Live Music — Pubs in Lancaster
Discover live music pubs in Lancaster. Browse our directory to find the perfect pub.
Found 26 live music pubs in Lancaster
John O'Gaunt
53 Market Street, Lancaster LA1 1JG
A handsome Edwardian frontage hides a narrow pub in which the walls are decorated with a beer mats and photos of musicians (reflecting one former licensee's enthusiasms). At lunchtime most of the customers are from nearby banks and offices, in the evening mostly regulars.
Merchant's
29 Castle Hill, Lancaster LA1 1YN
Converted wine-merchants cellars built in 1688 and an extensive outdoor drinking area create a peaceful haven from the hubbub of the city centre. The main drinking areas are in three separate 'tunnels' with a fourth forming the entrance and bar area. Quiz night on Sundays. Look out for the stoneware bottles used in the construction of the cellar walls. House beer "Castle Blonde" brewed by Old School. Many board games available. Live music every Saturday eve.
Study Room
32 Church Street, Lancaster LA1 1LH
Contemporary monochrome-plus-wood style, enlivened by a wide variety of light fittings, a couple of chesterfields, glazed cupboards with books and old typewriters. The new name presumably hints at an orientation towards students but it is too early to tell how it will really pan out. Music Fri night.
Stonewell Tap
8 (Lower)Church Street, Lancaster LA1 1NP
Old pub with modern big windows, distinct rooms and rather basic furnishings. Change of ownership in late 2017, it remains to be seen how it develops but you can expect good beer..
Park
1 St Oswald Street, Lancaster LA1 3AS
Built 1890 as an imposing street-corner "hotel”. The ground floor has been entirely opened out but there are still three areas with contrasting characters. A local for the nearby streets, also gets trade from the University of Cumbria.
Penny Bank
51 Penny Street, Lancaster LA1 1XF
Former bank converted to a pub in 1991 and has managed to give the feeling of a much older town centre corner pub. Popular with shoppers during the day, it is part of the vibrant Lancastrian social scene during the evenings.
Bobbin
36 Cable Street, Lancaster LA1 1HH
Large mainly Victorian pub (part eighteenth century), entirely open-plan but still divided up by raised areas and pillars. Very handy for the bus station; also frequented by a goth/metal crowd (but they are by no means the only customers). 70s-style flock wallpaper and laminate floor Extremely eclectic jukebox.
Boot & Shoe
171 Scotforth Road, Lancaster LA1 4PU
A village inn until Lancaster grew around it. Completely altered in 2016 making one large bar-room divided into distinct areas. Decor mainly shades of brown with lots of woodwork. Opens a bit beyond midnight at weekends. 50p off cask ales on Mondays.
Royal
Thurnham Street, Lancaster LA1 1YD
Large bar in city-centre hotel redecorated in 2016 in muted blue/grey shades and with a lot of upholstered bench seating.
Bowerham
Bowerham Road, Lancaster LA1 4DT
Imposing building erected 1901 and built as a hotel, but really it's always been a local for the populous suburb of Bowerham (although there are plans to start offering accommodation) . The original multi-room layout has been completely opened up except for one room. The 2016 refurbishment revealed the old ceilings, creating space for chandeliers, otherwise conforming to current fashions. During the Covid pandemic has started a pizza business.
Tap House
2 Gage Street, Lancaster LA1 1UH
Small pub completely refurbished in 2012 with some bare brickwork, a lot of visible wood (including old beer casks incorporated into the furnishings) and otherwise white and grey. Substantial snacks are "coming soon".
Sun
63 Church Street, Lancaster LA1 1ET
The decor combines a mixture of exposed stonework, wood panelling and solid furniture, with ambient candlelight in the evenings. The original pub has open space for vertical drinking; the extension is mostly furnished with old dining tables. Some original features remain, including stone fireplaces (one with a wood-burning stove) and a well. The pub is the primary outlet for Lancaster Brewery in the city. Outside is a peaceful courtyard with a heated and covered smoking area. Note: open for breakfast before 11, but alcohol not served then.
Three Mariners
Bridge Lane, Lancaster LA1 1EE
Commonly claimed to be the oldest pub in Lancaster. It certainly looks old, inside as well as out and many of the beams and stones are old. Built into the side of Castle Hill, the cellar is excavated at first-floor level. The strip of cobbles at the front and the nearby grassy areas are occupied by tables for drinkers. The pub is now a popular watering hole with a thriving local clientele, and is involved with the maritime section of the Lancaster Music Festival in October. Home-cooked, reasonably priced food is available. Limited parking.
