Live music for pubs & bars
Live music for your pub
Acoustic Fridays, Saturday bands and open mics - post free, hear the act, sign the contract.
Book solo, duo and band acts for your pub direct. Live UK pub fees from the GX Index, the licence rules in plain English, and a contract on every booking.
Updated 23 October 2026
01 — Live music for pubs
Where Pubs Book Live Music
GIGXCHANGE is where UK pubs and bars book live music direct. 982 artists and 70 venues across 79 cities are on the platform. A pub posts its date free, hears each act’s audio and video before asking, agrees the fee in the chat and signs a contract on every booking. On the live GX Index a solo act at a pub is typically £250 (370 fees) and a 3 to 4 piece band £350 (275 fees). The booking fee is 5% on top only when you pay through GigXchange – 0% when you settle privately.
Most UK pubs still book live music the old way: a band messages the Facebook page, the landlord says yes to a date over WhatsApp, and nobody writes down the fee, the finish time or who brings the PA. Half the time it works. The other half, the act cancels on the day, the volume upsets the neighbours, or the fee on the night is not the fee that was agreed.
That is why so many pubs give up on live music after a bad month - not because the music did not bring people in, but because booking it felt like a gamble.
On GigXchange the gamble goes. The landlord hears the act before booking, the fee and the set times are in a contract both sides sign, the deposit is held until the gig, and if an act drops out GX Gig Rescue sends an urgent invite to available acts nearby. The live GX Index shows what pubs actually pay, so the budget is set from data, not guesswork.
| 02Book live music in five stepsFrom an empty date to a signed booking | |
| 03Pub feesSet a fair budget before you post | |
| 04Venues that host live musicThe venues in our directory | |
| 05Members across the UKThe acts and rooms near you | |
| 06The licence rulesEach with its official source | |
| 07Nights that workFour ways pubs run live music, from a first acoustic set to a weekend band. | |
| 08Restaurants and dining roomsThe same five steps book a dinner set. What changes is the act, the volume and, without a bar licence, the licence rule. | |
| 09Run a pub festivalA weekend of acts in the garden or across the pub. The same five steps, plus a few rules for a bigger crowd. | |
| 10Christmas and New YearWhat to book, when to book it, and the two licence rules that matter in December. | |
| 11Choosing the right actWhat to check before you book, so the night goes the way you planned. | |
| 12Free tools for your pubFree with a venue account. | |
| 14QuestionsWhat pubs ask before they book | |
| 15Keep exploringThe other guides and the longer reads |
02 — Book an act
5 stepsBook in five steps
| Step 01Post your gig, freeAdd the date, your budget, the genres you want and your house kit in about two minutes. Acts apply to you - or browse and invite them yourself. | |
| Step 02Hear them before you bookAct profiles carry the audio, video and reviews the act has added, so you can judge them before you ask. | |
| Step 03Agree it in the chatMessage the act directly, settle the fee, sets and kit, and the offer lands in the same thread. | |
| Step 04Sign the contractEvery booking makes a digital performance agreement, signed by both of you, with a full audit trail. | |
| Step 05Pay the act5% on top only when you pay through GigXchange – 0% when you settle privately. A protected payment holds the deposit with Stripe and releases it after the gig. | |
| If plans changeIf the act drops outGX Gig Rescue sends an urgent invite to available acts near you. The first to accept is booked. |
03 — Pub fees
LiveThe price ladder
What does live music cost a UK pub? In the GX Index the median pub fee is £250 (370 fees) for a solo act, £325 (67 fees) for a duo and £350 (275 fees) for a 3 to 4 piece band.
Median UK pub and bar fees in the GX Index. Marker: the Musicians’ Union recommended minimum for pubs and clubs (up to 3 hours, per musician, April 2026).
