Frequently Asked Questions

What is your covid policy for gig attendees?

We currently don’t have any covid restrictions.

We have also recently installed two industry standard fresh air ventilation systems in The Smokehouse.

Are there any age restrictions?

Under 14yrs We do not recommend attending due to potential high noise issues. Any children under 14 would need to attend with a parent/carer and to have sought prior permission from the venue via enquiries@thesmokehouse.org.

14 - 15yrs Can attend with a responsible adult over 18.

In ALL instances of children under the age of 18, proof of age will be required. e.g  passport, birth certificate, student card.

Most events at The Smokehouse are organised by external promoters and some events may be age restricted. It is the responsibility of the purchaser of the tickets to check that they and the persons for whom they purchase the tickets can comply with such age restrictions.

If you attend an event where age restrictions apply you must be able to provide photographic proof of identity and age.  We reserve the right to refuse entry to any person who is unable to provide such photographic proof.

It is your responsibility to check the suitability of an event for any children in your party regardless of official age restrictions. This includes considering the type of audience the event is likely to attract and whether such an audience is a suitable environment for children in your party. Refunds will not be issued if any aspect of an event, including the behaviour of other audience members, causes offence to you or any children on whose behalf you have purchased tickets.

We do not recommend subjecting children to loud music over a sustained period of time. Hearing protection is advised for events taking place at The Smokehouse.  The wearing of ear protection is the responsibility of the person attending the event. Ear plugs are usually available free of charge from The Smokehouse bar, however it is your responsibility ensure ear protection is worn and The Smokehouse admits no responsibility for any potential ear damage.  A concert environment is not suitable for very young children.

Except for shows specifically aimed at children, accompanying adults should be confident that children within their party will not cause disruption to other audience members.

Is your venue accessible?

We have disabled wheelchair access at the front of the building into The Smokehouse, and the venue can be accessed from the courtyard main entrance. We have a disabled toilet which is off the courtyard so would need to go back outside to access. We do not have a designated seated viewing area however we can provide chairs. If you require a personal assistant ticket please get in touch with The Smokehouse so we can let the promoter know. Please get in touch with us with any further questions at enquiries@thesmokehouse.org

Are you only a music venue?

No, not at all, we at The Smokehouse can provide space for almost any type of event, previously hosting workshops, creative networking meet ups and private functions. Please consult our floorplan and specs and contact us to discuss how we can best tailor The Smokehouse to your requirements.

I hear you put on gigs for up and coming artists; can you put my band on?

Currently, The Smokehouse curates very few shows of its own, although we are going to step this up in the coming year. If you are a band looking for gigs in Ipswich please do send us some music and info - we will give it a listen but we aren't able to respond to all that get in touch. Alternatively please have a look at our programme past (via Facebook) and present to see what other promoters are putting on.

Can I host my own gig at The Smokehouse?

Yes! We openly encourage artists and promoters to create their own nights.  Head to our bookings page here and go through the steps of hiring the venue.

If I create my own night, how will you help me encourage people to buy tickets?

We will always help promote events via our broad social media presence and by displaying posters at the venue. 

Do I need to bring anything if hosting a night at The Smokehouse?

The venue houses its own full PA and licensed bar. Any other equipment you will need to supply yourself, though we may be able to provide further equipment if required. Please contact us through enquiries@thesmokehouse.org with any questions regarding technical requirements for your gig.

I want to host a function without live music at The Smokehouse; how much will it cost and what do I get for my money?

The room rental rate for The Smokehouse is £15 per hour, for which you will be able to use the entire space as desired and access our multimedia facilities (projector, PA, WiFi etc) if you wish.

I have seen the name South Street Studios in relation to The Smokehouse; what is this?

We form part of the South Street Studios complex, a predominantly community driven collective of organisations which use music and media to tackle social issues positively. You can learn more about the work that goes on and courses there by visiting http://www.southstreetstudios.org/about.