Entertainment in Bath

It’s strange that The Forum isn’t the first place on people’s lips when it comes to live music in Bath. For starters, the art deco former cinema is the biggest entertainment venue in the city with a 1,600-seat auditorium, not to mention the lavishly restored interior and its prime location on St. James’s Parade near the railway station.

The Forum’s programme offers a mixed bag of classical music, cover bands, pop music, old favourites, dance shows, talks and more. Take a look and see what’s on during your stay.

Or, you could make your way up the road to the Chapel Arts Centre, Bath’s most diverse venue when it comes to live music. Housed in a former chapel, music lovers come to worship artists hailing from all manner of genres, including Americana, gypsy jazz, mariachi bands, ska, swing, prog rock and world music.

In truth, your best bet if you want to see a great gig is Moles on George Street, just down the road from The Circus. Ever since it opened its doors on New Year’s Eve in 1978, some of the biggest names in music have graced Moles’ stage, including Radiohead, The Smiths and Oasis. Nowadays, it’s particularly good for catching rising stars before they make it big, so much so that NME named Moles as their Best Venue for Upcoming Bands.

Bath boasts one of the very best comedy venues in the country. You may have heard of Komedia. It’s an entertainment company with venues in Brighton and Bath, both of which have won fistfuls of awards. Bath’s Komedia alone is the five-time winner of the Chortle Award for Best Venue in the West and Wales; pay a visit and you’ll see why.

Housed in the beautifully restored Beau Nash cinema, they run an incredible programme of comedy acts, cabaret nights, film festivals and children’s events, and also offer a menu of award-winning food with the majority of their shows.

Saturday nights are without a doubt the most popular, thanks to their Krater Comedy Club. Every week, three top-class acts from the circuit come to get the people of Bath crying with laughter. Be warned, it sells out, so be sure to book tickets to avoid disappointment.

Komedia also happens to be one of the key venues of the Bath Comedy Festival, which takes place every year in spring. Regardless of when you come to visit, there always seems to be something happening in Bath. If you want to find out more about the city’s cultural calendar, and the annual events and festivals that take place be sure to visit our page on Bath culture.

If you want to see West End musicals, ballet, opera, seasonal pantomimes, fringe theatre, innovative plays, daring productions and world famous magic acts, you’ll want to take a look at our guide to Bath theatre.

Naturally, you can read all about one of Bath’s best entertainment venues, the Theatre Royal, but you’ll also get to find out more about the Ustinov Studio, which is quickly building a reputation for innovation and attracts theatregoers from far and wide.

When it comes to sporting entertainment, Bath has a handful of top-class options to choose from. First thing’s first, if you want to go for a day at the races, then we’ve put together an entire page dedicated to Bath Racecourse. You can find out about the 23 race days that run throughout the year, culminating in a newcomer to the national racing scene, the Bath Cup Festival.

Meanwhile, rugby fans will want to make their way to the Recreation Ground, which has been the home of Bath Rugby since 1865. For football, there’s always Twerton Park, just half an hour from our Frome hotel, should you fancy seeing a Bath City home game. Last, but by no means least, there’s always Bath Cricket Club. It’s a leading community club, with a delightful pavilion and boasts some serious pedigree, having been founded in 1859.