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Ipswich · 35 venues · 16 with a PA

Grassroots Venues in Ipswich

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

By size: 5 small (under 150), 8 mid-size (150 to 499), 2 large (500+), 20 with no size listed. 33 of the 35 open rooms are verified. 0 with full backline, 4 with a sound engineer.

Nearby

Updated 12 November 2026

At a glance
Ipswich
35
Grassroots
venues
in Ipswich
In detail
House PA16 venues
Full backline0 venues
In-house engineer4 venues
Venue Score60 /100
01 — Find a venue
35 rooms
Pick your room
Size
Kit
Hire
City
Sort
02 — The scene
Venue Score
60
Out of
100
Solid — healthy coverage, building on genres. A dependable circuit for touring acts.
How it adds up (0-100)
Choice88
Coverage100
Backline0
PA46
Engineer11
Genres100
03 — Rooms + kit
Live data
What Ipswich has
By size
Small under 1505 33%
Medium 150-4998 53%
Large 500+2 13%
Size not listed20

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

Kit
Bring your own19 54%
PA only16 46%
Full backline0 0%
This month
Added9
Removed0
Verified9
Re-verified1
04 — More of Ipswich
Beyond the rooms
Gigs, mics + hire
Go next
Featured venueCoda ColchesterColchester · 200 cap
Ipswich gigsWhat's on at these rooms, by date
What's on this weekEvery gig over the next seven days
Ipswich open micsWeekly stage time, re-checked on a rolling cycle
Ipswich music sceneVenues, rates, guides and gigs
Private hire

5 Ipswich 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.

05 — Other cities
90 cities
Venues elsewhere
All cities, A–ZVenues
Live music on stage: a band under the lights
Ipswich Venues

Grassroots Venues in Ipswich

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

60/ 100
Ipswich Venue Score
SolidHealthy coverage, building on genres. A dependable circuit for touring acts.
Choice88
Coverage100
Backline0
PA46
Engineer11
Genres100
Run a Ipswich venue? Claim your page free — keep specs current

Last updated: 12 November 2026

35 Venues in Ipswich

Ipswich has 35 grassroots music venues listed on GigXchange, from a 70-capacity room to 1,076. 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 35 Ipswich venues, 16 provide a PA system and 4 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.

35
grassroots venues hosting live music in Ipswich
  • 16 provide a PA system · 0 offer full backline
  • 4 have an in-house sound engineer included
  • Booking contact, fee range and submission process available to signed-up artists
35
Venues
16
With PA
0
Full backline
4
In-house engineer
Last updated

