Chelmsford’s grassroots music venue
A not-for-profit home for live music and community, under the railway arches: “Bands, DJs, open mics, comedy, drag, poetry, quizzes, dominoes, chess, gaming, community groups, whatever floats your boat; if it brings people together, it belongs here” — Dave Hughes, Hot Box Team.
Coming up
Live MusicThu 22 Oct · 7:00pmLouise Parker / Lisa Nora (opens in a new tab)£11
Live MusicFri 23 Oct · 7:00pmALT ELECTRIK (Electronic & Alternative Night) (opens in a new tab)£5
Live MusicSat 24 Oct · 7:00pmSolarzone (opens in a new tab)£10
Live MusicSun 25 Oct · 3:00pmSoulweaver (opens in a new tab)£13.20
Spoken Word & ComedyTue 27 Oct · 7:00pmWaxes Lyrical - Poetry & Spoken Word (opens in a new tab)FreeMore than a venue
Hot Box is a Community Interest Company. Every penny we make goes back into putting on the gigs, open mics and minority-interest events that a commercial venue never could — and keeping our doors open to all ages and all backgrounds. Fancy playing here, or want to put something on at Hot Box? Get in touch. And if you’d like to help keep it all going, every donation counts. Read about our impact →
Ten years of gigs: in 2027 we celebrate a decade of live music with anniversary shows from January to April. The Fellowship, Bilk, The Dunwells, Don Letts, The Hanging Stars, Miki Berenyi Trio, Soft Machine, Steve Lamacq, Mark Morriss, Fizzy Orange, PENGSHUi, Buster Shuffle and Santu are already confirmed, with many more to come. Keep an eye on What’s On →
From the bar
Over 700 drinks: whisky, rum, gin, tequila, beer, cider, wine and alcohol-free. Browse the full list before you come, then order at the bar. Browse the drinks
Find us
28-29 Viaduct Road, Chelmsford, CM1 1TS. Under 2 minutes’ walk from Chelmsford train station. Open 7 days a week. Directions & opening hours
Hot Box in numbers
- 4.9 out of 5 starson Google, from 200+ reviews
- 700+drinks behind the bar →
- 2017the year Hot Box began
- 7awards, incl. 5 Panic Awards and Best Bar/Nighttime Venue 2026
