The Ferret in Preston celebrates 20 years of grassroots gigs

Every city needs a small room where new bands cut their teeth, and for Preston that room is The Ferret. The grassroots venue on Fylde Road has spent two decades putting on rock, indie and alternative music, and in 2026 it reached its 20th birthday.

The Ferret holds around 200 people, a size that makes every gig feel close and personal. Its eclectic programme has long mixed touring acts with local talent, and its calendar includes sold-out nights such as Glastonferret and the Crackedankles Weekend, which returned after a sell-out year.

The venue's future was secured in May 2024, when its building was bought by Music Venue Trust. The purchase came through the trust's crowdfunded Own Our Venues campaign, backed by a community share offer that raised £2.5m, alongside the support of local fans and a £150,000 loan from Preston City Council.

Since then the venue has kept its doors open to the next generation. In June 2025 The Ferret put out a call to up-and-coming Preston musicians and bands, and from 1 July 2025 it began a monthly open mic on the first Tuesday of each month, hosted by Jamie Brewer.

There are bigger ambitions too. In October 2025 plans were unveiled for a new performance area and recording studios. The venue currently occupies only the ground floor of its Fylde Road building, and the proposal would allow the business to take over the whole building.

The anniversary itself was marked with a season called The Ferret is 20, running from May to August 2026 and mixing international performers with local artists. Funded by Arts Council England, the shows were either free or very low cost, starting with a free-entry launch weekend of all-dayers on 23 and 24 May.

The birthday line-up included Rae Morris on 24 July and The Bug Club on 30 July, supported by People Person and El Winstanley. The Lathums also played the venue on 28 June as part of Everywhere at Once, a Music Venue Trust event billed as the biggest celebration of grassroots live music ever staged in the UK.

Upcoming gigs are listed through the venue's ticketing partners, including Skiddle and Setmixer, which went live at The Ferret in May 2025. Catching a band in a room this size is one of the best ways to support live music in Preston, so it is worth keeping an eye on the listings.