Music Venues in Bristol
It’s easy to consider a city’s music scene and conclude that it is the bands and promoters that gives it it’s quality and identity. While to a certain extent this is true, venues are often much more significant. Bristol’s music scene is a great example. What makes Bristol’s venue structure work is a good spread of venue sizes, and this really is the key. Small venues like Mr Wolfs and open mic nights in Bristol provide the opportunity for new bands to get their first gigs. Once a little more established, mid-sized Venues like The Croft provide up and coming Bristol bands with support slots alongside national talent. Further headroom exists in larger venues supporting international artists.
Gig and Live Music Venues in Bristol
As mentioned there are some great venues in Bristol to catch emerging, established and international talent. Gig venues are pretty consistent, however new venues seem to pop up now and again. Notable recent additions to Bristol’s fleet of live music venues include The Old Firestation (aka The Island and The Boneyard Bar) with occasional multi-room gigs and live music at The Canteen on Gloucester Road with bands every night.
Club Venues in Bristol
Club venues in Bristol are much more transient. Every year new clubs seem to be opening and old favourites closing perhaps linked to the rapidly changing trends in dance music and a transient student population. That said, there are a few club stalwarts - most notably Lakota and the small, but excellent Timbuk2 (see whats on at Timbuk2). New (2009/2010) venues in Bristol include Crash Mansion (formerly Bar Latino) and Basement45. Of all the semi-recent club additions Motion is looking the most secure, with nights like Shit The Bed and Run promoting some of Bristol’s most big-budget line-ups for years.
When it comes to new djs looking for sets, things aren’t as easy with club venues as they are for gig venues. Generally, short of making fame as a producer, you’re looking at lots of 10pm, room 2 sets, hardcore networking or promoting your own events. For new promoters, small Bristol venues like Take Five and HushHush can be useful places to start. Summer can provide opportunities to promote clubnights in larger venues while many big promoters await the return of the students.
A to Z of Bristol Venue Listings
Click on any venue for full whats on listings:
A
Anson Rooms
University Of Bristol Students' Union, Queen's Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1LN
Bristol University gig venue
Whats on at Anson Rooms
Arnolfini
16 Narrow Quay, Bristol BS1 4QA
Bristol primary exhibitions space also hosts music events.
Whats on at Arnolfini
Aro Ling
127 Gloucester Rd, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8AX
Buddhist centre on Gloucester Road
Whats on at Aro Ling
The Arts House
108A Stokes Croft, Bristol BS1 3RU
Cafe, bar and gallery on Stokes Croft
Whats on at The Arts House
The Attic Bar
1-9 Stokes Croft, Bristol BS1 3PL
Music venue attached to the Full Moon pub on Stokes Croft
Whats on at The Attic BarB
Basement 45
8 Frogmore Street, Bristol BS1 5NA
Underground dance music venue in Bristol's city centre
Whats on at Basement 45
Blue Mountain
2 Stokes Croft, Bristol BS1 3PR
Renowned underground Bristol club
Whats on at Blue Mountain
Boca Bar
Unit 3.1, Paintworks, Arnos Vale, Bristol BS4 3EH
South Bristol's arts and media cafe
Whats on at Boca Bar
Bristol Old Vic
Bristol Old Vic, King Street, Bristol BS1 4ED
Recently re-developed theatre in central Bristol
Whats on at Bristol Old Vic
The Bank
84 Stokes Croft, Bristol, BS1 3QY
Popular bar in the heart of Stokes Croft
Whats on at The Bank
The Be-bop Club
The Bear, Hotwell Road, Bristol, BS8 4SF
Live jazz venue behind The Bear in Hotwells
Whats on at The Be-bop Club
The Big Chill Bar
15 Small Street, Bristol BS1 1DE
Busy bar in central Bristol
Whats on at The Big Chill Bar
The Birdcage
28 Clare St, Bristol, BS1 1YE
A new spot to find live music on Corn Street
Whats on at The Birdcage
The Black Swan
438 Stapleton Road, Bristol BS5 6NR
Unique club venue in Easton
Whats on at The Black Swan
The Blue Lagoon
20 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8AE
Popular bar and music venue on Gloucester road
Whats on at The Blue Lagoon
The Brass Pig
1 Clifton Heights, Triangle West, Bristol, BS8 1EJ
Restaurant and bar in Clifton with live music twice a week.
