Cambridge · 31 venues · 18 with a PA

Grassroots Venues in Cambridge

Every grassroots room in Cambridge - capacity, backline, who books it.

By size: 8 small (under 150), 2 mid-size (150 to 499), 4 large (500+), 17 with no size listed. 28 of the 31 open rooms are verified. 2 with full backline, 2 with a sound engineer.

Nearby

Norwich Leicester London

What's on List your venue

Updated 13 November 2026

At a glance

Cambridge

Grassroots
venues

in Cambridge

In detail

House PA	18 venues
Full backline	2 venues
In-house engineer	2 venues
Venue Score	60 /100

01 — Find a venue

31 rooms

Pick your room

Size

Kit

Hire

City

Sort

Arts Club CambridgeCambridgeKit not listedNo gigs listed yet

Audley EndSaffron WaldenKit not listedNo gigs listed yet 15,000Cap

Bar -OHCambridgeHouse PANo gigs listed yet 70Cap

BoathouseCambridgeHouse PANo gigs listed yet Cap tbc

Cambridge Corn ExchangeCambridgeKit not listedThu 19 Nov Bellowhead 1,500Cap

d'Arry's Restaurant, Bar & CheesemongerCambridgeHouse PANo gigs listed yet Cap tbc

Earls of BeaconsfieldRomsey · CambridgeHouse PANo gigs listed yet Cap tbc

Golden HindCambridgeHouse PANo gigs listed yet 90Cap

Hidden RoomsCambridgeKit not listedNo gigs listed yet Cap tbc

High Lodge, Thetford ForestThetford Forest · BrandonKit not listedNo gigs listed yet Cap tbc

02 — The scene

Venue Score

Out of
100

Solid — healthy coverage, building on genres. A dependable circuit for touring acts.

How it adds up (0-100)

Choice	78
Coverage	100
Backline	6
PA	58
Engineer	6
Genres	100

03 — Rooms + kit

Live data

What Cambridge has

By size

Small under 150	8 57%
Medium 150-499	2 14%
Large 500+	4 29%
Size not listed	17

Rooms with no size listed show under every size in 01.

Kit

Bring your own	13 42%
PA only	16 52%
Full backline	2 6%

This month

Added	5
Removed	0
Verified	5
Re-verified	4

04 — More of Cambridge

Beyond the rooms

Gigs, mics + hire

Go next

Featured venueAudley EndSaffron Walden · 15,000 cap
Cambridge gigsWhat's on at these rooms, by date
What's on this weekEvery gig over the next seven days
Cambridge open micsWeekly stage time, re-checked on a rolling cycle
Cambridge music sceneVenues, rates, guides and gigs

Private hire

8 Cambridge venues say on their own websites that they take private hire - parties, weddings and work events. Each card opens the venue’s rooms, capacities and how to enquire.

Cambridge Corn ExchangeUp to 650 standing

The Portland ArmsUp to 200 standing

Bar -OHPrivate hire

Golden HindPrivate hire

KikiPrivate hire

Cambridge Corn ExchangeUp to 650 standing

The Portland ArmsUp to 200 standing

Bar -OHPrivate hire

Golden HindPrivate hire

KikiPrivate hire

05 — Other cities

90 cities

Venues elsewhere

Norwich Leicester London

All cities, A–ZVenues

Aberdeen27 Aberystwyth10 Accrington12 Aldershot16

Basildon21 Bath36 Bedford14 Belfast77 Billericay6 Birmingham80 Blackburn11 Blackpool47 Boston12 Bournemouth30 Bradford42 Brighton94 Bristol86 Broxbourne12

Cardiff63 Carlisle19 Chelmsford13 Cheltenham27 Cirencester8 Coventry46 Crawley14

Derby38 Derry14 Doncaster19 Dublin3 Dundee35 Durham17

Edinburgh118 Egham17 Epsom18 Exeter48

Farnborough6

Glasgow168 Gloucester21 Grimsby11

Hastings24 Hereford23 High Wycombe14 Horley4 Hull32

Inverness29 Ipswich35

Leeds92 Leicester40 Lincoln22 Liverpool130 London302 Luton16

Maidstone22 Manchester164 Margate32 Middlesbrough27 Milton Keynes18

Newcastle75 Newquay20 Newry8 Northampton26 Norwich38 Nottingham79

Oxford35

Peterborough22 Plymouth34 Portsmouth30 Preston28

Rawtenstall25 Reading32

Scarborough17 Sheffield94 Southampton47 Stockton-on-Tees16 Stoke-on-Trent32 Sunderland23 Sutton14 Swansea34 Swindon19

Telford21 Tunbridge Wells10

Waterlooville12 Watford24 Welshpool4 Weymouth18 Woking16 Wolverhampton49 Worthing1 Wrexham31

York48

Live music on stage: a band under the lights

Cambridge Venues

Grassroots Venues in Cambridge

Q: How many grassroots music venues are in Cambridge?

