Durham · 17 venues · 6 with a PA

Grassroots Venues in Durham

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

By size: 2 small (under 150), 2 mid-size (150 to 499), 1 large (500+), 12 with no size listed. 16 of the 17 open rooms are verified. 0 with full backline, 2 with a sound engineer.

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What's on List your venue

Updated 12 November 2026

At a glance

Durham

Grassroots
venues

in Durham

In detail

House PA	6 venues
Full backline	0 venues
In-house engineer	2 venues
Venue Score	47 /100

01 — Find a venue

17 rooms

Pick your room

Size

Kit

Hire

City

Sort

60 cap Angel InnDurhamKit not listedNo gigs listed yet

Bar Bianco Chester Le StreetChester-le-StreetKit not listedSat 12 Dec Michael Bublé Tribute Christmas Party Cap tbc

Coundon WMCCoundon, Bishop Auckland · Bishop AucklandKit not listedSat 26 Dec MAC3 - Boxing Day Cap tbc

Daleside ArmsCroxdaleKit not listedNo gigs listed yet Cap tbc

Gala DurhamMillennium Place · DurhamHouse PAEngineerNo gigs listed yet 500Cap

Hamsteels Community CentreEsh WinningKit not listedNo gigs listed yet Cap tbc

Newton Aycliffe Navy ClubBluebell Way · Newton AycliffeHouse PANo gigs listed yet Cap tbc

Sherburn Village Working Men's ClubSherburn VillageHouse PANo gigs listed yet Cap tbc

SHILDON CIVIC HALLShildonKit not listedSat 6 Mar Ronnington 2027 350Cap

The Cons CoundonBishop AucklandKit not listedFri 18 Dec Mark Morriss acoustic Cap tbc

02 — The scene

Venue Score

Out of
100

Emerging — coverage and genres already on the map; a Durham scene on the way up.

How it adds up (0-100)

Choice	43
Coverage	100
Backline	0
PA	35
Engineer	12
Genres	100

03 — Rooms + kit

Live data

What Durham has

By size

Small under 150	2 40%
Medium 150-499	2 40%
Large 500+	1 20%
Size not listed	12

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

Kit

Bring your own	11 65%
PA only	6 35%
Full backline	0 0%

This month

Added	1
Removed	0
Verified	1
Re-verified	1

04 — More of Durham

Beyond the rooms

Gigs, mics + hire

Go next

Featured venueGala DurhamDurham · 500 cap
Durham gigsWhat's on at these rooms, by date
What's on this weekEvery gig over the next seven days
Durham open micsWeekly stage time, re-checked on a rolling cycle
Durham music sceneVenues, rates, guides and gigs

Private hire

2 Durham 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.

Newton Aycliffe Navy ClubPrivate hire

The WithamPrivate hire

05 — Other cities

90 cities

Venues elsewhere

London Glasgow Manchester

All cities, A–ZVenues

Aberdeen27 Aberystwyth10 Accrington12 Aldershot16

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

Cambridge31 Cardiff63 Carlisle19 Chelmsford13 Cheltenham27 Cirencester8 Coventry46 Crawley14

Derby38 Derry14 Doncaster19 Dublin3 Dundee35

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

Durham Venues

Grassroots Venues in Durham

Q: How many grassroots music venues are in Durham?

GigXchange lists 17 grassroots music venues in Durham, 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 Durham venues provide full backline?

0 of 17 Durham venues offer full backline (drums, guitar amp, bass amp, PA). 6 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 Durham venues can you hire for a private event?

2 Durham venues state on their own websites that they take private hire for parties, weddings and work events, among them Newton Aycliffe Navy Club and The Witham. 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 Durham's grassroots venues?

Of the 5 Durham venues with known capacity: 2 are small (under 150), 2 are medium (150–499), and 1 is large (500+). The majority of Durham’s grassroots scene is intimate, small-room spaces.

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

Sign up free on GigXchange to view booking contacts, fee ranges, and submission processes for every Durham 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 Durham?

Yes. GigXchange also runs the UK Open Mic Finder for Durham, 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 Durham venues this month?

The What’s On in Durham page lists every gig we hold across these 17 venues over the next four weeks — dates, times, entry and ticket links, refreshed daily. For everything beyond that window, browse the Durham gig directory.

Q: What genres do Durham venues book?

The most commonly booked genres across Durham’s 17 grassroots venues are acoustic, folk, rock, indie, covers. 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 Durham venues?