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

Browse Ipswich Venues

Search all 35 Ipswich 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 35 venues
Photo: Google
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BAR 82 The Espresso Lounge
Colchester › Town Centre★★★★★ (—)
Colchester cafe bar with a Monday open micNo gigs listed yet
  • PA system (TBC)
  • Drum kit (TBC)
  • Guitar amp (TBC)
  • Bass amp (TBC)
  • Keys / keyboard (TBC)
  • Vocal mics (TBC)
  • In-house engineer (TBC)
  • Mon08:30–17:00
  • Tue08:30–17:00
  • Wed08:30–17:00
  • Thu08:30–17:00
  • Fri08:30–17:00
  • Sat08:30–17:00
  • SunClosed
View venue›
Photo: Google
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California Social Club
Ipswich★★★★★ (—)
A members' club over 100 years old, with live music most Saturday nightsNo gigs listed yet
  • PA system (TBC)
  • Drum kit (TBC)
  • Guitar amp (TBC)
  • Bass amp (TBC)
  • Keys / keyboard (TBC)
  • Vocal mics (TBC)
  • In-house engineer (TBC)
  • Mon—
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  • Wed—
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View venue›
200
Photo: Google
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Coda Colchester
Colchester★★★★★ (—)
Multi-award-winning grassroots venue on Colchester High StreetNext gig: Fri 13 Nov Oasis Only
  • PA system (TBC)
  • Drum kit (TBC)
  • Guitar amp (TBC)
  • Bass amp (TBC)
  • Keys / keyboard (TBC)
  • Vocal mics (TBC)
  • In-house engineer (TBC)
  • MonClosed
  • TueClosed
  • Wed19:00–00:00
  • Thu19:00–00:00
  • Fri18:00–02:00
  • Sat15:00–02:00
  • Sun19:00–00:00
View venue›
400
Photo: Google
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Colchester Arts Centre
Colchester › Church Street★★★★★ (—)
400-cap arts centre in a former church for indie, folk and jazz.Next gig: Sat 21 Nov The Specials Ltd
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard (TBC)
  • Vocal mics (TBC)
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon10:00–15:00
  • Tue10:00–15:00
  • Wed10:00–15:00
  • Thu10:00–15:00
  • Fri10:00–15:00
  • Sat10:00–15:00
  • SunClosed
View venue›
c. 1,076
Photo: Google
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Corn Exchange Ipswich
Ipswich › King Street★★★★★ (—)
Grade II listed 1,076-cap town-centre hall for gigs and club nights.No gigs listed yet
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard (TBC)
  • Vocal mics (TBC)
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon—
  • Tue—
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  • Sat—
  • Sun—
View venue›
Photo: Google
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Halberd Inn
Ipswich★★★★★ (—)
17th-century Grade II listed Ipswich pub with live music.No gigs listed yet
Private hire
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard (TBC)
  • Vocal mics (TBC)
  • In-house engineer (TBC)
  • Mon11:00–22:00
  • Tue11:00–22:00
  • Wed11:00–22:00
  • Thu11:00–22:00
  • Fri11:00–22:00
  • Sat11:00–22:00
  • Sun12:00–22:00
View venue›
c. 120
Photo: Google
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Harwich Arts and Heritage Centre
Harwich › Dovercourt★★★★★ (—)
Festival-run arts centre in Harwich with a 120-capacity main hallNo gigs listed yet
  • PA system (TBC)
  • Drum kit (TBC)
  • Guitar amp (TBC)
  • Bass amp (TBC)
  • Keys / keyboard (TBC)
  • Vocal mics (TBC)
  • In-house engineer (TBC)
  • Mon10:00–16:00
  • Tue10:00–16:00
  • Wed10:00–16:00
  • Thu10:00–16:00
  • Fri10:00–16:00
  • SatClosed
  • SunClosed
View venue›
Photo: Google
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Historic Lavenham 'Big Top' Theatre
Sudbury › Lavenham★★★★★ (—)
Summer big-top concerts in Lavenham, Suffolk.No gigs listed yet
  • PA system (TBC)
  • Drum kit (TBC)
  • Guitar amp (TBC)
  • Bass amp (TBC)
  • Keys / keyboard (TBC)
  • Vocal mics (TBC)
  • In-house engineer (TBC)
  • Mon—
  • Tue—
  • Wed—
  • Thu—
  • Fri—
  • Sat—
  • Sun—
View venue›
Photo: Google
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Hole in the Wall
Colchester★★★★★ (—)
Colchester pub with live music.No gigs listed yet
  • PA system
  • Drum kit (TBC)
  • Guitar amp (TBC)
  • Bass amp (TBC)
  • Keys / keyboard (TBC)
  • Vocal mics (TBC)
  • In-house engineer (TBC)
  • Mon16:00–00:00
  • Tue16:00–00:00
  • Wed15:00–00:00
  • Thu15:00–00:00
  • Fri14:00–01:00
  • Sat12:00–01:00
  • Sun12:00–00:00
View venue›
c. 120
Claim this venue
Hunter Club
Bury Saint Edmunds › Town Centre★★★★★ (—)
Rock and live music venue in Bury St EdmundsNo gigs listed yet
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard (TBC)
  • Vocal mics (TBC)
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon09:00–23:00
  • Tue09:00–23:30
  • Wed09:00–23:30
  • Thu09:00–22:30
  • Fri09:00–23:30
  • Sat09:00–23:30
  • Sun09:00–23:30
View venue›
Photo: Google
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Isaacs On The Quay
Ipswich★★★★★ (—)
Quayside pub with live events and dining.No gigs listed yet
  • PA system
  • Drum kit (TBC)
  • Guitar amp (TBC)
  • Bass amp (TBC)
  • Keys / keyboard (TBC)
  • Vocal mics (TBC)
  • In-house engineer (TBC)
  • Mon08:00–23:00
  • Tue08:00–23:00
  • Wed08:00–23:00
  • Thu08:00–22:00
  • Fri08:00–00:00
  • Sat08:00–00:00
  • Sun08:00–22:00
View venue›
c. 300
Photo: Google
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Lavenham Village Hall
Sudbury › Lavenham★★★★★ (—)
Award-winning Suffolk village hall staging touring tributes and the odd cult nameNext gig: Sat 19 Dec John Otway
  • PA system (TBC)
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard (TBC)
  • Vocal mics (TBC)
  • In-house engineer (TBC)
