The Anvil Open Mic

Name: Open Mic at The Anvil
Location: The Anvil

The Anvil Open Mic — Quick Facts

Bournemouth's Tuesday-night free open mic at 78 Holdenhurst Road, BH8 8AE — independent music pub, full backline, in-house engineer, 12-minute slots.

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

The Details

Everything you need before you turn up

DayTuesday

Start8pm

Sign-up7:30pm walk-in

Slot length12 min

EntryFree · 18+

Capacity~150 standing

Performer typesMusic

Sound engineerIn-house, included

Where

The Anvil 78 Holdenhurst Road
City Centre
Bournemouth BH8 8AE

Contact

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

Highlights

Free entry

Full backlineIn-house engineer

Music18+Walk-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 Anvil is Bournemouth's primary indie music pub. Tuesday open mic uses the back stage with full backline.

180 minutes, 15 acts at 12 minutes.

Sign-up process

Sheet at the bar at 7:30pm. Walk-in.

Getting there

78 Holdenhurst Road, BH8 8AE. 8 minutes from Bournemouth Rail.

The venue

Pub with back stage. 18+. Capacity ~150.

Common Questions

Seven things people ask before turning up at Bournemouth's The Anvil open mic.

How do I sign up to play at The Anvil 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 Bournemouth open mics the same week.

What backline does The Anvil 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 Anvil open mic?

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

Is The Anvil open mic free?

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

Can I bring a band to The Anvil 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 Bournemouth.

Where is The Anvil?

78 Holdenhurst Road, City Centre, Bournemouth BH8 8AE.

What's the audience like on a Tuesday night?

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