What a great space. As we wandered to a restaurant for dinner (that ultimately turned out to be…read moreclosed), we noticed this hall all lit up with purple lights which of course pulled us inside. There was a live band playing in the foyer...all Prince covers. The band was great, the acoustics were good and the crowd was grooving. Turns out we had walked into a Prince tribute. People were dressed in their best 80s/purple/Princewear and it was great. We listened for a few songs but then headed off so we didn't get to see Purple Rain or the inside of the theater. I'm sure it was great.

Just completed this is a building in its own right, although most people would only come here…read morebecause they're watching something a the Colston Hall. It's hard to miss, finished with Gold coloured cladding. It looks a bit like someone put a gigantic gold ingot onto the skyline of Bristol. Inside is all black metal and ikea-ish coffee tables. There's a rather smart bar on the ground floor, which is fairly expensive (more than three quid for a pint) but not too bad. They sometimes have events here (I recently came to see my friend playing the guitar). The sort of thing you get is usually quite small, community based events, to give you an idea of what to expect. It's a brilliant space for some light theatre - a few sketches or something like that . The big windows mean that it doesn't' get too dark though. It's not a proper venue, that's the Colston Hall itself. Recently finished and still feeling new Colston Hall Foyer is pretty sleek, and only feels a little like its trying a bit to hard with the gold cladding.

This is such a lovely spot for a pub, and The Old Duke has been here for absolutely ages. They…read moreshare an outside courtyard with the Llandoger Trow opposite, and I found it so cute when I saw that they identified their pubs glasses by allocated paint spots at the bottom of the glasses. The Old Duke is a jazz pub, and they have so many nights on every week with different live acts. You get the feel of this immediately when you walk in, with all the posters and newspaper cuttings stuck to the walls. Unfortunately I've never managed to catch a live act here - I've seen them set up enough times though, but seem to have always had to rush off before the band starts! This pub is great to hang out, whether it is in the courtyard in the afternoon or sitting snugly inside at night.

This pub gets crowded, hot, and loud - but, with very good reason: everyone wants to be here…read more Located down on the waterfront just along from the Old Vic Theare, it's a classic old pub that has become legendary among jazz and live music fans. Named after Duke Ellington, the pub lives and breathes jazz music which is on offer every evening during the week and on Sunday lunchtimes. Take a trip here for the atmosphere; sit and gaze up at the ceiling papered with old concert posters, grab a drink from the extremely friendly bar staff, and hear some of the best toe-tapping blues and jazz around - free of charge. Crowds tend to spill out onto the cobbles of King Street during the interval, especially in the summer months. It's an absolute must-visit for any fan of jazz and old traditional pubs. You'll soon forget the fact that you're jammed shoulder-to-shoulder with a hundred other people all trying to get to the bar; the live music and atmosphere more than make up for that.

Theatre aside, the kitchen and bar is excellent. Top quality small plates and interesting local…read morebeers.

I've been coming to the old vic for many years so not only is it a great venue but for me it holds…read moremany great memories and is where my love of theatre began. The shows you get to see at the old vic are a far cry from the tacky unoriginal touring shows you get at the Hippodrome. Showcasing its own in house productions you find a lot more edgy and original theatre, so it's a must for all theatre lovers. On this occasion I took my one and half year old son to his first ever theatre production, Magic Elves. The show was in the small theatre downstairs and was perfect for small children and adults alike! He was engaged and mesmerised from the off and I hope this starts a similar love of theatre...

One of many new pubs springing up in the area, the Thunderbolt is, somewhat bravely, a live music…read morevenue tucked away out on the Bath Road. First things first: this place has changed greatly since its been relaunched - all thoughts of the horror that was the Turnpike should be immediately forgotten. The musical policy is a mix of up and coming local bands and DJs, combined with national faves who may appeal to a slightly older generation (Miles Hunt, Wreckless Eric, John Squire, Don Letts, Jerry Dammers). The garden has also been completely revamped and is very family friendly, especially on Sundays when they serve up the best roast I've had in years. Also recommend are the irregular DJ Derek and northern soul nights.