- Solo act £250 median · 370 observationsThe MU publishes no solo figure
- Duo £325 median · 67 observationsMU minimum £334.32
- 3 to 4 piece band £350 median · 275 observationsMU minimum £501.48 · for 3 players; 4 players: £668.64
You pay the act’s fee. 5% on top only when you pay through GigXchange – 0% when you settle privately.
| GuideWhat a pub band costsUK pub fees by act type. | |
| ToolRate calculatorA fair fee for your night. | |
| DataGX IndexEvery UK fee table, open data. |
04 — On GigXchange
70 venuesVenues that host live music
70 venues are on GigXchange - pubs, bars, clubs and grassroots rooms across the UK, from a first acoustic night to a weekend band. Joining is free: list your pub, post a gig and message acts at no cost. 5% on top only when you pay through GigXchange – 0% when you settle privately, and every booking comes with a contract you both sign. Where can a pub book live music in the UK? On GigXchange, a pub posts its date free, hears the acts and books one direct, with live UK pub fees from the GX Index to set the budget.
05 — Members across the UK
Tap a cityActs near your pub
Scroll to zoom (hold Ctrl / two fingers)· tap a layer to switch · click a pin for details, a cluster for its area.
Booking in a city? London · Birmingham · Leeds · Glasgow · Sheffield · Manchester · Bradford · Edinburgh · Liverpool · Bristol · Leicester · Cardiff · every city guide
06 — The licence rules
Checked 20 October 2026What you need
Does a pub need a licence for live music? In England and Wales a pub licensed to sell alcohol needs no entertainment licence for live music between 8am and 11pm, for an audience of 500 or fewer (GOV.UK Live Music Act guidance) - but it still needs TheMusicLicence from PPL PRS.
| England and WalesNo entertainment licence, 8am to 11pmAmplified live music needs no extra licence on premises licensed to sell alcohol, between 8am and 11pm, to an audience of 500 or fewer. Unamplified live music needs none in those hours, anywhere. | |
| UKYou still need TheMusicLicenceThat is permission to hold the event, not copyright. Playing or performing music in public needs a music licence from PPL PRS. | |
| England and WalesOne-off events: a TENFor an event outside your licence: fewer than 500 people at all times, including staff, up to 7 days. Give the council at least 10 clear working days' notice (a late TEN: 5). One premises can have up to 15 a year, 21 days in total. | |
| England and WalesKeep the neighbours on sideYour council can act if noise becomes a statutory nuisance. Agree finish times and volume with the act in the contract. | |
| UKMartyn's Law: not in force yetThe 2025 Act covers premises expecting 200 to 799 people (standard tier) or 800 and over (enhanced). Most small pubs are under 200. There is at least 24 months from Royal Assent before it applies. |
| Scotland and NILicensing (Scotland) Act 2005Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own licensing law - check with your council. | |
| ToolLicensing checkerTen questions, a plain-English verdict. |
07 — Nights that work
Pick your night
| Open mic, midweekA host and a sign-up list fill a quiet night. See which nights UK open mics run, live from the directory. | |
| Acoustic setsA solo act or duo, two sets, a small PA. The easiest first night for a room that has never had music. | |
| Band nightA 3 to 4 piece with its own PA for the weekend. Agree load-in, set times and the finish in the contract. | |
| Promote itA night only works if people know. A poster of your listings and a plan for the week before. |
08 — Restaurants
Music with dinner
The same five steps book a dinner set. What changes is the act, the volume and, without a bar licence, the licence rule.
| Dinner setsA solo act or duo playing quieter sets while people eat. The solo and duo medians above are the closest GX Index figures. | |
| Acts for a dining roomSearch by the sound a dining room suits - jazz, acoustic, classical, lounge, bossa nova. | |
| Agree the volumeSet the volume, the set lengths and the finish in the contract, so the music sits under the conversation. | |
| No bar licence?An unlicensed restaurant counts as a workplace, so amplified music needs no entertainment licence 8am to 11pm for up to 500 people. |
09 — Festivals
Your own festival
A weekend of acts in the garden or across the pub. The same five steps, plus a few rules for a bigger crowd.
| A garden or car-park stageIf the space is not covered by your premises licence, a temporary events notice can cover a one-off event: fewer than 500 people at all times, including staff. Serve it at least 10 clear working days before. | |
| Two stages, two audiencesActs can play at the same time in separate rooms, each to an audience of 500 or fewer - but you must make sure the crowds do not grow or move past the limit. | |
| Festival-length setsSlots are shorter than a pub night. Agree each act’s set length, changeover and who provides the PA in its own contract. The GX Index has too few festival fees to publish a figure yet. | |
| Outdoor sound and neighboursYour council can act if noise becomes a statutory nuisance. Agree finish times and volume for the outdoor stage in every contract. |
10 — Christmas
Book December
What to book, when to book it, and the two licence rules that matter in December.
