The Waterloo Music Bar
Tom Grieve, Cinema Editor
The Waterloo Music Bar is a buzzing, characterful pub-cum-gig venue that sits proudly as one of the pillars of Blackpool’s live music scene. This unpretentious, three hundred capacity, grassroots endeavour is the kind of place to discover emerging artists or reconnect with old favourites amongst a crowd of like minded music fans.
Billing itself as a “small venue with a massive attitude”, The Waterloo Music Bar has welcomed internationally recognised artists such as Californian rockers Buckcherry, former Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell, and iconic Yorkshire band Terrorvision, alongside the likes of Massive Wagons and The Wildhearts, all for sell out shows in recent years.
The recent success of The Waterloo Music Bar lies in the hands of owner Ian Fletcher and his close knit team of staff. A lifelong music fan who grew up playing Joan Jett and Billy Idol covers with his mates, Fletcher realised a lifelong dream in 2019 when he took control of the bar he had worked at for five years, working to transform it into the kind of intimate music venue where bands mix with the crowd and a pint of good beer doesn’t cost the earth.
This unpretentious, three hundred capacity, grassroots endeavour is the kind of place to discover emerging artists or reconnect with old favourites
Speaking of alcohol, The Waterloo takes provenance seriously. Buying from the “Lemmy Bar” — the music icon got his start in a Blackpool band — fans can choose from multiple Motörhead draft options ranging from an APA to Ace of Spades Cider. There’s also Iron Maiden’s Trooper Ale, while we’ve even heard mention of AC/DC tequila, Rammstein rum and Marilyn Manson absinthe — how’s that for choice?
If the beer, bands and a top PA system gets the crowds in the door, it’s a cultivated sense of community that keeps them coming back. Friendly staff, a family ethos and a DIY attitude have helped to generate a welcoming atmosphere and a steady, loyal stream of regulars. Plus, there’s nowhere else in Blackpool where can you share a drink underneath a dedicated David Bowie wall.
