Inverness Pubs Top 10
- 5.7 Phoenix Bar & Flames
- 5.7 Ceol-Mor
- 5.6 Castle Tavern
- 5.5 Corriegarth
- 5.5 Number 27
- 5.4 The Room
- 5.3 Market Bar
- 5.1 The Exchange
- 5 La Tortilla Asesina
- 4.9 Hootananny - Mad Hatters
Inverness Clubs Top 5
- 7.5 Ironworks
- 5.9 The Den
- 5.3 Hush
- 4.8 Cactus Jak's
- 4.8 Motion
Hootananny - Mad Hatters
Tel: 01463 233 651
Web: click here

31 Church Street,
Inverness, IV1 1ES
Upstairs in Hootananny's is Mad Hatters which has more rock-type bands than the folky stuff downstairs and attracts a much younger audience.
This place gets pretty busy at the weekend. In an effort to stand out from the other pubs offering live music in Inverness they've been booking a decent range of acts (most notably, not many cover bands). The quality of music can vary wildly and will determine whether you stay or leave. If the band is good, this place is as good as you'll get (my favourite night out in Inverness in recent history was a brilliant Bombskare gig here). On a Friday and Saturday night they have a decent post-gig DJ set.
There's also the option of the sofas on the very top floor - the "Bothy Sofa Bar" which is more chilled out. It's a fair bit quieter than Madhatters and is great if you want somewhere to chat.
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Went in here when on holiday, was sitting at a table just sipping my drink and I moved the menu out of the way, quick as a flash this geezer was at the table asking did I want to order a meal. Where did he come from? The place was empty and yet he appeared like magic as soon as I touched the menu. Will not be back there in a hurry.
This place could be so much better than it already is. It's the punters which bring it down... the same sort of people that lurk around falcon square during the day. Quite expensive and can get very busy. Can become a bit like a laberinth with a few in you!!!
Was in on Saturday night, had a good night and enjoyed a decent pint of Black Isle Blonde upstairs.
I'm easy pleased, but I loved this place
Not bad but a bit pricey for what you get. Good set of live bands though, so good that theres somewhere as well as Ironworks to see live music.
Hogmannay RIP OFF!
£12 for a night that was no different to a normal saturday night! Other places in town with live music have no entrance fee and their drink prices are lower also with the exact same opening times!
Other places give you either some stovies and oatcakes or some haggis after the bells.
This is a greedy place intent on high prices for little service, such a shame as it actually is a nice place.
Nice downstairs - great to find Inverness pub where the music seems as important as the booze!
Didnt enjoy the acts we saw two nights last week (bit too folky for us, sound wasnt great either) but seems very popular. Will be going back next time in Inverness.
Was in on the 13th and in both bars, Mad hatters is class,good bands and great service. Really enjoyed it and recommend it to everyone. Downstairs in Hoots is alright, good service but too folky for me I'm afraid.
We visited here on Saturday 19th July and watched the band, all its said on the gig list (and still does) was tbc. I was gutted because they were pretty good, so if anyone knows or can find out for me then please post it here.
Great to see draft and real ales from Black Isle Brewery.
Winner, love it there.
was in on fri nite not as good as it was but decent music on most of the time if you dont mind all the goths/students constantly bangin into you its worth a look if your into music.
Too busy service 1/10
alright if your a hippy or hillwalker.
Anyone else think that there's something up wi the beer in this place? Staff pretty decent tho, bonus for that.
This has been of favourite of mine for ages. Love the good music on the bottom floor and Black Isle Beer on tap. Some more comedy nights would be great though
Have they now permanently removed the jukebox from the second floor? Disappointed, as I always thought this was one of upstair's best features.
like it. But it can be sh(one)t!
Decent pub with something for everyone (unless you ONLY listen to the dance genre in which case you are shit out of luck) Mad Hatters is a particular favourite of mine but I'll often be seen chilling out on the second floor. It's not just for goths I do not own one item of completely black clothing (shirt & jeans is the way to go) in my opinion no place should have a particular bracket. Only bad point, poor choice of beer & spirits
It's just full of tinks like my mate's dave's little bro. Get a Haircut!!
This place would do a lot better, in my opinion, if they had dj's or just played any kind of music rather than booking some of the clearly sub-pub-dad-rock-crap (my new favourite genre) that can ruin an enjoyable night.
Busy bar. WHY???.
DIRTY, EXPENSIVE. MOSTLY CRAP BANDS.
warning-lots of underagers.some good bands, some not.sofas upstairs are very comfy.mainly attracts rock/goth crowd
A fine bar. Lots of well-to-do types basking in their collective glory. Best for music and a decent selection of alcopops.
This is often the best of a not very great bunch. They've started playing great songs to leap about to after the bands have finished playing. I also saw a good wee band recently called The Hookares.
well.. does that not all depend on what kind of music you are into??
I'd agree with you WeeGingerFaerie, upstair's loads better than the ceilidh bar.
I have seen some really good bands here and much prefer it to the ceilidh bar downstairs, don't agree with comments about under-agers either usually an older crowd when i'm there...
To be fair, i think the vod and red bulls in Mojos were the real reason for the happiness.
I know what i mean.
Are you sure they weren't knitting downstairs in the Ceilidh bar?? I mean, it's far too dark in Mad Hatters to do that.
Mr Mathers III is totaly correct here. A sweaty pit of wannabe Russell Brand types - "those are girl's jeans mate, get a grip". I have actually witnessed people knitting in here on a Friday night - how alternative!
the most over rated bar in town i have never had a decent night out in the place, infact has killed many a potential good night! Full of underage girls that for some reason slip through the net week after week!