The Thunderbolt is a 150 capacity venue situated on the busy Bath Road in Totterdown. Since the…read moreowners took it over a couple of years ago it has undergone a massive transformation, and has very much earned its place within the Bristol music scene. It is difficult to imagine that this beautifully painted building with artfully created interiors and well furnished garden used to be a iniquitous dive frequented by the kind of people that you would go out of your way to avoid. These days the friendly staff are more accustomed to serving young families in the afternoons, particularly at the weekends when excellent food is in offer, and a devoted music crowd by night, when this local pub opens its doors to some heavyweight performers, often of international acclaim. A good selection of fine ales and ciders at reasonable prices keep the locals coming back. Dave, the owner, is more partial to a glass of wine, and so there's a decent selection of wine by the glass or bottle as well. The place is run in a very hands-on fashion, lending the place a very definite fraternal feel, but is in no way exclusive. All-comers are made to feel very welcome in this genuinely relaxed and friendly pub where traditional values are preserved. I called in fr a quick drink and a chat a week or so ago and noticed that Babel, my favourite Bristol band, are playing The Thunderbolt on the 15th May. Tickets are £5adv... a bargain! So, it looks like I'll be back pretty soon!

One of Bristol's oldest music venues, this intimate pub is a bit of a halfway house where you can…read moresee the wannabes on their way up and the never quite weres coming back down the other side. If you know your stuff you can catch some really big pre-fame names (I saw Radiohead for £3.50 many, many years ago, though once turned down the chance to see some new band called 'Oasis' in favour of watching the footie in a pub down the road). Weekends are dominated by tribute nights, which can be fun if you get the right one, while up-and-coming acts vie for your attention during the week, when there are also cheap drinks offers early in the night. Be warned: when stage diving keep an eye on the pillars as a mate of mine almost knocked himself out at a Moonflowers gig in the early 90s...

Just over the Bristol Bridge from town, The Fleece is a small pub and music venue mostly catering…read moreto the rock scene. The floor is paved with flag stones, convenient if you spill your drink! Probably easier to keep in a decent state with the dancing and moshing that goes on here too. It's on the circuit for small bands trying to get a break. That means the odd act that will be topping the charts in a few years time and not a few bands that definitely won't It's a good space for a band to play, perhaps not quiet enough for singer songwriter type acts. The drinks on offer here aren't too badly priced (and a lot cheaper than the O2 academy, which also has a very dire range on offer, thanks to the corporate sponsorship). Things tend to be a bit calmer here too. Although this might just be because it's not such a big place. A gig here generally gets going towards the end, and their will be the risk of crowddivers falling on you, but I've never been there when things get out of control. If you like live music have a look for a band you know (or a tribute to them) and get a ticket for a good night.

I went to the Hen & Chicken for a family birthday and Sunday Lunch, and while the food wasn't…read moreamazing, it is a great pub with an awesome vibe. First and foremost, the hen & Chicken is a pub - and a good one at that! It is big, set over a couple of levels and has a really nice central bar. While all very standard, they serve a decent selection of ales, ciders, largers and spirits. It's everything you'd expect from a pub bar. The atmosphere and clientele differs slightly from day time to night time, when during the day you'll find a full range of people, and night times being a slightly younger crowd. From Friday night and over the weekend, it gets very lively, is open later and has a great atmosphere. They also do some really good comedy night in their comedy room upstairs. I've never ben to one, but the line up for Jan/Feb looked great and I've heard from others that it's really good. Definitely one I need to check out! The Sunday lunch wasn't amazing; the beef was lovely and the Yorkshire pub was also really good, but as a lover of veg, I was a bit let down. The gravy was super tasty, but was really thin and didn't really stick to anything, so didn't really add any flavour to the rest of the food, which was a real shame. I'll definitely be going back for drinks, a night out, coffee in the afternoon - but probs not for Sunday Lunch.

