This is one of my favourite ever venues.
It small but not too small. There are two stages. This is great becuase when festivals are on (such as LiverpoolSoundCity) because it means that you can have two bands on at the same time, but because there's only two stages which were staggered you didn't have to completely miss any of the bands. The main stage is situated upstairs and is great.Because of the balcony, the large width, and the bar at the back of the room. This means that if you like the music but not the crowd, you can keep well away and enjoy the sound. And it also helps people like, who, at any good gig, are posessed by the overwhelming urge to be front and centre, becuase the crowds are thinner, so it's much easier to get to the front.
One of the best bands I've seen there was Simple Plan. When the band pretended to have finished, the lead singer Pierre disappeared, and to the awe and delight of the audience, reappeared to sing a stunningly poignant version of "Perfect" from a podium at the sound deck in the center of the crowd!
However the thing I like most about this venue is the smaller stage. I've seen a few great bands there, such as The Bravery, Day with Mary, Air Traffic, The Cinematics and The Wombats. This small stage is just perfect. If you're watching a warm p band you're not too interested in, or waiting for a band to come on, there are booths and cute tables at the back which are perfect to sit around with friends. Theres also a few of these lovely comfy couches around the bar too, so you can sit down when you've been standing at a fest all day. There's also a few tables and barstools which are wonderfully well placed , as due to the cut outs in the wall, if you're one of the forementioned people who prefers to sit and listen, you can stuck your head through and listen to and watch the bands. And if you're crafty enough you can actually nab a place at the front cut out which gives you a perfect place to lean out of when the band comes on and be only a metre or two away. And the bar and booth are means again, that the people who aren't too interested in the music will stay out of the giglovers way.
And the stage itself is a lovely tiny size which means you can get right next to the band, and the bouncers are also particularly nice and helpful and instead of being cranky, will actually help you when someone is trying to tackle you to get ahead if they see (something which I've never encountered before).
The venue is so good that even if the band isn't that great, it's a fabulous place to to hang out with friends, recommended to all.

best venue ever!
not to big!
easy to see the stage and easy to get to the bar!

both upstaires and downstaires are great venues and are just well fun to be in!
=D
x

most of the gigs ive been to have been at the carling/02 accadmy..and they have been Really good...its not to small but not to big...and you feel like ure really close to the band...i even got to meet the defiled!!!...it kinda upsets me that alot of bands dont go to liverpool..why is this? :S