M&S Bank Arena

You know you're in for something special when the artist actually sounds like themselves and not like they're performing down a tunnel. The acoustics here are genuinely impressive for a venue this size, and there really isn't a bad seat in the house – something that can't be said for plenty of other arenas. The sound engineers clearly know what they're doing, whether you're watching a stripped-back comedian work the room or a full-scale production with pyrotechnics. The bars move quickly enough that you won't miss half the second set, and the location right on the waterfront means you can grab proper food beforehand rather than surviving on overpriced arena chips.