I'm a real venue snob these days. If the venue is gash I will often give the gig a miss. I'm incredibly stubborn, I know.

Top (most based in Leeds)
Brudenell Social Club
Hyde Park Picture House (Yeah it's a cinema, they also do a few gigs)
The Library, Leeds (Probably one of the best venues for live sound in Leeds after the Brud)
Left Bank Church
Howard Assembly Room
Holy Trinity Church

Worst
So many dreadful venues in Leeds. Most pubs/bars (Carpe, Oporto, Nation of Shopkeepers)
Leeds Academy
Leeds Uni Refectory
Manchester Academy (all 3 of them)
Snooty Fox, Wakefield
Manchester Night & Day
Most arenas

The Cockpit in Leeds is so hit and miss. The venue itself is good with a variety of different rooms that can generate a really good atmosphere but everything else is terrible. The beer is crap and the toilets are a disgrace. When attending a gig here I usually booze somewhere else, turn up and watch the gig, go back to boozing somewhere else.

Another venue I forgot. Brilliant in there and it's quality for comedy nights

Best venue used to be the Liverpool Royal Court, but alas, it's now some comedy club. Excellent sound to be found at Manchester Ritz, Warrington Parr Hall and Northampton Roadmenders.

The worst by far has to be Liverpool echo arena. Acoustics are dreadful.

It appears most people dislike arena's, I suppose they're a necassery evil, if you want to see a bigger band then you've got to go, or do as I do and tend to give em a miss!

Best:
St. Helens Citadel, a lovely little clean & tidy venue & accessible with the cinema car parking nearby only holds probably 250 maximum.

Holmfirth Picturedrome, has made some decent improvements over the last couple of years & putting some great bands on nowadays.

York The Duchess & Fibbers, not fussed 'cos I enjoy visiting both venues.

Bury Met, again, a tidy little venue, small capacity but lovely old theatre.

Burnley Mechanics, only attended an all seated gig there but very tidy indeed & being an acoustic show it leant itself very well to the ambience of the evening.

Halifax square chapel theatre, beautiful acoustics & surroundings, not used often enough though.

Worst:
Sheffield Corporation, oh dear what a dump !

Newcastle Legends, rock club of the worst type, ditto Wakefield Black Flag ( could be cloded or name change now )

Any of the 02 Academies or Uni venues, pretty much soul-less places now I'm long gone a teenager, crap beers & toilets !

M.E.N., Sheffield arena etc etc just too big but if you need to see big name artistes you have it to do unfortunately.

I'm looking forward to the Leeds arena but I guess it'll be not much different. I still hope to visit Edinburgh playhouse & Glasgow Barrowlands, maybe some day.

Another vote here for the deaf institute manchester.
the back room at the cavern club liverpool has everything.
bar a couple of pillars the lomax is a cracker in liverpool
the citadel in st helens
----------------
worst is anything that holds more than 400

Im going to add Manchester Ritz to best list. Third visit to the venue last night. First on the balcony and the sound was just amazing one of the best places I have been.
Also not sure if it is Night & Day but in manchester one venue has a massive pillar in the middle of the standing area and also a dog leg bend. Only been once and would try and avoid it at all costs again.

Best Holmfirth picturedrome
Worst- New roscoe/ snooty fox

Not really got a worse as the band/gig make the night special.

I like the Picturedrome, Holmfirth and the Leadmill in Sheffield as i find them more intimate and a better atmosphere than bigger places.

Nottingham Rock City is a quality venue which generally draws big crowds and much cheaper beer prices than the £4 a pint O2 Academy rip off.

The Vic in Derby is a s*** hole but its our s*** hole and puts on some great bands plus is easy to sneak in free too so deserves a mention.

Best;
Shepherds Bush Empire
Bush Hall - Shepherds Bush (I like it in the bush.......)
Ritz Manchester
Portsmouth Guildhall (but can be full of d*ckheads)
Cardiff Uni
Royal Albert Hall
Basingstoke Anvil

Worst
Southampton Guildhall
Hammersmith Odeon/Apollo/Academy (or what ever else it's calling it's self this week)
Wembley Arena
Brighton Arena

Best:

Brixton Academy (although the area is a bit dodgy, class venue though)
Manc Apollo/ deaf institute
Northampton Roadmenders
Mad Ferret, Preston

Worst:

Apart from the soulless arenas mentioned by most on here there are very few I'd call terrible.

Does anyone think the new Leeds Arena might be on peoples best list when it opens? I know most people (me included) dislike arena venues but with the different design the audience should be closer to the stage

I'm with you on this, potential to be fantastic