GigXchange lists 31 grassroots music venues in Cambridge, from small pub back rooms to mid-size standing rooms. Each listing includes capacity, backline provision, genres booked, and verification status. Browse the full national directory at UK Venue Directory.

Q: Which Cambridge venues provide full backline?

2 of 31 Cambridge venues offer full backline (drums, guitar amp, bass amp, PA). 18 provide at least a PA system. 2 include an in-house sound engineer. Use the filters above to show only venues with backline.

Q: Which Cambridge venues can you hire for a private event?

8 Cambridge venues state on their own websites that they take private hire for parties, weddings and work events, among them Cambridge Corn Exchange (up to 650 standing), The Portland Arms (up to 200 standing) and Bar -OH. Each venue page has a Private hire tab with its rooms, capacities and a link to enquire with the venue directly. Use the Private hire filter above to list them all.

Q: What size are Cambridge's grassroots venues?

Of the 14 Cambridge venues with known capacity: 8 are small (under 150), 2 are medium (150–499), and 4 are large (500+). The majority of Cambridge’s grassroots scene is intimate, small-room spaces.

Q: How do I book a gig at a Cambridge venue?

Sign up free on GigXchange to view booking contacts, fee ranges, and submission processes for every Cambridge venue. Most grassroots venues accept email submissions with a link to your music, EPK, or social profiles. Check current UK fee benchmarks before quoting.

Q: Are there open mics in Cambridge?

Yes. GigXchange also runs the UK Open Mic Finder for Cambridge, which lists weekly open mic nights with backline, day, and fee filters. Open mics are the main pathway from bedroom to stage for most grassroots artists. See also our guide on getting gigs in the UK.

Q: What's on at Cambridge venues this month?

The What’s On in Cambridge page lists every gig we hold across these 31 venues over the next four weeks — dates, times, entry and ticket links, refreshed daily. For everything beyond that window, browse the Cambridge gig directory.

Q: What genres do Cambridge venues book?

The most commonly booked genres across Cambridge’s 31 grassroots venues are acoustic, folk, Rock, jazz, funk. Many venues accept both original music and covers. Browse artist profiles by genre to find acts for your venue.

Q: What are typical fees at Cambridge venues?

Fees vary by venue size and event type. The GigXchange Rate Calculator shows current percentiles for Cambridge by band size and venue type. Door splits are common at smaller venues; flat fees are more typical at mid-size rooms. The Musicians’ Union publishes recommended minimums.

Q: Can I list my Cambridge venue for free?

Yes. Listing is free. If your venue is already in the directory, open its page and press Claim this venue (or create a free venue account) to self-edit your profile and manage bookings; if it is missing, email support@gigxchange.app and we will take a look. Venues with TheMusicLicence from PPL PRS can also list their music policy.

31 grassroots music venues across Cambridge. Capacity, backline, genres, booking info. Re-verified on a rolling cycle.

60/ 100

Cambridge Venue Score

SolidHealthy coverage, building on genres. A dependable circuit for touring acts.

Choice78

Coverage100

Backline6

PA58

Engineer6

Genres100

Capacity, backline and booking info for every Cambridge venue

31 venues, from back rooms to big stages
18 provide a PA in-house
2 offer full backline
2 include a sound engineer
Booking contact for signed-up artists
Re-verified on a rolling cycle

Find out more Join free

Cambridge's upcoming grass-roots gigs, sorted by date

One-off gigs at indie venues and community stages
Sorted by date, refreshed continuously
Free and ticketed shows
Every gig links its venue

Find out more Join free

Weekly open mic nights across Cambridge — verified and mapped

Filter by night of the week
Sign-up times, slot lengths and fees
Most are free entry
Re-verified on a rolling cycle

Find out more Join free

Everything the Cambridge scene has beyond the venue list

City guide: venues, promoters and bookers
Local rate benchmarks before you quote
How to get gigs in the city
Members near you on GigXchange

Find out more Join free

Reach artists actively looking for Cambridge stages

Free listing — no fee
Claim an existing page to keep it current
Backline and capacity specs searchable
Booking contact shown to members

Find out more List your venue

Run a Cambridge venue? Claim your page free — keep specs current

Last updated: 13 November 2026

31 Venues in Cambridge

Cambridge has 31 grassroots music venues listed on GigXchange, from a 70-capacity room to 15,000. Listings show the capacity, backline and PA where we hold them, plus opening times, so artists, agents and bookers can shortlist the right room before getting in touch.

