Hole 44

Hole 44 is a 650-capacity concert hall in Berlin’s Neukölln, operating inside the former Globus cinema. Its defining feature is the upper viewing level: the old cinema-rank concept returned in a modern steel construction during the 2021 conversion, giving audiences a choice between the floor’s close-range energy and an elevated view of the stage. For a room this size, that split-level design is the draw.

A screen becomes a stage

The building began in 1949 as the Globus-Filmpalast, described by local history publication Kiez und Kneipe Neukölln as Berlin’s first purpose-built cinema to open after the Second World War. Its square auditorium and two-storey rank theatre screened films for almost two decades. The hall then moved through several lives, first as a supermarket and later as the Polish nightclub Galaxy Club. Hole 44 opened in 2021 after a pandemic-related delay, under Channel Music, whose Berlin venues also include larger and smaller rooms across the city. The cinema’s hidden upper rank helped seal the deal: Channel Music’s Andre Krüger initially found the room too small, then saw its potential after the covered balcony was revealed. The original structure gave way to a new steel balcony, while the room was stripped back and its acoustics planned to limit spill into the surrounding neighbourhood.

The room’s working shape

Hole 44 presents itself as a platform for established artists and emerging acts, with booking managed through Channel Music. Its program has covered pop, rock, punk, metal and alternative music; the German Music Information Centre also lists roughly 160–180 concerts annually, alongside comedy. The ground floor places the stage, bar and facilities together, while the upper level adds the balcony and a smaller bar. Concert hall and facilities are barrier-free via the main entrance, and staff can help wheelchair users find a clear stage view.