Every Thursday in Town Centre, Chipping Ongar
Kicks off at 20:00, sign-up from 19:30
Free entry for performers and audience
12-minute slots
PA provided — BYO instrument
Part of the Chipping Ongar open mic directory
Town Centre · Monthly on Thursdays · Free
The Cock Tavern Open Mic
Chipping Ongar's Acoustic Jukbox Open Mic on the second Thursday of each month at 218 High Street, CM5 9AB.
Open mic at a glance The Cock Tavern · Chipping Ongar
Thursday
Open mic night
May 2026
Listed since
03 Jun
Last verified
Free
Entry
12 min
Slot length
Verified
Listing status
Last updated: 13 Jun 2026
The Cock Tavern Open Mic — Quick Facts
Chipping Ongar's Acoustic Jukbox Open Mic on the second Thursday of each month at 218 High Street, CM5 9AB.
The Details
Everything you need before you turn up
DayThursday
Start20:00
Sign-up19:30 walk-in
Slot length12 min
EntryFree · all ages
Capacity~50 standing
Performer typesMusic
Sound engineerBYO / hire on the night
Where
The Cock Tavern218 High Street
Town Centre
Chipping Ongar CM5 9AB
Town Centre, Chipping Ongar — check venue website for parking and nearest station.
Contact
Walk-in sign-up only
No advance booking
Host: in-house team
Highlights
Free entry for all
PA system provided
Walk-in sign-up
Music welcome
How do you rate this open mic?One tap, no sign-up required.
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
Equipment and backline available at this venue. We verify and update this section regularly.
PA + monitors
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
2 vocal mics
In-house engineer
About This Open Mic
The Night
The Cock Tavern, a traditional real-ale pub on Chipping Ongar's High Street, hosts the Acoustic Jukebox Open Mic on the second Thursday of every month, 8pm till 10:30pm. There's a lovely twist that sets it apart: a resident guitarist is on hand who can accompany pretty much any song you'd like to sing, so even singers without an instrument can take the stage (message ahead if you want an accompanist). PA and mics are provided, and under-18s are welcome to perform before 9pm, making it one of the more family-friendly mics in rural Essex.
About The Cock Tavern
The Cock Tavern is a live music venue in Town Centre, Chipping Ongar, hosting regular open mic nights for local musicians and performers. Whether you're a seasoned gigging musician or stepping up to perform for the first time, The Cock Tavern provides a welcoming stage and audience.
Planning Your Thursday Night
Arrive by 19:30 to sign up for a slot. Entry is free and the open mic typically runs until 22:30. A PA is provided — bring your own instrument and amp.
Part of the Chipping Ongar live music scene.
What should you charge for paid gigs?Most open mic musicians are ready for paid work sooner than they think. Check live UK rates by role, city, and venue size.
Try the Rate CalculatorFind The Cock Tavern
218 High Street, Town Centre, Chipping Ongar CM5 9AB
Common Questions
Seven things people ask before turning up at Chipping Ongar's The Cock Tavern open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 19:30. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Chipping Ongar open mic nights for alternatives.
PA + vocal mic provided. BYO instrument and amp.
12 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo.
Yes — free entry for performers and audience. Most Chipping Ongar mics are free; browse the list.
Solo and duo acts work best given the gear available; ask the host before bringing a full band.
218 High Street, Town Centre, Chipping Ongar CM5 9AB.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Chipping Ongar regulars across the Chipping Ongar open mic scene. Chipping Ongar open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
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