UK Venue Directory — 2,676 Grassroots Venues

Q: How many grassroots music venues are in the UK?

GigXchange lists 2,676 grassroots music venues across 91 UK cities, making it the most comprehensive structured venue directory available. Each listing includes capacity, backline provision, genres booked, and verification status. The dataset is also available on HuggingFace and Zenodo under CC BY 4.0.

Q: What is a grassroots music venue?

A grassroots music venue is a small to medium-capacity live music space, typically under 600 standing, that regularly hosts original and covers artists. They include pubs with dedicated stages, independent music bars, community arts centres, and small clubs. Music Venue Trust defines them as independently owned spaces that programme emerging and local talent. GigXchange tracks 2,676 of them across the UK.

Q: What equipment do UK grassroots venues provide?

48% of UK grassroots venues provide a PA system. 4% offer full backline including drums, guitar amp, bass amp, and PA. 7% include an in-house sound engineer. Artists playing the grassroots circuit should expect to bring their own gear to most venues. Use the backline filter above to find venues with equipment provided.

Q: How do I find grassroots venues near me?

Use the city filter or search bar on this page to narrow the 2,676 listings by location, capacity, or equipment. Each city has its own venue directory page with local stats and rankings. You can also browse open mic nights at the same venues via the Open Mic Finder.

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

Sign up free on GigXchange to view booking contacts, fee ranges, and submission processes for every venue. Most grassroots venues accept email submissions with a link to your music. The Musicians’ Union publishes recommended minimum fees. See our Rate Calculator for current UK benchmarks.

Q: Can I list my venue for free?

Yes. Submissions are free, take 2 minutes, and are verified within 48 hours. Once approved, claim your listing to self-edit your profile, update equipment, and manage your booking preferences.

Q: How is this different from Music Venue Trust?

Music Venue Trust tracks approximately 800 member venues for advocacy and policy work. GigXchange covers 2,676 venues with structured data including capacity, backline, genres, and booking contacts. MVT focuses on protecting grassroots venues; GigXchange helps artists find and book them.

Q: What does it cost to play at a grassroots venue?

Fees vary widely. Small pub gigs typically pay £100–£250 for a solo act, while mid-size venues may pay £300–£600 for a full band. Some operate on door splits. The GigXchange Rate Calculator shows current UK percentiles by city, band size, and venue type. See also the Musicians’ Union recommended rates.

Live music on stage: a band under the lights

UK Grassroots Venue Directory

2,676 venues across 91 UK cities. Capacity, backline, genres, booking info. The most complete grassroots venue directory in the UK.

Venue directory

Venue directory at a glance UK grassroots venues · 91 UK cities

2,676

Venues

liveGX directory

UK cities

mappednationwide

48%

PA provided

in-houseverified

Full backline

on stageverified

Sound engineer

in-houseverified

Daily

Updated

continuouslyrealtime

The stages behind the gigs — mapped, verified and free to browse

2,676 venues across 91 UK cities
48% provide a PA — 4% full backline
7% include an in-house sound engineer
Seeded from 902 open-mic + 1,774 gig-directory venues
Booking contact and fee data for signed-up artists
Claim your venue to keep it current

Find out more Join free

What is actually ON at these venues — type a city to see its gigs

8,490 upcoming gigs, sorted by date
672 in the next 7 days
Sourced from venues, promoters and artists
Every gig links back to its venue

Find out more Join free

The sibling directory: recurring open mic nights, verified and mapped

1,300+ verified UK open mic nights
Re-verified on a rolling cycle
Filter by night of the week and city
Free stage time for new and gigging acts

Find out more Join free

Every city has its own venue hub — type yours

Venues in 91 UK cities, London to Aberdeen
London leads with 274 venues
Capacity, backline and contact per venue
City hubs link gigs and open mics too

Find out more Join free

Reach artists actively looking for stages in your city

Free listing — no fee, no account needed
Claim an existing page to keep it current
Backline and capacity specs searchable by artists
Booking contact shown to signed-up members
Every venue links its upcoming gigs
Verified before going live

Find out more

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

Last updated: 9 September 2026

2,676 Grassroots Venues Across the UK

2,676

grassroots venues across 91 UK cities, from London to Aberdeen

48% provide a PA system · 4% offer full backline (drums, amps, PA)
7% have an in-house sound engineer included
Booking contact, fee ranges and submission process available to signed-up artists
Seeded from 902 open mic venues + 1,774 gig directory venues, deduplicated

The most comprehensive UK grassroots venue directory: every venue searchable by city, capacity, backline and genres booked. We compile data from the Open Mic Finder, Gig Directory, and public venue listings to give artists the full picture — equipment, contact, and fee data in one place.