Hogarths
9 George Street, Lancaster LA1 1XQ
Picture windows, generous spaces and four floors. Thoroughly revamped in 2018 with wood panelling and TVs throughout; partitions, glasswork and chandeliers. Descibed as a gin-palace, it does indeed have an impressive number of gins, but the usual pub drinks as well.
Wagon & Horses
27 St George's Quay, Lancaster LA1 1RD
Two terraced houses knocked together form the front half, the back half being an extension added in 2008 when this pub became much more food-oriented. Although this pub is quite a long way from town, there is a long tradition of crawlers making their way out here (formerly a remote Hartleys outpost) - though the pubs on the way also benefit from this traffic. Also on the tourist trail - the Maritime Museum is close by. Shortcut to the station from back of pub.
Dalton Rooms
14 Dalton Square, Lancaster LA1 1PL
Formerly the 'Aussie' Walkabout (opened July 1999), reopened in 2010 as the Dalton Rooms , music Thursday, Friday and Saturday 7-10 live music, karaoke and DJ. The back lower rooms are available for functions and on Friday & Saturdays in the GLOW ROOMS, Eric Promotions Present Foamy Friday and UN Saturdays Lancaster'Summer Party venue, entrance on Mary Street, drinks £1, open 11pm-4am or later, fortunately I'm too old and 'bar tickers' will be relieved to find there is no real ale (I've checked).
Greens
61 North Road, Lancaster LA1 1LU
Former Wetherspoon pub reopened under new ownership with minimal alterations. This pub has been built behind an old shop facade so has the picture windows that modern pubs often have anyway. The drinking space is only broken by two raised areas and thus has a very open, non-intimate atmosphere, which seems to appeal to younger drinkers, though there are plenty of older ones too.
Pub
45-47 China Street, Lancaster LA1 1EX
The biker/metal pub for the area. Two rooms, one with a pool table, the other has a stage. Major refurbishment 2021 with a black and dark grey theme. Music invariably loud. Garden under construction.
Jailor's Barrel
64 Market Street, Lancaster LA1 1HP
Converted from retail premises in 2007, retaining the facade with its huge curved windows. The interior was refurbished in 2016 in contemporary style with the bar now dominating the modestly-sized room. The reference to 1720 is a nod to the eponymous Robert, who started his furniture business nearby. A quiet upstairs room is also open to the public, except when reserved. Collection of bottled beer, some quite rare, strong and expensive! 50p off cask ales for everyone on Monday, when there is no CAMRA discount.
Lancaster Brewery
Lancaster Leisure Park, Lancaster LA1 3LA
The brewery visitor centre is in a capacious steel shed on a leisure park with shops, open to the public at the times above, available for functions at other times. Refectory-style tables and benches. Souvenirs for sale. Brewery tours 11am and 3pm. No food but you can bring your own.
Cornerhouse
34 New Street, Lancaster LA1 1HU
Modern conversion of one end of an old department store. Comprehensively re-fitted in 2018 in a modern interpretation of gin-palace style. Most of the space is restaurant, but there is a large bar offering the choice of communal drinking at a long marble-topped table or more discreet areas around the walls. There is also plenty of standing room. Cocktails a speciality with an amazing selection of spirits and mixers.
Kanteena
Brewery Lane, Lancaster LA1 1QL
The loading bay for the Old Brewery was built about 1980 and re-purposed in 2019. A bar in one corner, "street food" stalls opposite, and a large concrete-floored space in the middle. Some furniture, including old oil-drums and liberal quantities of reclaimed timber.
Toll House Inn
124 Penny Street, Lancaster LA1 1XT
Large hotel in a prominent position at the south end of the town centre, formed by amalgamating two Edwardian hotels. The hotel retains a few period features but the bar-room (four rooms knocked together) is modern and open-plan, with a 2015 refurbishment. One end functions as a restaurant. Occasional music, usually third Friday of the month.
Fox & Goose
Newlands Road, Lancaster LA1 4JF
Typical 1960s suburban pub. Children in the bar until 8pm
Golden Lion
33 Moor Lane, Lancaster LA1 1QD
The pub is reputed to have been the last drinking place of the Pendle Witches in 1612. The present building may be c1818, and is included in the Pendle Trail. Also known as the Whittle, it is a popular pub with a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Nice collection of old Lancaster photos inside with lots of pictures of old pubs.
Horse & Farrier
16 Brock Street, Lancaster LA1 1UU
This little pub resolutely remains an ordinary local catering mainly to its regulars. Music Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Was next door to a bookies - the shop has moved but the pub still shows horse racing on TV, with betting slips by the bar.