Belfast named UK's top location for pub gigs
New research reveals the UK’s top pub gigs hotspots as music stars back launch of “Pubs Go Live” – a ten-day nationwide initiative celebrating live music in pubs.
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) and PRS for Music have unveiled new research revealing the top locations across the UK for live music in pubs, with Belfast taking the crown as the country’s pub gig capital.*
The new research showcases how pubs remain a vital platform for both emerging and established artists. Belfast’s top ranking reflects the city’s deep-rooted musical culture, which earned it a UNESCO City of Music status in 2021. The full top 20 list includes major music hubs like Manchester, Sheffield and London, alongside thriving smaller locations such as Exeter and Tunbridge Wells.
- Standing proudly beside Belfast in the top five are Birmingham, Nottingham, Bristol and Brighton.
- A glimpse at North vs South saw Arctic Monkeys hometown Sheffield (6th) lead in the North of England, surpassing Manchester (9th), Liverpool (11th) and Newcastle (12th); meanwhile Brighton, (5th), the city that birthed acts such as Royal Blood and The Kooks, dominated the South Coast, outperforming both Portsmouth (10th) and Southampton (18th).
- In London, South East London (12th) emerged as the capital’s top hotspot for live music in pubs, surpassing West London (14th) and reinforcing its reputation as a key hub for grassroots music.
- In the Midlands, Birmingham (2nd) and Nottingham (3rd) remained strongholds for live music, while Leicester (16th), further highlighted the region’s musical heritage as home to household names like Kasabian, Black Sabbath and Jake Bugg.
- Back up in Scotland, Edinburgh (7th) outperformed Glasgow (15th) despite the latter’s history of producing acts such as Franz Ferdinand and Simple Minds.
The top 20 list is set out in full below:
- Belfast
- Birmingham
- Nottingham
- Bristol
- Brighton
- Sheffield
- Edinburgh
- Exeter
- Manchester
- Portsmouth
- Liverpool
- South East London
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- West London
- Glasgow
- Leicester
- Plymouth
- Southampton
- Gloucester
- Tunbridge Wells
Pubs Go Live: A nationwide celebration of live music
This research has been conducted to mark the launch of “Pubs Go Live”, a ten-day nationwide initiative celebrating live music in pubs. Kicking off on Thursday 20 March, Pubs Go Live will see live music events on offer in pubs up and down the country. The initiative shines a light on the invaluable role pubs play in the UK’s live music industry, pouring more than £34 billion into the economy annually according to Oxford Economics.**
The initiative has drawn the support of top UK acts including the Kaiser Chiefs, who are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut album “Employment”, as well as breakthrough artists including Finn Forster and The Lottery Winners, who will be releasing their new album KOKO this Friday before supporting Robbie Williams on his stadium tour this summer. The Lottery Winners will be staging a gig at the Founder’s Hall pub in Manchester on Monday the 24th of March to celebrate the launch of the campaign and the release of their latest album.
The first gigs we ever went to were in pub venues in Leeds. As is the case for many bands, pub venues were our first circuits, where we grew as artists, learned our craft, and experienced great times. Watching bands like Oasis and Coldplay - that went on to become big names - performing just metres from us made everything seem more achievable and like we were already a part of something. It made us feel that maybe we could do this too! So later on, playing those same venues which were sometimes full, sometimes empty, it always felt like we were on track. Pubs are a vital part of any music scene, whether it’s sitting in them plotting the next step, or being on stage performing, or watching gigs trying to find your next favourite band. Without them we lose our footing - they are our roots no matter where we end up.
Pubs are where live music really lives. Before the arenas, before the festivals, it starts in the back rooms of boozers, where the crowd is right in front of you and every song has to earn its place. The pub scene is the beating heart of live music. It’s where bands are built, where songs are tested, and where connections are made that last a lifetime. Without it, the whole ecosystem of music falls apart. Live music in pubs is a lifeline. It keeps communities together, gives new artists a start, and reminds everyone why music is meant to be felt, not just heard. Pubs give bands a stage before anyone else will, and they give audiences a chance to be part of something real.
It's hard to imagine being where we are today without that fair share of pub shows we did while we were figuring out the whole band thing. There were times when no one showed up and no one knew who we were. But then, all of a sudden, the pubs would be packed like sardines, with people singing our college songs back to us. Playing in a pub is a completely different experience from playing to a sold-out venue across the country, but those shows gave us an incredible chance to practice performing—learning how to act on stage, what to say, everything. We’d love to do it more often. There’s something special about playing in a local pub where everyone feels comfortable and you can really sense the community.
Live music in pubs has long been a cornerstone of the UK’s cultural and social fabric. Many of the nation’s iconic artists - including The Beatles, The Libertines, Adele, Oasis, Wet Leg and Ed Sheeran - began their careers on the pub gig scene. On their way to stardom, these musicians travelled the length and breadth of the UK to entertain locals and hone their skills.
Research shows that 78% of consumers are more likely to visit a pub, or similar venue, if it offers live music, while 73% of consumers said that live music would make them more likely to stay in a pub for longer.*** In total, one in two Britons (51%) have attended live music events in pubs, proving the strong demand for grassroots music and its ability to drive footfall and custom.****
A new music guide for publicans
To help publicans capitalise on the ten-day celebration, the BBPA and PRS for Music have published an essential new online guide, offering advice on how to run and host successful live music events. It is available here.
The BBPA says that the part played by pubs in the UK’s live music ecosystem is further proof of the sector’s vital cultural significance, making it even more urgent for Government to help the industry. It is calling on the Government to introduce meaningful business rates reform and phase in new employment costs to allow businesses to plan and avoid the fast-approaching cliff edge in April.
Live music holds a special place in the UK’s cultural landscape and the pub gig, unique to the UK, is a crucial part of that ecosystem. Pubs have long been a vital space for launching and nurturing new talent while bringing people together through the power of performance. Just think of the countless songwriting and performing careers that have started in local pubs - from Sam Fender and IDLES to Maisie Peters and Sam Tompkins, the list goes on. Join us in celebrating this inaugural initiative highlighting the significant cultural and economic contributions of live music in pubs, preserving British culture for future generations.
The pub as a live music venue is a unique part of our cultural heritage, with many musicians starting out at their local and fans getting a chance to see an artist up close before they hit the big time. Pubs Go Live is a celebration of this cherished cultural tradition, and pubs up and down the country are joining in. It’s a fact that there’s nothing quite like a pub gig, and it must be preserved at all costs. This is why Government must support pubs, who face a raft of punishing costs and taxes, and introduce meaningful business rate reform so theses grassroots venues can still provide a stage to British musicians for generations to come.
**Statistics provided by Oxford Economics and the BBPA
***Statistics provided by Gig Realm and CGA powered by NielsenIQ
****Statistics provided by Localis.
About PRS for Music
Here for music since 1914, PRS for Music is a world-leading music collective management organisation representing the rights of more than 175,000 talented songwriters, composers and music publishers. Redefining the global standard for music royalties, PRS for Music ensures songwriters and composers are paid whenever their musical compositions and songs are streamed, downloaded, broadcast, performed and played in public.
For more than 110 years it has grown and protected the rights of the music creator community, paying out royalties with more accuracy, transparency and speed. In 2023, PRS for Music paid out £943.6m in royalties and collected a record £1.08 billion in revenues. prsformusic.com
