A student’s guide to Bristol’s best music venues and clubs

Second-year philosophy student Kate Hutchison picks her favourite places to party in Bristol:

Basement 45

8 Frogmore St BS1 5NA | www.basement45.co.uk

Venture down an alleyway in the centre of Bristol and you’ll find a little underground cave called Basement 45. This venue tends to fly under the radar despite putting on some big-name line-ups fairly regularly across all sorts of dance genres. It’s worth keeping an ear out for what’s going on, so you don’t miss a good ’un.

Bierkeller

All Saints’ St BS1 2NA | www.bristolbierkeller.co.uk

A live music venue in Bristol with a leaning towards rock and metal. It’s dinginess is part of its appeal, as well as drinks deals that include a shot with every pint.

The Black Swan

438 Stapleton Rd BS5 6NR

A good ol’ grimy skankfest, which opens when it pleases, usually for the sake of a big line-up. The Black Swan’s soundsystems are reserved for the heavier end of the bass music and electro scene. Across the different rooms, you can usually find a mix of dub, jungle, drum and bass, along with breakcore, hardtech and gabba for the full-blown ravers. There is also a huge back garden for making friends and when it’s cold, they’ll even light a fire too.

Blue Mountain

2 Stokes Croft, BS1 3PR

Blue Mountain is an obligatory weekly stop for drum and bass fans, with Tuesdays playing host to popular night, Dazed. Restricted in size and capacity, but with impressive indoor visuals, Blue Mountain is a workable insight for those attracted to this scene.

Cosies

34 Portland Sq BS2 8RG | www.cosies.co.uk

Cosies is dancing in a tiny, tiny cave with people who really love music. They don’t play it safe with their line-ups, so make sure you check what’s on beforehand. A dancehall, soca and grime night could be followed up by a house and techno night –   although if you love reggae, Cosies is usually a safe bet.

Crofters Rights

117-119 Stokes Croft, BS1 3RW, www.croftersrights.co.uk

Local produce characterises the venue in both its bookings and cider selections, with gig promoters such as Gravy Train and NNTS regularly bringing the country’s rawest alternative and indie sounds to Stokes Croft. If you’re looking for grungy guitars, a good pint, and possibly the odd disco night, Crofters is your go-to.

Dojo Lounge

12-16 Park Row BS1 5LJ, www.dojosbristol.com

Dojos is a late-night retreat for lovers of house situated just off Park Street, playing all kinds of house, electronic, techno and more house until 6am. Grotty in the endearing sense of the word, the fact that Dojos doesn’t open until 12am on a Saturday says something about the state you ought to be in by the time you get there, and remain in until the cruel and sobering light of day. Everyone should experience Dojos.

The Exchange

72-73 Old Market BS2 0EJ, www.exchangebristol.com

The spirit of The Croft lives on in glamorous Old Market, where this splendid sweatbox hosts touring and local acts of all descriptions. Ciderheads will be delighted to find that its bijou bar serves Stowford Press. A tip for out-of-towners and newcomers: the venue is L-shaped. If it seems packed, fight your way to the front and you may find there’s plenty of space to frug.

The Fleece

12 St Thomas St BS1 6JJ | www.thefleece.co.uk

Owned and run by Bristol band the Blue Aeroplanes, this venerable local institution is arguably the perfect place to enjoy live music, with a bar that runs the length of the venue, decent sound and an eclectic booking policy. It also boasts the stickiest floor in Bristol.

The Full Moon and Attic 

Stokes Croft BS1 3PR | www.fmbristol.co.uk

A pub, outdoor shisha bar and club triple-threat, The Full Moon and Attic is one of Stokes Croft’s most popular venues. The reggae-centric Attic Bar hosts some big names for as little as £3 – or free before 9.30pm.

