Dan Whitaker

A proper guide to the Bristol startup scene in 2026 — the meetups worth your Wednesday evening, the founder dinners that exist, and where the local deal flow actually happens.

A loaded Bristol week — Motion has its proper spring kick-off, Lakota is doing a charity all-nighter, and the Old Crown roast is finally taking outdoor bookings.

A solid Bristol week — Thekla has a Friday booking I would not skip, Strange Brew is doing a record-front-to-back session, and the Old Crown garden is open.

A no-nonsense ranking of the bass music nights actually worth your money in Bristol in 2026 — from a Motion all-nighter that justifies the queue to a Stokes Croft Tuesday for £8.

Bristol's live music venues sorted by what they actually do well in 2026 — bass, indie, jazz, folk, electronic, and the rooms that work best for each.

Bristol week of 30 March: Strange Brew is doing the kind of line-up I would queue around the block for, and the Old Crown is back to its proper Sunday self.

A Bristol bass-head's ranked guide to the city's record shops in 2026 — from Idle Hands to Wanted, Specialist Subject to Rooted, what they actually stock and which one is best for what.

Bristol pubs where you can actually have a conversation, ranked by a local for 2026 — no music, no quiz night, no chance of a stag do, just a proper sit-down pint.