The Forum

What The Forum does

The Forum is a live events theatre in Bath, England, operating from a Grade II listed Art Deco building originally constructed in the 1930s as a cinema. The venue hosts a diverse programming calendar spanning live music concerts, comedy, theatre, family entertainment, classical and orchestral performances, lectures, and tribute acts, with forward bookings extending into 2027. Notable scheduled acts include the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sue Perkins, Johannes Radebe, and touring music productions. The venue also supports non-entertainment functions including Bath Spa University graduations and the Bath Children's Literature Festival.

The Forum operates a direct-to-consumer business model with ticket sales as the primary revenue stream, supplemented by venue hire for private and corporate events. Distribution is multi-channel: direct ticket sales via the company's website (bathforum.co.uk), third-party ticketing through Ticketline, and the local Bath Box Office (a Spektrix-powered platform offering both online and physical box office services). Marketing relies on email newsletters, social media (Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram), and a seasonal "What's On" brochure. The underlying technology stack is modest: a Peppered-powered website and mailing platform, with standard analytics tools (Google Analytics, Microsoft Clarity) and Meta Pixel for ad attribution.

The organization is owned by Bath Christian Trust (a charity registered by guarantee, charity number 1085602) and managed by Bath Forum Limited (a private limited company, registration number 8434485). This unusual ownership structure reflects a charitable mission rather than a profit-maximization model. The venue employs 51-100 staff and serves audiences primarily in Southwest England, drawing visitors to Bath's World Heritage City center.

Name

The Forum

Legal name

Bath Forum Limited

Website

https://bathforum.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1934

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Forum is a Grade II listed live events theatre in Bath, England, hosting concerts, comedy, theatre, family shows, and classical performances for general public audiences in the South West. The venue is owned by Bath Christian Trust and managed by Bath Forum Limited.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Entertainment Venue

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Live Music Clubs & Venues (MPAGAIAB)

Keywords

• Live event venue
• Music venue
• Comedy shows
• Theatre performances
• Venue hire

Headquarters

HQ city

Bath

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from selling tickets to live events including concerts, comedy shows, theatre performances, family events, and classical concerts.
2. Venue Hire: The Forum offers venue hire services for events, with facilities available for private bookings and corporate events.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Forum is a live entertainment venue that hosts international music acts, comedy shows, theatre productions, family entertainment, and classical concerts inside a Grade II listed Art Deco building in Bath. It sells tickets directly to consumers and partners with Ticketline and Bath Box Office for ticketing distribution, while also offering the venue for private and corporate hire.

Product overview

The Forum is a theatre-style music and events venue in Bath, England, offering a unified live entertainment experience. The core offering consists of event ticketing for concerts, comedy, theatre, lectures, family shows, and tribute acts; venue hire for private functions; and a seasonal 'What's On' brochure. The venue hosts internationally renowned musicians and shows in a historic Grade II listed Art Deco building. Ticketing is delivered through third-party platforms including Bath Box Office (Spektrix) and Ticketline. The Forum is owned by Bath Christian Trust and managed by Bath Forum Limited.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Event Ticketing
• Venue Hire

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• PepperedcoreTechnology or IntegrationPeppered is the technology platform powering The Forum's website and email mailing services. The platform handles website functionality and mailings for the venue.
• TicketlinecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTicketline serves as a primary third-party ticketing platform for The Forum, enabling customers to purchase tickets for events.
• Bath Box OfficecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBath Box Office is a local ticketing partner providing both online and physical box office services for The Forum events. They also distribute free physical brochures.
• Bath PhilharmoniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBath Philharmonia is one of the leading professional orchestras in the South West, performing at The Forum. They have been performing across the region for over 20 years, bringing orchestral music to audiences.
• Bath Christian TrustcoreOthersThe Forum is owned by Bath Christian Trust, a charity registered by guarantee (registered charity number 1085602). The venue is managed by Bath Forum Limited.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Theatre Royal Bath: Theatre Royal Bath is a historic theatre venue in the same city as The Forum, presenting touring drama, comedy, and music productions. It is the most directly comparable peer given identical Bath location and overlapping performing-arts programming model.
• Cadogan Hall: Cadogan Hall is a London concert venue hosting classical, jazz, and contemporary music. It is a comparable performing-arts venue with similar heritage character and programming diversity.
• O2 Academy Bristol: O2 Academy Bristol is a mid-capacity live music venue operated by Academy Music Group, hosting touring bands and comedy acts. It is a direct competitor for the same South West touring-act pool that targets The Forum.
• Warwick Arts Centre: Warwick Arts Centre is a major arts venue at the University of Warwick hosting music, comedy, theatre, and family shows. It is a comparable mid-sized UK venue with a similarly broad programming mandate to The Forum.
• Bristol Beacon: Bristol Beacon (formerly Colston Hall) is a major concert and events venue in nearby Bristol, hosting orchestral, rock, pop, and comedy acts. It is a directly comparable South West venue competing with The Forum for the same regional touring circuit.

Broad incumbents

• Royal Albert Hall: The Royal Albert Hall is a much larger, internationally recognized London concert and events venue. While significantly bigger, it operates a comparable programming model (classical, rock, comedy, family) and competes for premium touring acts that might otherwise route through The Forum.

Emerging players

• Komedia Bath: Komedia Bath is a smaller comedy and music venue in the same city as The Forum. It is a niche local competitor focused primarily on comedy and smaller-scale music, partially overlapping with The Forum's comedy and live music programming.

Regional players

• Exeter Corn Exchange: Exeter Corn Exchange is a regional live entertainment venue in Devon hosting comedy, music, and theatre. It is a comparable South West peer competing for touring acts in an adjacent regional catchment to The Forum.
• St David's Hall: St David's Hall in Cardiff is a concert venue hosting orchestral, pop, rock, and comedy events. It is a comparable UK regional venue of similar capacity and programming mix to The Forum.
• Cheltenham Town Hall: Cheltenham Town Hall is a multi-purpose venue hosting concerts, comedy, and classical performances in the South West. It is a comparable regional venue with similar programming scope to The Forum.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/theforumbath
• Facebookfacebook.com/theforumbath
• Instagraminstagram.com/theforumbath
• TikToktiktok.com/@theforumbath
• Xx.com/theforumbath
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-forum-bath

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Forum