Things To Do / Bristol
28 things to do in Bristol this week, September 29-October 5 2025
Monday: Laughing Matters – A Charity Comedy Night for SWEDA, Bristol Hippodrome
Comedy stars Nish Kumar, James Acaster, Jenny Eclair, and Jayde Adams host a one-night-only fundraiser for the South West Eating Disorders Association.
Some of the UK’s best comedians are joining forces for a special night – photo: AGX Tickets
Monday: School of Activism presents: Fires & Fascism, People’s Republic of Stokes Croft
A screening of a new 57-minute documentary linking the increasing wildfires of Europe with past fascism, big business, organised crime and the rise of the far right.
The People’s Republic of Stokes Croft is a community organisation in the Stokes Croft – photo: Charlie Watts
SPONSORED
Monday-Thursday: One Battle After Another, Watershed
When their evil enemy resurfaces after 16 years, a group of ex-revolutionaries reunite to rescue one of their own’s daughter.
One Battle After Another – photo: Watershed
SPONSORED
Monday – October 11: Starter for Ten: A New Musical, Bristol Old Vic
Reviews are in! Starter for Ten is “theatre at its most electrifying” (★★★★ WhatsOnStage), “heartfelt and hilarious” (★★★★★ Bristol Live), and packed with “some of the best musical numbers in recent years” (★★★★ The Independent). If you miss it, you’ll regret it.
Starter for Ten – photo: Bristol Old Vic
Tuesday: Stargirrl, Exchange
Expect an eclectic show that encapsulates the hottest of the Bristol and Birmingham underground. University of Bristol graduate Stargirrl will be displaying a mix of UK rap, lo-fi with experimental house instrumentals, backed by upcoming stars in the scene.
Starrgirl is a former Bristol Uni student – photo: Exchange
Tuesday: Wine tasting and five-course dim sum menu, Clouds
Sample five rare French wines with Lea from Déjà Bu Wines, each paired with creative dim sum from the Clouds team.
Mix dim sum and delicious wine at a special event in St Werburgh’s – photo: Betty Woolerton
Wednesday: The Catweazle Club, Cafe Kino
The Catweazle Club, Oxford’s renowned performance night, launches monthly sessions at Cafe Kino, led by founder Matt Sage.
The Catweazle Club is described as “an unplugged listening space for music, poetry, story and song and all manner of acoustic artistry” – image: The Catweazle Club
SPONSORED
Wednesday: Playtime! Cheesy Tunes, Redgrave Theatre
Come along for a fun, relaxed participatory theatre sessions with the Last Baguette Theatre Company. Join Ratty and her friends for a fun and gentle introduction to theatre with play-along storytelling, original music, puppetry, theatre games, movement, and lots of imaginative play. Sessions last one hour, and are created for ages 2-6 and their grown ups. Younger and older siblings welcome!
Playtime – photo: Redgrave Theatre
SPONSORED
Wednesday – October 31: Pumpkin Patch, Avon Valley
The South West’s biggest PYO pumpkin patch and specialty squash market is now open! Fire the Apple Cannon, team up for Cornholing and enjoy a fireshow with street food, seasonal drinks and snacks. The patch lights up at night and comes alive with live music. Dog friendly. Free parking.
Pumpkin Patch – photo: Giulia Spadafora
Thursday: Tom Robinson & Adam Phillips + Gabrielle Sey, Strange Brew
Tom Robinson shares songs and stories from 50 years in the music industry, including his activism and role as a BBC Radio 6 presenter.
Tom Robinson is a songwriter, musician and broadcaster – image: Dictionary Pudding
SPONSORED
Thurday: Impulse: Playing With Reality, Watershed
Impulse opens a window into four distinct experiences of living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) — combining gameplay with first-hand lived experience. The result is an immersive encounter with minds that can be exhausting and exhilarating, chaotic, and creative, capturing both the struggles and the inventiveness that come with ADHD.
Impulse – photo: Watershed
Thursday: Save the Waves Film Festival, Finisterre
An international surf and environmental film festival comes to Finisterre on Park Street.
Friday: Berenice, Beacon
Berenice is a singer-songwriter whose sound is a fusion of cinematic tension inspired by Ennio Morricone with rock swagger and intimate confessionals.
