Fancy a musical night out in Brighton? Then you are in the right place because Brighton is home to a huge number of awesome music venues. We’ve put them all together so we can bring to you the best places to go and get your rock, jazz, or EDM for that matter, on. So
Where are the top music venues in Brighton? The main live music venues in Brighton are:
- Alcotraz Brighton
- Bohemia, Brighton Centre
- Brighton Dome
- Brighton Music Hall
- Brighton Unitarian Church
- Casablanca Jazz Club
- CHALK
- Concorde 2
- Depot
- Fiddler’s Elbow
- Hobgoblin
- Idle Hands
- Komedia
- Latest Music Bar
- Live Actually (Artista in Hove)
- Marlborough Pub and Theatre
- New Unity
- Newhaven Fort
- Patterns
- Sallis Benney
- The Black Lion
- The Green Door Store
- The Mesmerist
- The Old Market
- The Western
- Volks.
Now, Let’s take a look at these great venues in turn:
1. Alcotraz Brighton
What’s On: www.alcotraz.co.uk
Address: 12-15 Kings Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1NE
What’s the score?
Alcotraz is a peculiar entertainment venue. It’s styled after a smuggler’s den and it’s hidden below the beach in a “speakeasy prison” setting. Because it’s a prison, you don’t get any say in the music and you don’t get any say in the drinks that they serve either.
You bring the liquor and the mixologists do the rest for you. All you have to do is smuggle it past the “guards” and avoid the gaze of The Warden as they keep an eye on things.
2. Bohemia
Address: Bohemia, 54-55 Meeting House Lane, BN1 1HB
What’s On:
What’s the score?
Bohemia is a creative cocktails lounge and as you might expect from such a thing, jazz is very much the order of the day. Bohemia is modelled on a New York Jazz lounge but if that’s not entirely to your tastes – don’t fret, you can always escape on to the tastefully decorated rooftop terrace.
The “Brighton Rock Clover” is the signature drink here and it’s jolly good. The best live jazz is on Thursdays.
3. Brighton Centre
What’s On:
Address: Kings Road, Brighton, E Sussex, BN1 2GR
What’s the score?
We’d recommend that you phone ahead and find out what’s going on at Brighton Centre before you go. It’s the city’s major concert hall and that means the acts on here are varied and can range from local to international.
It also means that ticket prices can vary substantially too. It’s easy to find and is just about a 10-minute walk from the station, so there’s no need to get a taxi.
4. Brighton Dome
Whats On: brightondome.org/whats-on/
Address: Brighton Dome, Church Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1UE
What’s the score?
The Brighton Dome is another major events theatre and you can find everything from top choirs to comedy nights held under its roof. It’s imperative to find out what’s going on and to try and reserve tickets if you want to make sure you see the show of your choice.
They bill themselves as the South Coast’s premier multi-arts venue and they see over 600 events a year. So, there’s always something going on.
5. Brighton Music Hall
What’s On: brightonmusichall.co.uk/whats-on
Address: Brighton Music Hall. 127 King’s Road Arches, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 2FN
What’s the score?
Right on the beachfront, the Brighton Musical Hall is all about live music and cheap drinks and while occasionally this can lead to some rowdy behaviour, most of the time, it brings out people’s better natures. It’s set over two floors and you can almost always find a spot for a drink.
The big parties come during the summer months but there’s rarely a night off at the Brighton Music Hall if you want to have a bit of fun.
6. Brighton Unitarian Church
What’s On: brightonunitarian.org.uk/whats-on
Address: New Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1UF
What’s the score?
Really? A church? Yes, absolutely. The Brighton Unitarian Church hires its main hall out to concerts and gigs and has a lunchtime (generally Classical) concert every Friday lunchtime. As well as many alternative gigs are held here in the evenings.
Its main charm for hirers and gig-goers alike is its very central location, Offering a spacious yet intimate space, and with great acoustics and Staff.
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7. Casablanca Jazz Club
What’s On: Casablancajazzclub.com/listings
Address: 3 Middle Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1AL
What’s the score?
In the heart of Brighton’s Lanes, you’ll find the Casablanca Jazz Club. It’s a full-on live music lounge and as the name suggests, it’s all about the best in Jazz music. There are two floors of space for you to drink in the music with a tasteful cocktail by your side.
The best night, in our opinion, is Thursday when the Casa Jam night takes place and tons of musicians descend on the place to have fun creating new things in front of your eyes.
8. CHALK
What’s On: ents24.com/brighton-events/chalk
Address: Pool Valley, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1NJ
What’s the score?
Only recently opened in September, Chalk is making its mark on Brighton’s already heaving club scene. Regular nights are Monday, Thursday and Saturday and there are plenty of special events and one-offs to be found too.
