Corn Exchange

Quite enjoy the shows put on here as they are not all professionally done. There is good support for local people’s efforts. The buiding remains a prominent feature of the City, as has been well documented by previous Qypers. Interesting how it all connects together with the other venues.

Over the years, I’ve experienced the Corn Exchange in many guises. I’ve seen it packed with robed-​up Sussex students at graduation ceremonies; draped in coloured ribbon, full of balloons and set up like a dining room/​dance floor for my graduation ball; packed full of screaming Jason Mraz fans and most recently, hosting the Wired Sussex digital media fair.
This is a brilliant multi-​purpose venue, with wonderfully high ceilings and great acoustics. It’s exactly the right size too, so at gigs it feels buzzing and packed with people as well as retaining a level of intimacy with the performing act.
My favourite details of the hall are the high windows fitted with panes of mirrored glass when you look up they add a rather strange dimension to the place, reflecting back the light fittings and making the upper part of the room really open out.
This place has got a hell of a lot of history attached to it too. Completed in 1805, what we now know as the Corn Exchange part of the Brighton Dome was built as a riding hall for the Prince Regent (then George, Prince of Wales). See? You learn something every day…

With a grand entrance on Church Street, the Corn Exchange is another of Brighton’s premier venues, playing host to stars such as Joan Armatrading, Boy George and La Roux.
I haven’t been here since moving to Brighton last year, but have seen a couple of bands here back in the day when we used to trek to Brighton for gigs. I saw Starsailor and The Music, both of which were fantastic. The venue itself is big enough to fit a rowdy crowd, but not overpowering like other large venues.
As well as music, comedy and other events are shown here, next month hilarious Frankie Boyle is coming to town, and there are hordes of dance, theatre and music shows put on by local colleges and art groups.

The Brighton Dome offers a variety of different venues, and the Corn Exchange is possibly its most versatile. As a huge hall, it can be adapted to fit a variety of different acts, from live music bands that want more standing space and the like to club nights to the occasional humongous theatre event. I’ve seen a variety of things in here, and it’s amazing how different they can make it look. Anything performed in here will use the space in ways you haven’t even imagined: prepare to be blown away each time.
As well as all of the different events that can fit into the space, the Corn Exchange also often offers a bar at the back, for anyone dying for a drink during a particularly long gig, and the prices are suitably steep, although not too pricey for your typical live-​event music bar. Unfortunately, the ticket prices themselves are often more than a little steep: I understand it costs a lot to see the big stars, but prices here often seem to be a lot higher than similar events elsewhere.
It’s one of the biggest and best live music venues in the area, and there really is no denying that, but the Corn Exchange isn’t exactly the perfect fit. It’s just a little bit too pricey for my liking: nothing on the big venues in London, sure, but still a bit much. Nonetheless, it is good to have a chance to see some of the big acts that the Corn Exchange pulls in: I guess not everyone has that privilege.

I saw PJ Harvey here, which despite not being too enamoured with her newest offerings to the table of woe, live it was extraordinary, no doubt helped along by the incredible venue. I perhaps wouldn’t go here for some mosh and stumble into strangers action (as it can feel like you are in an enormous but slightly breakable living room — which may account for the little audience movement) but for something like PJ’s new puritan vs. demon noises that you tap to nonchalantly it worked. The reams of red fabric also give it a theatrical feel, so a drama or a spectacle work well, leaving me like a rat to the pied piper during ‘Black Hearted Love’.

Thank the lord for the Corn Exchange. Without it, I would never have got to see acts like The Pipettes and Le Tigre play gloriously ramshackle sets before splitting up.
The sister venue to the grand Brighton Dome, the Corn Exchange is smaller and cosier with sold out gigs being particularly intimate and atmospheric. The fact it’s usually standing only creates a good cameraderie and the bar at the back of the venue keeps the drinks flowing. As with the Dome, spirits and beer are reasonably priced but there’s no Guinness on tap or in bottles.
Ticket prices usually range from £15-£30 depending on how well established the acts are. PJ Harvey played a few months back and Calvin Harris and Dizzee Rascal are set to play this spring. Personally, I’ve seen some amazing gigs here from Cuban musicians to singer-​songwriters. The best show however, was probably Brighton’s own Bat For Lashes in 2009. She was so spellbinding, I think I floated home…