Berenice was named one of Rolling Stone UK’s ‘New Artists to Watch’ – photo: Bristol Beacon/ Berenice
Friday: Lei Di Dai, Pickle Factory
Experience tropical rhythms from reggae to dancehall and Latin beats with Brazilian dancehall queen, Lei Di Dai.
View this post on Instagram
Independent journalism
is needed now More than everKeep our city's journalism independent. Become a supporter member today.
Friday-Sunday: Self Esteem, Beacon
Self Esteem brings her biggest tour, A Complicated Woman, to Bristol for three nights.
‘A Complicated Woman’ centers on themes of taking control of your life – photo: Self Esteem
SPONSORED
Friday & Saturday: Burt Williamson: Sure I’m Not Infallible But At Least I’m Hung, The Gaffe Comedy Club
Bristol comedian and club favourite Burt Williamson, (“hilarious at every turn” ★★★★ – The Scotsman), films his latest comedy special “Sure I’m not Infallible But At Least I’m Hung” at The Gaffe Comedy Club! “The funniest, most unlikely, rudest yet sweetest” ★★★★ – Entertainment Now.
Burt Williamson – photo: The Gaffe Comedy Club
SPONSORED
Saturday: Eat Your Own Ears, The Prospect Building
Eat Your Own Ears joins forces with The Prospect Building, presenting Daphni, Ben UFO, Salute, and more on Saturday 4 October. Expect genre-spanning chaos, rare selections, and euphoric, high-energy moments filling the main room, promising an unforgettable night of deep cuts and dancefloor intensity.
EYOE – photo: The Prospect Building
Saturday: Moonfest, Sparks
Multi-arts festival with live music performances, short film screenings, art, craft and food stalls, spotlighting East and Southeast Asian creatives.
View this post on Instagram
Saturday: Jayde Adams DJ set, the Phoenix
Bristol legend Jayne Adams is makes her DTYM debut at the Pheonix pub in St Jude’s.
View this post on Instagram
Saturday & Sunday: Art on the Hill, various locations
Art on the Hill is a chance for artists and makers in Windmill Hill and Victoria Park to introduce people to their work, as well as a fun and vibrant weekend for the local community.
View this post on Instagram
Saturday & Sunday: Bristol Radical Film Festival, The Cube
A volunteer-run, zero-budget showcase of contemporary and historical works of overtly political filmmaking.
Expect a typically eclectic selection of films covering a variety of topics – image: Bristol Radical Film Festival
Saturday & Sunday: Docks Heritage Weekend, various locations
Experience Bristol’s maritime history at M Shed, Underfall Yard, SS Great Britain and Brunel’s Other Bridge.
Witness a weekend celebration of Bristol’s rich maritime past – photo: Rob Brown
SPONSORED
Saturday – October 6: Halloween, Wookey Hole
As spooky season starts to creep up on us all, Wookey Hole is rolling out a jam-packed Halloween line-up for families across the South West. From fancy dress contests and an Instagram-worthy pumpkin patch, all-new circus shows and a series of very special appearances from a best-selling children’s book author, Wookey Hole truly is THE home of Halloween, and the place to be this October.
SPONSORED
Sunday: The Best of The Fringe! The Gaffe Comedy Club
More comedians bring the best bits from their 2025 Edinburgh Fringe shows to The Gaffe Comedy Club! On Sunday, you can catch Bella Hull (“she deserves stardom” ★★★★ – Comic’s Comic), Jessie Nixon (Chortle Hotshot 2025, ★★★★ – London Evening Standard), and Tadiwa Malhunge (“an impressively accomplished debut hour” ★★★★ – The Skinny).
Best of The Fringe – photo: The Gaffe Comedy Club
Sunday: Clothes Cycle, Prospect
The UK’s largest thrift market returns for a day of fashion, music and community at Prospect.
View this post on Instagram
Sunday: Apple Day, Botanic Garden
Apple Day aims to reduce the wastage of garden apples, bringing together the community and the Cider Box taprooms for a one-day event at the University of Bristol Botanic Garden.
As autumn draws closer, so does the harvest of apples – photo: Rob Browne
Sunday: Susie Dent, Redgrave Theatre
Wordsmith Susie Dent explores the delights of the English language on her new tour.
