LEAMINGTON VENUE WINS TOP AWARD

LEAMINGTON venue The Assembly has been named the Best Venue in the UK at the Music Week Award.

It beat off stiff competition from larger sites such as The O2 Arena, The O2 Sheperd’s Bush Empire and The Lexington, London to pick up the title.

The Assembly scooped the title at a ceremony held in the capital last Thursday.

Past performers include Razorlight, The Kooks, Pendulum, Doves, Corinne Bailey-Rae, Patti Smith, Peter Doherty and Beverley Knight.

Up and coming shows include Goldfrapp, Newton Faulkner and the only UK date for The Sisters Of Mercy.

One of the judges said the deal was clinched because of the investment into the front house and backstage facilities that had been put in place.

The Assembly boasts an artists’ area where there is a private bar, ride-along toys and bumper cars to help performers relax and unwind.

Vas Stylianos, of The Assembly, said: “We are over the moon with the result. Of course, we hoped that we would win when we were nominated because that alone was a massive deal to us.

“So to hear The Assembly being called out as the winner was amazing.”