2,676 Venues 91 UK Cities 48% PA Provided 4% Full Backline Updated 20 Sept 2026

Want what is on this week rather than the venue list? See what’s on across the UK — live music by city, updated daily.

How to cite this dataset

GigXchange, UK Grassroots Venue Directory. Available at: https://gigxchange.app/gigs/venues. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

DOI 10.5281/zenodo.20184475 · HuggingFace · Kaggle · CC BY 4.0

Search by Location

Explore live music venues near you — or click a city for its full venue list.

91 cities mapped · 2,676 venues · London alone has 274

Browse Venues

Filter all 2,676 venues by capacity, backline or city

Click a filter to narrow the listings below.

Showing 24 of 2,676 venues

Photo: Google

Claim this venue

The Southport Coaster

Southport › Lord Street★★★★★ (—)

Southport rock live music venue.

Backline0 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon10:00–23:00
Tue10:00–23:00
Wed10:00–23:00
Thu10:00–23:00
Fri10:00–01:00
Sat10:00–01:00
Sun11:00–23:00

Southport › Promenade★★★★★ (—)

Grassroots live music venue in Southport with a regular open mic night.

Backline0 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon12:00–23:00
Tue12:00–22:30
Wed12:00–23:30
Thu12:00–23:30
Fri12:00–00:00
Sat12:00–00:00
Sun12:00–22:30

Historic Southsea corner pub with a Thursday open mic and live bands.

Backline1 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon12:00–23:00
Tue12:00–23:00
Wed12:00–23:00
Thu12:00–23:00
Fri12:00–00:00
Sat12:00–00:00
Sun12:00–22:30

Southsea's new basement music venue and nightclub on Granada Road, by the team behind Heartbreakers and Papillon.

Backline0 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon09:00–18:00
Tue09:00–18:00
Wed09:00–18:00
Thu09:00–18:00
Fri09:00–18:00
Sat09:00–16:00
SunClosed

Southsea community pub with live music.

Backline0 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon12:00–00:00
Tue12:00–00:00
Wed12:00–00:00
Thu12:00–01:00
Fri12:00–02:00
Sat10:00–02:00
Sun12:00–00:00

Southsea pier venue with live events.

Backline0 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon11:30–20:00
Tue11:30–20:00
Wed11:30–20:00
Thu11:30–20:00
Fri11:30–21:00
Sat11:30–21:00
Sun11:30–21:00

View venue›

Photo: Google

Claim this venue

Staggeringly Good Brewery

Southsea★★★★★ (—)

Southsea's dino-themed craft brewery and taproom with live music, DJ sets and festivals.

Backline1 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

MonClosed
TueClosed
WedClosed
Thu17:00–23:00
Fri15:00–23:00
Sat12:00–23:00
Sun12:00–20:00

Southsea's sunday-night free open mic at The Barley Mow — PA + vocal mic, walk-in sign-up from 7pm, 15-minute slots, all ages.

Backline2 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon12:00–23:00
Tue12:00–23:00
Wed12:00–23:00
Thu12:00–23:00
Fri12:00–23:00
Sat12:00–23:00
Sun12:00–23:00

Art deco bar and restaurant.

Backline0 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon17:00–01:00
Tue17:00–01:00
Wed17:00–01:00
Thu17:00–01:00
Fri17:00–03:00
Sat17:00–03:00
Sun17:00–01:00

View venue›

Photo: Google

Claim this venue

The Fifth Hants Volunteer Arms

Southsea★★★★★ (—)

Portsmouth pub with live music.

Backline1 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon12:00–01:00
Tue12:00–01:00
Wed12:00–01:00
Thu12:00–01:00
Fri12:00–02:00
Sat12:00–02:00
Sun12:00–02:00

600-cap rock, indie and punk venue on the pier.

Backline1 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon12:00–20:00
Tue12:00–17:00
Wed12:00–17:00
Thu12:00–17:00
Fri12:00–00:00
Sat12:00–00:00
Sun12:00–19:00

Southsea › Southsea, Portsmouth★★★★★ (—)

Portsmouth pub with live music.