| Book December earlyChristmas dates go first - our lead-time guide says book Christmas by September. Post the date now and acts apply to you. | |
| Christmas party nightsParty and function bands for ticketed nights. Amplified live music needs no extra licence on alcohol-licensed premises between 8am and 11pm, to 500 or fewer. | |
| Private hire partiesA party for invited guests in your function room is not licensable unless guests are charged for the entertainment to make a profit. Paying the musicians does not change that. | |
| New Year’s Eve past 11pmLive music after 11pm needs your premises licence to cover it, or a temporary events notice for a one-off event of fewer than 500 people, served at least 10 clear working days before. |
11 — Choosing the act
Before you book
| Hear the real thingAudio, video and two-way reviews on profiles, where the act has added them - venues review acts and acts review venues. | |
| Find acts by soundSearch by the sound your room suits - acoustic, folk, blues, rock, indie, singer-songwriter. | |
| Ask about coverMany venues ask acts for public liability insurance. Musicians’ Union members are covered to £10 million each with their membership. | |
| Agree the kitWho brings the PA, the stage space and the power - written into the contract so nobody guesses on the night. |
| Musicians' UnionNational gig rates | |
| British Institute of InnkeepingThe professional body for pubs | |
| British Beer & Pub AssociationThe trade association for pubs | |
| Music Venue TrustThe charity for grassroots venues |
12 — Free tools
7 toolsFor your pub
| BookingPost a GigArtists apply to you | |
| CoverGX Gig RescueFill a dropout, fast | |
| ComplianceLicensing CheckerMusic licences, decoded | |
| ComplianceCompliance ChecklistEvery duty, one board | |
| ComplianceMartyn's Law ReadinessReady before 2027 | |
| PromotionEvents PosterYour what’s-on, in one click | |
| DiscoveryFind an ArtistRanked acts for your dates |
See it in action
A look inside GigXchange Mainstage — the members app where artists, venues, agents and promoters manage bookings, messaging, events and payments. Scroll: the phone follows you through the app.
- 01 / 04
Your dashboard
The moment you log in, everything that matters is in front of you — what's booked, what you've earned, and what needs you next. No digging through tabs.
- Bookings at a glanceConfirmed, pending and upcoming gigs in one view — so nothing slips through the cracks.
- Earnings, trackedSee deposits held securely and payouts released, with a running total you can trust.
- Live activity feedNew messages, offers and event updates surface the second they happen — you're never the last to know.
- 02 / 04
Explore the scene
Find the right artists, venues and open gigs across the UK from one place — filtered by what actually matters to you: location, genre, date and budget.
- Search that fits youFilter by role, city, genre and availability to surface only the people and gigs worth your time.
- Smart Match suggestionsThe strongest matches rise to the top, so the right connection finds you — not just the loudest.
- Open gigs, liveBrowse gigs that need filling and apply in a tap — no cold outreach, no gatekeepers.
- 03 / 04
Bookings, end to end
Offer, negotiate and confirm a gig in a single thread — every date, fee and deposit agreed in one place and held to.
- One thread, start to finishThe whole deal lives in one conversation — no lost emails, no he-said-she-said.
- Negotiate with clarityCounter-offers, dates and fees are structured and tracked, so both sides always know where they stand.
- Held securelyThe deposit is held safely until the gig is done — performers get paid, bookers get peace of mind.
- 04 / 04
Messaging
Agree the details before you commit. Direct, real-time conversations with venues, artists, agents and promoters — with bookings built right in.
- Talk first, book secondSort the awkward questions — sound, timings, fee — before anything's signed.
- Bookings inside the chatTurn a conversation into a confirmed offer without ever leaving the thread.
- Share availability & filesSend your calendar, riders and posters in-line, so everyone's working from the same page.
- 01 / 04
Your dashboard
The moment you log in, everything that matters is in front of you — what's booked, what you've earned, and what needs you next. No digging through tabs.
- Bookings at a glanceConfirmed, pending and upcoming gigs in one view — so nothing slips through the cracks.
- Earnings, trackedSee deposits held securely and payouts released, with a running total you can trust.
