Live Music — Pubs in Northampton

This corner pub has a black and white exterior constructed of local ironstone and is just around the corner from the bus station. The L-shaped interior appears to once have been three rooms, although these have since been opened out to some extent. The rear area has a pool table, darts board and skittles table leading to the traditional fireplace (disused). A side exit leads to two courtyards. Every Wednesday is Quiz night and live music is on advertised Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons.

Mail Coach

6 Derngate, Northampton NN1 1UB

Large town centre pub with three rooms that have been opened out to create a J-shaped bar with a wooden and tiled floor. The intermediate area has high table and chairs, whilst either side is more secluded. The walls are decorated with theatre memorabilia since the pub is adjacent to the Royal and Derngate theatres resulting in it being frequented by theatre-goers and occasionally after show actors and musicians. The outside garden has a further 'garage' area providing cover. Refurbished and reopened on Friday 23 March 2018.

Charles Bradlaugh

1 Earl Street, Northampton NN1 3AU

Parking

Large open plan pub on the edge of the centre of Northampton with both upstairs and down stairs drinking areas

O'Neill's

45-47 Drapery, Northampton NN1 2EU

Modernised pub which was previously Edwards and Reflex The 80s Bar. A large interior contains a bar along the right side while the seating area has many discrete drinking areas including leather booths. To the rear is a garden terrace.

Fish

11 Fish Street, Northampton NN1 2AA

Long established town centre pub with the building being a pub since 1750. Music is played at all times unless there is a sports event on the TVs. Friday night is Karaoke while Saturday night sees a DJ in attendance. Reverted to original name on 19/04/2021.

Optimist

23-25 St Giles Street, Northampton NN1 1JA

Popular town-centre pub on the corner of Fish Street and St Giles Street. Close to the Guildhall, shopping, and Derngate Theatre. There are usually events taking place from DJ sets to speciality food nights. The pub underwent extensive refurbishment by it's owners, M&B, during February/March 2018 and was renamed. Reopened on 19 March 2018 as part of the Oak Tree brand.

Lamplighter

66 Overstone Road, Northampton NN1 3JS

Beer Festivals

A superb community pub just off the town centre ring road and more the better for it. One large room plus a small snug to the rear plays host to regular gig nights. Pictures of old Northampton pubs adjourn the walls. A function room has recently been opened upstairs. Local breweries feature regularly here. Quiz nights are on Wednesday along with regular beer festivals. Judged Local CAMRA Pub of the Year 2013. Support of local business is an ethos of the pub and, as well as local ales, includes craft beer (Maule Brewing), distillers (Warner Edwards gin) and a lot of food suppliers.

Malt Shovel Tavern

121 Bridge Street, Northampton NN1 1QF

Beer Festivals

Friendly pub which has two main drinking areas with carpeting to the front and wooden floors to the rear. Always a good selection of beers on from established microbreweries. The owner has a number of other CAMRA award-winning pubs and knows his beers, putting on a beer festival every May bank holiday. Wednesday night is a Blues night, with the pub full to the rafters to see bands from all over the country. The pub is also extremely busy when the local rugby team is featured on the screens. Several times winner of the local CAMRA branch Pub of the Year and East Midlands Regional Pub as well. Not to be missed.

Press

7 Abington Square, Northampton NN1 4AE

Closed as a pub on 29 October 2017. Opened on 28 November 2017 as The Press, a food-led pub. Closed again as at August 2019.

Old Bank

4-5 St Giles Square, Northampton NN1 1DA

The pub has a long history and used to be part of the council offices before being converted to a Barclays bank. Since then, it was opened as the Rat & Parrot before trading with it new name today. Probably the largest pub in Northampton, the J-shaped central bar is accessible to most areas. Secluded booths offer some privacy from the TV screens. A DJ performs on Friday, Saturday, and Bank holidays. A Cider and Sausage festival is held in June.

Black Prince

15 Abington Square, Northampton NN1 4AE

Real Fire

Medium Sized pub on the edge of town centre with a large function room and a surprisingly large Beer Garden for a town centre pub, serving up to nineteen beers and six ciders. Sister pub to the Olde England, ten minutes walk away going out of town on the Kettering Road, and part of a group that includes J Church beers. Barbecues at weekends. Voted local CAMRA Town Pub of the Season Spring 2017.

Wig & Pen

19 St Giles Street, Northampton NN1 1JA

Three hundred year old town centre pub, although the long L-shaped bar was only added 150 years ago. This oak-beamed bar offers five frequently changing guest beers and locally brewed beers. A guest cider and a wide range of bottled beers are available. Jazz bands play on Tuesday night and live bands perform every Sunday. Good home-cooked food features local ingredients. Local CAMRA Pub of the Year 2012. CAMRA members receive a 10% discount on beer.

