The George Tavern Open Mic

Name: Open Mic at The George Tavern
Location: The George Tavern

The George Tavern Open Mic — Quick Facts

Stepney's Tuesday-night free open mic at 373 Commercial Road, E1 0LA — Grade II listed venue, full backline, in-house engineer, 12-minute slots.

✓ Verified active Last verified 28 Apr 2026 Source: thegeorgetavern.co.uk + venue confirmation

The Details

Everything you need before you turn up

DayTuesday

Start8pm

Sign-up7:30pm walk-in

Slot length12 min

EntryFree · all ages

Capacity~200 standing

Performer typesMusic · Poetry

Sound engineerIn-house, included

Where

The George Tavern 373 Commercial Road
Stepney
London E1 0LA

Contact

Walk-in sign-up only
No advance booking
Host: in-house team

Highlights

Free entry

Full backlineIn-house engineer

MusicPoetryAll agesWalk-in

Spotted something wrong with this listing? Closed, moved night, different start time? Let us know and we'll re-verify within 48 hours.

What's on Stage

PA + monitors

Drum kit

Guitar amp

Bass amp

Keys / keyboard

3 vocal mics

In-house engineer

The George Tavern is a Grade II listed pub that's fought off developers twice to keep running live music. The Tuesday open mic uses the main floor stage — same one The xx, Plan B and Amy Winehouse used early in their careers.

The format is 210 minutes, around 17 acts at 12 minutes. Crowd is typically 80-150 depending on the week, with a good mix of local songwriters, poets, and the occasional full band. Sound is clean — there's a proper engineer and the PA does the room without needing volume tricks.

Sign-up process

Sign-up sheet at the bar at 7:30pm. The first 15 are confirmed; the last 2-3 run only if earlier acts drop out. Walk-in only.

Getting there

373 Commercial Road, E1 0LA. 8 minutes from Limehouse DLR/Rail, 10 minutes from Shadwell DLR. Buses 5, 15, 115, 135 stop directly outside.

The venue

Single big room — bar at one end, stage at the other. Capacity ~200, all standing. Full bar; pub food until 9pm. The vibe is grungy, warm, and very east-London — bring layers, the heating is unpredictable.

Common Questions

Seven things people ask before turning up at London's The George Tavern open mic.

How do I sign up to play at The George Tavern open mic?

Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 7:30pm. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. Backup options if you don't get on: other London open mics the same week.

What backline does The George Tavern provide?

Full backline: drum kit, guitar amp, bass amp, vocal mics, plus an in-house sound engineer. Bring your own instrument and pedals. Want a similar setup elsewhere? Filter the open mic directory by “Full backline”.

How long is a slot at The George Tavern open mic?

12 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo or 4 for a band.

Is The George Tavern open mic free?

Yes — free entry for performers and audience. Most London mics are free; browse the list.

Can I bring a band to The George Tavern open mic?

Yes — full bands welcome and the backline is set up for it. Once you've played a few of these, see our guide on how to get paid gigs in London.

Where is The George Tavern?

373 Commercial Road, Stepney, London E1 0LA.

What's the audience like on a Tuesday night?

Mostly fellow musicians, friends and London regulars who turn up across the London live music scene. London open mic crowds tend to listen attentively — this isn't a chatter-over-the-music kind of night.