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It’s no secret that these are tough times for British grassroots venues – which is why the Spirit of the Scene category at this year’s Music Week Awards is so vital.
Celebrating independent venues, the category includes 10 fantastic spots that span the length and breadth of the country, including Darlington’s Forum Music Studios and the Isle of Wight’s Strings Bar & Venue. Three are in London: Camden Assembly, Stepney’s George Tavern and Putney’s The Half Moon.
Last year, the Music Venue Trust – which is sponsoring the category – warned that the UK was losing a grassroots venue every fortnight, with 200 on ‘red alert’ amid a 20 per cent increase in ‘emergency cases’. More than 50 per cent of grassroots venues made zero profit last year, resulting in some 6,000 jobs being lost.
So, something clearly needs to be done. The good news is that the fightback is already well underway, with an outcry against increased business rates resulting in a government U-turn that pledged at least £80m in support for live music venues and pubs in England and extra for Scotland and Wales (though some critics argued this wasn't enough).
Music Week’s Spirit of the Scene is an opportunity to champion this much-needed corner of the live music industry. The Music Venue Trust announced on Instagram: ‘We’re proud to partner with @MusicWeekInsta to spotlight some of the best, hardest working venues in the UK. This award celebrates the crews behind the scenes, as well as all of the artists and communities that make them what they are.’
Due to be held at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House in London’s Mayfair on May 7, the Music Week Awards will also include categories such as Festival of the Year and Venue of the Year. Spirit of the Scene is the only category subject to a public vote.
Just the other week, we brought you the welcome news that the Half Moon in Putney is due to reopen after a brief closure for refurbishment. In a statement released last November, the venue revealed: ‘While we’re modernising the space and adding an extra room, we’ll remain true to our roots and continue to build on our reputation as a legendary grassroots venue.’ We’ll see you down the front when the time comes next month.
The best independent music venues in the UK in 2026
Check out the full list of nominated venues for the Music Week Awards’ Spirit of the Scene category – and vote here.
- Camden Assembly, London
- Future Yard, Birkenhead
- Slay, Glasgow
- Strings Bar & Venue, Newport, Isle of Wight
- The Boileroom, Guildford
- The Forum Music Studios, Darlington
- The George Tavern, Stepney, London
- The Globe, Newcastle Upon Tyne
- The Half Moon, Putney
- The Sugarmill, Stoke
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