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
Club NightFri 9 Oct · 7:00pmIndie Disco (opens in a new tab)Free
Live MusicSat 10 Oct · 7:00pmNigel Clark (Dodgy) (opens in a new tab)£16.50
Live MusicSun 11 Oct · 3:00pmAspyrian (opens in a new tab)£12.50
Live MusicMon 12 Oct · 7:00pmMartin Harley (opens in a new tab)£16.50
Spoken Word & ComedyTue 13 Oct · 7:00pmGlass Eye Comedy Club (opens in a new tab)£7More 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. Bilk, Santu, The Dunwells and Don Letts 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
