Entertainment in Inverness

One of the leading music and entertainment venues in the north of Scotland, The IronWorks has hosted a dazzling array of talent, including Kasabian, Van Morrison, The Stranglers and rising newcomers Future Island. As well as this, it puts on a range of club nights, from techno, happy hardcore, house and even day-time kids’ raves! Located just off Academy Street near the Old Town, the 1,000-capacity venue is also a great place to see tribute acts, including regional favourites the Red Hot Chili Pipers (that’s right, a bagpipe Chili Peppers cover band – genius).

If you’re looking for a traditional taste of the Highlands and Scottish live music, look no further than Hootananny on Church Street. A bustling pub and live music venue, they have a strong Scottish folk music programme that culminates in a weekly ceilidh with fiddlers, bagpipers and more kilts than you could shake a sporran at. They’re open-minded about their music though, so expect everything from jazz to acoustic to rock at the venue – just check in advance for the up-to-date listings.

The Tooth and Claw favours a more current and alternative soundtrack. They have live music every Friday and Saturday night, with unsigned and rising acts playing a mix of indie, rock and acoustic numbers to an appreciative crowd. And located just off Academy Street in the centre of town, it’s just a short walk from our Inverness Centre (River Ness) hotel.

There might only be one theatre in Inverness, but the Eden Court Theatre is all you could need. A multipurpose space, the theatre is a short drive from our Inverness West hotel and is home to two theatres, two cinema screens, a pair of dance studios and a bar and restaurant. Reopened in 2007 after an extensive refurbishment, the space now hosts everything from film screenings to musicals, plays to stand-up comedy, panto, live music and more. The main 840-capacity theatre has hosted everyone from Jason Manford to The Teletubbies and the Scottish Symphony Orchestra in recent years, and the stylish, modern space is a must-visit for any theatre fans.

The leading Scottish Highlands team, Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club only came to life in 1994, but have already progressed through the divisions to the Premier League, even winning their first piece of silverware in 2014 when they beat Falkirk to the Scottish Cup. It’s been a dramatic rise for one of the newest teams in Scotland, with the club becoming known as giant-killers for beating Celtic in 2000 and 2003, earning them the famous The Sun headline ‘Super Caley Go Ballistic Celtic Are Atrocious.’

The club have enjoyed several seasons in the Premier League, even flirting with qualifying for the Europa League, but have recently been relegated back to the Championship from the 2017 season. The 7,750-capacity stadium is located to the north of the city centre, a short drive from our Inverness Centre (Milburn Road) hotel.

Further down the leagues, Clachnacuddin Football Club are a part-time professional team playing in the Scottish Highland Football League, which they’ve won 18 times in total. The club were founded back in 1885 and play their home games at the 3,000-capacity Grant Street Park, which is located to the north of the city centre.

Rugby is one of the leading Scottish sports, with the Highland Rugby Football Club the region’s leading egg-chasers. An amateur team that compete in the Highland Alliance League, they have a range of teams from the under-15s through to the 1st IV and play their home games at Canal Park.