Apply Now
Apply Now
BrightonBrighton FacilitiesWaterBear Venue
BrightonBrighton FacilitiesWaterBear Venue

EXPLORE

THE WATERBEAR VENUE

The WaterBear Venue is WaterBear’s very own seafront music venue and club, supporting live music and independent grassroots bands and artists in Brighton and across the UK. Located right on the beach, this iconic venue was once one of Brighton’s most famous clubs. 

Enquire Now GIGS AND EVENTS

A SPACE TO LEARN, PERFORM AND SOCIALISE 

Now exclusively operated by WaterBear, it’s where we run classes, gigs, events and masterclasses. It’s also a great place for our musicians to socialise, with refreshments available, and a licensed bar operating for our calendar of evening events.  

The venue is available for students to book their own gigs and events, and you’ll get regular opportunities to work there too. We also have another venue in Brighton called the WaterBear Music Bar offering the same opportunities for our students. Our Sheffield campus has a large network of partner music venues where you can access similar opportunities throughout the year. 

Enquire Now

WATERBEAR VENUE COLLEGE ACTIVITY

The venue is always buzzing with activity, and it is where we hold key events such as fresher’s week, development week, showcase events, songwriting camps, student nights, open mic nights, club nights. The venue also partners with The Great Escape and Brighton Fringe each year. 

STUDENT NIGHTS

Student socials take place throughout the year and include open mic nights, events, and live gigs, offering plenty of opportunities to unwind, perform, and connect.

LIVE PERFOMANCE WORKSHOPS

The venue regularly hosts live performance workshops as part of the timetable, helping students refine their stagecraft in a professional, supportive setting.

WORK EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES

The venue offers a range of hands-on work experience opportunities for students looking to build real-world skills. These include joining the in-house band, shadowing live sound engineers, assisting with stage management, and gaining bar or front-of-house experience.

KEEPING MUSIC LIVE TOUR

The WaterBear Venue is on the final leg of our Keeping Music Live Tour. This nationwide tour features WaterBear crew, and artists and bands performing alongside local acts at grassroots venues across the UK, all in support of the independent live music scene. More information can be found below.

THE GREAT ESCAPE FESTIVAL

As an official venue for The Great Escape Festival, we welcome some of the best emerging talent from around the globe, offering our students first-hand experience of a world-renowned music event.

DEVELOPMENT WEEK

Development Week brings industry into the venue. Expect guest speakers, masterclasses, panels, seminars, and performances from top musicians and partners across the music business.

SHOWCASE EVENTS

Our regular showcases give students the chance to perform alongside professional musicians. Past events include the acclaimed Night of Amy Winehouse featuring members of Amy Winehouse’s original band.

FRESHERS WEEK

Freshers Week is a highlight of the year, featuring major headliners and giving both new and current students the chance to perform. It’s the perfect way to connect with your community and immerse yourself in WaterBear life.

SONGWRITING CAMPS

Our songwriting camps provide a creative and collaborative space for artists to write, experiment, and develop new material using the venue’s industry-standard facilities.

STUDENT GIGS AND EVENTS

Students can book the venue to host their own gigs and events, supported by our in-house events team. WaterBear Live events happen regularly, showcasing the talent within our community.

KEEPING MUSIC LIVE TOUR

Independent music venues lie at the heart of grassroots music, where it all begins. This is where many emerging artists and musicians begin their journey to becoming successful, confident performers. In collaboration with the Music Venue Trust, we’ve launched the Keeping Music Live campaign to stand with and support these venues, to raise awareness of the challenges they face, and to champion their vital role in shaping the future of music. 

Keeping Music Live

Venue Gallery

A selection of our vast array of exciting events at the venue.

WaterBear Music Bar

The WaterBear Music Bar is the latest addition to the WaterBear family. Located in Kemptown it has long been a cornerstone of Brighton’s music scene.

WaterBear Music Bar

WaterBear Venue ENQUIRIES

If you would like to propose a weekday music event at the WaterBear Venue and find out more about the venue hire, facilities and specifications, please contact our events team who would love to hear your plans. Please contact us using the enquiry form below and provide as much information as possible. If you are a current student, you will be entitled to a discounted hire fee.

If you require any further assistance, please contact the WaterBear enquiries team on 01273 726230 or email [email protected].

Open Days