About This Pub
Ah, King Billy Music Bar – it's one of those places that really comes alive with the sound of live bands, and from what I've gathered from the reviews, it's a top pick if you're after a night filled with rock vibes and a welcoming crowd. The energy is infectious when the music's on, and it's heartening to hear about the friendly bar staff and those reasonably priced drinks and entry fees that keep things accessible. Folks have shared some brilliant stories of great performances and a solid selection of ales, making it feel like a proper community hub for music lovers. On the flip side, though, it's not all smooth sailing – there've been a few tales of unexpected closures and ownership troubles that could leave you standing outside wondering what's going on, and with it only open a few days a week, you might have to plan around that. Plus, drink prices have jumped up a bit recently, which is a shame when you're trying to enjoy the night without spending a fortune. Overall, if you fancy a bit of live music adventure in Northampton, I'd say give it a go, but do check the schedule first to avoid any surprises – it's got that charm that makes it worth the effort, warts and all.
Pros and Cons
Pros
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The live music scene is absolutely buzzing, especially on Fridays and Saturdays, with a great selection of bands that really get the crowd going
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Prices are generally reasonable, with entry at just £3 for live music nights and drinks that won't break the bank
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The bar staff are friendly and welcoming, and they've got a solid choice of ales that hit the spot
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It's a proper rock venue with a fantastic atmosphere when things are in full swing, making for some unforgettable nights
Cons
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The opening hours can be a bit hit and miss, with the place only open three days a week and sometimes shutting unexpectedly, which is a real letdown
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Drink prices have crept up lately, especially since the new owners took over, so it might not feel as affordable as it used to
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There's been some drama with the owners, like rumours of the place closing suddenly, which could leave you disappointed if you turn up unannounced
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With limited operating days, it's not the easiest spot to pop into spontaneously, which might put a dampener on plans
Contact Information
2 Commercial St, Northampton NN1 1PJ
Live music bar
Closed today
Opening Hours
| Monday (Today) | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | 17:00 - 00:00 |
| Saturday | 17:00 - 00:00 |
| Sunday | 14:00 - 20:00 |
Recent Reviews
Travelled up from Brighton to play a show here with all our gear, drums, PA, amps etc got to the venue to find out that it was shut.
Know one knew what was going on, we just heard stories from the locals, explaining the owner took all the money and has done a runner…who knows.
As they didn’t tell us anything we had no time to sort out a back up gig.
This has crippled our tour financially.
ABSOLUTELY DISGRACEFUL!
STAY WELL AWAY FROM THIS PLACE!
Great atmosphere if there is a live band or performance on. Drink prices have gone up a lot recently though since new owners.
Live music every Friday and Saturday, bring ear pro if you want to have good hearing.
Reasonable prices, it's £3 entry if you're coming for live music and drinks aren't too expensive. I'd recommend checking out their schedule and seeing if there's anyone you want to see.
Always been my favourite pub and glad the new team have managed to reopen the Billy, keeping it as it should be. Live music an integral part of the pubs dna, with a good selection of bands playing on Saturday nights. Good ale and friendly bar staff too. Parking out front for bikes too.
Great Rock Venue we came to see local heroes LOKI and were not disappointed. We noticed a brilliant sound engineer who maximised the performance of all involved. Turned out to be an unforgettable night and aforementioned sound engineer was lead singer of Still Remains UK. LOKI made their debut as guests supporting Still Remains and have left their mark with their own style and performance. All bands got a shout out at the end . We will definitely come again, the acoustics coupled with attentive bar staff cool beer garden and a pool table make for a rocking good night 😎
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