LiveHouse Dundee is an upcoming multi-purpose live entertainment venue to open in the Nethergate area of Dundee, Scotland.[1][2][3] The venue is planned to have a maximum capacity of around 4,500 people, with mixed seating and standing configurations. It is set to open in December 2024 with further work on the site expected to continue in 2025. It will replace the Caird Hall as the largest entertainment venue in Dundee, and the third-largest venue in Scotland behind Glasgow's OVO Hydro and Aberdeen's P&J Live.[4][5]
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| Address | 106–110 Nethergate |
|---|---|
| Location | Dundee, Scotland, UK |
| Coordinates | 56°27′31″N 2°58′22″W / 56.458688°N 2.972916°W |
| Owner | MEC Holdings Scotland |
| Operator | MEC Holdings Scotland |
| Type | Multi-purpose |
| Capacity | 4,500 (with standing) |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1936 (tower) 1997 (current iteration) |
| Opened | December 2024 (planned) |
| Renovated | 2024–2025 |
| Rebuilt | 1997 |
| Architect | Nicoll Russell Studios |
| Website | |
| LiveHouse Dundee | |
History
edit
Originally, the location was home to Green's Playhouse, a "super-cinema" that opened in 1936 with a seating capacity of 4,800.[6] At the time, Green’s Playhouse was one of the largest cinemas in Europe, which had detailed Art Deco architecture and design, providing Dundee with a grand venue for film, theatre, and musical performances. The Playhouse's distinctive neon-lit facade and opulent interior drew in large crowds, making it a bustling hub of social life for decades.
However, as cinema attendance began to decline in the 1960s, Green's Playhouse closed as a cinema in January 1968. The site was repurposed the following year as a bingo hall, reflecting the shift in entertainment preferences among the local community. The venue continued to operate as a bingo hall for several decades under various owners, during which time it remained a meeting place for Dundee residents.
In 1995, the Playhouse site suffered a devastating fire that destroyed most of the historic structure. Despite the extensive damage, the advertising tower – a symbol of the Playhouse’s storied past – survived the blaze and has since become a landmark in its own right.
A year after the fire, Mecca Bingo took over the site in 1996,[7] transforming it into a modern bingo venue while preserving the remaining tower. The bingo hall remained in operation for nearly three decades until February 2024, when Mecca Bingo closed.
Initial proposals
editIn 2022, proposals for a 10,000 capacity arena were announced,[8][9] with plans to transform the Mecca Bingo site once the lease was up, with an expected opening date of 2027. Progress on the arena development stalled for a considerable amount of time. At the same time, another proposal for a 4,000 seat capacity esports arena was proposed at the Dundee waterfront however this was reduced to 1,000 seats.
Opening
editIn November 2024, it was announced that the site was to be reopened as LiveHouse Dundee which will be operated by MEC and opened on a phased basis from December 2024 initially at a capacity of 2,500 before extending to the planned 4,500 as works continue.[4]
Events
editLiveHouse Dundee aims to accommodate multi-purpose events, with a main focus on esports competitions with the operators currently in discussion with an international gaming company.
References
edit- ^ Devlin, Laura (2024-11-08). "EXCLUSIVE: New 4,500-capacity venue set to open in Dundee". The Courier. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
- ^ Walker, Peter A. (2024-11-08). "4,500-capacity Dundee venue set to open next month". businessInsider. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
- ^ Batchelor, Andrew (2024-11-08). "Dundee Livehouse: 4,000 capacity live events venue to open next month in Dundee". Dundee Culture. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
- ^ a b Devlin, Laura (2024-11-08). "LiveHouse: Q&A on new Dundee venue poised for former Mecca Bingo hall". The Courier. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
- ^ Murden, Terry (2024-11-08). "New entertainment venue to 're-energise' Dundee". Daily Business. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
- ^ Strachan, Graeme (2021-10-05). "Green's Playhouse: Remembering the magic of Dundee 'super-cinema'". The Courier. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
- ^ "Dundee Cinemas". www.scottishcinemas.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
- ^ Harper, Gavin (2022-04-08). "Dundee Arena: Plans for 10,000 capacity venue at waterfront an 'amazing' opportunity for city". The Courier. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
- ^ Walker, Peter A. (2022-02-25). "Plans revealed for 10,000 capacity arena in Dundee". businessInsider. Retrieved 2024-11-08.