Olde Cobbler

Acre Lane, Northampton NN2 8BN

Re-opened in July 2020 as a pub and restaurant and is the latest project for the team behind the popular Olde Victoria in Burton Latimer.

Cock

2 Harborough Road, Northampton NN2 7AZ

A stone built corner pub on the Kingsthorpe crossroads which was once a hotel. Large multi-roomed pub with rooms for pub games, TV, and eating.

Fox & Hounds

186 Harborough Road, Northampton NN2 8DJ

An edge of town lively suburban pub popular for its food menu, offering Two for One deals on its main course dinners. One large but cosy room with high-backed seating and an unusual ceiling vault. The bar back has some interesting whiskey mirrors. The new plasma screens have also proved to be a big hit with sports fans too. Breakfast 10-12. Now sells upto 8 changing beers. Alcohol from 12 noon on Sundays.

Old Five Bells

84A Haborough Road, Northampton NN2 8DH

Function Room

Large stone-built pub on a corner position at the intersection of a retail area.

Lord Byron

58 Kingsley Park Terrace, Northampton NN2 7HH

Disabled Access

A contemporary pub set in the heart of Poets Corner, Kingsley. It is an unusual design, having been converted from a terrace shop. There is a terrace for the warmer days, whilst in he cooler months there are sofas or booths to hide away in. Quiz's are held Thursday evenings.

Pioneer

Fulford Road, Northampton NN2 7NU

A 1970's modern estate pub built at the end of dead end of the Links estate between Northampton and Kingsthorpe golf courses. Inside is a large multi-roomed locals pub where regular quiz nights are held.

Sunnyside

Boughton Green Road, Northampton NN2 7AG

Set in extensive grounds, this private house was converted into a pub in 1952 and now has a single large drinking area. Outside is a mature garden. Quizzies are held Thursday and Saturday nights.

White Elephant

Kingsley Park Terrace, Northampton NN2 7HG

Built in 1883 as a hotel and residential club for racegoers, and originally called the Kingsley Park Hotel, this large corner pub sits at the junction of Kingsley Road and Kettering Road opposite the old racecourse. The hotel closed in 1904 following a fatal racing accident involving spectators, and the Jockey Club left it empty for 18 years. It was during this time that local residents started to refer to it as 'The White Elephant'. The original name was retained upon reopening as part of the Northampton Brewery Co. estate. In 1955 NBC applied to change the name to the White Elephant, a name it carried until a short-lived change to the Kingsley Park Tavern in the early 1990s before reverting back to the White Elephant due to public demand. The pub, via various PubCo changes eventually became part of the Greene King estate.

Whitehills

Whitehills Way, Northampton NN2 8EW

Large detached pub with a large garden including a childrens play area. A "Sizzler" branded pub. Quiz nights Thursday and Sunday.

Bold Dragoon

48 High Street, Northampton NN3 3JW

A popular and well kept pub, built in the 1930s on the site of a 19th century pub. (The previous pub was demolished to enable road widening.) The 'Bold' is in the centre of the old village, which has since been absorbed by the expanding Northampton borough. This spacious pub has a lively bar, carpeted lounge, games room and superb conservatory restaurant. The restaurant serves a full menu, including roasts, fish, and vegetarian choices.

Lumbertubs

2 Lumbertubs Lane, Northampton NN3 6AH

A large stone- built pub set back from a busy main road which was originally a farmhouse with the extension for the rest of the pub added comparatively recently. It consists of a very big square dining area and a much smaller rectangular drinking area .The clientele varies widely but it is a busy pub offering a wide range of items from the grill - from a selection of sizzling steaks and chicken dishes to a wide selection of dishes served on skillets. The dining area is carpeted and the pub is clean and well maintained.

Willow Tree Bar

Billing Aquadrome, Crow Lane, Northampton NN3 9DA

Evening Meals

Part of the Billing Aquadrome complex.

Abington

383 Wellingborough Road, Northampton NN1 4EY

A large elegant Victorian building with three storeys opposite Abington Park. There is a separate room off the corridor as you enter. This can be used as a function room if required. Ordinarily, it acts as a dining area and also contains a pool table. The remainder of the well-decorated pub is a very large open plan room with the bar in a central position. It is busy, with a mixed clientele at most times, but is particularly busy on the weekends with customers enjoying the food and the live sports. To the rear there is a courtyard area for outdoor drinking & smoking. There is karaoke on Friday nights & live bands on the last Saturday of the month. Please call ahead for confirmation. The Northants County Cricket ground is at the top of the street on the left of the entrance.

Artizan

51 Artizan Road, Northampton NN1 4HR

Large Victorian street corner local in the old shoemaking district. Sympathetically remodelled in late 2014 with one, large open room and open kitchen with pizza oven. Locally sourced ales and ciders are offered along with cooked-to-order pizzas. The Artizan sponsors the AC Squirrels football club, which uses the pub as a club house for post-match drinking etc. Big screen TV for sports events.

