How to use the directory

In short: search, filter by type or ownership, open a listing, then add it to your contact list.

Find something fast

Use the search box on the home page. It looks across every directory at once: names, areas, postcodes, genres and descriptions. On a keyboard, press / to jump straight to it. Stuck for ideas? Press Surprise me.

Browse a directory

Each directory has its own colour and a two-letter code, so you can tell them apart even if you don't see colour well. Inside, listings are grouped by type, like Rehearsal or Jungle and DnB. Tap a type to filter, or search within the list. Tap an ownership label such as Community-owned to see every place like it.

Open a listing

Tap a name to open it. You'll see what they do, the address, hire prices or rates where we have them, access notes, and links to their website, Instagram, tickets and a map.

Build a contact list

Organising something? Open a listing and tap Add to contact list. Your contact list shows everyone's email, Instagram, website and phone in one place, so you can work down it without clicking back into each listing. Tick people off as you contact them, copy every email at once, or download the list as a spreadsheet. It stays on your device, so there's no account to make.

Share a listing

Share sends a link that opens straight to that listing.

Explore by area or theme

Browse by part of the city, or try a collection such as Free and low-cost or Spaces to hire.

Make it easier to read

The Aa button changes text size, spacing and background colour. Colours come from a palette designed for colour-blind readers, and every colour also has a text label.

What the labels mean

Independent

Run by its owners, not a group or chain.

Community-owned

Owned by the people who use it, often through community shares (locals buy a stake).

Co-op

Owned and run by its workers or members.

CIC

Community interest company: a business set up to benefit the community.

Charity

A registered charity.

Corporate or chain

Part of a bigger group. Listed last in each section.

Featured, paid

A paid placement. Shown first in its own section and always labelled. How it works.

Offers, paid

Deals a listing has paid to show, in a fold-out under its details.

Ownership not confirmed

We couldn't check who owns it yet.

Not yet confirmed

Next to an Instagram handle: we couldn't match it to the organisation's own site.

Words we use

Backline

The amps and drums a venue or studio lends you.

B Corp

A business certified for meeting social and green standards.

BTEC

A work-focused college qualification.

Cap

Short for capacity: how many people fit.

Curfew

The time the music has to stop.

Grassroots

Small and independent.

Infrastructure

The basics a city needs to run, like roads and power.

Litho

Litho printing: a press method used for big print runs.

Mastering

The final polish that gets a track ready for release.

Open decks

A night where anyone can sign up to DJ.

PA

The speakers and amps that make sound loud enough for a crowd.

Promoter

A person or group who puts on nights or gigs.

Rig

A sound system: the speakers and kit, often for hire.

Showcase

A show that puts new acts in front of an audience.

Get listed or fix something

Use the Get listed form, or email ray@thebristolcreative.co. Listing is free.

Something unsafe?

Open the listing and tap Report a concern, or use the report form. You don't need to give your name.

Questions

Is it free?

Yes. Free to use and free to be listed in. There are no ad networks and no tracking. Some listings pay to be featured or to show offers, and they're always labelled.

Can I pay to stand out?

Yes. Featured listings and offers start at £10 a month for grassroots organisations. Paying never changes your facts or your place outside your own section.

How do I report a listing?

Open it and tap Report a concern, or use the report form. You don't need to give your name, and the listing comes down.

Where does the information come from?

Venue and organisation websites, Headfirst Bristol, Tagvenue, Resident Advisor, Skiddle, Music Venue Trust, Companies House, and the organisations themselves. Websites were checked in September 2026. Always confirm with a place before you book.

How do I find a photographer, DJ or designer?

Join the WhatsApp community and ask. Browse the Creatives directory. Individual creatives are only listed when they ask to be, so the community is the best place to find most people.

Why are grassroots places listed first?

Grassroots means small and independent. Independent and community-run places need the visibility most. Big venues and chains are still listed, at the bottom of each section.

Can I get my listing removed?

Yes. Email ray@thebristolcreative.co and it goes at the next update.

Can I use the data?

Yes. The whole directory is at /data/directory.json. Credit The Bristol Creative Co and link back.