Hemel Hempstead & Dacorum: Your Local Live Music GuideThe Old Town pubs, Berkhamsted’s wine bars, and the full Dacorum gig circuit

The cards above sketch the scene; the panel below pins the size of the market, what an artist is owed under MU floor rates, and the agency cut a venue avoids by booking direct.

Hemel Hempstead is a new town with an old soul. The Old Town, perched above the Gade Valley, has character that the town centre sometimes lacks — and it’s where most of the live music happens. Combined with nearby Berkhamsted, Tring, and the wider Dacorum borough — around 155,100 people across the borough (2021 ONS census) — there’s more going on than you might expect. Pub fees here track the Musicians’ Union 2026 minimum of £167.16 per musician for 3-hour engagements, and Dacorum’s pubs add to the 835 Music Venues Alliance rooms tracked nationally by the Music Venue Trust.

Dacorum has 5 live music venues across Hemel Hempstead and Berkhamsted

The Old Town Hall, The Crown & Sceptre and The Full House anchor Hemel's Old Town, while The Pavilion and the High Street pubs carry Berkhamsted's programme.

The Old Town Hall

Hemel’s premier arts and events venue. The Old Town Hall hosts a mix of live music, comedy, and community events. The main hall has decent acoustics and a capacity of around 200. Regular jazz nights, acoustic showcases, and occasional touring acts. Genre focus: Jazz, acoustic, folk, community events.

The Crown & Sceptre (Old Town)

The beating heart of Hemel’s Old Town pub scene. Regular live music at weekends with a mix of covers bands, acoustic acts, and blues. The atmosphere is warm, the crowd is loyal, and the landlord supports live music properly. Genre focus: Rock, blues, covers, acoustic.

The Full House (Old Town)

Another Old Town pub that’s invested in live entertainment. Weekend gigs attract a good crowd and the venue is supportive of both established acts and newer artists looking to build experience. Genre focus: Covers, classic rock, pop.

The Pavilion, Berkhamsted

Berkhamsted’s community venue hosts regular live music events, from folk nights to jazz evenings. The town’s affluent demographic means audiences are willing to pay for quality acts and ticketed events. Genre focus: Jazz, folk, classical, acoustic.

Pubs along Berkhamsted High Street

Berkhamsted’s High Street is one of the longest in England, and several of its pubs and wine bars programme live music. The Rising Sun, The Boat, and The Bull all host occasional live nights. Genre focus: Acoustic, jazz, covers.

Smart artists treat Dacorum as a 3-town circuit, not one venue

Smart artists treat Dacorum as a circuit rather than a single town:

• Hemel Old Town — the core, with 3–4 pub venues within walking distance
• Berkhamsted (4 miles) — a wealthier market with higher-fee potential
• Tring (7 miles) — smaller but with a couple of active pub venues and a community arts scene
• Kings Langley (3 miles) — a few pubs with occasional live music
• Bovingdon (3 miles) — village pubs that welcome acoustic acts

Playing the Dacorum circuit means you can build a sustainable local following without needing to travel to London or the bigger towns. For the wider county picture, see our complete Hertfordshire guide, the St Albans live music guide, and Watford’s venue rundown.

Dacorum runs regular open mics in Hemel and Berkhamsted

Three venues run open mic nights across the borough — Old Town pubs on a rotating schedule, the Old Town Hall occasionally, and Berkhamsted's High Street pubs with a smaller regular circuit.

• The Old Town Hall occasionally hosts open mic evenings as part of its community programme
• Various Old Town pubs rotate open mic nights — the Facebook group "Hemel Music Scene" is the best source for current listings
• Berkhamsted has a small but active open mic community, usually in the pubs along the High Street

Dacorum venues book local-first — here’s how to break in

Start with the Old Town pubs in person, then expand into Berkhamsted and Tring to build a 3–4 gig per month circuit without repeating venues too often.

• Start in the Old Town — the pubs up the hill are the most music-friendly. Walk in, introduce yourself to the landlord, and offer to do a short set.
• Don’t overlook Berkhamsted — the audience is older, wealthier, and happy to pay for good live music. Acoustic duos and jazz acts do particularly well here.
• Build the circuit — Hemel + Berkhamsted + Tring gives you 3–4 gigs a month without repeating venues too often.
• Browse local gigs — Hemel Hempstead on GigXchange lists available slots across the Dacorum area.

For the booking-side playbook, see how to book live music for your pub or bar and the broader why UK pubs are bringing back live music in 2026.

Hemel pub gigs pay £80–£180 solo, £150–£280 duo, £250–£500 full band

These sit broadly in line with national pub rates, though Berkhamsted tends to pay at the higher end of each range thanks to its wealthier audience.

• Solo acoustic: £80–£180
• Duo: £150–£280
• Full band: £250–£500

Berkhamsted tends to pay slightly more than Hemel and Tring for equivalent gigs. For regional rate benchmarks, see the UK live band cost guide and the GX Rate Index.

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Dacorum’s live music scene is community-driven and growing. The Old Town in Hemel is the hub, Berkhamsted adds a premium market, and the surrounding villages fill in the calendar. For artists willing to build locally, it’s a rewarding patch.

Find gigs near you: Browse Hemel Hempstead on GigXchange. Also see bands for hire in Hemel Hempstead, how to get gigs in Hemel Hempstead, Hemel open mic nights and the Hemel gig directory.