the main performance of the evening, it was great. I've been two years in a row now and I hope I get to go again next year. I've had two fantastic experiences at The Union Chapel and I look forward to more good times!

Came here to see the London Gypsy Orchestra (and will some back in a few months to see Jeff Mangum). The venue itself is fantastic and quite unique, aesthetically speaking. Functionally, this place is pretty rough. The seating is all open, so that means first come, first served. Or at least it SHOULD mean that. When I went with my special lady to see the Orchestra, we had bought our tickets beforehand. When we arrived, about 30 minutes early, the organizers set up two lines - one for people who already had tickets, and one for those who did not. Well, they started letting people who didn't have tickets into the show BEFORE people who had their tickets in hand. Suffice it to say, my group (with tickets) was very unhappy with this decision. I managed to keep my cool, making sarcastic remarks to my companion to vent my frustration. Others were not so cool, letting loose on the organizers and bouncers with language so foul, so profane, that decorum prohibits my mentioning it here. That whole debacle left a pretty bad taste in my mouth. The show was great, though, and as I said, the venue is really nice. Hopefully this experience isn't how things always run at the Union Chapel, and I'm optimistic for my next visit.

I came here to watch M. Ward play an acoustic solo set. I went to school in Austin at UT so I loved the Daniel Johnston love and the shout out to Austin during his show! What an amazing venue. It's a beautiful church. It was one of my favorite concerts I've ever been to. If I ever make it back around I hope I can attend a service there on Sunday, I liked the progressive nature.

This beautiful old church is a perfect music venue for the more folk inspired bands travelling the UK and the globe. Sitting in the pews, listening to your favourite bands be it acoustic or otherwise is a treat which really makes you feel as though you're living in another time, making you forget the outside world and immerse yourself in the music. If you ever get the opportunity to see a band here, do yourself a favour and go. You won't regret it and certainly won't forget the wonderful experience in a hurry.

I've been to a lot of music venues in my day, and this place stands out as one of the best I've been to. Small, intimate, and if you get there early enough to stand in line, you'll get a killer seat. The venue was a church for years and now is set up for concerts. The downstairs and balcony are all church benches, so there are no assigned seats (at least the case for the Beck show). The sound is great, and there aren't that many bad seats. You could be stuck in the corner or on top behind the stage, but other than that, you're golden. They have a cafe with some basic snacks and a bar with alcohol, but you can't bring it to your seat. Most of the people in line outside have bottle of beer to drink on their wait to get inside.

Union Chapel is a really amazing venue - it's intimate with great acoustics, open seating, and good views from every seat. It's not corporate but not dingy either, which seem to be the two ends of the spectrum in London! The little cafe/bar serves beer, soda, and hot drinks in charity shop mugs all for reasonable prices.

Flawless is an understatement. I guess it wouldn't be fair to give ALL the props to the event organisers as the venue itself is the most beautiful chapel I have ever seen [think St Paul's on a smaller scale...] I decided that the perfect [early] Christmas gift for one of my dearest friends would be to see Adele and Damien Rice perform at this really intimate gig in Union Chapel. Well, we most certainly were not disappointed. The Union Chapel project was set up in 1991 with the intention of making its facilities available to the wider community for performance/arts, shelter projects and a multitude of causes that organisations would promote by hiring out the chapel and holding events for the public. One of these causes is the Mencap 'Little Noise Sessions' hosted by Radio 1 DJ, Jo Wiley. The organisation has been set up to promote awareness and raise money for those with learning disabilities. Wiley invites some of the most popular and talented musicians to play at the Chapel - proceedings of which go towards funding the charity. A flawless acoustic session, combined with the spectacular essence of an old, antique chapel - immersed in bright lighting [most of which enhanced the intricate and beautiful stained-glass windows] created an electric atmosphere that was simply riveting. A spectacular experience that I will remember for years to come... Check out the website for what's on at the Union Chapel and make sure to visit www.mencapmusic.org.uk for more information on the Little Noise Sessions - see you there next November ;) !!! PS: love them as much as I do - www.myspace.com/adelelondon www.damienrice.com

One of the absolute best places in London to see live music. The fact that gigs here sell out so quickly only reinforces this. And it's not only the quieter accoustic gigs that are really brilliant here. I once saw Patti Smith play an absolutely storming set in here, slightly worrying as at the time, it was undergoing a bit of a structural refurb. The venue is intimate with a small, octagonal downstairs and an upstairs balcony. It's really pretty and atmospheric and it's also near the tube and plenty of good places to go for a drink post-gig.