It’s not just DJs at Chalk, either, they’ve been graced by some of the areas finest local bands too. The emphasis is on inclusivity, so whoever you are – you’ll be welcome at Chalk.
9. Concorde 2
What’s On: Concorde2.co.uk/events
Address: Madeira Drive, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 1EN
What’s the score?
Concorde 2 is a substantial gig venue with room for over 600 heads. It was once a tearoom back in the 19th Century and in the 1970s it was an arcade. They kept the historic feel and brought in a superb sound system to make it one of the strongest contributors to Brighton’s music scene.
No fancy cocktails here, this is a music venue that does beer and good times. There are gig nights and club nights to be had all year round.
10. Fiddler’s Elbow
What’s On: No helpful Info
Address: 11 Boyce’s Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1AN
What’s the score?
A “typical” (if such a thing can be said about anywhere) Irish Pub, the Fiddler’s Elbow is all about the craic and their incredibly reasonable prices in an expensive city. It’s a small place and you’ll want to get there early if you want much more than elbow room at the bar.
Live music is an occasional thing there but when there’s a street party in the Lanes, you know the Fiddler’s Elbow will be singing along.
11. Hobgoblin
What’s On: hobgoblin.pub/
Address: 31 York Pl, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 4GU
What’s the score?
The Hobgoblin is “Brighton’s Best Pub” of 2016, that is. It also picked up an award a year later for the city’s best beer garden. Don’t worry, it hasn’t gone downhill in the interim, it’s just that these awards tend to do the rounds of the city.
You’ll need to phone ahead about music though as it’s not on every day but when it is, it’s a great pub to be in having a smashing time with your mates.
12. Idle Hands
What’s On: facebook.com/IdleHandsBrighton/
Address: 59 Queens Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 3XD
What’s the score?
Idle Hands is right next door to Brighton’s Station and their house band performs every Thursday night and they have a range of bands on during the rest of the week too. It’s also one of the city’s best craft beer pubs and there’s always a wide selection on offer.
They also have vegans and vegetarians catered to on an extensive food menu of some of the city’s best pub grub.
13. Komedia
What’s On: https://www.komedia.co.uk/brighton/
Address: 44-47 Gardner Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1UN
What’s the score?
Komedia is widely considered to be one of the best live entertainment venues in the whole of Brighton and there’s a lot of competition (as you can see). It’s in the North Laine area and only a few minutes from the station.
They’ve won the Chortle Comedy Award for the Best Venue in the South so many times in the last 20 years that you’d think they’d just let them keep it and yes, they won again in 2019.
14. Latest Music Bar
What’s On: https://latestmusicbar.co.uk/whats-on/
Address: 14-17 Manchester St, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 1TF
What’s the score?
Well, it’s easy to tell when it’s a music bar as Latest has that in its name. It’s set in a beautiful old building and it’s only a stone’s throw from the pier, quite literally too. It pays to book ahead as events at Latest Music Bar are regularly sold out.
You can phone ahead to find out what’s going on as shows and events change on a regular basis and you don’t want to miss out, do you?
15. Live Actually (Artista in Hove)
What’s On: artistacafe.gallery/home/whats-on
Address: Artista Cafe & Gallery, 42, Waterloo Street, Hove, East Sussex, BN31AY
What’s the score?
If you don’t like to follow but you like to lead, then you might want to check out the live scene at Artista in Hove. Every Thursday beginning in December 2019, they’ll be showcasing brand new talent that’s never been seen before in the area.
Tickets are expected to be cheap and the acts are supposed to be local. It’s definitely worth a look.
16. Marlborough Pub and Theatre
What’s On: marlboroughtheatre.org.uk/whats-on
Address: 4 Princes Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 1RD
What’s the score?
A key player in the Brighton Fringe and a cornerstone of Brighton’s queer community, the Marlborough Pub and Theatre is widely considered to be the city’s oldest public house. They don’t have live acts on all the time, so you may want to call and see what’s on.
There are rumours that the site is haunted and that there is a long tunnel complex hidden beneath for access to the Pavilion unseen. Maybe you’ll be able to determine if there’s any truth in them?
17. New Unity
What’s On: No Info on What’s On
Address: 52-53 London Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 4JX
What’s the score?
New Unity is breathing life back into Brighton’s casual music scene. There’ll be no snobby scenesters hiding away here. They’re all about accessible live music, DJs, happy hours and the occasional comedy show, instead.
Also, if you want to watch football – they have a couple of the best live screens in the city too. So, head down to New Unity for your fix!
18. Patterns
What’s On: Patternsbrighton.com/calendar/Whats- On-downstairs/
Address: 10 Marine Parade, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 1TL
What’s the score?