Of the 31 Cambridge venues, 18 provide a PA system, 2 offer full backline and 2 include an in-house sound engineer. See what these rooms have on over the next four weeks. Sign up free to view booking contacts and fee ranges.

grassroots venues hosting live music in Cambridge

18 provide a PA system · 2 offer full backline
2 have an in-house sound engineer included
Booking contact, fee range and submission process available to signed-up artists

31
Venues: 18
With PA: 2
Full backline: 2
In-house engineer: 13 Nov
Last updated

What’s on in Cambridge this week — or see what’s on across the UK.

Browse Cambridge Venues

Search all 31 Cambridge music venues by area, capacity, backline, PA, sound engineer or private hire. Every card shows the room size, what is on stage and the opening times we hold, and opens the venue’s own page with its booking information.

Showing 24 of 31 venues

Photo: Google

Claim this venue

The Kings Head

Cambridge › Fen Ditton★★★★★ (—)

Fen Ditton's thursday-night free open mic at The Kings Head — PA + vocal mic, walk-in sign-up from 7:30pm, 15-minute slots, all ages.No gigs listed yet

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

MonClosed
Tue15:00–23:00
Wed15:00–23:00
Thu15:00–23:00
Fri15:00–23:00
Sat12:00–23:00
Sun12:00–20:00

Ely's premier events and conferencing venue.Fri 26 Feb Landslide - Tribute to Fleetwood Mac

Private hire

BacklineTBC

PA system (TBC)
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

Mon09:00–17:00
Tue09:00–17:00
Wed09:00–17:00
Thu09:00–17:00
Fri09:00–17:00
SatClosed
SunClosed

Cambridge › Chesterton★★★★★ (—)

Cambridge's Tuesday-night free open mic at 129 Chesterton Road, CB4 3BA — long-running music pub, full backline, in-house engineer, 12-minute slots.Fri 18 Dec GREEN 182 Presents 'Take off your Pants and Dookie Tour 26'

Private hire up to 200 standing

Backline6 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
3 vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

Mon16:30–23:00
Tue16:30–23:00
Wed16:30–23:00
Thu12:00–23:00
Fri12:00–00:00
Sat12:00–00:00
Sun12:00–23:00

Cambridge › Bourn★★★★★ (—)

Community cafe with events.No gigs listed yet

BacklineTBC

PA system (TBC)
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

Mon09:00–16:00
Tue09:00–16:00
Wed09:00–16:00
Thu09:00–16:00
Fri09:00–21:00
Sat09:00–16:00
Sun10:00–15:00

Vibrant central Cambridge bar with craft beer.No gigs listed yet

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

MonClosed
Tue12:00–23:00
Wed12:00–23:00
Thu12:00–00:00
Fri12:00–00:00
Sat12:00–00:00
Sun12:00–23:00

Cambridge › City Centre★★★★★ (—)

City Centre's thursday-night free open mic at The White Swan — PA + vocal mic, walk-in sign-up from 7:30pm, 15-minute slots, all ages.No gigs listed yet

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

View venue›

Photo: Google

Claim this venue

West Road Concert Hall

Cambridge★★★★★ (—)

Cambridge premier classical performance venue.No gigs listed yet

Private hire

BacklineTBC

PA system (TBC)
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

Mon09:30–17:00
Tue09:30–17:00
Wed09:30–17:00
Thu09:30–17:00
Fri09:30–17:00
SatClosed
SunClosed

View venue›

Venues You Can Hire in Cambridge

8 Cambridge venues say on their own websites that they take private hire - parties, weddings and work events. Each card opens the venue’s rooms, capacities and how to enquire.

Cambridge Venue Scene in Numbers

Cambridge’s 31 grassroots venues in one picture: how big the rooms are, what kit is on stage and how many take private hire. Use it to judge whether to bring your own backline and which size of room suits your draw before you start booking.

Grassroots venues · Cambridge

From the
GigXchange venue directory

Room sizeof the 14 with a known capacity

8Small · under 150

2Medium · 150–499

4Large · 500+

What's on stageall 31 venues

2Full backline

16PA only

13Bring your own gear

18provide a PA

2have an in-house engineer

8take private hire

Acoustic · Folkmost-booked genres

How many grassroots music venues are in Cambridge? GigXchange lists 31 grassroots music venues across Cambridge. 58% provide a PA system and 6% offer full backline (drums, guitar amp, bass amp, PA).

Do Cambridge venues provide equipment? 2 venues include an in-house sound engineer. The majority of Cambridge venues are small (<150 capacity). Data from GigXchange’s verified Cambridge venue directory.

Cambridge Venue FAQs

10 answers about grassroots venues in Cambridge, from how many there are and how big the rooms are to the kit they provide, booking a gig and listing your venue free - each answered from the venues listed here.

How many grassroots music venues are in Cambridge?

