Howard Assembly Room

You'll find this compact performance space tucked inside the Grand Theatre complex, where the programming swings from intimate jazz sessions to cutting-edge electronic acts. The room itself feels like a grown-up's idea of what a music venue should be – dark wood, proper lighting, and acoustics that actually let you hear the music without your ears bleeding. The bar doesn't mess about with novelty cocktails, sticking to well-made classics that you can actually afford on a Thursday night. It's the kind of place where you might catch a brilliant pianist one week and a spoken word performance the next, drawing a crowd that's more interested in what's happening on stage than posing for Instagram.