- Live activity feedNew messages, offers and event updates surface the second they happen — you're never the last to know.
- 02 / 04
Explore the scene
Find the right artists, venues and open gigs across the UK from one place — filtered by what actually matters to you: location, genre, date and budget.
- Search that fits youFilter by role, city, genre and availability to surface only the people and gigs worth your time.
- Smart Match suggestionsThe strongest matches rise to the top, so the right connection finds you — not just the loudest.
- Open gigs, liveBrowse gigs that need filling and apply in a tap — no cold outreach, no gatekeepers.
- 03 / 04
Bookings, end to end
Offer, negotiate and confirm a gig in a single thread — every date, fee and deposit agreed in one place and held to.
- One thread, start to finishThe whole deal lives in one conversation — no lost emails, no he-said-she-said.
- Negotiate with clarityCounter-offers, dates and fees are structured and tracked, so both sides always know where they stand.
- Held securelyThe deposit is held safely until the gig is done — performers get paid, bookers get peace of mind.
- 04 / 04
Messaging
Agree the details before you commit. Direct, real-time conversations with venues, artists, agents and promoters — with bookings built right in.
- Talk first, book secondSort the awkward questions — sound, timings, fee — before anything's signed.
- Bookings inside the chatTurn a conversation into a confirmed offer without ever leaving the thread.
- Share availability & filesSend your calendar, riders and posters in-line, so everyone's working from the same page.
14 — Questions11 answersLive music for pubs FAQ
15 — Keep exploring
Go deeper
| Live Music for HotelsBar, wedding and corporate fees, and the rules. | |
| Live Music for Care HomesDaytime formats and the licence rules. | |
| Live Music for ClubsClub nights and the certificate rules. | |
| Live Music for Holiday ParksSeason bookings and the rules. | |
| Live Music for BoatsSailings, sets and the rules. | |
| What a pub band costsUK fees by act type, from £150 to £500. | |
| Why pubs are bringing music backWhat is driving the return of live music. | |
| Live music licences in depthPRS costs and the exemptions explained. | |
| Find local bandsSix places to look for acts near you. | |
| Booking guides by cityHow to book live music in your town, city by city. | |
| GigXchange for venuesEverything a venue account does. |
| How cancellations work | |
| The booking fee | |
| GX Gig Rescue | |
| What a pub band costs |
Live music for your pub
Book solo, duo and band acts for your pub direct. Live UK pub fees from the GX Index, the licence rules in plain English, and a contract on every booking.
Last updated: 23 October 2026
Where Pubs Book Live Music
GIGXCHANGE is where UK pubs and bars book live music direct. 982 artists and 70 venues across 79 cities are on the platform. A pub posts its date free, hears each act’s audio and video before asking, agrees the fee in the chat and signs a contract on every booking. On the live GX Index a solo act at a pub is typically £250 (370 fees) and a 3 to 4 piece band £350 (275 fees). The booking fee is 5% on top only when you pay through GigXchange – 0% when you settle privately.
Most UK pubs still book live music the old way: a band messages the Facebook page, the landlord says yes to a date over WhatsApp, and nobody writes down the fee, the finish time or who brings the PA. Half the time it works. The other half, the act cancels on the day, the volume upsets the neighbours, or the fee on the night is not the fee that was agreed.
That is why so many pubs give up on live music after a bad month - not because the music did not bring people in, but because booking it felt like a gamble.
On GigXchange the gamble goes. The landlord hears the act before booking, the fee and the set times are in a contract both sides sign, the deposit is held until the gig, and if an act drops out GX Gig Rescue sends an urgent invite to available acts nearby. The live GX Index shows what pubs actually pay, so the budget is set from data, not guesswork.
Book live music in five steps
From an empty date to a signed booking, without an agency. The full walkthrough is the booking journey.
Post your gig, free
Add the date, your budget, the genres you want and your house kit in about two minutes. Acts apply to you - or browse and invite them yourself.
Hear them before you book
Act profiles carry the audio, video and reviews the act has added, so you can judge them before you ask.
Agree it in the chat
Message the act directly, settle the fee, sets and kit, and the offer lands in the same thread.
Sign the contract
Every booking makes a digital performance agreement, signed by both of you, with a full audit trail.
