Venues

Arnie's is a new music venue revamped to bring LIVE entertainment to the centre of Dereham town, with a large dance floor and comfortable seating around tables. They also have snooker, pool and darts. There is ground floor access. 

The Bull is a traditional 18th century pub with a welcoming atmosphere. It attracts families, locals and shoppers who come in for the value for money food offers and competitive prices on a wide range of drinks. The Bull is centrally located in the heart of Dereham and boasts a great, popular back terrace seating area. The friendly team  welcome new and old customers alike. Weather permitting bands will play outside at the rear where there is wheelchair access.

Recently back on the live music circuit thanks to Sarah and Morgana this centrally situated traditional pub has lots of character and knows a good band as well as a good pint. Free house serving Green King, Molson Corrs. They will also be providing a Barbecue from 3-8 pm on Sunday of the festival.  They have their own private spaces located in a large municipal shoppers' car park that is right next door.

A stylishly decorated venue serving  locally sourced freshly prepared food including fresh stone baked pizzas - delicious and authentic! For blues loving wine connoisseurs they can also boast a cellar of amazing wines from small vineyards all over the world. Cocktails made to order  - perfect to drink outside in the rear garden and patio area.

The Cock public house has been lovingly restored back to its original name as a traditional real ale pub. With a classy internal decor, The Cock is a Freehouse serving delicious and interesting beers from local and national brewers, as well as specials from around the world.  Conveniently located on Norwich Street, The Cock has a lovely relaxed and friendly vibe and will be hosting free entry music gigs throughout the festival.

A new addition to the Dereham Blues festival, Darbys boasts a large beer garden, children's play area and is dog friendly. A full restaurant menu including a wood fired pizza oven and a selection of real ales makes the trip out of town to Swanton Morley well worthwhile.

A great friendly fun bar. This is an upstairs bar with a tardis-like feel as it's much bigger inside than it appears on the outside, providing plenty of room for folk who like to express their enjoyment of live blues through dance!

A popular and very central venue right by Dereham Market Place memorial. Nearest car park is the main Cherry Tree car park with free parking all day.

Dereham Cricket Club became a venue for the blues festival for the first time in 2019 and had a sensational evening of it, with barbecue, bar and fantastic crowd-pleasing live (and loud) blues music. The cricket club is based in a lovely setting off the Norwich Road, next to the fire station, just 350 metres from the level crossing. There is a small amount of parking on site.  There is a ramp giving access for wheelchair users into the club-house and bar, but the live music event and barbecue will be outside, weather permitting.

The Cricket Club is on Norwich Road, next to the Fire Station (NR20 3AS). Contact derehamcricket@gmail.com for info about camping.

Chill out with a swift round in the surroundings of the beautiful golf course or relax in the comfortable lounge, with a friendly bar, outdoors barbecue and live music in the club house. The golf club is just half a mile from the town centre Market Place, on Quebec Road.

Dereham Memorial Hall is rapidly becoming established as the major venue for a whole range of arts and entertainment events in central Norfolk! From meditation workshops to music and dance classes, the refurbished main hall is also a great venue for an extensive all year round programme of  theatre, music and family entertainment. The Memorial Hall has wheelchair access. 

​This year the Friends of Dereham Memorial Hall will once again host the opening concert with 2 fantastic up and coming stars of the British blues scene; the festival is opened by the amazing Kyla Brox, and headlined by festival favourites When Rivers Meet. Tickets for this opening concert are £25 each, selling fast and available from this link. Don't miss out on your chance to catch this incredible and sought-after artist on one of his very few concerts in the UK this year.

A brand new public garden commemorating the prolific 18th-century British writer of children’s books. Easy access through the popular modern shopping complex sited next to QD store

The Gemini pub and restaurant has long been a favourite with locals and is less than half a mile from the town centre. Under new management, it has an  extensive menu served in a large, welcoming restaurant. It is family friendly, with a very large garden and well equipped children's play area. It also has ample parking and a permanent ramp from the car park into the building for wheelchair users. 

With a wide selection of real ales, lagers, and ciders and our fresh home cooked menu (including breakfast from 9 to 11:30) made with locally sourced fresh produce, you're sure to havea great time at the newly re-opened George Hotel, bar and restaurant.

Including a children's play area with swings and a mini football pitch in extensive grounds, 5 bars including an outdoor real ale bar, a prosecco & wine bar, and with a barbeque all weelend, the Kings Head is a must visit for all the family.

Deep in the heart of Dereham, at the crossroads of the Norfolk blues delta, 'Lou's Juke Joint' evokes the kinda barrelhouse, honky tonk you'd find in a town deep in the Mississippi Delta.

Hosted by Lou and the Tall Boys, 'Lou's Juke Joint' takes over the Metro for one day to bring y'all the finest acoustic blues that the Dereham Blues Festival has to offer.

Located in the cellar of the old Corn Exchange Building, now the town cinema, The Metro has a significant distinction of being in the building in which Jimi Hendrix played in 1967. He apparently managed to put his guitar through the roof! This venue, right in the middle of the town has a reputation for being both innovative and popular. In 2022, as last year, the Metro will host the atmospheric  'Lou's Juke Joint' providing a non-stop stream of blues and blues jam sessions. There are steps down into the Metro club 

What... a station? Yes, with a difference. The imaginative hard working team have built up this popular tourist attraction from a derelict Beeching casualty. They are frequent hosts to jazz events on the trains and on the platform and have hosted theatrical productions. They have hosted every year of the festival providing a  chance to experience blues in an exciting and  unique environment. Ample parking and a licensed event cafe serving snacks makes this a popular destination. It is also accessible to wheelchair users.

A truly unique pub serving some of the best fish and chips in town, and famous for hitting the headlines with well organised fund raising events throughout the year. Always worth a visit to see what they have on offer.

Very central traditional pub,  an ideal starting point either to the festival or to explore the town. Now under new ownership, the venue has been completely refurbished and boasts no less than four very large screens. Use a town centre car park, the Red Lion is right next to the cinema and the central Market Place. The staff have a ramp for help with wheelchair access but no disabled loo.

A real traditional freehouse pub just off the town High Street, with a rich history. This is a really friendly pub with a loyal clientele. The kitchen recently underwent a complete refurb and they are now offering top nosh including an All Day Breakfast and a Barbecue on Saturday.  They have an attractive seating area in the back garden. There is a small lintel to access the pub and steps into the rear garden.  The small parking area will be used for bands or people with a blue badge.

A welcome venue to Dereham Blues Festival and chosen by Norfolk Blues Society for it's monthly jam sessions. Open to non members and not a bad seat for a view of the stage, this is a great place to relax sit back comfortably and soak up the atmosphere. Good ales served from a well stocked bar at very reasonable prices.