Live Music — Pubs in Canterbury
Discover live music pubs in Canterbury. Browse our directory to find the perfect pub.
Found 24 live music pubs in Canterbury
Bell & Crown
10-11 Palace Street, Canterbury CT1 2DZ
Traditional city centre pub with an ever-changing range of local beers. The seating in front of the pub gives a superb view of Canterbury Cathedral, enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. The flint walls of the ancient King's School are opposite. Palace Street is part of the King's Mile and has many small independent shops.
Bishops Finger
13 St Dunstan's Street, Canterbury CT2 8AF
Busy pub near historic Westgate. Popular for watching sporting events, can get crowded for major events. Pleasant garden at the back. The rear area can be booked for functions.
Black Griffin
40 St Peter's Street, Canterbury CT1 2BG
Busy high street pub near the historic Westgate, popular with students and a good cross-section of locals and tourists. The front bar has high wooden tables by the windows, and there is a large back bar. Beers usually include one from a Kent brewery, and there is 50p off real ales from 5pm on Wednesdays. There is live music on Thursdays.
Bramley's Cocktail Bar
15 Orange Street, Canterbury CT1 2JA
Lively modern cocktail bar in a historic building. Live music includes open mic, jazz, blues and a DJ.
Canterbury Tales
12 The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS
The pub is situated opposite the Marlowe Theatre, and you can book your interval drinks here. Opening hours may be extended if there are special events at the theatre. The "Dress Circle" bar upstairs is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10-1.30am but you need to go downstairs for real ale. There is a folk jam session on Thursdays.
Shakespeare
Butchery Lane, Canterbury CT1 2JR
Ancient building close to the cathedral, recently renovated and linked via an attractive small courtyard to the Shakespeare Wine Bar overlooking the Buttermarket and cathedral gateway. The cellar below the Wine Bar has a Roman wall.
Cherry Tree
White Horse Lane, Canterbury CT1 2RU
Has been a pub since 1372, when it was the Fleur de Lis tap. The current ambience is friendly and more modern, with cheerful cherry-red walls, some wooden beams, juke box, quiz machine and DJs on Fridays. There is a happy hour from 5 to 8pm when all drinks are £3 a pint. The menu is excellent value pub grub and features an "all-day" breakfast. Several ghosts are associated with the pub, including a phantom cat. There may be three ciders on handpump.
Abode
High Street, Canterbury CT1 2RX
Exclusive city centre hotel with a contemporary feel within the original old building. Several interesting historical features, especially the furniture and architecture of the Cathedral Lounge
Eight Bells
34 London Road, Canterbury CT2 8LN
Small, traditional local dating from 1708 and rebuilt in 1902, retaining original embossed windows and decorated with memorabilia. It has the original outside toilets. There is live music monthly on Fridays, and a quiz, usually on the first Wednesday of the month. Five darts teams play every week and their trophies are on display. Roast lunches are served on Sunday lunchtimes, booking advisable. There is an attractive small walled garden and a comfortable heated smoking area. May close early on Sundays ( about 7pm)
Old Buttermarket
39 Burgate, Canterbury CT1 2HW
Atmospheric multi-roomed city centre pub, recently refurbished, opposite the main entrance to the cathedral. There are great views of the Christ Church gateway from the attractive courtyard drinking area. Popular for food. Once a month there is an open mic night and a quiz night. Dogs are allowed in the courtyard only.
Millers Arms
2 Mill Lane, Canterbury CT1 2AW
Attractive city centre inn with a stone-flagged bar and a comfortable restaurant area. There is a view of the cathedral from the patio garden. The River Stour runs past the inn. There is acoustic music on the first Thursday of the month, and a quiz on Tuesdays. The hotel part of the inn is relatively modern and has 11 en-suite bedrooms.
Monument
37 St Dunstan's Street, Canterbury CT2 8BZ
Reopened on June 11th 2021 with new owner. No food at present but due to start in July. Timothy Taylor Landlord is due to be added to the beers. Quiz night is Mondays, and there is a pub golf society. The Monument was established as a pub in 1803 and the building itself is even older, sitting on the crossroads of St Dunstans Street, London Road and Whitstable Road for over 400 years. With St Dunstans church just opposite, the street outside has remained the main route into Canterbury from London for over a millennium. The name of The Monument comes from a large wooden crucifix which stood on the junction outside. Sadly, it was removed before the invention of photography but an artists impression sits proudly opposite the main bar. The wooden cross would have welcomed pilgrims to Canterbury after the arduous journey from London, signifying that they had made it to the city, with the West Gate and city walls finally in sight.
