Christmas Concert Nights at Bristol Beacon 2025
Celebrate Christmas 2025 in Bristol with five unmissable concerts at Bristol Beacon — Tony Hadley, The Bootleg Beatles, Handel’s Messiah, Jools Holland and the London Symphony Orchestra. Find dates, ticket links, times, venue info & parking.
Updated 08/12/2025
As December settles over Bristol, the air around the city centre hums with lights, laughter, and the promise of live music. Nowhere does that seasonal spirit glow brighter than at Bristol Beacon, the city’s cultural heart. This beautifully refurbished concert hall, perched on Trenchard Street, has long been a home for music in every form — from pop and jazz to symphony and choral works.
In 2025, Bristol Beacon’s Christmas calendar is a sparkling showcase of variety and artistry. Across five standout evenings, audiences can revel in the velvety swing of Tony Hadley’s Christmas Big Band Tour, sing along to timeless classics with The Bootleg Beatles, be moved by the majesty of Handel’s Messiah, dance to Jools Holland’s Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, and experience orchestral brilliance courtesy of the London Symphony Orchestra.
Each performance transforms the Beacon’s warm acoustics into a shared celebration — a reminder that festive joy can be found in every note. With convenient parking at the Trenchard Street multi-storey and the venue’s modern comforts, these concerts offer not just music but memories in the making.
The Bootleg Beatles – Festive Tour Stop
Few tribute acts capture the magic of an era as convincingly as The Bootleg Beatles, and their return to Bristol Beacon this December is guaranteed to raise spirits. The show spans the entire Beatles catalogue — from the mop-top exuberance of “She Loves You” to the psychedelia of “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” — all delivered with uncanny precision.
Their festive tour stop transforms the Beacon into a time machine of harmony and humour, complete with period instruments, authentic costumes and those famous Lennon–McCartney harmonies. It’s impossible not to sing along. Beyond nostalgia, what keeps audiences coming back year after year is the quality of musicianship and the sheer joy of shared memory.
Date: Thursday 18 December 2025
Time: 19:00 (doors), 19:30 (show)
Venue: Bristol Beacon, Trenchard Street, Bristol BS1 5AR
Event: The Bootleg Beatles in Concert
Tickets: via official website here
Parking: Trenchard Street multi-storey (car park adjacent)
Families, couples and lifelong fans fill the hall with energy, waving miniature Union Jacks and clapping along to “Hey Jude”. As Christmas nears, few experiences feel more communal — or more fun — than this lovingly crafted homage to Britain’s greatest band.
Bristol Choral Society – Handel’s Messiah
Each December, Bristol Choral Society’s Handel’s Messiah offers a moment of stillness amid the city’s bustle. This long-standing tradition fills the Beacon with glorious sound — a choir of more than a hundred voices joined by professional soloists and orchestra.
From the first stately chords of “Comfort ye” to the triumphant “Hallelujah” chorus, the performance sweeps through Handel’s masterpiece with precision and heart. Founded in 1889, the choir remains one of Britain’s oldest and most respected ensembles, and their annual Messiah has become a fixture of Bristol’s cultural calendar.
Date: Saturday 20 December 2025
Time: 19:30 (start)
Venue: Bristol Beacon, Trenchard Street, Bristol BS1 5AR
Event: Handel's Messiah
Tickets: via official website here
Parking: Trenchard Street multi-storey (behind venue)
Under the soft glow of the Beacon’s new lighting, every note resonates with emotional clarity. Audiences describe the experience as both uplifting and deeply grounding — a celebration of hope, faith and community that transcends denomination. Whether you’re a classical devotee or a first-time listener, this evening captures the true spirit of the season.
Jools Holland and His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra
When Jools Holland brings his 18-piece Rhythm & Blues Orchestra to Bristol Beacon, expect pure energy. Few musicians blend virtuosity and personality quite like Holland — his piano glides from boogie-woogie to jazz to gospel, pulling the audience along for the ride.
This December’s concert delivers a signature mix of showmanship and soul, featuring guest vocalists, sharp brass and swinging rhythm that turns the hall into a dance floor. Holland’s rapport with his band — and with the audience — makes the evening sparkle. Between rollicking instrumentals and heart-warming festive numbers, the show bursts with life and laughter.
Date: Sunday 21 December 2025
Time: 19:00 (doors), 19:30 (show)
Venue: Bristol Beacon, Trenchard Street, Bristol BS1 5AR
Event: Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra
Tickets: via official website here
Parking: Trenchard Street multi-storey (200 m behind venue)
It’s the perfect way to usher in Christmas week: celebratory, joyful and irresistibly fun. The Beacon’s wide seating and bar service make for an effortless night, while its central location means easy transport and nearby parking. For many Bristolians, this concert has become a holiday tradition in its own right.
London Symphony Orchestra – Winter Tour
The London Symphony Orchestra, one of the world’s most revered ensembles, graces Bristol Beacon for a rare winter appearance under the baton of Sir Antonio Pappano. This December 13 performance offers a journey through British music, pairing Vaughan Williams’s atmospheric A London Symphony with Walton’s poetic Viola Concerto, featuring soloist Antoine Tamestit.
The LSO’s visits to Bristol are always special: a convergence of artistry and emotion that fills the Beacon’s hall with symphonic colour. Every section, from luminous strings to noble brass, tells a story — and in the glow of Christmas lights outside, the effect is magical.
Date: Saturday 13 December 2025
Time: 17:00 (start)
Venue: Bristol Beacon, Trenchard Street, Bristol BS1 5AR
Event: London Symphony Orchestra
Tickets: via official website here
Parking: Trenchard Street multi-storey (near venue)
A pre-concert talk and early start (17:00) make this ideal for a cultured evening before dinner. The event reflects the Beacon’s continuing mission: to connect local audiences with world-class performers. For anyone seeking sophistication and seasonal inspiration, the LSO’s concert is unmissable.
Tony Hadley – The Christmas Big Band Tour
Tony Hadley returns to the stage with a show that’s equal parts class, nostalgia and festive glamour. The former Spandau Ballet frontman brings his unmistakable voice to a big-band setting, weaving together swing standards, Christmas favourites and reinvented versions of his own hits. Think “True” and “Gold” backed by lush brass, shimmering percussion and the kind of warmth only live musicians can create.
Bristol Beacon’s pristine acoustics lend an intimate sparkle to Hadley’s effortless phrasing, and his rapport with the audience turns every show into a joyful exchange. Between swinging renditions of Sinatra classics and elegantly orchestrated ballads, this concert becomes a portrait of timeless sophistication.
Date: Sunday 7 December 2025
Time: 19:00 (doors), 19:45 (show)
Venue: Bristol Beacon, Trenchard Street, Bristol BS1 5AR
Event: Tony Hadley The Big Swing Tour
Tickets: via official website here
Parking: Trenchard Street multi-storey (50 m behind venue)
Guests can enjoy the venue’s bar and lounge before the show — ideal for those arriving straight from work or Christmas shopping. With reserved seating and an atmosphere that balances festive polish and relaxed charm, this night sets the tone for Bristol’s holiday concert season.
Five concerts, five distinct moods — yet one unifying message: that music can make the season shine. Whether you sway to Tony Hadley’s swing, sing along with The Bootleg Beatles, are stirred by Handel’s Messiah, move to Jools Holland’s rhythm, or are awed by the LSO’s orchestral sweep, Bristol Beacon stands as the beating heart of the city’s Christmas celebrations.
With its central location, thoughtful amenities, and top-tier sound, the venue ensures that every evening feels effortless. Book early, bring your loved ones, and let live music be the soundtrack to your Christmas 2025 in Bristol.
