A Guide to Live Music Venues in Brighton
Brighton is famous for its vibrant music scene, and the live music venues in Brighton reflect this perfectly.
Whether you’re into indie, jazz, rock, or experimental sounds, there’s no shortage of fantastic music venues here.
From iconic seafront locations to hidden gems tucked away in the Lanes, these Brighton live music venues deliver unforgettable experiences for locals, visitors, and aspiring musicians alike.
In this guide, we’ll list the best live music venues in Brighton, helping you discover where to catch gigs, enjoy intimate performances, and soak up the unique atmosphere of the local music scene.
Discover our BA (Hons) and master’s courses delivered in Brighton, and become a part of this lively music scene.
Contents
Why WaterBear Chose Brighton
At WaterBear, we’re proud to be at the heart of Brighton’s thriving live music scene.
With its mix of historic pubs, modern clubs, and iconic venues, the city provides the perfect environment for emerging artists and budding business professionals.
Our Brighton campus allows students not only to learn and perform but also to gain real-world experience.
Our dedicated Music Industries Team works closely with partner venues across the city, securing live performance slots, industry work placements, and professional networking opportunities. This hands-on support ensures WaterBear musicians and professionals develop both their craft and their careers while immersing themselves in this exciting music city.
The Top Live Music Venues in Brighton
The WaterBear Venue
Exclusively operated by WaterBear, our very own WaterBear Venue is one of the most iconic live music venues in Brighton.
Nestled on the seafront, it combines a cove-like underground feel with foliage-covered ceilings, making it a unique place to enjoy music.
We host gigs, masterclasses, and public events here. It’s a central part of the learning experience at WaterBear, blending education with real-world opportunities.
To view what’s on at the WaterBear Venue, check out the Instagram page.
The WaterBear Music Bar
Located in the heart of Kemptown, WaterBear Music Bar is the latest addition to the list of live music venues in Brighton.
Housed in a building with over 200 years of entertainment history, it has previously been known as Latest Music Bar and Manchester Street Arts Centre. The venue features a ground-floor bar and performance space, plus a dedicated live music basement.
Legendary names like Amy Winehouse, The Kooks, and Fatboy Slim have played here, and it remains a vibrant hub for both touring acts and WaterBear musicians.
Event listings for WaterBear Music Bar will be announced soon.
ALPHABET
Located in Dyke Road, ALPHABET is an audio-led venue & HiFi pub hosting live performances for both emerging and established artists.
Formally a Gothic Chapel it is now a bohemian theatre featuring a beautiful art deco bar and a labyrinth of corridors.
This venue also hosts a variety of community events ranging from album launches to listening parties.
ALPHABET is one of our many partner venues. With full backline, we use the space for rehearsals, pre-production, live performance workshops and bass lessons.
Click here to view upcoming events at ALPHABET.
Concorde 2
Concorde 2 is Brighton’s premier independent music venue, situated near the Palace Pier.
With a standing capacity of 600, it hosts international touring acts, club nights, and tribute performances.
Legendary names like The Foo Fighters and Amy Winehouse have graced its stage.
Concorde 2 is also home to some of WaterBear’s Freshers Week events.
Discover what’s happening at Concorde 2 by clicking here.
Green Door Store
Situated directly beneath Brighton Railway Station, Green Door Store is one of the most renowned live music venues in Brighton.
Previously a Victorian horse hospital, this industrial-style music hub has been platforming local musicians since 2011.
With affordable events almost every day and a capacity of 170, it’s a favourite within the local music scene.
Bands like Starbenders, The Wytches, and GEL have graced its stage.
Event listings for Green Door Store can be found on their website, here.
The Hope and Ruin
A short walk from the train station, The Hope and Ruin is a 100% plant-based pub with a live music focus.
With a 150-capacity upstairs venue and an inviting bar space, it showcases both local and touring artists.
Vegan food and a welcoming atmosphere make it a must-visit for music lovers exploring Brighton.
Check out events happening at The Hope and Ruin on their website, here.
Komedia
In the heart of Brighton’s Lanes, Komedia blends comedy, cabaret, and music.