Backline1 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon12:00–23:00
Tue12:00–23:00
Wed12:00–23:00
Thu12:00–23:00
Fri12:00–23:00
Sat12:00–23:00
Sun12:00–23:00

The Jolly Sailor Southsea

Southsea★★★★★ (—)

Southsea family pub with live music.

Backline1 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

MonClosed
TueClosed
Wed17:00–23:00
Thu17:00–23:00
Fri12:00–00:00
Sat12:00–00:00
Sun12:00–22:30

400-cap rock, alt and punk Southsea venue.

Backline0 of 7

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

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

Sowerby Bridge★★★★★ (—)

Community-owned Calderdale pub with a monthly open mic

Backline0 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon17:00–23:00
Tue17:00–23:00
Wed17:00–23:00
Thu17:00–23:00
Fri16:00–00:00
Sat13:00–00:00
Sun13:00–22:30

Sowerby Bridge★★★★★ (—)

Cocktail bar with tribute entertainment.

Backline0 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

MonClosed
TueClosed
WedClosed
Thu18:00–00:00
Fri18:00–02:00
Sat18:00–02:00
Sun14:00–22:00

Historic Spalding pub and home of open mic folk singarounds

Backline0 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

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

Spalding pub with a fortnightly Wednesday open mic.

Backline0 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon16:30–21:00
Tue16:30–21:00
Wed12:00–23:00
Thu12:00–23:00
Fri12:00–00:00
Sat12:00–00:00
Sun12:00–19:00

Free live music and open mic overlooking the Abbey

Backline2 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

MonClosed
Tue17:00–21:00
Wed12:00–22:00
Thu12:00–22:00
Fri12:00–23:00
Sat12:00–23:00
Sun12:00–21:00

A grassroots music venue in St Albans.

Backline2 of 7

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

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

Hertfordshire's premier live-music venue, est.

Backline3 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon12:00–00:00
Tue12:00–00:00
Wed12:00–00:00
Thu12:00–00:00
Fri12:00–02:00
Sat12:00–02:00
Sun12:00–21:00

Community music and events space on Verulam Road.

Backline0 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon10:00–18:00
Tue10:00–18:00
Wed10:00–22:00
Thu10:00–22:00
Fri10:00–00:00
Sat10:00–00:00
Sun10:00–18:00

St Albans › Heathlands Drive★★★★★ (—)

St Albans youth centre with world music.

Backline1 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

MonClosed
TueClosed
Wed19:00–22:00
Thu09:30–20:30
Fri09:30–21:30
Sat10:00–14:00
Sun10:00–16:00

Family-friendly local with weekly open mic and live bands

Backline0 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon11:30–23:00
Tue11:30–23:00
Wed11:30–23:00
Thu11:30–23:00
Fri11:30–23:00
Sat11:30–23:00
Sun11:30–22:30

View venue›

Browse by City

Jump straight to a city for the full local list.

London274 Manchester135 Glasgow134 Liverpool92 Edinburgh80 Leeds77 Sheffield73 Brighton66 Newcastle59 Birmingham58 Nottingham58 Bristol56 Cardiff55 Southampton44 Belfast42 Blackpool42 Wolverhampton40 Bradford39 Exeter37 Coventry34 York34 Derby31 Leicester31 Margate31 Norwich30 Oxford28 Plymouth28 Reading28 Wrexham28 Dundee27 Swansea27 Cambridge26 Ipswich26 Portsmouth26 Cheltenham25 Bath24 Hull24 Hereford23 Inverness23 Aberdeen22 Hastings22 Stoke-on-Trent22 Middlesbrough21 Northampton21 Basildon20 Lincoln20 Watford20 Maidstone19 Preston19 Bournemouth18 Carlisle18 Rawtenstall18 Sunderland18 Gloucester17 Newquay17 Peterborough17 Telford17 Durham16 Milton Keynes15 Derry14 Egham14 Scarborough14 Stockton-on-Tees14 Bedford13 Chelmsford13 High Wycombe13 Luton13 Doncaster12 Epsom12 Weymouth12 Aldershot11 Woking11 Boston10 Broxbourne10 Swindon10 Crawley9 Grimsby9 Accrington8 Sutton8 Aberystwyth7 Blackburn7 Tunbridge Wells7 Waterlooville6 Billericay5 Cirencester4 Dublin4 Horley4 Farnborough3 Newry3 Welshpool3 Worthing1

UK Grassroots Venue Scene in Numbers

Live statistics from 2,676 grassroots music venues across 91 UK cities. Updated daily.

