The Forum, Tunbridge Wells

The Forum is located on Tunbridge Wells Common, close to the junction of the A26 London Road and Frant Road, opposite the Church of King Charles the Martyr 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,{{cite web|url=http://www.mrgig.com/pdf/Jan2003.pdf|title=10 Years of the Forum|website=Mrgig.com|date=2003}} 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 had been built as a public cold bath and was subsequently a public toilet and then 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~twforum/|title=madasafish|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100909073836/http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~twforum/|archivedate=9 September 2010|df=dmy-all}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/the-iiosi-happy-list-2010--the-100-1953745.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/the-iiosi-happy-list-2010--the-100-1953745.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=The IoS Happy List 2010 - the 100|date=25 April 2010|website=Independent.co.uk}}

In 2012, the NME voted the venue as Britain's Best Small Venue.{{cite web|url=http://www.frostmagazine.com/2012/05/tunbridge-wells-forum-wins-nme-top-music-venue-award-music-news/|title=Tunbridge Wells' Forum wins NME top music venue award - Music News|first=Alex|last=Knott|date=8 May 2012|website=Frostmagazine.com}}

The Forum has been credited as a key influence by people from the local area who have become successful in the music industry, including Jeremy Pritchard of Everything Everything{{cite web|url=http://diymag.com/2016/03/16/upbringing-everything-everything-influences-upbringing|title=Upbringing: Everything Everything|website=Diymag.com}} and Slaves.{{cite web|url=http://www.courier.co.uk/sold-homecoming-gig-dream-come-true-kent-punks/story-26053901-detail/story.html|title=Sold-out homecoming gig a dream come true for Kent punks Slaves|date=19 February 2015|website=Courier.co.uk}}

Many acts have appeared at The Forum, towards the beginning of careers that saw them go onto significant commercial success. These have included Adele,{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/tunbridge-wells-forum-scores-nme-top-music-venue-award-7720505.html|title=Tunbridge Wells' Forum scores NME top music venue award|date=8 May 2012|website=Independent.co.uk}} Biffy Clyro,{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/tunbridge-wells-forum-scores-nme-top-music-venue-award-7720505.html|title=Tunbridge Wells' Forum scores NME top music venue award|date=7 May 2012|newspaper=The Independent|accessdate=10 January 2021}} Coldplay,{{cite web|url=http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/New-forum-set-music-scene/story-12004081-detail/story.html|title=New forum set up for music scene in Tunbridge Wells|date=5 March 2010|website=Thisiskent.co.uk}} Ellie Goulding,{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/ellie-goulding-the-forum-tunbridge-wellsbrabbaworld-earls-court-london-1884129.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/ellie-goulding-the-forum-tunbridge-wellsbrabbaworld-earls-court-london-1884129.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Ellie Goulding, The Forum, Tunbridge WellsAbbaworld, Earls Court|date=31 January 2010|website=Independent.co.uk}} Green Day,{{cite web|url=http://www.greendayauthority.com/tour/show/838/|title=Green Day in Tunbridge Wells, England - May 03, 1993|website=Greendayauthority.com}} IDLES,{{Cite web|url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/idles/2017/the-forum-royal-tunbridge-wells-england-5be1f71c.html|title=IDLES Setlist at The Forum, Royal Tunbridge Wells|website=Setlist.fm|accessdate=10 January 2021}} The Libertines,{{cite web|url=http://libertines.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=109|title=Tunbridge Wells Forum Gig - The Libertines|website=Libertines.proboards.com}} Mumford & Sons, Muse, Oasis,{{cite web|url=http://www.songkick.com/concerts/1808601-oasis-at-forum|title=Oasis and Whiteout at The Forum (26 Mar 94)|website=Songkick.com}} Royal Blood,{{cite web|url=http://www.supajam.com/review/show/Royal-Blood--Tigercub---The-Forum-Tunbridge-Wells|title=Royal Blood - The Forum, Tunbridge Wells|website=Supajam.com}} The Vaccines,{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h151h_xyEuY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/h151h_xyEuY |archive-date=2021-12-20 |url-status=live|title=THE VACCINES - WRECKIN' BAR - 210211 - FORUM TUN. WELLS|last=jonunt|date=21 February 2011|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} and Wolf Alice.{{cite web|url=https://riotmag.co/live-review-wolf-alice-forum-tunbridge-wells-23-08-17|title=Live Review: Wolf Alice // The Forum, Tunbridge Wells – 23.08.17|date=24 August 2017|website=Riotmag.co}}

In addition, The Forum has been used as a venue for more established acts who are playing warmup or smaller shows. These have included Ash,{{Cite web|url=http://www.ash-official.com/details.aspx?categoryid=2t&id=8df5a9bc-896d-4bd5-932b-18acfb091fe5|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312031935/http://www.ash-official.com/details.aspx?categoryid=2t&id=8df5a9bc-896d-4bd5-932b-18acfb091fe5|url-status=dead|title=Advert for Ash gig at TW Forum|archivedate=12 March 2012|accessdate=10 January 2021}} The Divine Comedy,{{Cite web |url=http://www.ashortsite.com/chronology/detail.php?type=diaries&date=462544800 |title=A short site about the Divine Comedy |access-date=8 May 2012 |archive-date=8 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408224415/http://www.ashortsite.com/chronology/detail.php?type=diaries&date=462544800 |url-status=dead }} Enter Shikari,{{cite web|url=http://www.entershikari.com/very-special-intimate-show/|title=Enter Shikari|website=Entershikari.com}} Foals,{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/user/wearefoals|title=Foals|publisher=YouTube}} Frank Turner,{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/frankturner/status/1417777417607843840|title=Twitter - Frank Turner}} Graham Coxon, Keane, and Rag'n'Bone Man.{{cite web|url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/whats-on/news/rag-n-bone-man-to-play-in-kent-250236/|title=KentOnline - Rag'N'Bone Man to play Tunbridge Wells Forum}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.twforum.co.uk Official Forum website]
• [http://www.myspace.com/twforum TWForum myspace]
• [https://twitter.com/twforum Twitter page]
• [http://www.facebook.com/twforum Facebook page]

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{{Royal Tunbridge Wells}}

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Category:Music venues in Kent

Category:Buildings and structures in Royal Tunbridge Wells

Category:Music venues completed in 1993