Kingsway Hall

From IPS-Compendium

Kingsway Hall A Methodist Hall towards the top of Kingsway near Holborn Tube Station which, many eminent musicians and sound experts averred, had the best acoustic quality for recording. The horseshoe gallery gave just the right amount of feedback with the right delay to players. It was troubled by noise from Kingsway itself, in particular during the days of the trams. These may be heard very clearly on some early LPs (the Sargent recording of The Planets Suite (Holst) at the opening moments of Venus for example.) Used a great deal by EMI who made many records there, particularly with the Philharmonia Orchestra, many of which were in “experimental” stereo which was run in tandem with the “real” recording. It became subject to poor repair; the gallery was unsafe and, sadly (1998) the place has been demolished.