  • Mon08:00–23:00
  • Tue08:00–23:00
  • Wed08:00–23:00
  • Thu08:00–23:00
  • Fri08:00–23:00
  • Sat08:00–23:00
  • Sun08:00–23:00
View venue›
Photo: Google
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Oakes Barn
Bury St Edmunds★★★★★ (—)
Bury St Edmunds home of Poetry Aloud's monthly poetry open micNo gigs listed yet
  • PA system (TBC)
  • Drum kit (TBC)
  • Guitar amp (TBC)
  • Bass amp (TBC)
  • Keys / keyboard (TBC)
  • Vocal mics (TBC)
  • In-house engineer (TBC)
  • Mon—
  • Tue—
  • Wed—
  • Thu—
  • Fri—
  • Sat—
  • Sun—
View venue›
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
Snape Maltings
Snape★★★★★ (—)
Britten Pears Arts centre in Suffolk.No gigs listed yet
  • PA system (TBC)
  • Drum kit (TBC)
  • Guitar amp (TBC)
  • Bass amp (TBC)
  • Keys / keyboard (TBC)
  • Vocal mics (TBC)
  • In-house engineer (TBC)
  • Mon10:00–17:30
  • Tue10:00–17:30
  • Wed10:00–17:30
  • Thu10:00–17:30
  • Fri10:00–17:30
  • Sat10:00–17:30
  • Sun10:00–16:30
View venue›
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
Steamboat Tavern
Ipswich★★★★★ (—)
Ipswich community pub with live music.No gigs listed yet
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard (TBC)
  • Vocal mics (TBC)
  • In-house engineer (TBC)
  • MonClosed
  • Tue12:00–22:00
  • Wed12:00–22:00
  • Thu12:00–22:00
  • Fri12:00–23:00
  • Sat12:00–23:00
  • Sun12:00–17:00
View venue›
c. 70
Photo: Google
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Stoke By Nayland Resort
Colchester › Leavenheath★★★★★ (—)
Luxury resort with jazz events.No gigs listed yet
  • PA system (TBC)
  • Drum kit (TBC)
  • Guitar amp (TBC)
  • Bass amp (TBC)
  • Keys / keyboard (TBC)
  • Vocal mics (TBC)
  • In-house engineer (TBC)
  • Mon—
  • Tue—
  • Wed—
  • Thu—
  • Fri—
  • Sat—
  • Sun—
View venue›
c. 80
Photo: Google
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Swan and Hedgehog Inn
Ipswich★★★★★ (—)
Ipswich pub with live entertainment.No gigs listed yet
  • PA system
  • Drum kit (TBC)
  • Guitar amp (TBC)
  • Bass amp (TBC)
  • Keys / keyboard (TBC)
  • Vocal mics (TBC)
  • In-house engineer (TBC)
  • Mon12:00–23:30
  • Tue12:00–23:30
  • Wed12:00–23:30
  • Thu12:00–23:30
  • Fri12:00–01:30
  • Sat12:00–01:30
  • SunClosed
View venue›
c. 800
Photo: Google
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The Apex
Bury Saint Edmunds › Town Centre★★★★★ (—)
Large jazz and live music venue in Bury St EdmundsNext gig: Wed 25 Nov Hothouse Flowers
Private hire
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard (TBC)
  • Vocal mics (TBC)
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon09:00–16:00
  • Tue09:00–16:00
  • Wed09:00–16:00
  • Thu09:00–16:00
  • Fri09:00–16:00
  • Sat09:00–16:00
  • Sun10:00–16:00
View venue›
Photo: Google
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The Arbor House
Ipswich › Christchurch Park★★★★★ (—)
Independent pub by Christchurch Park with a live act every Saturday from 8pmNo gigs listed yet
  • PA system (TBC)
  • Drum kit (TBC)
  • Guitar amp (TBC)
  • Bass amp (TBC)
  • Keys / keyboard (TBC)
  • Vocal mics (TBC)
  • In-house engineer (TBC)
  • Mon11:30–22:30
  • Tue11:30–22:30
  • Wed11:30–22:30
  • Thu11:30–22:30
  • Fri11:30–23:30
  • Sat11:30–23:30
  • Sun11:30–22:30
View venue›
300
Photo: Google
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The Baths
Ipswich★★★★★ (—)
A 300-capacity former swimming baths hall in central Ipswich, hosting gigs and club nightsNext gig: Sat 20 Feb The 9075 - The UK Tribute to The 1975
  • PA system
  • Drum kit (TBC)
  • Guitar amp (TBC)
  • Bass amp (TBC)
  • Keys / keyboard (TBC)
  • Vocal mics (TBC)
  • In-house engineer (TBC)
  • Mon—
  • Tue—
  • Wed—
  • Thu—
  • Fri—
  • Sat—
  • Sun—
View venue›
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The Brickmakers Arms
Ipswich★★★★★ (—)
Family-run community pub on Spring Road with weekly live music from local actsNo gigs listed yet
  • PA system (TBC)
  • Drum kit (TBC)
  • Guitar amp (TBC)
  • Bass amp (TBC)
  • Keys / keyboard (TBC)
  • Vocal mics (TBC)
  • In-house engineer (TBC)
  • Mon12:00–23:00
  • Tue12:00–23:00
  • Wed12:00–23:00
  • Thu12:00–23:00
  • Fri12:00–00:00
  • Sat12:00–00:00
  • Sun12:00–23:00
View venue›
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The Bull
Colchester★★★★★ (—)
Colchester pub with live music.No gigs listed yet
  • PA system
  • Drum kit (TBC)
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp (TBC)
  • Keys / keyboard (TBC)
  • Vocal mics (TBC)
  • In-house engineer (TBC)
  • MonClosed
  • TueClosed
  • WedClosed
  • Thu16:00–02:00
  • Fri16:00–02:00
  • Sat12:00–02:00
  • Sun16:00–00:00
View venue›
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The Church Cafe Bar
Ipswich★★★★★ (—)
A Grade II listed medieval church in central Ipswich, now a cafe bar and gig venueNo gigs listed yet
  • PA system (TBC)
  • Drum kit (TBC)
  • Guitar amp (TBC)
  • Bass amp (TBC)
  • Keys / keyboard (TBC)
  • Vocal mics (TBC)
  • In-house engineer (TBC)
  • MonClosed
  • TueClosed
  • WedClosed
  • Thu18:00–22:00
  • Fri18:00–22:00
  • Sat18:00–22:00
  • SunClosed
View venue›
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The Crafty Fox Cafe Bar
Ipswich › The Walk★★★★★ (—)
All-day cafe bar in The Walk with live acts, DJ nights and an Unplugged NightNo gigs listed yet
  • PA system (TBC)
  • Drum kit (TBC)
  • Guitar amp (TBC)
  • Bass amp (TBC)
  • Keys / keyboard (TBC)
  • Vocal mics (TBC)
  • In-house engineer (TBC)
  • Mon09:00–22:00
  • Tue09:00–22:00
  • Wed09:00–22:00
  • Thu09:00–22:00
  • Fri09:00–23:30
  • Sat09:00–23:30
  • Sun10:00–20:00
View venue›

