Phase 2 Dining & Entertainment

First time visitor, came for a concert. What a great venue Lynchburg has! The restaurant and lounge have an upscale, yet very comfortable feel. The restaurant service and food was very good and reasonably priced. The lounge is very comfortable and being able to sit in the lounge until general admission was an unexpected treat (most other venues make you wait outside.) The club/auditorium/hall was clean, easy to get around in, had good views just about everywhere and the sound was clear. The bathrooms are also nice. There is limited seating, but its more seating than I've seen at other club-type venues (many venues don't even have seats.) It's worth the drive, we'll be back!

Been there a lot with my friends since it's been Phase 2. Service is always bad and the bartenders are pretty snobby. My friends feel the same way also. I have to agree with the sound issues, not all that great with live sound. Don't know if its the room or crappy sound men. Would be nice to have better cover bands most of the one's they have are cheesy and sloppy. It is better since there is no smoking in the building though. I agree that we need more competition in the area for sure. This is a review it's meant to help the place improve.

Phase 2 is a large building with multiple rooms. Most people know it for the auditorium/club, which functions as a live music venue and a dance club. Then there is a restaurant and a lounge/bar. Upstairs is an upscale lounge with a balcony that overlooks the auditorium. It’s a challenge to give a proper review for each facet of this facility. I don’t think it’s fair to compare every aspect to venues in large cities like DC or New York. Also, Lynchburg really doesn’t have other comparable facilities under one roof, so you have to compare each individual facet.

Phase 2 is a non-smoking venue through-out. Before the remodel, they used to allow smoking and it could get thick. That’s not an issue anymore. If you’ve ever been in a club during the day, you’ll be surprised how clean Phase 2 is kept – even the bathrooms. The bathrooms, even in the club, are well appointed.

The restaurant is nicely furnished and decorated, though maybe a bit bare. We ate there a couple times; the food and service was good. It’s much nicer than the cheap chain restaurant food where they try to turn as many tables as possible. The restaurant is completely separate from the club and the bar. The bar lounge is clean and nicely finished with a granite bar and backlit liquor shelves. I haven’t been to the upstairs lounge, but I’ve heard it’s very upscale.

The auditorium… As a live music venue, it is not perfect but it is good. It appears to hold about 1000 people. The views are good and the sound is clear. They book mostly popular music like rock and country. You’d have to go to larger cities to find anything comparable. Seating is limited, but it has much more seating than most comparable venues (this is not a theater or jazz club.) Tables may be a bit worn, but the seats are comfortable, thickly cushioned stools. I find them perfectly suitable and comfortable. If there is a problem with table service, it’s that they even try to have it. I’ve never seen table service at any rock venue. As far as a dance club, it has a huge dance floor and modern effect lighting. The bars have rotating colored backlights to give added flair. Music is usually Top 40. I don’t think it’s fair to compare to a venue in NY or Las Vegas where people are dropping $100 bills like Ben Bernanke. Other clubs have come and FAILED in Lynchburg; Phase 2 is still here. They must be doing something right.

Yes, there are some nicer venues in larger cities, but Phase 2 is better than most. Frankly, I’m surprised a small, conservative city can even support such a large club venue. They book some great acts and I appreciate what they do for Lynchburg.

Come on... most club venues don't even have seats (this isn't a theater.) There a lot of haters in this town. Lynchburg is lucky to have anything, let alone a large club venue as nice as Phase 2. Since the remodel, the restaurant is BY FAR the nicest in Lynchburg. We were in the VIP lounge for the comedy show Thursday; you'd have to go to DC to find a room as nice. I plan to get VIP tickets to an upcoming concert so I can watch it from upstairs. The upstairs lounge is NICE! @68B, you don't know what you're talking about. Most national acts bring their own opening acts on tour (check pollstar.com) - doesn't matter what venue you're at, you'll typically see the same acts on tour together. The sound has always been good at the shows I've seen. The view of the acts is good from just about every spot in the venue (unlike most club venues.) I've been to some venue venues were I wasn't sure we'd get out alive, but security is tight at Phase 2. In fact, I suspect some of the complaints are from people that have been banned and have a chip on their shoulder about it.

I've been to Phase 2 a couple of times to see bands. The chairs and seating suck bad. I agree with Native2NC the sound was really muddy every time I have been. They always have a cheesy cover band open for national acts. Whats up with that?? At least find some original acts that's what I pay for. The service is really poor not enough bar tenders and they act like their doing you a favor. I have lived all around the U.S. and this is one of the worst club there is. They have a monopoly on the market and we need some competition for sure. Really wish I had some good to say about it since it's the only place around. But for a good time, a ride to the National in Richmond or Charlottesville is well worth it.

Native2NC YOU need to go back to NC and stay there. I mean Who pays to get in a club with a credit card anyway ?. However I will agree with you that the downstairs tables and chairs are cheap...like something you'd see in a High School cafeteria not a club. My only other complaint would be the smoke machine. There is NO NEED for it...they have it running full blast at times and people are gagging from it ,and waving smoke away from their face (no lie) and the smoke stinks like a moldy old basement. With that said It's still in my opinion the best club around and better than anything in Roanoke. As a matter of fact I will be at Phase 2 tonight !

Saturday night's experience was less than desireable. Dinner on the restaurant side was fair. The steak was OK but the potato was burned. Service was good. After dinner we moved to the club side and were very dissapointed. They would only take cash for the cover charge and don't mention that fact on the website. The inside of the club looks more like the Union Hall than a nightclub. It appeasr there are better seating upstairs but we didn't go up. The chairs are cheap. If you want a drink you need to go to the bar. There was only one waitress for the entire room! It was impossible to order any snacks or food. The sound quilaity was poor. It looks like the owner designed the system themselves and the volume was very inconsistent. Overall a very poor experience and I can't recommend the venue to anyone.