Skip to content
Sign In Get Started

Reading · 32 venues · 16 with a PA

Grassroots Venues in Reading

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

By size: 7 small (under 150), 5 mid-size (150 to 499), 3 large (500+), 17 with no size listed. 28 of the 30 open rooms are verified (2 marked closed). 1 with full backline, 2 with a sound engineer.

Nearby
OxfordSouthamptonLondon
What's onList your venue

Updated 12 November 2026

At a glance
Reading
32
Grassroots
venues
in Reading
In detail
House PA16 venues
Full backline1 venue
In-house engineer2 venues
Venue Score59 /100
01 — Find a venue
32 rooms
Pick your room
Size
Kit
Hire
City
Sort
Photo: Google ACE Space NewburyNewburyHouse PANo gigs listed yet Bier KellerBracknellKit not listedNext gig:Sat 14 Nov 19Eighties 80s Tribute Cap tbc Corn ExchangeNewburyHouse PAEngineerNo gigs listed yet Cap tbc Englefield HouseEnglefield, near Theale · ReadingKit not listedNo gigs listed yet 600Cap London Road CampusRedlands, Reading (London Road campus) · ReadingKit not listedNext gig:Fri 18 Dec The Music of Harry Potter by Mystery Ensemble Cap tbc Mates Rates Comedy ClubReadingHouse PANo gigs listed yet Cap tbc McCafferty's BarTown Centre · ReadingKit not listedNo gigs listed yet Cap tbc Oakford Social ClubCity Centre · ReadingHouse PANo gigs listed yet 100Cap Palmer TavernReadingHouse PANo gigs listed yet 80Cap Pangbourne Working Mens ClubPangbourne · ReadingKit not listedNext gig:Sun 22 Nov BBO Big Band - In aid of Breast Cancer Now 100Cap
02 — The scene
Venue Score
59
Out of
100
Solid — healthy coverage, building on genres. A dependable circuit for touring acts.
How it adds up (0-100)
Choice80
Coverage100
Backline3
PA50
Engineer6
Genres100
03 — Rooms + kit
Live data
What Reading has
By size
Small under 1507 47%
Medium 150-4995 33%
Large 500+3 20%
Size not listed17

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

Kit
Bring your own16 50%
PA only15 47%
Full backline1 3%
This month
Added3
Removed0
Verified3
Re-verified0
04 — More of Reading
Beyond the rooms
Gigs, mics + hire
Go next
Featured venueEnglefield HouseReading · 600 cap
Reading gigsWhat's on at these rooms, by date
What's on this weekEvery gig over the next seven days
Reading open micsWeekly stage time, re-checked on a rolling cycle
Reading music sceneVenues, rates, guides and gigs
Private hire

9 Reading 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.

Englefield HouseUp to 50 seatedSouth Street Arts CentreUp to 210 standingACE Space NewburyPrivate hireBier KellerPrivate hirePurple TurtlePrivate hireEnglefield HouseUp to 50 seatedSouth Street Arts CentreUp to 210 standingACE Space NewburyPrivate hireBier KellerPrivate hirePurple TurtlePrivate hire
05 — Other cities
90 cities
Venues elsewhere
OxfordSouthamptonLondon
All cities, A–ZVenues
A
Aberdeen27Aberystwyth10Accrington12Aldershot16
B
Basildon21Bath36Bedford14Belfast77Billericay6Birmingham80Blackburn11Blackpool47Boston12Bournemouth30Bradford42Brighton94Bristol86Broxbourne12
C
Cambridge31Cardiff63Carlisle19Chelmsford13Cheltenham27Cirencester8Coventry46Crawley14
D
Derby38Derry14Doncaster19Dublin3Dundee35Durham17
E
Edinburgh118Egham17Epsom18Exeter48
F
Farnborough6
G
Glasgow168Gloucester21Grimsby11
H
Hastings24Hereford23High Wycombe14Horley4Hull32
I
Inverness29Ipswich35
L
Leeds92Leicester40Lincoln22Liverpool130London302Luton16
M
Maidstone22Manchester164Margate32Middlesbrough27Milton Keynes18
N
Newcastle75Newquay20Newry8Northampton26Norwich38Nottingham79
O
Oxford35
P
Peterborough22Plymouth34Portsmouth30Preston28
R
Rawtenstall25
S
Scarborough17Sheffield94Southampton47Stockton-on-Tees16Stoke-on-Trent32Sunderland23Sutton14Swansea34Swindon19
T
Telford21Tunbridge Wells10
W
Waterlooville12Watford24Welshpool4Weymouth18Woking16Wolverhampton49Worthing1Wrexham31
Y
York48
Live music on stage: a band under the lights
Reading Venues