Whats on at The Brass Pig
The Bristol Fringe
32 Princess Victoria Street, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 4BZ
Bar in Clifton with regular live music.
Whats on at The Bristol Fringe
The Bunker
78 Queen's Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1QU
Alternative student venue on The Triangle
Whats on at The BunkerC
Colston Hall
13 Colston Street, Bristol BS1 5AR
Bristol's most famous concert and comedy venue
Whats on at Colston Hall
Crash Mansion
12 St Stephens Street, Bristol BS1 1EL
Intimate city centre club
Whats on at Crash Mansion
The Canteen
Hamilton House, 80 Stokes Croft, Bristol BS1 3QY
Seriously popular Bristol venue with free gigs every night
Whats on at The Canteen
The Colour Inn
The Colour Inn, Clifton Down, Whiteladies Road, Bristol
Cocktail bar on Whiteladies Road in Clifton.
Whats on at The Colour Inn
The Cooler
48 Park Street, Bristol BS1 5JG
Indie and rock venue on Park Street
Whats on at The Cooler
The Coronation Tap
8 Sion Place, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4AX
A unique Clifton pub with live music every Tuesday and Sunday
Whats on at The Coronation Tap
The Croft
117-119 Stokes Croft, Bristol BS1 3RW
A decent sized gig venue on Stokes Croft
Whats on at The Croft
The Cube
Dove Street South, Bristol, BS2 8JD
Independent cinema which also hosts occasional gigs and music
Whats on at The CubeD
Day + Night
10 St Nicholas Street, Bristol BS1 1UQ
Compact club in central Bristol
Whats on at Day + Night
Dojos
16 Park Row, Bristol BS1 5LJ
Enigmatic city centre club with one of Bristol's latest licenses
Whats on at DojosF
Fiddlers
Willway Street, Bristol BS3 4BG
Large independent gig venue on the south side of the river
Whats on at Fiddlers
The Fire Engine
188 Church Road, Redfield, Bristol BS5 9HX
Pub in Redfield which hosts live music
Whats on at The Fire Engine
The Fleece
12 St Thomas Street, Bristol, BS1 6JJ
Proper rock venue in Redcliffe
Whats on at The Fleece
The Folk House
40a Park Street, Bristol BS1 5JG
Adult education centre on Park Street
Whats on at The Folk HouseG
The Gallimaufry
26 The Promenade, Gloucester Road, Bristol, BS7 8AL
Small bar and restaurant on Gloucester Road with regular live music and Bristol djs.
Whats on at The Gallimaufry
The Golden Lion
244 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8NZ
One of Bristol's key live music pubs
Whats on at The Golden Lion
The Grain Barge
Mardyke Wharf, Hotwells Rd, Hotwells, Bristol BS8 4RU
Unique bar and music venue aboard a boat in Hotwells
Whats on at The Grain BargeH
Hush Hush
233 Cheltenham Road, Bristol BS6 5QP
Bar and micro club on Bristol's Gloucester Road
Whats on at Hush HushK
Kingsdown Wine Vaults
29-31, Kingsdown Parade, Bristol, BS6 5UE
Cosy pub tucked away in Kingsdown.
