Tunbridge Wells Forum

Tunbridge Wells Forum

Tunbridge Wells Forum
Location	Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, United Kingdom
Type	Live music, Arts
Genre(s)	indie
Capacity	250
Opened	1993 (as a music venue)
Website
http://www.twforum.co.uk

The Forum is an independent music venue in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent with a standing capacity of 250.

The Forum is located on Tunbridge Wells Common, close to the junction of the A26 London Road and Frant Road, opposite the King Charles the Martyr church and The Pantiles. It is approximately five minutes walk from Tunbridge Wells station.

The Forum was the brainchild of four friends: Michael Oyarzabal, Peter Hoare, Jason Dormon, and Mark Davyd, two of whom had previously been involved with the Rumble Club, an irregular music event that took place in a variety of locations in Tunbridge Wells during the period 1988 to 1992 – bringing bands such as The Boo Radleys, Lush and Green Day to the area. It was the success of The Rumble Club that prompted them to seek a permanent location for their own venue.

The Forum opened as a new music venue in January 1993 in a building on Tunbridge Wells Common which was previously used as a public toilet and a brass rubbing centre. It has since hosted a number of acts who have gone on to achieve significant commercial success.

In 2007, The Forum produced a parody of the cover of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, showing a selection of the better known acts that had played at the venue.

In 2010, The Forum and one of its founders Jason Dormon were featured in The Independent's "Happy List", profiling people who make Britain a better place to live.

In 2012, the NME voted the venue as Britain's Best Small Venue.

The Forum has been credited as a key influence by people from the local area who have become successful in the music industry - including members of Everything Everything and Slaves.