Fees vary by venue size and event type. The GigXchange Rate Calculator shows current percentiles for Durham 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 Durham 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.

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

47/ 100

Durham Venue Score

EmergingCoverage and genres already on the map; a Durham scene on the way up.

Choice43

Coverage100

Backline0

PA35

Engineer12

Genres100

Capacity, backline and booking info for every Durham venue

17 venues, from back rooms to big stages
6 provide a PA in-house
0 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

Durham'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 Durham — 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 Durham 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 Durham 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 Durham venue? Claim your page free — keep specs current

Last updated: 12 November 2026

17 Venues in Durham

Durham has 17 grassroots music venues listed on GigXchange, from a 60-capacity room to 500. 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 17 Durham venues, 6 provide a PA system and 2 include an in-house sound engineer; none lists full backline yet. 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 Durham

6 provide a PA system · 0 offer full backline
2 have an in-house sound engineer included
Booking contact, fee range and submission process available to signed-up artists

17
Venues: 6
With PA: 0
Full backline: 2
In-house engineer: 12 Nov
Last updated

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

Browse Durham Venues

Search all 17 Durham 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 17 of 17 venues

Historic Crossgate pub with regular live music.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

Mon14:00–23:00
Tue14:00–23:00
Wed14:00–23:00
Thu14:00–23:00
Fri12:00–00:00
Sat12:00–00:00
Sun12:00–23:00

View venue›

Photo: Google

Claim this venue

Bar Bianco Chester Le Street

Chester-le-Street★★★★★ (—)

Luxury cocktail bar with DJ nights.Sat 12 Dec Michael Bublé Tribute Christmas Party

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

MonClosed
TueClosed
WedClosed
ThuClosed
Fri21:00–02:00
Sat21:00–02:00
SunClosed

Bishop Auckland › Coundon, Bishop Auckland★★★★★ (—)

Working men's club with soul entertainment.Sat 26 Dec MAC3 - Boxing Day

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

Mon10:00–17:00
Tue10:00–17:00
Wed10:00–17:00
Thu10:00–17:00
Fri10:00–17:00
Sat11:00–23:00
Sun11:00–23:00

Daleside Arms in Croxdale hosts an open mic fortnightly on Tuesdays.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 times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

Durham › Millennium Place★★★★★ (—)

500-cap theatre for indie, folk and comedy.No gigs listed yet

Backline2 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon10:00–17:00
Tue10:00–20:30
Wed10:00–20:30
Thu10:00–20:30
Fri10:00–20:30
Sat10:00–20:30
Sun14:00–20:30

View venue›

Photo: Google

Claim this venue

Hamsteels Community Centre

Esh Winning★★★★★ (—)

Hamsteels Community Centre in Esh Winning hosts an open mic monthly on a Saturday from 19:30.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 times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

View venue›

Photo: Google

Claim this venue

Newton Aycliffe Navy Club

Newton Aycliffe › Bluebell Way★★★★★ (—)

Newton Aycliffe Navy Club in Newton Aycliffe hosts an open mic every Wednesday at 7.No gigs listed yet

Private hire

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 times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

View venue›

Photo: Google

Claim this venue

Sherburn Village Working Men's Club

Sherburn Village★★★★★ (—)

Sherburn Village Working Men's Club in Sherburn Village hosts an open mic fortnightly on Tuesdays from 19:00.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 times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

Civic hall with pop entertainment.Sat 6 Mar Ronnington 2027

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

Mon18:00–22:00
Tue18:00–22:00
Wed18:00–22:00
Thu18:00–22:00
Fri18:00–23:00
Sat18:00–23:00
Sun12:00–15:00

Bishop Auckland★★★★★ (—)

Small Coundon venue hosting acoustic nightsFri 18 Dec Mark Morriss acoustic

BacklineTBC

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

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

Durham › Claypath★★★★★ (—)

Durham independent drinks den with live bands every Friday.No gigs listed yet

Backline2 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon14:00–00:00
Tue14:00–00:00
Wed14:00–00:00
Thu14:00–00:00
Fri12:00–00:00
Sat12:00–01:00
Sun12:00–00:00

Durham › St Margarets Garth★★★★★ (—)

Durham craft beer bar with live music.Sun 13 Dec Faithful Johannes / Bedsit Manor / Elise Massa

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
TueClosed
Wed15:00–23:00
Thu15:00–23:00
Fri12:00–23:00
Sat12:00–23:00
Sun12:00–23:00