My experiences of the Union Chapel are as a music venue. I have to say it surprised me how good it was for gigs. The acoustics are astounding and really takes acoustic performances by artists to another level. There is plenty to feed your eyes in terms of the architecture and general surroundings which is good when you are waiting for acts to come on. The venue is mainly seated in the pews. There are no seat numbers allocated and so it is a good old fashioned run to the front in order to get to the front of the stage. No matter where you are, you still get a decent view of the stage. There is a bar on the premises but no alcohol is allowed in the main auditorium. It is best if you time your visits to the bar in accordance to performance times but get a friend to save your seat. I have always found audiences here to be fantastic as well. It may be the fact that it is a church setting but everyone respects the music and remains quiet. A highly recommended venue if you can get to see a gig here. The Little Noise sessions attract a high calibre of performances and tickets do sell out quickly. Credit also has to go to the staff who were very helpful, helping out someone on the queue who had left their tickets at home to get in and also making an effort for an acquaintance of mine who is in a wheelchair, making sure that he was able to get in and out of the venue without any trouble.

Fabulously atmospheric venue that works brilliantly for some gigs. I've seen both music and comedy here, and was not remotely put off by the fact of being 'in church'. At one memorable gig, the audience were happily dancing in the pews amid smoke and strobes (which work a treat at the chapel) and for comedy, it feels very surreal to be 'preached at' by your chosen performer. The bar is roomy and has a wonderful shabby-chic vibe about it that's quite unlike anything else you'll find in Islington. In fact, the entire venue feels very uncommercial and is very laid back as a result.

The Union Chapel is an increasingly popular music venue in North London. It hosts the Little Noise sessions, which will see the likes of the Babyshambles, the Kooks and Kate Nash, perform in November. Its emergence is probably due to the fact that it has great acoustics. They also program more low-key and international music like the Salaam Music Festival in 2006. I keep this venue and their directors close to my heart for initiatives like the margins homelessness projects.

Islington's lovely Union Chapel is, in fact, first and foremost a beautiful church. Its round chapel area also happens to host frequent performances by acoustic indie stars, secret gigs by megastars like U2, and a certain breed of folk-rock singer-songwriter. I saw outsider artist Daniel Johnston here and it was one of the most moving gigs of my life. It's seating only, with long, curved church pews. Artists perform up on the stage, as if preaching to the crowd. You're never far from the performer, which makes it feel very intimate. The acoustics are amazing as well, like many churches. The interior is beautiful (again, as you'd expect from a church), and it really adds a feeling of importance and grandiosity to the performance. There is a café room on one side, and toilets on the other, but don't expect all the comfort and concessions of a purpose-built theatre or music hall. It is, simply, an ornate place of worship that recognises there are things besides the divine that are praiseworthy.

One of the most intimate and stunning gig venues in London. Great sound and even better if you're watching acoustic stuff. Get there early for a good seat as it's unreserved seating in the pews.

I've seen some intimate acoustic Jazz and Folk concerts here. The sound and the view are great, but the seats are hard. The only thing I do not like about this venue is the smell from the bar. The stale beer/wine wafting from there is really off-putting. Please, please, please do something about it.

What an amazing venue! The acoustics are very tight for minimal un-plugged(haven't been to a loud one yet) gigs and the decor is old theatre like - in an old church house. Great ambience as well as a good location which is easy to get by tube.

I've been to a good number of gigs here over the past few years and each time, regardless of the performer or style of music, this place never ceases to amaze. High ceilings and beautiful pews provide audiences with a fantastic setting to enjoy music or theatre. The location is also a bonus, with the tube station and bus routes just moments away. A definite 'must' for musicians and lovers of architecture!