GigXchange lists 31 grassroots music venues in Cambridge, from small pub back rooms to mid-size standing rooms. Each listing includes capacity, backline provision, genres booked, and verification status. Browse the full national directory at UK Venue Directory.

Which Cambridge venues provide full backline?

2 of 31 Cambridge venues offer full backline (drums, guitar amp, bass amp, PA). 18 provide at least a PA system. 2 include an in-house sound engineer. Use the filters above to show only venues with backline.

Which Cambridge venues can you hire for a private event?

8 Cambridge venues state on their own websites that they take private hire for parties, weddings and work events, among them Cambridge Corn Exchange (up to 650 standing), The Portland Arms (up to 200 standing) and Bar -OH. Each venue page has a Private hire tab with its rooms, capacities and a link to enquire with the venue directly. Use the Private hire filter above to list them all.

What size are Cambridge's grassroots venues?

Of the 14 Cambridge venues with known capacity: 8 are small (under 150), 2 are medium (150–499), and 4 are large (500+). The majority of Cambridge’s grassroots scene is intimate, small-room spaces.

How do I book a gig at a Cambridge venue?

Sign up free on GigXchange to view booking contacts, fee ranges, and submission processes for every Cambridge venue. Most grassroots venues accept email submissions with a link to your music, EPK, or social profiles. Check current UK fee benchmarks before quoting.

Are there open mics in Cambridge?

Yes. GigXchange also runs the UK Open Mic Finder for Cambridge, which lists weekly open mic nights with backline, day, and fee filters. Open mics are the main pathway from bedroom to stage for most grassroots artists. See also our guide on getting gigs in the UK.

What's on at Cambridge venues this month?

The What’s On in Cambridge page lists every gig we hold across these 31 venues over the next four weeks — dates, times, entry and ticket links, refreshed daily. For everything beyond that window, browse the Cambridge gig directory.

What genres do Cambridge venues book?

The most commonly booked genres across Cambridge’s 31 grassroots venues are acoustic, folk, Rock, jazz, funk. Many venues accept both original music and covers. Browse artist profiles by genre to find acts for your venue.

What are typical fees at Cambridge venues?

Fees vary by venue size and event type. The GigXchange Rate Calculator shows current percentiles for Cambridge by band size and venue type. Door splits are common at smaller venues; flat fees are more typical at mid-size rooms. The Musicians’ Union publishes recommended minimums.

Can I list my Cambridge venue for free?

Yes. Listing is free. If your venue is already in the directory, open its page and press Claim this venue (or create a free venue account) to self-edit your profile and manage bookings; if it is missing, email support@gigxchange.app and we will take a look. Venues with TheMusicLicence from PPL PRS can also list their music policy.

07 — Keep up with Cambridge

Free, weekly

One email a week. Gigs near you.

Keep up with Cambridge

One email a week with the gigs coming up at Cambridge’s grassroots venues - new nights, open mics and shows worth catching. Free to join and easy to leave, and turning up is what keeps small rooms open.

Help keep grassroots venues open in Cambridge

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A UK venue stops hosting live music every 5 days — and turning up is what keeps a room open. Get a free weekly email of gigs in Cambridge. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy.

The rooms. Of the 14 rooms with a listed capacity, the middle one holds about 100 and 8 hold under 150; the largest listed is Cambridge Corn Exchange at 1,500.

What they book. Acoustic, folk and rock come up most often in what Cambridge venues say they book, out of 32 genres listed. An act that fits pitches best with a recent clip and a clear fee. 9 of these listings were added or re-checked in the last month.

Next steps. To see which of these rooms are booking now, use the Cambridge gig directory; new acts get stage time at the Cambridge open mics, and the GX Index sets out the going rates. Nearby venues: Norwich, Leicester and London. Need an act for one? See live music for pubs, clubs and hotels.

More Cities

Venue guides for every UK city we cover, each with the same filters and capacity data, biggest scenes first. Useful when you are planning a run of dates or looking for a room beyond Cambridge.

Run a Cambridge venue? List it free.

Listing is free. Already listed? Open your venue’s page and press Claim this venue to keep its capacity, kit and booking details up to date for the artists searching here. Missing? Email support@gigxchange.app and we will take a look.

For Artists For Venues For Agents For Promoters For Organisers For Fans

ForArtistsGet booked. Get paid. ForVenuesFill the calendar. ForAgentsRun your roster. ForPromotersBuild the bill. ForOrganisersBook acts for your event. ForFansFind tonight’s gigs.

Run a Cambridge venue?

Claim your page free and keep your specs current - artists find you by size, kit and night.

Why list?Claim your venue

Venues like these feed the national Hardest Working Rooms table and every UK city's scene. Browse all UK venues.