Of all Dublin's venues, I'd say the one I've frequented the most is the Ambassador. This is largely due to my love of punk and emo as a youngster. The Ambassador is a small scale venue, holds under 1,000, and although quiet on the concert front of late due to the residency of the 'Bodies' exhibit, frequently hosts gigs from some top notch punk and metal bands.
The Ambassador is known in Dublin for two things. Firstly, it's the strangely impressive 1940's building at the top of O'Connell street that used to be a cinema. Secondly, it's known for the hordes of teenagers with bits of metal stuck in their faces that swarm towards it on weekends.
While certainly an impressive exterior design, the place is in dire need of a makeover. A dingy, almost catacomb-like hallway leads you to a large spherical auditorium and stage. The bathrooms are filthy and far too small for a venue of it's size, not to mention the fact that there's only one cubicle.
What really brings the venue down though is the fact that it doesn't really work as a venue. The acoustics are abominable due to the enormous ceiling, it's nigh on impossible to see anything from the back of the venue from the ground floor, as a balcony extends over half the standing area and worst of all, if you have to get something from the cloakroom, your looking at a fourty minute plus wait due to queuing in the narrow, labyrinthine corridors.
I have been to some great gigs in the ambassador, and have great memories, but I can't help but feel that the experience would have been much better if a few simple changes were made to the layout of the building and if staff were slightly more accommodating.
The Ambassador is an interesting place to see a gig, but really pales in comparison when you place it next to other small scale venues such as the Academy or Andrew's Lane Theater. read more