Grassroots Venues in Reading

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

59/ 100
Reading Venue Score
SolidHealthy coverage, building on genres. A dependable circuit for touring acts.
Choice80
Coverage100
Backline3
PA50
Engineer6
Genres100
Run a Reading venue? Claim your page free — keep specs current

Last updated: 12 November 2026

32 Venues in Reading

Reading has 32 grassroots music venues listed on GigXchange, from a 40-capacity room to 600. 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 32 Reading venues, 16 provide a PA system, 1 offers 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.

32
grassroots venues hosting live music in Reading
  • 16 provide a PA system · 1 offer full backline
  • 2 have an in-house sound engineer included
  • Booking contact, fee range and submission process available to signed-up artists
32
Venues
16
With PA
1
Full backline
2
In-house engineer
Last updated

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

Browse Reading Venues

Search all 32 Reading 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 32 venues
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The Great Hall, University Of Reading
Reading › London Road Campus★★★★★ (—)
London Road campus, Reading, 500-seat Grade II listed concert hall.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
Claim this venue
The Lyndhurst
Reading★★★★★ (—)
Family-run Reading bar & kitchen at 88 Queens Road with live music, karaoke and open mic nights.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)
  • Mon12:00–23:00
  • Tue17:00–23:00
  • Wed12:00–23:00
  • Thu12:00–23:00
  • Fri12:00–23:00
  • Sat12:00–23:00
  • Sun12:00–23:00
View venue›
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The New Inn
Basingstoke › Town Centre★★★★★ (—)
Grassroots live music venue in Basingstoke with a regular open mic night.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)
  • Mon12:00–23:00
  • Tue12:00–23:00
  • Wed12:00–23:00
  • Thu12:00–23:00
  • Fri12:00–00:30
  • Sat12:00–00:30
  • Sun12:00–22:30
View venue›
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The Newbury Pub & Terrace
Newbury★★★★★ (—)
Thursday open mic on the rooftop terraceNo gigs listed yet
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • 2 vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon—
  • Tue—
  • Wed—
  • Thu—
  • Fri—
  • Sat—
  • Sun—
View venue›
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The Old London Apprentice
Newbury★★★★★ (—)
Traditional Newbury pub with open mic and folk 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—
  • Tue—
  • Wed—
  • Thu—
  • Fri—
  • Sat—
  • Sun—
View venue›
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The Plough
Reading › Tilehurst★★★★★ (—)
Reading 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)
  • Mon—
  • Tue—
  • Wed—
  • Thu—
  • Fri—
  • Sat—
  • Sun—
View venue›
c. 50
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The Retreat
Reading › City Centre★★★★★ (—)
Reading's Thursday-night free folk open mic at 8 St John's Street, RG1 4EH — real-ale pub, PA + guitar amp, 15-minute slots.No gigs listed yet
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • 2 vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon12:00–23:00
  • Tue12:00–23:00
  • Wed12:00–23:00
  • Thu12:00–23:00
  • Fri12:00–23:30
  • Sat12:00–23:30
  • Sun12:00–22:30
View venue›
c. 120
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The Rising Sun Arts Centre
Reading★★★★★ (—)
30 Silver Street arts centre with live music.No gigs listed yet
Private hire
  • PA system
  • Drum kit (TBC)
  • Guitar amp (TBC)
  • Bass amp (TBC)
  • Keys / keyboard (TBC)
  • Vocal mics (TBC)
  • In-house engineer (TBC)
  • Mon19:30–21:30
  • Tue19:30–21:30
  • Wed19:30–21:30
  • Thu19:30–21:30
  • Fri19:30–21:30
  • Sat19:30–21:30
  • Sun19:30–21:30
View venue›

Venues You Can Hire in Reading

9 Reading 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.

Reading Venue Scene in Numbers

Reading’s 32 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 · Reading
32

From the
GigXchange venue directory

Room sizeof the 15 with a known capacity
7Small · under 150
5Medium · 150–499
3Large · 500+
What's on stageall 32 venues
1Full backline
15PA only
16Bring your own gear
16provide a PA
2have an in-house engineer
9take private hire
Acoustic · Rockmost-booked genres

How many grassroots music venues are in Reading? GigXchange lists 32 grassroots music venues across Reading. 50% provide a PA system and 3% offer full backline (drums, guitar amp, bass amp, PA).