Pay the act
5% on top only when you pay through GigXchange – 0% when you settle privately. A protected payment holds the deposit with Stripe and releases it after the gig.
If the act drops out
GX Gig Rescue sends an urgent invite to available acts near you. The first to accept is booked.
Pub fees, live
Median UK pub and bar fees in the GX Index. Marker: the Musicians’ Union recommended minimum for pubs and clubs (up to 3 hours, per musician, April 2026).
What does live music cost a UK pub? In the GX Index the median pub fee is £250 (370 fees) for a solo act, £325 (67 fees) for a duo and £350 (275 fees) for a 3 to 4 piece band.
- Solo act £250 median · 370 observationsThe MU publishes no solo figure
- Duo £325 median · 67 observationsMU minimum £334.32
- 3 to 4 piece band £350 median · 275 observationsMU minimum £501.48 · for 3 players; 4 players: £668.64
You pay the act’s fee. 5% on top only when you pay through GigXchange – 0% when you settle privately. What a pub band costs · Work out a fee for your pub · Every GX Index fee table · The Musicians’ Union national gig rates
Venues that host live music
70 venues are on GigXchange - pubs, bars, clubs and grassroots rooms across the UK, from a first acoustic night to a weekend band. Joining is free: list your pub, post a gig and message acts at no cost. 5% on top only when you pay through GigXchange – 0% when you settle privately, and every booking comes with a contract you both sign. Where can a pub book live music in the UK? On GigXchange, a pub posts its date free, hears the acts and books one direct, with live UK pub fees from the GX Index to set the budget.
Browse the UK venue directory · What a venue account does · List your pub free
Members across the UK
Artists, venues, agents and promoters on GigXchange, by city - the acts you can book near your pub.
Scroll to zoom (hold Ctrl / two fingers)· tap a layer to switch · click a pin for details, a cluster for its area.
Booking live music in a city? London · Birmingham · Leeds · Glasgow · Sheffield · Manchester · Bradford · Edinburgh · Liverpool · Bristol · Leicester · Cardiff · every city guide
The licence rules
The rules a pub actually meets, each with the official page it comes from. Checked 20 October 2026.
Does a pub need a licence for live music? In England and Wales a pub licensed to sell alcohol needs no entertainment licence for live music between 8am and 11pm, for an audience of 500 or fewer (GOV.UK Live Music Act guidance) - but it still needs TheMusicLicence from PPL PRS.
Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own licensing law - check with your council. Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005. Not sure which applies? Licensing checker · Compliance checklist · Martyn’s Law check
Nights that work
Four ways pubs run live music, from a first acoustic set to a weekend band.
Open mic, midweek
A host and a sign-up list fill a quiet night. See which nights UK open mics run, live from the directory.
Acoustic sets
A solo act or duo, two sets, a small PA. The easiest first night for a room that has never had music.
Band night
A 3 to 4 piece with its own PA for the weekend. Agree load-in, set times and the finish in the contract.
Promote it
A night only works if people know. A poster of your listings and a plan for the week before.
Restaurants and dining rooms
The same five steps book a dinner set. What changes is the act, the volume and, without a bar licence, the licence rule.
Run a pub festival
A weekend of acts in the garden or across the pub. The same five steps, plus a few rules for a bigger crowd.
Christmas and New Year
What to book, when to book it, and the two licence rules that matter in December.
Choosing the right act
What to check before you book, so the night goes the way you planned.
The organisations behind pub music: Musicians' Union · British Institute of Innkeeping · British Beer & Pub Association · Music Venue Trust
Free tools for your pub
Free with a venue account.
Post a Gig
List an open slot in two minutes — genres, budget, house kit — and take applications from gig-ready artists with verified reviews attached.
GX Gig Rescue
Broadcast an urgent booking invite to up to 25 available acts near you — last-minute specialists first, first to accept is booked.
Licensing Checker
Ten plain-English questions produce a two-part verdict — permission and copyright — with an indicative cost and official gov.uk / PPL PRS sources.
Compliance Checklist
Eight questions build a checklist of only the duties your venue owes — ten areas, law first, every item linked to its official source, PDF export.
Martyn's Law Readiness
The 2025 Act reaches every 200+ venue from ~2027. Six questions give your tier, your duties as a tickable list, and a first-draft procedures PDF.
