Entertainment in Aberdeen

Aberdeen might be one of the most remote cities in the UK, but it’s got a vibrant music and entertainment scene. Leading the charge is The Tunnels. Literally two underground tunnels fitted out with a sound system, lights and bars, the underground club have put on some of the biggest shows in recent years, including homegrown girl Emeli Sandé who played a sold-out secret show. Refurbished in 2014 with a new light and sound system, the 300-capacity club is still at the forefront of the Aberdeen music scene and is around 200 metres from our City Centre hotel.

Even closer to our Premier Inn hotel still is The Lemon Tree, a 550-capacity multipurpose venue that hosts everything from up-and-coming bands to stand-up, club nights and book readings. A lynchpin in Aberdeen since opening in 1992, the musical acts range from up-and-coming names to smaller cult bands, as well as tribute acts.

For something a little more relaxed, try Café Drummond on Belmont Street. A chilled café by day, it turns into a 300-capacity rock and roll hangout at night, with local groups, guest bands and tribute acts booked throughout the week.

On a different level altogether, the Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre is where you’d go to see names like One Direction and Kylie Minogue. Head to our dedicated page to find out more.

Following a £8.7-million redevelopment, Music Hall Aberdeen on Union Street is scheduled to reopen at the end of 2018, with the stunning 200-year-old building set to be one of the largest music venues in the city.

Head to our dedicated Aberdeen theatre page to find out more about His Majesty’s Theatre, ACT Aberdeen and the Tivoli Theatre.

Breakneck Comedy Club is Aberdeen’s first – and Scotland’s biggest – comedy store. It’s open for laughing action from Thursday to Sunday, featuring local, national and international stand-ups and comics. Located on King Street, it’s a guaranteed rib-tickler each night and well worth supporting.

Alternatively, the Lemon Tree offers a range of comedy bookings throughout the year across their smaller 166-capacity studio and their much larger main room.

One of the largest clubs in Scotland, and with an impressive European heritage, Aberdeen Football Club play their home games at Pittodrie Stadium. Formed in 1903, the club has never been relegated from the top division and has won four Scottish titles, 13 cups and is the only Scottish team to win in Europe, having won the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1983.

Alongside Celtic and Rangers, they’re one of the main Scottish football teams, and enjoyed their success in the 80s under their manager – the one and only – Sir Alex Ferguson. Their Pittodrie stadium was the first all-seater arena in the UK, as well as the first to incorporate dugouts into the design. Pittodrie is just a short walk from the Esplanade and just a 15-minute drive from our Anderson Drive hotel.

If golf is your game, there are few more prestigious courses than the Royal Aberdeen Golf Club. The sixth oldest club in the world, having been set up in 1780, golf can actually be traced back to the region as far back as 1625. The club has hosted some significant competitions, including the 2011 Walker Cup and the 2014 Scottish Open. The course is one of the most impressive in the UK, especially the outward nine holes which work their way through some stunning windswept dunes. As befits such a venerable course, green fees are expensive and there’s a strict on-course dress code, meaning this is for serious golfers only. If you’re planning to pay a visit to the course, our Aberdeen North (Bridge of Don) hotel is less than 10 minutes away by car.