The Golden Lion

244 Gloucester Rd BS7 8NZ | www.goldenlionbristol.co.uk

The Golden Lion is a little further up the Gloucester Road than some people are willing to venture. Those people are missing out. A great little venue with live music six nights a week and almost always free entry. Main genres covered are rock ’n’ roll, blues, Americana, ska, and UK hip-hop. Don’t miss a chance to see some brilliant and unusual acts, as well as some proper up-and-comings.

Hy-Brasil

7-9 Baldwin St BS1 1RU | www.hybrasilmusicclub.com
One of those time mazes where you can go in for a drink and accidentally spend the whole night. One minute you’re at the bar and the next you’re down some steps dancing to that night’s live band.

The Island

Nelson Street, BS1 2LE | www.theislandbristol.com

Once a police station and hardly untouched its terms of its previous use, which now provides a unique backdrop for events. Whether it be an ambient techno set from Timedance or a groove-ridden night curated by Dropout Disco, the venue itself is enough excuse to immerse yourself musically amongst the souls of former offenders.

Lakota

©Sam Duckerin

6 Upper York St BS2 8QN | www.lakota.co.uk

There is no doubt that Lakota provides a significant platform for the amazing Bristol Music scene, and it is most definitely a must see club in the city. However some say entering Lakota is a commitment. While it can feel like a winding labyrinth of endless rooms, it is also a really good night. As long as you don’t think you’re going out for a quiet one. First release tickets are usually a real bargain for the scale of the line-ups, but prices can triple if you’re not quick off the mark, so keep an eye on their new listings.

The Lanes

22 Nelson St BS1 2LE | www.thelanesbristol.co.uk

With the number of nightclubs in decline, we’re losing some of our finest dancefloors – thankfully, The Lanes can always be relied on as a go-to place for the post-midnight shift. By day it’s a retro bowling lane, serving great pizzas and hosting markets and other events, and by night it’s a bustling haven of the aforementioned plus boozy milkshakes, live music, karaoke and brilliant club nights (covering indie, mod, Motown, funk, nu-metal, pop punk and more). There’s even a hostel above it for out of towners to get some cheap digs at.

The Louisiana

Wapping Rd BS1 6UA | www.thelouisiana.net

One of Bristol’s staple live music venues, the Louisiana hosts live bands and solo artists in a room above the pub. They stick fairly rigidly to rock, indie and folk.

The Love Inn

84 Stokes Croft BS1 3QY | www.theloveinn.com

A bar from the mighty Team Love, who bring us Love Saves the Day festival and more. The owners are heavily involved in the music business themselves, which means they’re able to book some huge DJs in the electronic world. Playing mainly electronic, house and disco.

Motion

74-78 Avon St BS2 0PX | www.bristolinmotion.com

A night out at Motion is a rite of passage for any Bristol student, with loads on offer across drum and bass, dub and electronic music. Their annual In:Motion series runs from September through to the New Year with specially curated nights from huge names and labels – think Warehouse Project via Bristol. If you haven’t got twenty quid to splash on a ticket, look out for their semi-regular Free Raves.

Mother’s Ruin

7-9 St Nicholas St BS1 1UE, mothersruinbristol.weebly.com

One of the closest places we’ve got to a hardy American dive bar, this dimly lit, brilliantly dressed rock pub is split over three floors. You’ll find the mis-shapes and the misfits in here, but in a good way – interesting, friendly people into good music and good times. Hot cider’s served in the winter, there’s live music and club nights and it’s open til the early hours. There’s also a great pub quiz on a Tuesday night to try your luck at.

Mr Wolf’s

32 St Nicholas St BS1 1TG | www.mrwolfs.com

Mr Wolf’s is your loveable old friend that parties too much. Open late nearly every night of the week, it attracts all of the best and happiest people from across Bristol. Six nights a week, live music is followed by DJs until late, playing rock and indie, some dancefloor music and a bit of everything else. The dancefloor is always full and, on a weekend, the queue usually spills out onto the street. Good, honest, sweaty fun. Plus, they serve noodles!