Susie Dent’s new tour features facts, stories and insights from the world of words – image: Susie Dent
Everyday: RWA Annual Open, RWA
A chance for art enthusiasts to see a huge array of work on display from a wide mix of established and emerging artists, 2025 marks the 172nd edition of the exhibition, and as ever, every piece is for sale, with prices beginning at £100.
The art on show includes painting, drawing, sculpture, textile and embroidery, photography, architecture and video installation – photo: Khali Ackford @kolabstudios
And coming soon…
SPONSORED
October 6: Simon Yates – Pleasure & Pain, Redgrave Theatre
‘Touching the Void’ mountaineer, Simon Yates, is a veteran of over eighty expeditions to high/remote mountains around the globe and shows no sign of slowing down. This is his story of the last decade, of new adventures and climbs in the far north and south, along with summits in South America, Central Asia and the Himalaya.
Pleasure & Pain – photo: Redgrave Theatre
SPONSORED
October 6: Sissoko, Segal, Peirani and Parisien: Les Egares, Bristol Beacon
Experience Les Égarés with Ballaké Sissoko & Vincent Segal (kora & cello) and Vincent Peirani & Émile Parisien (accordion & sax). Blurring jazz, trad, chamber, and avant-garde, this quartet crafts a single fluid sound through virtuosity and deep listening. A rare musical communion in a beautifully intimate performance.
Les Egares – photo: Bristol Beacon
SPONSORED
October 6-11: BTF+ The Bristol Festival of Tech, Creativity and Culture, various venues
Where innovation meets imagination. Inspiring speakers, pioneering tech, and captivating artists collide in the heart of Bristol. From thought-provoking panels and cutting-edge showcases at the Beacon to music and cultural happenings across the city’s iconic venues – BTF+ has it all.
BTF+ The Bristol Festival of Tech
SPONSORED
October 11 & 12: West Bristol Arts Trail, various venues
This year 150 artists will exhibit painting, sculpture, prints, ceramics, jewellery, textiles, photography and mixed media in over 46 venues in Clifton, Cliftonwood, Hotwells and parts of Redland on 11 th & 12 th October. The art is affordable and you can chat to the artists.
WBAT graphic – photo: Kevin
SPONSORED
October 11-25: Welly, Exchange
Welly recently released their debut album Big In The Suburbs ahead of a fun-filled tour of often overlooked seaside towns. But if you missed out on the mayhem then fear not, the gang are back this autumn for their biggest headline tour to date. Catch them at the Exchange this October.
Welly – photo: Crosstown Concerts
SPONSORED
October 12-25: Panic Shack, Electric Bristol
If there’s one thing Panic Shack know, it’s how to have a good time. With barely any music available online, they built a word-of-mouth following off the back of their live shows, which have been praised for fusing “thrashy early LA-style punk with choreography that owes something to the Go-Go’s and Iron Maiden all at once” (The Guardian). Catch them this Autumn at Electric Bristol, remaining tickets are on sale now.
Panic Shack – photo: Megan Winstone | Crosstown Concerts
SPONSORED
October 25: First Ever Family Gig, Bristol Beacon
Bring the whole family to Bristol Beacon for the First Ever Family Gig! Join a joyful morning of sing-alongs, casual jams, chair dancing, and playful props. All ages are welcome to make music together, share laughter, and feel the togetherness in a relaxed, fun-filled space.
First Ever Family Gig – Photo: Bristol Beacon
SPONSORED
November 3: Pendulum, The Prospect Building
Pendulum are set to ignite The Prospect Building this November. After a 15-year wait, the legends return – armed with Inertia, their most personal, electrifying record yet.. Sixteen tracks. Unfiltered emotion. Catch them live on 3rd November.
Pendulum – photo: Andy C | Crosstown Concerts
SPONSORED
November 13: Sleep Out 2025, Lloyd’s Amphitheatre
Sleep Out Bristol 2025 is back at the iconic Lloyd’s Amphitheatre! On Thursday 13 November, join 1625 Independent People for an unforgettable night of live music, food, and powerful talks. Take on the Sleep Out challenge, help put youth homelessness to bed, and make a real difference.
Sleep Out – photo: 1625 Independent People
Main photo: Rob Browne
Read next:
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
