Five New Venues in Bristol
By Rosie Burgess | December 8, 2023
In an era where venues across the UK face the harsh reality of closure, Bristol’s music scene remains unshaken, repeatedly proving its resilience. While the rest of the country battles a decline in live music spaces, here in Bristol, we’re experiencing a different tune, where the dimming lights of one venue only make way for another’s stage to shine even brighter.
Bristol’s music scene is a living, breathing entity infused with boundless dynamism and innovation. It thrives on a rich, complex history and full of characters. This complex history has provided an opportunity for a unique coming together of music and space.
So, allow us to introduce you to five of Bristol’s newest venues that you absolutely must visit and in the process, celebrate the city’s vibrant spirit and the emergence of thrilling new music spaces.
Lost Horizon
2021 saw the lifting of restrictions following the COVID-19 pandemic and the aftermath of a cultural shift in the city following the toppling of the statue of Edward Colston. This moment changed how the UK negotiated with its colonial past and confirmed that Bristol has always been the city of radical change.
The Shangri-La team from Glastonbury Festival opened Lost Horizon on July 1, 2021. Promising to be a space for brave ideas, protests, and parties, the venue was just what the doctor ordered in a city looking to the future. Since its launch, it has housed queer collectives and events such as PHAT Bristol’s Crotch and BIMM residents Loose Sound have been putting on authentic multi-genre events rooted in Bristol’s musical history.
Self-described as a “creative playground,” its eclectic programming has firmly established the venue as a Bristol staple for all. Upcoming events you should not miss include ‘Black Herstory’ from DJ Flight on the 16th of December, celebrating black womxn in the jungle and drum & bass scene.
Propyard
For those who’ve been craving a new warehouse space to go and rave in, Propyard has served you in spades over the last 12 months. Situated just down the road from another warehouse of historical note – Motion nightclub, Propyard’s colossal space has hosted everything from a colossal Boiler Room party to a takeover by Skream to Honey Dijon in recent months. Aside from their regular club nights, Propyard continues to be the standard bearer for excitingly using space, having also played host to an interactive Van Gogh exhibition and an incredible immersive selection of light installations from Four Tet collaborators Squid Soup. This commitment to using the venue in many ways has made it one of Bristol’s most talked about new spots. Just wait until the summer, and their outdoor space will be back in action with food vendors, outdoor parties, and all the vibe you can want.
Art Club
Since opening its doors in 2021 Art Club has continued to expand its horizons and offer a range of creative spaces for the Bristol public. Located on Bond Street in the centre of Bristol, Art Club originally opened as a coffee shop and small venue for live gigs. The space now boasts a small vintage market run by Green Gherkin Vintage, pizza supplied by Back Garden Pizzeria, and a barber studio run by Crafted Barbering. As of March 2023, the venue’s most recent venture looks to open its doors to regular club nights, live gigs, and art exhibitions with a 140-capacity basement space and bar. The space’s raw aesthetic has allowed local Bristol artists to create a space that’s unique to its surroundings, with regularly changing artwork and purchasable greenery, Art Club has comfortably nestled into Bristol’s thriving culture of music and art.
Cock and Tail
Another friend of the Shangri-La Glastonbury family, also known for their work with venue Lost Horizon, The Cock and Tail, can be found on Commercial Road just by the river, a stone-throw away from classic venue The Louisiana. The venue has a self-described ‘renegade attitude,’ with an unorthodox interior which sees both a disco ball and a traffic light in the same room. This can be seen in their new regular open deck vinyl night, All Sorts, as well as featured multi-genre night from the Hotwashsound crew. They are also a host of BIMM artists, with one recent headliner being singer-songwriter Francesca Luker. A personal favourite has to be neo-soul band Cheritang, who drew a crowd for one of the venue’s first instalments of their open mic nights. Boasting great cocktails, regional beers, and great prices, this quirky venue is not to be missed, especially for the students who work part-time pulling pints. Their weekly ‘BS1 Hospitality Party’ pulls in bar staff from around town for a free pint from that week’s local beer sponsorship.
Cloak
Located on Cheltenham Road, next to The Arches, Cloak is a quirky grassroots venue that is highly adaptable and offers a range of experiences. The venue provides a café with coffee, cakes, and soft drinks and a downstairs bar with a cosy pub-like atmosphere. The decoration and lighting create a soothing environment that feels more like a friend’s house than a café, with cushions, sofas, board games, and record players scattered throughout an open room.
However, Cloak also boasts a variety of events. Hosting cabaret, comedy, magic shows, music and everything in between, it is always accompanied by an incredible atmosphere and decoration. Cloak can be found between Gloucester Road and Stokes Croft, and the venue guarantees an excellent night out regardless of what event is on.