Norwich Arts Centre

The smallest of Norwich’s three main music venues (the other two being UEA LCR and The Waterfront) hosts many things…from gigs to plays to comedians through to Clutter City, the 6 weekly craft fair.

An intimate venue, complete with sperate bar are, has played host to a number of big names before they became famous…thus making it a good place to keep an eye on upcoming acts!

Norwich Arts Centre is a really nice, intimate venue for live music. I’ve seen a couple of shows here and enjoyed them both. The acoustics are pretty good, and the sound technicians are normally good too.

The place also has a bar/cafe with some nice drinks, and this makes it a good venue to meet up with friends, possibly before wandering further into the city.

Out of the main music venues in norwich, the Arts centre is surely the best place to see a band. A converted chapel, it’s intimate without being claustrophobic, you can always get a good view of whatever band/act you’re seeing and the sound quality is ace. It also the place to keep an eye out for who’s appearing, because some big names kind of creep by without making much noise about it. Which is annoying when you find out about it a few weeks later. Good bar too, tucked away from the main stage, serving til late and a great place for DJs to set up.

Norwich Arts Centre is the kind of place that you can visit for no other reason than the ambience. As you walk in, the walls are full of band posters - most of whom you’ll never have heard of - and the staff trotting about are all dressed in artsy hippie clothing. The foyer contains black leather chairs, which nicely compliment the bare brick walls of the building.

Further inside, the concert room, bar, and upstairs lounge are all prominent and fantastic features. The drinks that the Arts Centre offers are displayed in handwritten, multi-coloured chalk behind the bar, which during the late afternoon is a good coffee place, and in the evening houses a bustling night life.

Musicians gather from around the world most nights to perform at the Arts Centre. Locals will sometimes perform in the bar area, but most of the gigs happen in the seated concert room. The Arts Centre can boast stars such as Damien Rice and One Night Only during their very first tours, which is very impressive for such a small venue.

A great place to grab a drink, meet with friends and hear some brilliant upcoming music.