Oxford's biggest & best live venue (bar Brookes Student Union) and part of the national touring bands circuit. Live music every night during university term from 7.30-10ish, followed by a selection of regular and specialist club nights. Main venue is downstairs, with a street-front bar which can be closed off to become another small venue; upstairs is 'The Zodiac @ The Carling Academy', also with a back bar which is partitioned off at smaller gigs.
Opening hours: From as early as 6.30pm to as late as 4am, daily. Wheelchair friendly.

Capacity: 1350 in total, with approx. 1000 of that downstairs.. Available for private parties, Cloakroom & Cocktails. Late licence till 4. Equipment Spec.: Full kit for playing through the in-house system; in-house engineers of varying quality; state-of-the-art lighting rigs. All new in autumn 2007.

Review from BBC radio Oxford

Finally, at last, the moment all Oxford’s music fans have been so eagerly waiting for happened on Thursday night, the new Carling Academy Oxford opened it’s doors for business after being closed for what seems like an age. It was so re-assuring to see the vast colourful tour bus parked on Cowley Road, and a perfectly formed queue alongside, as long and excitable as at any Northern Rock branch of late.
Speculative rumours of Radiohead playing locally for the first time again for years were misplaced, instead the latest NME darlings The New Young Pony Club had the privilege of playing the main 1020 capacity room on this opening night, and their new rave blend of dance and indie were appropriately cutting edge to suit the suave modernity of the surroundings. The evening was more about the new venue than the New Young Pony Club however.

The all new Academy is chic, sleek and cool. It gave you goose pimples walking into the place, but that may have been due to the over active air conditioning as it was swimming pool cold inside. It may be the same building as the old Zodiac, but has a total different feel. The toilets are fragrant and tidy, there are more bars, and a fair chunk of the £2 million budget went on state of the art sound and light equipment.

Cowley Road remains one of the most interesting and bohemian streets in the country, and this fabulous new venue is a shot in the arm for east Oxford and beyond

190 Cowley Road Oxford OX4 1UE
Venue Box Office
Box Office: 0844 477 2000
Customer Info Line: 0905 020 3999 (25p per min)

Check out Republica Night on 1st Feb 2008

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Carling Academy Oxford Ticket Shop is open as follows and sells tickets for the Carling Academy Oxford, all other Carling Academy venues and a wide range of music, sport and theatre events across the UK. Monday-Friday 12.00pm-5.30pm, Saturday 12.00pm-4.00pm (public holidays may vary).
Age Restrictions
All under 14s must be accompanied by an adult. Club nights are strictly over 18s.
Disabled Info
Anyone wishing to make a booking for disabled access to the Carling Academy Oxford should call the venue on 01865 420 046.
Travel Information

Travelling By Car
From the Midlands (M40)

1. Take M40 Junction 9, the A34 turn-off to Oxford.
2. Take the third Oxford exit, which takes you onto the ring road.
3. Carry round the ring road over the next three roundabouts.
4. Take the next exit, leave the ring road, and drive down onto a roundabout.Take the left towards the City centre.
5. Go over a small roundabout and follow this road for about 2 miles.This is now Cowley road.
From London (M40)
1. Take M40 Junction 8, the A40 turn-off to Oxford.
2. Go left onto the ring road at the first roundabout.
3. Go straight over three sets of lights and through the BMW plant.
4. Take the next exit, leave the ring road, and drive down onto a roundabout. Take the right towards the City centre.
5. Go over a small roundabout and follow this road for about 2 miles. This is now Cowley road.
Nearest Car Park

A public car park in situated in Union Street, behind TESCO.
Nearest Train Station
Oxford British Rail Station - Rail Enquiries: 08457 484950
www.railtrack.com

CoachOxford Tube - 24 hour service to/from London which stops in St. Clements (ten minute walk from the venue). Please visit www.oxfordtube.com for information on stops in London.
National Express www.nationalexpress.co.uk
Oxford - London or Cambridge www.megabus.co.uk
Nearest Buses To Venue
Stagecoach Oxford buses (24 hour service) run along Cowley Road.
Stagecoach Oxford 24 hour information hotline: 01865 772250
www.stagecoachbus.com/oxfordshire
Buses are available outside Oxford Train Station that drop off just past Carling Academy Oxford on Cowley Road, and have Blackbird Leys as the destination, displayed on the front.