Crown & Anchor

6 Victoria Road, Northampton NN1 5ED

Traditional Pub Games

A Victorian corner street pub in the old shoemaking district. The pub is laid out in an L shape with the bar in the same format. There is an outdoor smoking & drinking area to the rear. Car parking to the rear is limited, and is shared with nearby businesses. Quiz night is Thurs commencing at 9:00. There is normally live music on a Saturday night & a jam session on a Sunday. Please call ahead to confirm details. The pub has a golf society, a ladies darts team and also plays darts & pool. There is a bar billiards table. Three flat screen TVs show live sports events. The venue is a family run enterprise and has a strong association with the local Irish community.

Headland

The Headlands, Northampton NN3 2NZ

The Headlands is a brick built 1960s estate pub with a large lounge and public bar. The lounge has been done with a music theme with all variety of instruments on the walls and pictures. It is a community pub used largely by older residents. There is not much call for real ale though there are two handpumps. Games are played in the bar and other events are held in the lounge.

Jeckyll & Hyde

172 Wellingborough Road, Northampton NN1 4DZ

Close to Bus Routes

No Real Ale

Olde England

199 Kettering Road, Northampton NN1 4BP

An end of terrace Victorian building converted from a shop to a pub over three floors. Some say that it has a 'brown café' feel about it, like similar bars in Holland. All age ranges are drawn to it due to its 'difference' to other pubs and bars and its wide choice of real ales and ciders. The main bar is on the ground floor, and has up to 10 beers on handpump. There is a curved staircase to the cellar drinking area and a stairway to a larger drinking area on the first floor, with views overlooking the street. A real fire is provided in winter. The cellar has low intensity lighting and traditional seating & tables. Live folk music is provided on Thursday. Northamptonshire Food and Drink Award Community Pub of the Year 2013/14, and Local CAMRA Cider Pub of the Year 2014.

Road to Morocco

Bridgwater Drive, Northampton NN3 3AG

A 1960's brick built estate pub with a slight Moorish theme in some of the décor that reflects the pub's name. There are two connected, but distinctly different rooms. The bar area is quite lively, particularly if there is a sporting event being shown on the TV screen. This is also where darts and pool takes place. The homely lounge is generally the quiet area of the pub. This can change if the TV is showing a sporting event particularly a rugby game featuring the Northampton Saints when the colours black, green and gold will be predominant among the noisy lounge crowd. There is a jukebox in the bar. Quiz nights take place on Tuesdays.

Spinney Hill

Kettering Road, Northampton NN3 6LR

Spinney Hill is a large 1930's pub on a main road. It is brick built and painted white externally. Internally it is in excellent condition and fully carpeted. It appeals to families and those looking for food. Internal walls have been demolished to form a large U-shaped bar with one or two annexes. A vintage fair is held monthly in the summer.

Spread Eagle

147 Wellingborough Road, Northampton NN1 4DX

An end of terrace pub near a busy traffic junction recently refurbished on a main road. There is a bus stop virtually outside the front door. The bar area is U-shaped with seating and further seating to the front of the pub. There is a strong association with the local Irish community that provides a comfortable, homely atmosphere in the pub. There is a disco on Fridays & Saturdays and live music on Sundays.

Swan & Helmet

65-67 Grove Road, Northampton NN1 3LJ

Smoking Area

Sports TV

The Swan and Helmet is a traditional Irish pub, with a lot of the events, music, and entertainment reflecting the place of origin. No Real Ale

Trumpet

574 Wellingborough Road, Northampton NN3 3JB

The Trumpet is a large, handsome stone built pub. While on a main road it is also on the edge of the Weston Favell village conservation area. It has stood here for at least 200 years but is well maintained and spacious inside with a large L-shaped bar, with one or two annexes. It is popular with families and sports fans and with senior citizens at lunch-time.

Bat & Wickets

117 Bailiff Street, Northampton NN1 3EA

Traditional Pub Games

A Victorian community pub with a corner street location next to The Racecourse park area. The interior is open plan with the beers being served from the bar at the front of the building. In addition to seating there is a sports area where pool & darts are played. There is occasional live music. The atmosphere is created by the locals enjoying their conversations. Refurbished and reopened in late 2019.

Garibaldi Hotel

19 Bailiff Street, Northampton NN1 3DX

Traditional Pub Games

A tall distinctive Victorian building with three storeys that may have once operated as a hotel. A former two roomed pub that has now been made open plan with the bar at the centre. Refurbishment has recently been undertaken and it is now trading as a craft ale bar. Six handpumps usually serve two ales from local breweries, two from craft breweries, and two ciders. A wide selection of craft beers are available on tap and in bottle. The work included a new kitchen. The pub has a good community feel with locals making up the majority of the clientele. There is an outdoor smoking area.