This 3 stars is based on the roast, I need to go back and enjoy it for the great pub it seems to be…read moreand update my stars! I've become a bit of a roast dinner snob lately and although the rare beef (which tasted deliciously rare but wasn't pink) and Yorkshire were really lovely, veg is important to me. I got powdery potatoes, soggy carrots and parsnips and tasteless cabbage. It's like they knew because they hid it underneath the ginormous Yorkshire and tender beef (which made it all even soggier!). It was all a bit luke warm too. We paid extra for cauliflower cheese but this was just raw cauliflower with a tiny bit of cheese sauce dribbled on top. The veggie roast and burger didn't look great either. And how can it be called the Hen and Chicken and chicken isn't an option on the roast menu? It's lamb or beef! Maybe it's to protect the chickens! We went for a family birthday meal and I had a great time. The staff were accommodating to our big table and the service was good. The pub itself is very cool. The decor is quite wooden and arty and there's a nice beer garden out the back. Upstairs they do comedy and that looks like a very fun and popular thing to do of an evening. The bar was fully stocked and the drinks were nice. Overall I'd dodge the food but definitely go again for an amazing atmosphere and very cool place to hang out with friends and family. Kids are welcome so bring everyone!

Southbank is playing host to 'Bristol Through The Lens' from 21 May until 9 June. This is the next…read moremajor event to be hosted by this versatile and multi-faceted space, in an on-going rolling programme of impressive events. It is also home to the South Bank Arts Trail, (which I'm sure used to be called the South Bristol Arts Trail before it took on the name of the key host venue). But it's not all about art here, there's other stuff too; everything ranging from keep fit classes through to workshops take place here as well. It's open throughout the day and has a great little caff run by a group of very lovely ladies... great if you live in Bedminister or Southville and want to avoid East Street and the city centre, but still fancy a coffee and a cake.

This social club has slowly been metamorphosing in to a local hub-and arts venue for the last few…read moreyears that still manages to maintain its working-class roots with nary a hint of cloth cap or whippet. Inside you'll find big rooms and scuffed wooden floors. It's a good place to rub elbows with the local community or blow in from the city centre for some authentic atmosphere and cracking gigs. Afternoon is local time and you'll find Bristol's finest coddling a pint and setting the world to rights, but come the witching hour local deejays and mashed visuals guarantee that you'll get your dancing shoes on. There's also a strong folk-music thread to this venue - though the £10-ish ticket price can deter those with a leaner pocket, but aside from that, it's a really friendly soggy-beer-mats and skittles place with a tumbledown-cred of its own.

This is a live music pub with a venerable history. On the tour circuit, The Louisiana has seen many…read morebig acts before they were famous, including the White Stripes and System of a Down. It wears the famous associations lightly though, there is still the atmosphere of being a normal pub where live shows are put on upstairs. I recommend scouring the list of upcoming gigs for a name you like and buying a ticket. Don't go expecting that you'll see the next big thing, though. Just hope for something decent - this place is still small enough for musicians of questionable calibre to get a gig. It's a rock venue, so not smart or swish. Not at all grotty though, the outside has just been given a new lick of paint. Good for a party as well, I remember having a very good New Years here. All in all, The Louisiana is a Bristol fixture and exceptionally good for live music.

This is a pretty decent little pub within spitting distance of the city centre (no mean feat in…read moreitself), though its main claim to fame is the tiny room upstairs, which has put on some of the biggest bands in the world before they hit big (The Killers, The Strokes, etc). I possibly chose badly, having seen The Wombats and Keane here for next to nothing in the past, and while this doesn't afford me massive bragging rights, it's still an undeniable pleasure to see a band who are clearly on the up in sweaty little room with less than 100 other people. The downstairs is also vibrant with a constant flow of gig-goers streaming in and out, and the smoking bit out the front (some benches) have apparently recently been renovated.