Events Poster
Your upcoming programme becomes a designed poster — ticket QRs on every listing, status badges, your branding. Print, post or publish to your profile.
Find an Artist
Pick the empty date, set a 60-second brief, and invite up to 5 ranked best-fit acts — fit scores, fee bands and kit tags attached.
Also free: a booking contract generator · a gig rate calculator · act outreach templates
See it in action
A look inside GigXchange Mainstage, the members app your pub books in: find the acts, agree the date and fee in the chat, track every booking. Scroll: the phone follows you through the app.
- 01 / 04
Your dashboard
The moment you log in, everything that matters is in front of you — what's booked, what you've earned, and what needs you next. No digging through tabs.
- Bookings at a glanceConfirmed, pending and upcoming gigs in one view — so nothing slips through the cracks.
- Earnings, trackedSee deposits held securely and payouts released, with a running total you can trust.
- Live activity feedNew messages, offers and event updates surface the second they happen — you're never the last to know.
- 02 / 04
Explore the scene
Find the right artists, venues and open gigs across the UK from one place — filtered by what actually matters to you: location, genre, date and budget.
- Search that fits youFilter by role, city, genre and availability to surface only the people and gigs worth your time.
- Smart Match suggestionsThe strongest matches rise to the top, so the right connection finds you — not just the loudest.
- Open gigs, liveBrowse gigs that need filling and apply in a tap — no cold outreach, no gatekeepers.
- 03 / 04
Bookings, end to end
Offer, negotiate and confirm a gig in a single thread — every date, fee and deposit agreed in one place and held to.
- One thread, start to finishThe whole deal lives in one conversation — no lost emails, no he-said-she-said.
- Negotiate with clarityCounter-offers, dates and fees are structured and tracked, so both sides always know where they stand.
- Held securelyThe deposit is held safely until the gig is done — performers get paid, bookers get peace of mind.
- 04 / 04
Messaging
Agree the details before you commit. Direct, real-time conversations with venues, artists, agents and promoters — with bookings built right in.
- Talk first, book secondSort the awkward questions — sound, timings, fee — before anything's signed.
- Bookings inside the chatTurn a conversation into a confirmed offer without ever leaving the thread.
- Share availability & filesSend your calendar, riders and posters in-line, so everyone's working from the same page.
- 01 / 04
Your dashboard
The moment you log in, everything that matters is in front of you — what's booked, what you've earned, and what needs you next. No digging through tabs.
- Bookings at a glanceConfirmed, pending and upcoming gigs in one view — so nothing slips through the cracks.
- Earnings, trackedSee deposits held securely and payouts released, with a running total you can trust.
- Live activity feedNew messages, offers and event updates surface the second they happen — you're never the last to know.
- 02 / 04
Explore the scene
Find the right artists, venues and open gigs across the UK from one place — filtered by what actually matters to you: location, genre, date and budget.
- Search that fits youFilter by role, city, genre and availability to surface only the people and gigs worth your time.
- Smart Match suggestionsThe strongest matches rise to the top, so the right connection finds you — not just the loudest.
- Open gigs, liveBrowse gigs that need filling and apply in a tap — no cold outreach, no gatekeepers.
- 03 / 04
Bookings, end to end
Offer, negotiate and confirm a gig in a single thread — every date, fee and deposit agreed in one place and held to.
- One thread, start to finishThe whole deal lives in one conversation — no lost emails, no he-said-she-said.
- Negotiate with clarityCounter-offers, dates and fees are structured and tracked, so both sides always know where they stand.
- Held securelyThe deposit is held safely until the gig is done — performers get paid, bookers get peace of mind.
- 04 / 04
Messaging
Agree the details before you commit. Direct, real-time conversations with venues, artists, agents and promoters — with bookings built right in.
- Talk first, book secondSort the awkward questions — sound, timings, fee — before anything's signed.
- Bookings inside the chatTurn a conversation into a confirmed offer without ever leaving the thread.
- Share availability & filesSend your calendar, riders and posters in-line, so everyone's working from the same page.
Live music for pubs FAQ
What pubs ask before they book.
More answers: How cancellations work · The booking fee · GX Gig Rescue · What a pub band costs
Your next night, booked
Post a gig free and book the act direct.