When it comes to gigs in cosy boozers, the UK has form. It’s often in low-key pubs where exciting new talents first come to test out their latest tunes and guitar riffs. So, as the cold weather creeps in, make for these spots with roaring fires where you can crack open the crisps, sip on pints of local ale and sing along to the next big thing.
1. The Hare and Hounds, Birmingham
The Hare and Hounds in Birmingham
MONICA MARTINI
Manchester rightly raves about its music history (Oasis, Stone Roses and the Smiths), but Birmingham’s bands have always been better live (thank you, Duran Duran, Black Sabbath and UB40). The latter got their start at this grade II listed Kings Heath boozer with a heavy craft beer menu and an electric programme of local and touring acts upstairs. There’s a real community feel here, and acts and DJs are bigger than you may imagine: Ellie Goulding, Ed Sheeran and Basement Jaxx have performed here (hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk). You’ll get a good night’s sleep later at The Grand, following a few expertly crafted cocktails shaken and stirred at Madeleine, the hotel’s Parisian-style cocktail bar.
Details Room only doubles from £158
2. The Lexington, London
Hozier performs on stage at The Lexington
ANDY SHEPPARD/REDFERNS
In great music cities such as Nashville and Berlin a stripped-back music venue represents the pulse of the place. That’s the case with this pub in Islington, which books up-and-coming rock and indie bands favoured by BBC 6 Music DJs, as well as old timers, left-field acts and punk newbies. It’s open late — until 4am at weekends — with the venue proper upstairs and the baroque mezzanine pub downstairs (thelexington.co.uk). The Standard hotel, beside King Cross St Pancras station, is a magnet for big-name artists.
Details Room-only doubles from £211 (standardhotels.com)
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3. Lavery’s, Belfast
Lavery’s is Belfast’s oldest family-run bar
NOT KNOWN, CLEAR WITH PICTURE DESK
The musicians who meet in Belfast’s oldest family-run bar know their way around a tune. The pub has been rocking and reeling since 1918, and it’s not just the home of local music talent — there’s comedy, rugby and cue sports competitions too, and it has the largest pool hall in Ireland. Beer-wise you’re here for the rotating craft selection, with seven taps to choose from (laverysbelfast.com). The Titanic set off on its maiden voyage six years before Lavery’s opened, and for dockyard nostalgia you can stay at Titanic Hotel Belfast, in the former HQ of Harland & Wolff, the builder of the fateful ocean liner.
Details Room-only doubles from £139 (titanichotelbelfast.com)
4. The Greystones, Sheffield
You might bump into Alex Turner at The Greystones in Sheffield
GETTY
Sitting down to sup a cask ale next to an Arctic Monkey or local man Richard Hawley isn’t that far-fetched at this suburban music bar from the nearby Thornbridge Brewery. The pub is half-timbered and brick, and is a perfect cosy spot for intimate gigs. As well as gigs, Greystones is home to mighty fine pizza, and craft beer hits such as Green Mountain, a hazy Vermont session IPA, and Lucaria, a salted caramel ice cream porter (mygreystones.co.uk). Make a weekend of it and stay at Brocco on the Park, a boutique hotel with top-notch food.
Details Room-only doubles from £135 (brocco.co.uk)
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5. The Hug and Pint, Glasgow
Le1f performs on stage at the Hug And Pint
ROSS GILMORE/REDFERNS
This Great Western Road hub of music and beer was a game-changer when it opened in summer 2015. Big Thief, Mitski and Yard Act have played there, and the name was inspired by the Scottish indie-rock band Arab Strap. The menu is Mexican with a Glaswegian twist — think street corn but battered; cactus and jalapeño empanada, deep fried (thehugandpint.com). For a nearby bed, Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel is a winner for price and style.
Details Room-only doubles from £191 (kimptonblythswoodsquare.com)
6. The Hope & Ruin, Brighton
The Hope & Ruin is a grassroots music venue
OLLIE THOMAS/VISIT BRIGHTON
This ramshackle pub celebrates the chaos that accompanies live music. The reclaimed design of exposed brick and wires has echoes of a junk shop, but it’s a buzzy place to see acts before they blow up. Dua Lipa, Adele and the Strokes have played the crammed upstairs venue (hope.pub). At Beelzebab’s, in the caravan next to the bar, you can tuck into plant-based kebabs. Ten minutes away in Hove, the Ginger Pig is a great restaurant with rooms.
Details Room-only doubles from £95 (gingerpigbrighton.co.uk)
7. The Mishnish, Tobermory, Isle of Mull
Mishnish is a boldly painted waterfront inn
ALAMY
Islanders know how to party, building their communities on pubs, and this boldly painted waterfront inn in Tobermory is a proper introduction to the Hebrides of old. It’s old-fashioned in the best sense, with a tartan carpet, stone fire, barrel seating, nautical nostalgia, and folk and festival sessions throughout the year. The Mull Music Festival in April is the knees-up not to miss, and the Mòd in September is all about accordion-led ceilidhs (themishnish.co.uk). The Mishnish has a dozen rooms looking out over the harbour.
Details Doubles from £95 (as above)
What are your favourite pubs for live music? Let us know in the comments below
