Every Wednesday in Reading
Kicks off at 20:30, sign-up from 19:30
Free entry for performers and audience
12-minute slots
PA provided — BYO instrument
Part of the Reading open mic directory
Reading · Every Wednesday · Free
The Fisherman's Cottage Open Mic
Reading open mic at The Fisherman's Cottage — listed on Google Places. Schedule below pending venue confirmation; check the venue's own listings before turning up.
Open mic at a glance The Fisherman's Cottage · Reading
Wednesday
Open mic night
Apr 2026
Listed since
03 Jun
Last verified
Free
Entry
12 min
Slot length
Verified
Listing status
Plan your open mic night
Check the venue, or find more open mics in Reading.
Last updated: 3 June 2026
The Fisherman's Cottage Open Mic — Quick Facts
Reading open mic at The Fisherman's Cottage — listed on Google Places. Schedule below pending venue confirmation; check the venue's own listings before turning up.
The Details
Everything you need before you turn up
DayWednesday
Start20:30
Sign-up19:30 walk-in
Slot length12 min
EntryFree · 18+
Capacity–
Performer typesMusic · Poetry · Comedy
Sound engineerBYO / hire on the night
Where
The Fisherman's CottageKennet Side
Reading RG1 3DW
Reading — 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, Poetry, Comedy 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
Vocal mics
In-house engineer
About This Open Mic
The Night
The Fisherman's Cottage is a lovely canal-side pub on Kennet Side, and every Wednesday at 8:30pm it hosts Rob Sowden's long-running "Bohemian Night" open mic. It's wonderfully anything-goes — music, poetry and comedy all welcome ("anything you like as long as it's not getting naked, or anything to do with fire") — with a roughly two-song-or-equivalent-time rule and a resident piano, guitar and cajon on hand. No booking: just turn up, get your name down and aim to be there by 8:30 to be sure of a spot. Absolutely all are welcome.
About The Fisherman's Cottage
The Fisherman's Cottage is a charming canal-side gastropub on Kennet Side (RG1 3DW) in Reading, sitting on the bank of the Kennet & Avon canal. It runs a bohemian weekly open-mic night every Wednesday (hosted by Rob Sowden) and live jazz and blues nights roughly fortnightly on Tuesdays, with music typically from 7:30pm, free entry and donations welcomed. Pet-friendly, with a PA for performers and a wide menu of freshly cooked food — a relaxed riverside spot for acoustic, folk, jazz and blues acts.
Planning Your Wednesday Night
Arrive by 19:30 to sign up for a slot. Entry is free and the open mic typically runs until late. A PA is provided — bring your own instrument and amp.
Part of the Reading 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 Fisherman's Cottage
Kennet Side, Reading RG1 3DW
Common Questions
Seven things people ask before turning up at Reading's The Fisherman's Cottage open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 19:30. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Reading 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 Reading mics are free; browse the list.
Solo and duo acts work best given the gear available; ask the host before bringing a full band.
Kennet Side, Reading RG1 3DW.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Reading regulars across the Reading open mic scene. Reading open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
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