Sneaky Pete's

Sneaky Pete's is a tiny independent basement club and gig venue at 73 Cowgate in Edinburgh's Old Town, Scotland, with a capacity of about 100. It features DJs and touring bands almost every night, usually with cheap entry, and is regarded locally as a good place to hear emerging acts. The small room means the stage and dancefloor are very close together, so performances feel intimate and the atmosphere is sweaty and energetic at peak times.

The crowd is mainly students, young adults and music fans, usually in their late teens to thirties, with a strong local following. Dress is casual and there is no formal dress code. ID is routinely checked, and door staff can refuse entry to anyone who appears very drunk. The atmosphere is intimate and unpretentious, with the focus on the music and on supporting small bands and DJs rather than on glamour.

The music is varied and depends on the night: indie, techno and house nights alternate with live band bills, and the programme is built around independent promoters. Because of that, the character of an evening can change from one night to the next, so checking the venue's listings beforehand is useful. The venue typically opens nightly from the evening until 3am, with club nights at weekends. Drinks are inexpensive and focused on beer, spirits and simple mixers rather than cocktails.

Entry is usually free to about £8 (roughly $11), which is among the lowest in the city for a venue with regular live programming. Reservations are not part of the model and there is no bottle service. With such a small room, popular gigs can reach capacity, and a queue can form at the door on Friday and Saturday nights, so arriving early or buying advance tickets when they are offered is sensible. Weeknights are quieter and often feature developing bands. The Cowgate setting places the venue among several other late-night bars and clubs, so it is easy to continue the evening nearby.