Venues You Can Hire in Ipswich

5 Ipswich 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.

Ipswich Venue Scene in Numbers

Ipswich’s 35 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 · Ipswich
35

From the
GigXchange venue directory

Room sizeof the 15 with a known capacity
5Small · under 150
8Medium · 150–499
2Large · 500+
What's on stageall 35 venues
16PA only
19Bring your own gear
16provide a PA
4have an in-house engineer
5take private hire
Rock · Indiemost-booked genres

How many grassroots music venues are in Ipswich? GigXchange lists 35 grassroots music venues across Ipswich. 46% provide a PA system.

Do Ipswich venues provide equipment? 4 venues include an in-house sound engineer. The majority of Ipswich venues are medium (150–499). Data from GigXchange’s verified Ipswich venue directory.

Ipswich Venue FAQs

10 answers about grassroots venues in Ipswich, 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.

GigXchange lists 35 grassroots music venues in Ipswich, 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.
0 of 35 Ipswich venues offer full backline (drums, guitar amp, bass amp, PA). 16 provide at least a PA system. 4 include an in-house sound engineer. Use the filters above to show only venues with backline.
5 Ipswich venues state on their own websites that they take private hire for parties, weddings and work events, among them Halberd Inn, The Apex and The Smokehouse. 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.
Of the 15 Ipswich venues with known capacity: 5 are small (under 150), 8 are medium (150–499), and 2 are large (500+). The majority of Ipswich’s grassroots scene is mid-size standing rooms.
Sign up free on GigXchange to view booking contacts, fee ranges, and submission processes for every Ipswich venue. Most grassroots venues accept email submissions with a link to your music, EPK, or social profiles. Check current UK fee benchmarks before quoting.
Yes. GigXchange also runs the UK Open Mic Finder for Ipswich, 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.
The What’s On in Ipswich page lists every gig we hold across these 35 venues over the next four weeks — dates, times, entry and ticket links, refreshed daily. For everything beyond that window, browse the Ipswich gig directory.
The most commonly booked genres across Ipswich’s 35 grassroots venues are Rock, indie, acoustic, folk, jazz. Many venues accept both original music and covers. Browse artist profiles by genre to find acts for your venue.
Fees vary by venue size and event type. The GigXchange Rate Calculator shows current percentiles for Ipswich 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.
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 Ipswich
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One email a week with the gigs coming up at Ipswich’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.

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

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Founder & Builder

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