The venue is housed in a historic 1830 building called The Wool Hall. The Fleece and Firkin opened in about 1982, Firkin being the name of the brewery that owned it. (A firkin is a unit of measure for ale and other products).
The venue came under new management in 2010, being sold to Chris Sharp of Bristol band The Blue Aeroplanes - we assume that this is when it changed to just 'The Fleece' as the Firkin brewery were no longer involved.
The site states "Legendary live music venue situated in the heart of Bristol, offering live music and club nights 7 nights per week since 1982! The Fleece is a grade II* listed building, first used as a sheep trading market in the 1800s, hence the name! Since its groundbreaking redesign in 2021, The Fleece now offers stunning new facilities, a larger stage with new PA and viewing screens. The Fleece is a fully accessible venue with a dedicated viewing area and facilities. Bristol’s largest independent venue has hosted the likes of Radiohead, Idles, Oasis, Muse, Kae Tempest, Suede, Jeff Buckley, Amy Winehouse, Frank Carter & Rattlesnakes, Queens Of The Stone Age, Self Esteem, The Darkness, Anne-Marie, The Hives, George Ezra and Ed Sheeran to name few! And continues to attract exciting acts from around the world."