It has two performance spaces: The Basement (capacity 400) for bigger gigs, and The Studio (capacity 150) for intimate shows.
It’s a versatile Brighton music venue and is also home to one of the world’s oldest cinemas, Duke’s.
Click here to see the schedule of events at Komedia.
The Rossi Bar
Small but dynamic, The Rossi Bar (capacity 50) hosts live music, poetry, and experimental nights.
Its basement is the hub of live performances, while the upstairs bar is perfect for socialising.
Local artists often get their start here, making it an essential Brighton music venue.
Click here for a list of upcoming shows at The Rossi Bar.
The Pipeline
Located on Little East Street in the South Lanes, The Pipeline is a rock bar and restaurant, ideal for musicians starting out or looking to organise their own gigs. It provides a full backline, including a drum kit.
The bar and restaurant downstairs are decorated with lively décor and a retro jukebox, while the upstairs live music space has a capacity of 60 and often fills up quickly.
You can find The Pipeline on Instagram here, or you can check out their website.
The Prince Albert
This iconic pub near Brighton Train Station features a 100-capacity live music space upstairs and a bar below.
With colourful art, including Banksy’s famous Kissing Coppers, it’s a visually striking Brighton music venue for music lovers.
Find out what’s on at The Prince Albert by clicking here.
Patterns
Patterns, opposite Brighton Pier, blends underground club culture with live music.
Its Basement (capacity 300) hosts jazz, indie, and pop events.
Big names like Flyte and Goldie (MBE) have performed here, making it one of Brighton’s essential music venues.
For event details at Patterns click here.
The Brunswick
In Hove, The Brunswick features a large sunny beer garden, two live performance spaces, a bar, and a restaurant.
‘The Venue’ has a capacity of 150 and hosts a mix of different genres (including regular Jazz Jams), while the Cellar Bar, with a capacity of 60, is perfect for live bands and heavier music.
Click here to see what’s on at The Brunswick.
CHALK
CHALK, formerly The Haunt, is a student favourite with a flexible live music space around 600 capacity.
Touring artists like Tom Jones and YUNGBLUD have performed here.
It’s a cornerstone of Brighton’s live music culture.
Explore what’s happening at CHALK by clicking here.
Daltons
Daltons opened in Spring 2023.
Located just below the Brighton Zip on ‘Dalton’s Beach’, it has two live music rooms. The main room holds 170 standing, while the small room holds 50 and can also be hired as a rehearsal space.
With its beachfront location, Daltons is already a popular live music venue in Brighton.
For a list of what’s on at Daltons click here.
The Folklore Rooms
Above The Quadrant pub, this intimate folk venue (capacity 60) hosts seated shows and has showcased artists like Passenger and Bess Atwell.
Its whimsical atmosphere makes it a must-visit for folk and acoustic music fans.
See what’s scheduled at The Folklore Rooms by clicking here.
DUST
A grassroots live music venue in the South Lanes, DUST hosts club nights and live performances (capacity 200–300).
Since opening in 2023, it has supported artists like FatDog and Haley Blais, providing a platform for emerging talent.
Click here to view upcoming events at DUST.
Experience Brighton’s Unforgettable Live Music Scene
Brighton truly has a live music venue for every taste, as shown in our comprehensive list of the city’s venues.
From historic pubs to cutting-edge clubs, Brighton is a playground for music lovers.
At WaterBear, our Music Industries Team works with partner venues across Brighton to secure real-world performance and work opportunities for WaterBear musicians and business professionals, helping them to gain invaluable hands-on experience.
Immerse yourself in Brighton’s vibrant music scene – apply to study with us, or order a prospectus today.
WaterBear – The College of Music
WaterBear offers BA (Hons) degree and master’s courses made for today’s musicians, artists and industry professionals. Its colleges are based in the heart of Brighton and Sheffield, two amazing UK cities with incredible musical roots and heritage. The college also has a range of online distance learning courses.
WaterBear is a College of Falmouth University, a pioneer in creative industries education, entrepreneurship and innovation. Run by musicians for musicians WaterBear is about smaller class sizes, flexible course delivery, bespoke one-to-one mentoring and exclusive work experience and career development opportunities.