New Inn
19 Havelock Street, Canterbury CT1 1NP
CLOSING HOURS NOW ONE HOUR EARLIER TEMPORARILY, SEE OPENING TIMES, WHICH HAVE BEEN UPDATED. Victorian back-street terraced house a few minutes' walk from the cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey and the bus station. The main bar has a cosy wood burner, a wooden floor and a jukebox. At the back is a long bright conservatory where there are papers to browse over your pint, and a range of board games. Beer festivals are held on Whitsun and August bank holiday weekends in the pub and the attractive garden. Large whisky and gin selection. Interesting and ever-changing seven cask beers. Local CAMRA Pub of the Year in 2017 and 2018.
Old City Bar
2 Oaten Hill Place, Canterbury CT1 3HJ
Large sports-orientated local with a big screen. The pub sponsors Kent County Cricket Club. Shepherd Neame have recently refurbished the pub, which is a good blend of traditional and contemporary. A bit difficult to find - tucked between New and Old Dover Road, not far from the ring road.
Cricketers
14 St Peter's Street, Canterbury CT1 2BQ
Ancient pub with front and back drinking areas. Popular live music venue which often features excellent open mic nights. There is a small paved garden at the rear, and seating on the pavement in front of the pub, with views of the historic Westgate.
Phoenix
67 Old Dover Road, Canterbury CT1 3DB
A comfortable local with a cricketing theme, situated between the County Cricket Ground and Canterbury city centre. The Phoenix stocks a constantly changing and interesting range of at least five real ales, including beers from Wantsum and other small breweries. Good value pub grub is served in generous portions. There is live music every Friday night and open mic every other Sunday night. Thursday night is balti night. Sports TV (not Sky) is shown on a large drop-down screen.
Seven Stars
1 Orange Street, Canterbury CT1 2JA
Lively city centre pub near the cathedral. Popular with students and sports fans. Events include a quiz on Tuesdays, karaoke on Wednesdays, live music on Thursdays, and a DJ on Fridays.
Parrot
1-9 Church Lane, St Radigunds, Canterbury CT1 2AG
The oldest pub in Canterbury, and one of the oldest buildings in the city. A 14th century gem with beamed ceilings, stone-flagged floors and three open fires. A lovely garden with the potential for BBQs and festivals in summer. Comedy nights monthly, occasional beer and food events.
Thomas Becket
21 Best Lane, Canterbury CT1 2JB
Comfortable city centre 18th century local close to High Street shops and cathedral. Good value menu with a wide choice and some interesting additions to classic pub favourites.
Lady Luck
18 St Peter's Street, Canterbury CT1 2BQ
Describing itself as Canterbury's Rock and Roll bar, the Lady Luck has frequent live bands. The red and black interior has a large floor area for events. There is some seating in the street outside, with a good view of the historic Westgate. The small garden at the back of the pub has 4 tables. There is an extensive cocktail menu, a specialist rum menu, and a good choice of bottled craft beers. Food is locally sourced.
Unicorn
61 St Dunstan's Street, Canterbury CT2 8BS
Comfortable 1604 pub near the historic Westgate, with an attractive suntrap garden. Bar billiards is played and a quiz, set by regular customers, is held weekly on Sunday evening. There are three changing beers, often from Kent microbreweries. Beer updates are posted on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Food is good value, with a '2 meals for £12.50' special offer on selected meals. Sporting events (not Sky) are televised unobtrusively. Good range of bottled beers, mainly from Kernel and Hopdaemon. The garden bar is open in good weather. Booking essential at busy time Friday and Saturday evenings
Ballroom
15 Orange Street, Canterbury CT1 2JA
Lively modern cocktail bar with comfortable seating and a large dance floor. Above Bramleys Wine bar. 18th century ballroom, formerly part of the Oddfellows Hall, which was originally the Prince of Orange Inn. Varied live music includes open mic, jazz, blues and a DJ. May be open late. Sometimes closed for private functions. Tickets required for some live music events.
Curzon Cinema Bar
Westgate Hall Road, Canterbury CT1 2BT
Pleasant cafe bar attached to a 3-screen cinema. The bar has a modern open plan layout with a mix of modern tables and chairs, and comfy leather sofas for relaxing. There is a bookcase and traditional board games to play. Drinks, which include craft bottled beers from Brewdog, can be taken into the cinema. Opening hours vary, but generally are 15 minutes before the first film screening. The bar closes at 9.30pm. Food is served throughout opening hours. A film quiz is held on the first Wednesday of every month, and a pianist plays on the first Sunday of every month.
Privy Bar
Broad Street, Canterbury CT1 2HG
Now a 1920's themed cocktail bar, speakeasy and night spot, this was formerly an underground public lavatory. Steps lead down to entrances still marked as Ladies and Gentlemen. Attractive wrought iron arches over the entrances bear the city crests. It opened in January 2019, and opening hours are still not fixed. It may open at 7pm, and has late closing at 2.30am (3.30am on Fri and Sat). There is no draught beer, but a selection of craft bottled beers including Goose Island IPA, Meantime London Pale Ale, and Shepherd Neame Whitstable Pale Ale.