Patterns has seen some serious musicians play over the years, including The Stone Roses, Daft Punk and The Chemical Brothers. It was given a complete facelift about 5 years ago and now it’s a fully modernized club space that is still considered one of “the places to be” in Southern England.
Their Saturday brunches are something to behold but if you’ve only got one day in town, you might want to wait until the tunes get playing later on in the day.
19. Sallis Benney Theatre
What’s On: Whatson.brighton.co.uk/at/Sallis_Benney_Theatre
Address: 58-67 Grand Parade, Brighton & Hove, East Sussex, BN1 1AP
What’s the score?
The Sallis Benney is one of Brighton’s best-established theatres and it can welcome just under 300 guests to any given performance. It’s very close to the Royal Pavilion.
It hosts regular live events which are sometimes musical and sometimes about comedy or even business seminars and events. So, it’s best to call ahead and find out what’s going on there before donning your glad rags and heading to the Sallis Benney on a whim.
20. The Black Lion
What’s On: Live music every Tuesday and Friday without fail
Address: 14 Black Lion Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1ND
What’s the score?
The Black Lion is something of a local institution and it can switch from being as laid back as any pub in the land to one of raucous intensity in seconds. It’s a friendly sort of place though and it’s been a pub (of sorts) for nearly 500 years.
Today, you’ll find that live bands grace its doors in the week and on weekends, it’s all about the DJs. You’ll have fun no matter who’s playing at The Black Lion.
21. The Green Door Store
What’s On: Thegreendoorstore.co.uk/all-events/
Address: Trafalgar Arches, Lower Goods Yard, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 4FQ
What’s the score?
Just name-drop The Green Door Store and you’ll be demonstrating your mastery of Brighton’s live music scene. Tucked away on North Laine this is all about creativity and edginess. The place has its own style that grabs the eye as soon as you get through the doors.
Late nights are all about clubbing but earlier in the evening, you can find anything from indie rock to odd folk bands. Grunge ‘n’ Enjoy.
22. The Mesmerist
What’s On: Mesmerist.pub/events
Address: 1-3 Prince Albert Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1HE
What’s the score?
The Mesmerist sees itself as adding a “touch of class” to Brighton’s music scene and for the most part, we agree that it does. Though, the bottomless brunch on a Sunday is not so classy by the time the drinking’s done.
Get down there of an evening though and you can expect anything from Jazz to Swing and all of it good. The Mesmerist also has a pleasant cocktail lounge which is open on the evenings only at the weekends.
23. The Old Market
What’s On: Theoldmarket.com/shows?category=Music
Address: 11a Upper Market Street, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 1AS
What’s the score?
Hove doesn’t get a huge look in on this list but the town’s not absent of entertainment venues and The Old Market is excellent. It’s host to everything from live music to cabaret nights and there’s plenty of room inside.
The venue caters to up to 500 people at a time and it’s worth calling in advance to find out what’s on.
24. The Western
What’s On: Thewestern.pub/events
Address: 11 Cranbourne Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 2RD
What’s the score?
The Western is one of Brighton’s more “in-your-face” live music venues and you’ll find that the bright Eastern European Pop Art that adorns its walls is as noisy as the music can be. It’s not every day that they host a live act, but they come pretty regularly.
You can also check out the DJ sets that drift through the place most evenings if no one’s on the stage.
25. Volks
What’s On: Volksclub.co.uk/whats-on/
Address: 1-3 Madeira Drive, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 1PS
What’s the score?
Volks bills itself as the “home of underground clubbing” in Brighton and we think that they pull this off admirably. There are regular weekly slots and a ton of irregularly one-off events as well. Opening times, apparently, can change with the weather. A Great Place for Drum&Bass.
A favourite haunt for mods and you will often see Mods and their vespers out front and kicking Ska music blaring out the doors.
Bonus – The Cricketers
What’s On Facebook.com/pg/TheCricketersBrighton/events
Address: 15 Black Lion Street, Brighton, BN1 1ND
We Can’t Leave out the Cricketers Pub in Black lion streets. Apart from being Brighton’s oldest Public house, having been established in 1547. It serves great beers, and food and hosts live music every Tuesday and Friday.
A must not miss pub, if not for the music, come just for the traditional old English pub decor. The Cricketer is also right next door to the Black Lion pub and just 20 seconds walk from the Mesmerist, all great pubs that have live music.
Conclusion
So, there you have it, the best 26 fantastic venues for live music in Brighton. We probably don’t need to recap all their names again here but we’d like to reassure you that no matter what you like to dance to (or just sit back and enjoy for that matter), you can find it in one of Brighton’s live music venues.
Also Note That if the youtube video isn’t to your liking, that does not mean the venue isn’t. Please check out there what’s on pages. Have fun.
