(NOTE: for the Munich-based studio of the same name, please use Olympia Studios Munich.)
UK recording studios, located in Barnes, West London, UK. Recording began there in 1966, but closed in Spring 2009.
It was originally founded in West Hampstead by Angus McKenzie in the late 1950s before leasing a derelict Synagogue in Carton Street in London's West End, as Olympic Sound Studios.
The Olympic building first opened in 1906 as "Byfield Hall", a so-called 'entertainment centre' that hosted a range of attractions including 'bioscope' screenings. In 1910, it became a full-fledged cinema, undergoing a number of name changes over the years ("Barnes Cinema", "Byfield Hall Cinema", and "Barnes Picture House"). It was used as a theatre in the 1920s, but after the Second World War, it became a cinema again until 1966 when the Olympic Studios opened.
Closing in Spring 2009, in December 2013, the Olympic reopened as a quality independent cinema/restaurant/members club, maintaining the name "Olympic Studios". The management keep the building's strong historical musical connections, by beginning screenings with a brief advert featuring a selection of the artists who recorded there in the past.
Engineers known to have worked here:
Alan O'Duffy, Andy Bradfield, Anton Matthews, Ben Amesbury, Ben Jackson (10), Bob Hall, Cenzo Townshend, Chris Kimsey, Cliff Adams (2), Dave Bridges, David Hamilton-Smith, Doug Bennett, George Chkiantz, Gerry O'Riordan, Glyn Johns, J.B. Lierre, Jeremy Gee, Jock (20), John Mills (2), John Timperley, Jon Astley, Keith Grant, Keith Harwood, Mark Stent, Mark Warner (3), Mike Craig, Neil Comber, Paul 'P-Dub' Walton, Phill Brown, Rick Lawler, Rod Thear, Roger Beale, Roger Mayer (2), Roger Quested, Rufus Cartwright, Sam Miller (6), Steve Stratton (3), Tony Faulkner.
Also appears on releases as:
- Olympic
- Olympic, London
- Olympic Sound, Londres
- Olympic Sound Studio, London
- Olympic Sound Studios
- Olympic Sound Studios, Barnes
- Olympic Sound Studios, London
- Olympic Studios, London
- Olympia Studios, London
- Olympic Studio 2 London
- Olympic Studio 3, London
- Olympic Reduction Room
