Brighton is a seaside town that’s just as famous for its musical heritage as it is for its fish and chips! Here, we explore some of the best Brighton music venues so that you can check out some great live music by the sea.
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Area: Beachfront
The place for: summer gigs on the patio
Located within the town’s iconic seafront archways, Brighton Music Hall is a great place to catch some live music by the beach. Set over two floors, the venue boasts a cool, rustic interior and, of course, some impressive sea views. Oh, and Brighton Music Hall boasts one of the biggest outdoor beer gardens in the city – ideal for grabbing a beverage and checking out some live music on the patio.
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Area: Underneath Brighton station
The place for: catching some new hip hop artists
Tucked away under the old railway arches beneath the station, Green Door Store is famous across the city for its grungy aesthetic and casual vibe. Since first opening its doors in 2011, the venue has a large stage and unparalleled acoustics for a smaller space. Fancy catching some blues? Their resident blues band, Smokestack, play every Sunday evening for a chilled-out start to the week ahead.
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Area: Prince Albert Street
The place for: relaxing to some live jazz
Hailed across Brighton as one of its most unique watering holes, The Mesmerist is actually a great place to catch some live jazz, blues, and swing bands. With colourful décor and some of the friendliest bar staff in the town, you’re bound to have an unforgettable night out in this joint.
It’s the atmosphere of this place that keeps people coming back again and again. Bust some moves on the dancefloor (we know you want to!) or venture to the upper floor to sit and chat with friends.
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Area: Trafalgar Street
The place for: rock,folk, and indie
You can’t miss the Prince Albert Pub. Covered in an eye-catching mural of music pioneers, this iconic venue is a great place to tuck into some homecooked food and take advantage of their drinks offers. The stage is in the upstairs room, and while you might have to pay to see some, you really can’t put a price on sampling some live music in this iconic venue. But who features on that famous mural? See if you can spot Bob Marley, John Lennon, Brian Jones, Amy Winehouse, Jimi Hendrix, and Kurt Cobain.
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Area: Church Street
The place for: seeing world-class orchestras
It doesn’t get more iconic than this. Built-in the former Pavilion Stables, Brighton Dome’s art deco aesthetic lends itself perfectly to the many classical pioneers and rock n roll stars that have played there over the years. Jimi Hendrix and David Bowie both played sell-out shows here, and The Dark Side of the Moon Suite was debuted by Pink Floyd in 1972. The Dome was also famously the site of Abba’s victory at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 with “Waterloo”.
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Area: St George’s Road
The place for: you guessed it, cabaret acts
If you’re a fan of the White Stripes, you’ve probably heard of the Hanbury Ballroom (it’s where they played their first UK gig). Well, Proud Cabaret is what stands in its place now. Here you can see some of the world’s best cabaret singers and dancers, as well as catch a burlesque show and some comedy stand up.
Oh, and make sure you look up at some point during the show. The building’s iconic ceiling feature is a sight to behold!
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Area: Cranbourne Street
The place for: catching some extended DJ sets
Located right in the hustle and bustle of the city centre, The Western is the place to catch some live music and get your fill of the most exciting local DJ sets. With industrial-inspired décor and an extensive selection of craft beers and vodkas, this is a great venue to stay until late.
Fancy a bite during the gig? The Western serves food until 8pm
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Area: Queens Road
The place for: catching some local bands
Craft beer, check. Cosy interior, check. Live music, check. Idle hands has it all. Every Thursday, the house band – The Jones Street Boys – play a smooth mix of rock n’ roll, jazz, country, and grunge against a backdrop of rustic décor. Oh, and there are raise-the-roof performances from a plethora of other musicians most weekends.
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Area: London Road
The place for: bottomless brunch and live music
We’re hesitant to call a pub ‘perfect’, but New Unity comes pretty close. Here you can partake in an unrivalled bottomless brunch before catching some live music from up-and-coming local bands. The craft beer here is second-to-none and if beer’s not your bag, peruse their extensive cocktail menu and select a delicious tipple from there!
Hungry? New Unity has recently revamped their forward-thinking food menu – we recommend the Dirty Mac.
Discover some of the greatest gigs in Brighton with Leonardo Hotels. After a long evening of seeing some live music all over the city, you’ll need a place to lay your head (ready to do it all again tomorrow!). Leonardo Hotel Brighton has a convenient central location so you can easily stumble home from that immense gig!
Find out more things to do in Brighton or discover our Brighton hotspots like Komedia and the Brighton Christmas market.
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