Durham › North Road★★★★★ (—)

Award-winning Durham micropub with a monthly acoustic tunes sessionNo 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

MonClosed
Tue16:00–22:30
Wed16:00–22:30
Thu16:00–22:30
Fri14:00–22:30
Sat12:00–22:30
Sun16:00–22:30

Barnard Castle › Town Centre★★★★★ (—)

Folk and live music venue in Barnard CastleNo gigs listed yet

Private hire

Backline2 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

MonClosed
Tue09:00–16:00
Wed09:00–16:00
Thu09:00–23:00
Fri09:00–23:00
Sat09:00–23:00
SunClosed

View venue›

Claim this venue

The Woodman Inn

Durham › Gilesgate★★★★★ (—)

The Woodman Inn in Durham hosts an open mic monthly on a Thursday.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 times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

View venue›

Photo: Google

Claim this venue

Waddington Street Centre

Durham › Waddington Street★★★★★ (—)

Community centre home to Durham's long-running Poetry Jam open micNo 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

Mon09:00–17:00
Tue09:00–17:00
Wed09:00–17:00
Thu09:00–17:00
Fri09:00–17:00
Sat09:00–15:00
SunClosed

Durham › Crossgate★★★★★ (—)

Historic Durham pub with folk sessions every Monday and Tuesday nightNo 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

Mon11:30–23:00
Tue11:30–23:00
Wed11:30–23:00
Thu11:30–23:00
Fri11:30–00:00
Sat11:30–00:00
Sun11:30–23:00

View venue›

Venues You Can Hire in Durham

2 Durham 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.

Durham Venue Scene in Numbers

Durham’s 17 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 · Durham

From the
GigXchange venue directory

Room sizeof the 5 with a known capacity

2Small · under 150

2Medium · 150–499

1Large · 500+

What's on stageall 17 venues

6PA only

11Bring your own gear

6provide a PA

2have an in-house engineer

2take private hire

Acoustic · Folkmost-booked genres

How many grassroots music venues are in Durham? GigXchange lists 17 grassroots music venues across Durham. 35% provide a PA system.

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

Durham Venue FAQs

10 answers about grassroots venues in Durham, 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 Durham?

GigXchange lists 17 grassroots music venues in Durham, 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 Durham venues provide full backline?

0 of 17 Durham venues offer full backline (drums, guitar amp, bass amp, PA). 6 provide at least a PA system. 2 include an in-house sound engineer. Use the filters above to show only venues with backline.

Which Durham venues can you hire for a private event?

2 Durham venues state on their own websites that they take private hire for parties, weddings and work events, among them Newton Aycliffe Navy Club and The Witham. 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 Durham's grassroots venues?

Of the 5 Durham venues with known capacity: 2 are small (under 150), 2 are medium (150–499), and 1 is large (500+). The majority of Durham’s grassroots scene is intimate, small-room spaces.

How do I book a gig at a Durham venue?

Sign up free on GigXchange to view booking contacts, fee ranges, and submission processes for every Durham 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 Durham?

Yes. GigXchange also runs the UK Open Mic Finder for Durham, 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 Durham venues this month?

The What’s On in Durham page lists every gig we hold across these 17 venues over the next four weeks — dates, times, entry and ticket links, refreshed daily. For everything beyond that window, browse the Durham gig directory.

What genres do Durham venues book?

The most commonly booked genres across Durham’s 17 grassroots venues are acoustic, folk, rock, indie, covers. Many venues accept both original music and covers. Browse artist profiles by genre to find acts for your venue.

What are typical fees at Durham venues?

Fees vary by venue size and event type. The GigXchange Rate Calculator shows current percentiles for Durham 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 Durham 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 Durham

Free, weekly

One email a week. Gigs near you.

Keep up with Durham

One email a week with the gigs coming up at Durham’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 Durham

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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 Durham. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy.

The rooms. Of the 5 rooms with a listed capacity, the middle one holds about 200 and 2 hold under 150; the largest listed is Gala Durham at 500.

What they book. Acoustic, folk and rock come up most often in what Durham venues say they book, out of 19 genres listed. If your act fits, pitch best with a recent clip and a clear fee. In the last month, 2 of these listings were added or re-checked.

Next steps. The Durham gig directory shows which of these rooms are booking now, the Durham open mics are where new acts get stage time, and the GX Index sets out the going rates. 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 Durham.

Run a Durham 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 Durham 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.