No 51 Stokes Croft

51 Stokes Croft BS1 3QP | www.51stokescroft.com

No 51 is another successful live-music bar-with-dancing hybrid (who also do incredible pizza) in the centre of Stokes Croft. Live performers tend to be of the smaller scale, but that doesn’t meant the programme isn’t carefully curated, and entry is usually free before 11.

O2 Academy Bristol

1-2 Frogmore St BS12 5NA | www.o2academybristol.co.uk

Bristol’s most active live music venue, the Academy will host most big-name live music acts passing through the city, including giants like Snoop Dogg and Basement Jaxx. The venue also hosts regular club nights, including Friday night regular and student haunt, Ramshackle, as well as visiting club nights like Garage Nation.

The Old Duke

45 King St BS1 4ER | www.theoldduke.co.uk

A small pub on King Street dedicated solely to the foot-stomping sound of jazz. The pub is usually packed full of people, young and old, dancing, but it’s a great atmosphere.

The Plough

223 Easton Rd BS5

An oft-overlooked Easton pub, The Plough Inn puts on regular funk and soul nights, as well as R&B and reggae nights.

Pryzm

The South Buildings, Canons Rd, BS1 5UH

Although Pryzm is one of the biggest venues in the city, it definitely has a marmite reputation. If you’re looking for VIP booths, commercial music and cocktails you can find it all here. Though bear in mind it is part of a chain that doesn’t really hold any real Brizzle vibes. That being said, the club recently launched a new night called Prefix, this is hosted every Thursday and is the one night off the week where you can some more unique local acts while still enjoying some really cheap drinks.

St George’s Bristol

Great George Street, BS1 5RR

Located in a former church just off Park Street, St George’s boasts one of the best acoustics in the UK. They are currently in the middle of building work which once completed will see new entrances, a new bar, cafe/bar, new foyer, improved backstage areas, and the restoration and opening up of the 19th century gardens.

The Star & Garter

33 Brook Rd BS6 5LR

Not for the faint of heart. The Star & Garter is a community pub and the jewel of Montpelier, playing reggae and dub music until the early hours. Jamaican landlord, Dutty Ken sadly died in early 2017 but his legacy lives on.

Thekla

The Grove BS1 4RB | www.theklabristol.co.uk

A great venue, which is a ruddy great boat, moored just off the city centre. Expect to see some excellent up-and-coming and established bands and artists here, and not to pay a fortune for drinks. The likes of the XX, Caribou, Ezra Furman, Laura Marling – all of whom probably commented that they were “playing on a boat” – and thousands more have graced its stage. Regular club nights cover all genres and the big student night on the boat is Pressure on a Thursday: indie tunes, cheap drinks and did we mention it’s on a boat?

Trinity

Trinity Rd BS2 0NW | www.3ca.org.uk

As well as a busy arts programme, this old church in the city centre regularly hosts live music and club nights – hitting heavy in both remits. Acts like Martha and the Vandellas and Morcheeba have made good use of the building’s acoustics, and club nights come from the likes of Deep Medi. There’s also a monthly roller disco with a bar and skate hire.

The Tunnels

Lower Station Approach BS1 6QS | www.thetunnelsbristol.co.uk

Tucked away under the approach road to Temple Meads station, this labour of love for proprietor Gareth Chilcott boasts the friendliest door staff and cleanest toilets of any live music venue in town. If you’re lucky, multi-tasking Mr Chilcott might even serve you at the bar. It’s a great place to see blues, plus a little prog and metal. Fewer tribute acts and it’d be perfect.

The Woods

1 Park St Ave BS1 5LQ | www.thewoodsbar.co.uk

A late-night cocktail bar off Park Street, with a good atmosphere, large garden and super-friendly staff. A good stop-off on your stagger home, The Woods is not a destination for dancing – but they serve beer in jugs and stay open till 6am.