Bear & Staff Open Mic

Name: Open Mic at Bear & Staff
Location: Bear & Staff

Bear & Staff Open Mic — Quick Facts

Leicester Square's Wednesday-night free open mic at 24 Bear Street, WC2H 7AS — Nicholson's pub, PA + guitar amp, 12-minute slots.

✓ Verified active Last verified 28 Apr 2026 Source: designmynight.com + venue confirmation

The Details

Everything you need before you turn up

DayWednesday

Start8pm

Sign-up7:30pm walk-in

Slot length12 min

EntryFree · 18+

Capacity~80 standing

Performer typesMusic

Sound engineerBYO / hire on the night

Where

Bear & Staff 24 Bear Street
Leicester Square
London WC2H 7AS

Contact

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

Highlights

Free entry

PA provided

Music18+Walk-in

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What's on Stage

PA + monitors

Drum kit

Guitar amp

Bass amp

Keys / keyboard

2 vocal mics

In-house engineer

Bear & Staff is a Nicholson's pub off Leicester Square. Wednesday open mic in the upstairs room.

180 minutes, 15 acts at 12 minutes.

Sign-up process

Sheet upstairs at 7:30pm. Walk-in.

Getting there

24 Bear Street, WC2H 7AS. 1 minute from Leicester Square (Piccadilly, Northern).

The venue

Nicholson's pub upstairs room. 18+. Capacity ~80.

Common Questions

Seven things people ask before turning up at London's Bear & Staff open mic.

How do I sign up to play at Bear & Staff 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 Bear & Staff provide?

PA + vocal mic provided. BYO instrument and amp. Need a venue with full backline? Try the backline filter.

How long is a slot at Bear & Staff open mic?

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

Is Bear & Staff open mic free?

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

Can I bring a band to Bear & Staff open mic?

Solo and duo acts work best given the gear available; ask the host before bringing a full band. For full-band-friendly mics, filter the directory by backline.

Where is Bear & Staff?

24 Bear Street, Leicester Square, London WC2H 7AS.

What's the audience like on a Wednesday 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.