Wooden Walls of Old England

25 High Street, Northampton NN4 0NE

Parking

A pleasant two roomed thatched stone village pub recently refurbished to a good standard by the present tenant who is a real ale enthusiast and beer festivals are planned for the future. There is a patio area and a long garden to the rear.

Collingtree

Butts Road, Northampton NN4 0UE

Parking

Modern, residential estate, white painted pub set within a local shopping complex. Mainly food orientated. There is a back garden with seating. Pub quiz on Wednesday.

Golden Horse

59 Southampton Road, Northampton NN4 8DZ

A friendly back street pub, divided into three distinct areas inside with a games area with pool and darts. Outside there is a covered and uncovered drinking area. Altogether a very pleasant local pub. The pub has a Saturday and Sunday football team and ladies darts night on Thursdays. Northamptonshire Food and Drink Award Community Pub of the Year Runner-up 2013/14.

Pomfret Arms

10 Cotton End, Northampton NN4 8BS

The Pomfret Arms is situated on the south west side of the River Nene in Cotton End. Its small central bar with six hand pumps serves both the front opened-out room and rear bar. To the rear is a lovely beer garden with a building which housed the brewery until Covid struck. Town Pub of the Season Spring 2019. Pub opens bank holiday Mondays 12-10pm

Albion Brewery Bar

54 Kingswell Street, Northampton NN1 1PR

Phipps NBC returned to its roots in a Victorian brewery in the heart of Northampton in 2014, 40 years after Phipps' Bridge Street brewery closed. This brewery tap is situated at the front of the 1884 Ratliffe & Jeffrey's Albion Brewery, a wonderfully restored building where almost all the bar's fittings are reclaimed, with many coming from old closed Phipps pubs. An oak and glass partition between bar and brewhouse allows the brewing process to be viewed during opening hours. Eight handpumps serve six ales from the brewery, and a rotating guest, with the final pump reserved for a Northamptonshire cider. The bar also stocks a full range of soft drinks, wines, lagers, bottled beers and spirits including Phipps Kingswell Gin distilled on the premises. Awarded Town Pub of the Season Summer 2016.

St Giles Ale House

45 St Giles Street, Northampton NN1 1JF

Northampton's first and only micro-pub, opened on 24 November 2016 following conversion from retail premises. Specialising in real ale, real cider and small number of craft/continental bottled beers. Since 2020 it has been part of the Framework Pub Company. Ales are sourced from around the country and tend to be new releases or from more obscure breweries. With no screen inside or fruit machines this is an ideal place for chatting and drinking. Local Branch Pub of the Year 2018 Winner.

Kingsley Park Working Men's Club

120 Kingsley Park Terrace, Northampton NN2 7HJ

Long-established WMC on main road, in residential area, having been founded in 1892 in a nearby street. There are eight handpumps, serving five regular and three changing beers, overseen by an award-winning Steward who is also a CAMRA member. Awarded CAMRA Northamptonshire Club of the Year 2016 by the local Branch.

Northampton Conservative Club

White Lodge, 42 Billing Road, Northampton NN1 5DA

Located in Cliftonville at the White Lodge, the Northampton Conservative Club is half a mile from the town centre and ten minutes from the M1 (junction 15). The club is an ideal social venue, where you are assured of a warm welcome. Facilities for Snooker, Pool, Darts and Skittles. There are also regular quiz and Bingo nights. The club has a large car park and an enclosed garden where barbecues are held in the summer. Beers appear to be from the LWC portfolio.

Northampton County Beer Festival 2020

Becket's Park, Northampton NN1 5BB

The Northampton County Beer Festival Becket's Park, Friday, Saturday and Sunday - 29th-31st May 2020 A showcase event for all the county's independent drinks producers will be held at Becket's Park closer to the town than the previous site at Delapre Abbey. In addition to the usual array of cask ales, there will be craft ale and lager, cider, wines and spirits along with funky festival food and marvellous music from the town's finest bands. The first Northampton CAMRA Beer Festival happened in 1977 at the Drill Hall, Clare Street, N'pton. Since 2015 the event has been run by Phipps NBC and Northants CAMRA.

Cheyne Walk Club

2 Cheyne Walk, Northampton NN1 5PU

Club opened in October 1929, in a building dating from 1868. Other ales include Phipps bottled ales, Saxby’s cider, craft beer from Three Hills plus an ever changing range of craft ales from The Beer Garage in Northampton. New members welcome, facilities can be viewed before joining.

Foundrymans Arms

135 St James' Road, Northampton NN5 5LE

This is a local pub with a friendly feel to it. Its is a good round traditional pub that offers great entertainment ranging from live bands to live horse racing. Hot and cold bar food is served.

Longboat

61 Eastfield Close, Northampton NN5 6TG