Whats on at Kingsdown Wine VaultsL
Lakota
6 Upper York Street, Stokes Croft, Bristol BS2 8QE
Huge and legendary rave club
Whats on at Lakota
The Lanes
22 Nelson Street, Bristol BS1 2LE
Retro bowling alley meets music venue in Bristol city centre
Whats on at The Lanes
The Louisiana
Bathurst Terrace, Bristol BS1 6UA
Bristol's most important indie venue
Whats on at The LouisianaM
Metropolis
135-137 Cheltenham Road, Bristol BS6 5RR
Comedy and music venue on Stokes Croft
Whats on at Metropolis
Motion
74 Avon Street, St Philips, Bristol BS2 0PX
Bristol's out of town warehouse venue
Whats on at Motion
Mr Wolfs
33 St Stephens Street, Bristol BS1 1JX
Thriving small venue in central Bristol.
Whats on at Mr Wolfs
The Mothers Ruin
7-9 St Nicholas Street, Bristol BS1 1UE
Pub venue near St Nick's market
Whats on at The Mothers RuinN
No.1 Harbourside
Canons Road, Bristol, Bs1 5UH
Quality bar and cafe right on Bristol harbour
Whats on at No.1 Harbourside
Number 51
51 Stokes Croft, Bristol BS1 3QP
Popular small venue on Stokes Croft
Whats on at Number 51O
O2 Academy
Frogmore Street, Bristol BS1 5NA
Bristol's largest live music venue
Whats on at O2 Academy
The Old Bookshop
65, North Street, Bristol BS3 1ES
Intimate Bristol gig venue in Bedminister
Whats on at The Old Bookshop
The Old Duke
45 King Street, Bristol BS1 4ER
Renowned live music pub in the centre of Bristol with free gigs every night.
Whats on at The Old Duke
The Old Fire Station
Silver Street, Bristol BS1 2PY
Home of The Invisible Circus and Carny Ville
Whats on at The Old Fire Station
The Oxford
120-122 Oxford Street, Totterdown, Bristol BS3 4RL
Live music pub in Totterdown
Whats on at The OxfordP
Plantation
223 Cheltenham Road, Cotham, Bristol, BS6 5QP
Caribbean restaurant which hosts live music and djs
Whats on at Plantation
The Prom
2 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8AL
Reliable gig venue and blues hotspot on Gloucester road
Whats on at The PromS
Southbank
31 Dean Lane, Bristol BS3 1DD
A refreshing, modern approach to the community centre
Whats on at Southbank
St George's
Great George Street, Harbourside, Bristol BS1 5RR
Classical, jazz and folk concert venue
Whats on at St George's
Start The Bus
7-9 Baldwin Street, Bristol BS1 1RU
Live music bar in Bristol city centre
Whats on at Start The Bus
The Stag And Hounds
74, Old Market Street, BS2 0EJ, Bristol
Lively music venue in Old Market
Whats on at The Stag And HoundsT
The Thunderbolt
The Olde Turnpike, 124 Bath Road, Totterdown, Bristol BS4 3ED
Small gig venue in Totterdown
Whats on at The Thunderbolt
The Tobacco Factory
134 Raleigh Road, Bristol BS3 1TF
A modern cafe-bar with regular live music.
Whats on at The Tobacco Factory
The Trinity Centre
Trinity Road, Bristol BS2 0NW
Converted church where community centre meets venue
Whats on at The Trinity Centre
The Tunnels
Arches 31-32, Lower Station Approach Road, Temple Meads, Bristol BS1 6QS
Large venue which opened in 2009
Whats on at The Tunnels
Thekla
The Grove, East Mud Dock, Bristol BS1 4RB
A key gig and club venue aboard a boat
Whats on at Thekla
Timbuk2
22 Small Street, Bristol BS1 1DW
Established basement night club in the heart of the city
Whats on at Timbuk2W
Warehouse
57 Prince Street, Bristol BS1 4QH
Multi-floored city centre night club
Whats on at Warehouse
Weapon of Choice Gallery
8 basement shop, Park St, Bristol BS1 5HR
Independent art gallery on St Michael's Hill
Whats on at Weapon of Choice Gallery