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

Reading Venue FAQs

10 answers about grassroots venues in Reading, 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 32 grassroots music venues in Reading, 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.
1 of 32 Reading venues offer full backline (drums, guitar amp, bass amp, PA). 16 provide at least a PA system. 2 include an in-house sound engineer. Use the filters above to show only venues with backline.
9 Reading venues state on their own websites that they take private hire for parties, weddings and work events, among them Englefield House (up to 50 seated), South Street Arts Centre (up to 210 standing) and ACE Space Newbury. 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 Reading venues with known capacity: 7 are small (under 150), 5 are medium (150–499), and 3 are large (500+). The majority of Reading’s grassroots scene is intimate, small-room spaces.
Sign up free on GigXchange to view booking contacts, fee ranges, and submission processes for every Reading 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 Reading, 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 Reading page lists every gig we hold across these 32 venues over the next four weeks — dates, times, entry and ticket links, refreshed daily. For everything beyond that window, browse the Reading gig directory.
The most commonly booked genres across Reading’s 32 grassroots venues are acoustic, rock, folk, pop, indie. 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 Reading 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 Reading
Free, weekly
One email a week. Gigs near you.

Keep up with Reading

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

—

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 Reading. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy.

The rooms. Of the 15 rooms with a listed capacity, the middle one holds about 150 and 7 hold under 150; the largest listed is Englefield House at 600. They are spread over 9 areas, led by Newbury (2), Tilehurst (2) and Bracknell (1).

What they book. Acoustic, rock and folk come up most often in what Reading venues say they book, out of 31 genres listed. The acts that fit pitch best with a recent clip and a clear fee. 3 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 Reading gig directory; new acts get stage time at the Reading open mics, and the GX Index sets out the going rates. Venues nearby: Oxford, Southampton 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 Reading.

London302 Glasgow168 Manchester164 Liverpool130 Edinburgh118 Brighton94 Sheffield94 Leeds92 Bristol86 Birmingham80 Nottingham79 Belfast77 Newcastle75 Cardiff63 Wolverhampton49 Exeter48 York48 Blackpool47 Southampton47 Coventry46 Bradford42 Leicester40 Derby38 Norwich38 Bath36 Dundee35 Ipswich35 Oxford35 Plymouth34 Swansea34 Hull32 Margate32 Stoke-on-Trent32 Cambridge31 Wrexham31 Bournemouth30 Portsmouth30 Inverness29 Preston28 Aberdeen27 Cheltenham27 Middlesbrough27 Northampton26 Rawtenstall25 Hastings24 Watford24 Hereford23 Sunderland23 Lincoln22 Maidstone22 Peterborough22 Basildon21 Gloucester21 Telford21 Newquay20 Carlisle19 Doncaster19 Swindon19 Epsom18 Milton Keynes18 Weymouth18 Durham17 Egham17 Scarborough17 Aldershot16 Luton16 Stockton-on-Tees16 Woking16 Bedford14 Crawley14 Derry14 High Wycombe14 Sutton14 Chelmsford13 Accrington12 Boston12 Broxbourne12 Waterlooville12 Blackburn11 Grimsby11 Aberystwyth10 Tunbridge Wells10 Cirencester8 Newry8 Billericay6 Farnborough6 Horley4 Welshpool4 Dublin3 Worthing1

Run a Reading 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 ArtistsFor VenuesFor AgentsFor PromotersFor OrganisersFor Fans
ForArtistsGet booked. Get paid. ForVenuesFill the calendar. ForAgentsRun your roster. ForPromotersBuild the bill. ForOrganisersBook acts for your event. ForFansFind tonight’s gigs.

Free to join · free to list · free to browse

Claim Your Venue Why List?
Run a Reading 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.

Naumaan Zahid
Founder & Builder

Live gigs across the UK, kept fresh. Spot something wrong or missing? Let me know and I’ll fix it.

Did you know? The UK is one of the world’s largest music markets, behind only the US and Japan.
Email me directly →