The Union Chapel is a functioning church at the top of upper street in Islington (nearest tube Highbury and Islington). Gigs here are often special due to the atmospheric surroundings. The venue is seated with church pews, and seating is unreserved so get here early to get a good view and bringing a cushion might be a sensible idea! The annual LittleNoise sessions are worth looking at. These are a week long minifestival of performances for charity (Mencap) which attract several big artists performing acoustically. This year Adele, Razorlight and the Stereophonics performed here.

Quatermass and the Pit Hob's lane Underground station is there I've seen it. What at perfect venu. Can we see a season of Ealing films? Will Hay? Vincent Price? can not think of better venu, but get there early the queue was a review in itself. Film and music. Keep an eye out if you are in Islington.

I absolutely adore union chapel. Last year I saw the civil wars there and this year I have tickets to see ben gibbard. The acoustics are amazing, the upstairs bar is beautiful, and the whole place is just absolutely worth 20 quid (or more) for a ticket.

The Union Chapel is an unexpected venue for gigs, however it's not an unpleasant one and is one of my preferred venues to see live artists. So far I have been to 2 concerts in this venue and enjoyed both. The sound quality is very good and you are guaranteed a seat where you will actually be able to see the artist. As it's seated you won't have to elbow yourself a space, however in order to get a seat at the front you'll need to arrive early. Bring a coat as there will be space to stash it and you can use it if your bottom starts to disagree with the wooden pews! I also like the atmosphere, the chapel itself is a beautiful building and they usually put candles out which makes it feel homely. The only downside to this venue is that you cannot bring alcoholic drinks into it (being a church and all). However on the plus side there is a tuck shop where you can pick up cups of tea, coffee, chocolate, crisps and ice cream which you can leisurely eat/drink at your pew (which comes with a very handy ledge/table). There is also a bar out the back which is worth a visit for the feel/architecture, but which unfortunately is badly stocked without draft beer and with only a limited selection.

I went to Union Chapel over Halloween weekend for the Jameson Cult Film Club screening of the zombie-perspective film, Colin (http://londonist.com/2009/10/in_pictures_screening_of_colin_at_u.php?gallery0Pic=1#gallery) . I loved the movie and thought the venue was ideal for such a film. It was soooo creepy in there. I'm sure the chapel can be done up less Halloween-ily but if you're looking for a spook-fest, Union Chapel's a good one. It's massive, in a great part of town (I love that stretch of Upper Street) and is a much more interesting space compared to most other events venues.

A church that is still in active use and doubles as a concert venue. It's got a brilliant ambiance for gigs, and good acoustics. They may not serve alcohol, but the tea and the atmosphere make up very well for that.

Love this venue, has sooo much character (basically a converted church). It retains much of its former life (classic wooden benches) which I feel adds to the quirkiness of it all. I was here to see a screening of Dracula which was very apt.

This place is a pleasant surprise I must say-I went here to see Courtney Pine play and the acosutics are pretty amazing given the fact it was a chapel and you are sitting in pews just liek a sunday school event. You can even get a cup of tea in the side hall and no alcohol is allowed in the venue itself.

I have been here before for jonatha brook! The place is just beautiful.. Sound is amazing Monteverdi first book of magicals Well what can I say? Just sublime! Moving beyond words.

Beautiful building which for most of the evening is darkly lit. I just wish they would display more of the intricate ceiling which seems to amaze me every visit. From Kate Walsh to David Gilmour (with Amadou & Mariam) this place has fantastic acoustics that bellow around at any pew or up in the circle.

Just a beautiful place to see any band

Absolutely incredible venue for acoustic gigs. Totally haunting and so intimate that you have to make sure your phone is on silent or risk being glared at by everyone else in attendance. I try to get back a much as possible as it remains my favourite venue in the city by a long way.

Such a beautiful venue. Only downside is not being able to drink alcohol in the chapel itself. Other than that, if you can find a show you want to see here, then go and see it!

The place is really nice, the sound is amazing.