2,676

Total Venues

Across 91 UK cities from London to Aberdeen

48%

PA Provided

48% of UK grassroots venues provide at least a PA system

Full Backline

4% offer full backline (drums, guitar amp, bass amp, PA)

In-House Engineer

7% of venues include an in-house sound engineer

Venues by City

Top 16 UK cities ranked by grassroots venue count

50%+ of top 20–49% <20%

How many grassroots music venues are there in the UK? GigXchange’s Venue Directory lists 2,676 grassroots music venues across 91 UK cities, making it the most comprehensive structured venue database available. London leads with the most venues, followed by Glasgow, Manchester, and Liverpool.

Do UK grassroots venues provide equipment? 48% of UK grassroots venues provide a PA system, but only 4% offer full backline (drums, guitar amp, bass amp, PA). 7% include an in-house sound engineer. Artists playing the grassroots circuit should expect to bring their own gear to most venues. Data from GigXchange’s verified UK Venue Directory, updated daily.

UK Venue Rankings

Top UK cities ranked by venue count and equipment provision.

Most Venues

#	City	Count
1	London	274	274
2	Manchester	135	135
3	Glasgow	134	134
4	Liverpool	92	92
5	Edinburgh	80	80
6	Leeds	77	77
7	Sheffield	73	73
8	Brighton	66	66
9	Newcastle	59	59
10	Birmingham	58	58

Best Backline

#	City	Rate
1	London	10%	10%
2	Manchester	7%	7%
3	Sheffield	7%	7%
4	Glasgow	6%	6%
5	Leeds	6%	6%
6	Birmingham	5%	5%
7	Brighton	3%	3%
8	Liverpool	2%	2%
9	Newcastle	2%	2%
10	Edinburgh	1%	1%

Venue Directory FAQs

How many grassroots music venues are in the UK?

GigXchange lists 2,676 grassroots music venues across 91 UK cities, making it the most comprehensive structured venue directory available. Each listing includes capacity, backline provision, genres booked, and verification status. The dataset is also available on HuggingFace and Zenodo under CC BY 4.0.

What is a grassroots music venue?

A grassroots music venue is a small to medium-capacity live music space, typically under 600 standing, that regularly hosts original and covers artists. They include pubs with dedicated stages, independent music bars, community arts centres, and small clubs. Music Venue Trust defines them as independently owned spaces that programme emerging and local talent. GigXchange tracks 2,676 of them across the UK.

What equipment do UK grassroots venues provide?

48% of UK grassroots venues provide a PA system. 4% offer full backline including drums, guitar amp, bass amp, and PA. 7% include an in-house sound engineer. Artists playing the grassroots circuit should expect to bring their own gear to most venues. Use the backline filter above to find venues with equipment provided.

How do I find grassroots venues near me?

Use the city filter or search bar on this page to narrow the 2,676 listings by location, capacity, or equipment. Each city has its own venue directory page with local stats and rankings. You can also browse open mic nights at the same venues via the Open Mic Finder.

How do I book a gig at a grassroots venue?

Sign up free on GigXchange to view booking contacts, fee ranges, and submission processes for every venue. Most grassroots venues accept email submissions with a link to your music. The Musicians’ Union publishes recommended minimum fees. See our Rate Calculator for current UK benchmarks.

Can I list my venue for free?

Yes. Submissions are free, take 2 minutes, and are verified within 48 hours. Once approved, claim your listing to self-edit your profile, update equipment, and manage your booking preferences.

How is this different from Music Venue Trust?

Music Venue Trust tracks approximately 800 member venues for advocacy and policy work. GigXchange covers 2,676 venues with structured data including capacity, backline, genres, and booking contacts. MVT focuses on protecting grassroots venues; GigXchange helps artists find and book them.

What does it cost to play at a grassroots venue?

Fees vary widely. Small pub gigs typically pay £100–£250 for a solo act, while mid-size venues may pay £300–£600 for a full band. Some operate on door splits. The GigXchange Rate Calculator shows current UK percentiles by city, band size, and venue type. See also the Musicians’ Union recommended rates.

Run a grassroots venue? List it free.

2-minute submission, verified within 48 hours. Reach thousands of artists actively looking for gigs.

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