WaterBear Venue
BEST FOR
Adults only (18+)
WHERE
Brighton
What it’s like
An 18+ live music venue for gigs, club nights, jam sessions and open mics, with occasional under-18s and family showcases.
This one's mostly not for the kids. WaterBear runs as an 18+ venue for most of what's on, gigs, club nights, jam nights and open mics, with tickets sold per event rather than a standing programme you can just turn up to. There's no fixed opening hours here either, the doors open when there's something on, so you'd be checking the event listings rather than expecting a regular schedule.
Worth knowing that they do occasionally put on daytime showcases aimed at young people and families, plus under-18s open mics. If you're chasing one of those, the age restriction gets specified on the individual event listing, which is a bit of a faff but at least means you won't turn up and get turned away.
Access is the other thing to flag before you commit to a night out. Only the reception at the front is wheelchair accessible, the main bar and stage areas are up a set of stairs, and the toilets are also up stairs at the back with none of them accessible. For a venue built around gigs and jam nights that's a real limitation if mobility is a factor for anyone in your group.
Tickets get sold through the promoters on each event page, and some nights have tickets on the door too. If you fancy the space for your own event, they do venue hire, worth a look if you're after somewhere with a proper stage setup rather than a function room.
Facilities
Plan your visit
Is this venue suitable for children?
Mostly no, it's 18+ for most events. They do occasionally run daytime showcases for young people and families, plus under-18s open mics, and the age limit is specified on each event listing.
What are the opening hours?
There aren't regular hours, the venue opens for events only. You'd check the gigs and events page to see what's on and when.
Is the venue accessible for wheelchair users?
Only the reception area at the front. The main bar and stage areas are up a flight of stairs, and there are no accessible toilets.
How do I get tickets?
Tickets are sold on each event listing, usually through the promoter, though some events sell on the door too.
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