The Polar Bear Open Mic

Name: Open Mic at The Polar Bear
Location: The Polar Bear

The Polar Bear Open Mic — Quick Facts

Hull's Monday-night free open mic at 229 Spring Bank, HU3 1LR — long-running music pub, full backline, in-house engineer, 12-minute slots.

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

The Details

Everything you need before you turn up

DayMonday

Start8pm

Sign-up7:30pm walk-in

Slot length12 min

EntryFree · 18+

Capacity~150 standing

Performer typesMusic

Sound engineerIn-house, included

Where

The Polar Bear 229 Spring Bank
City Centre
Hull HU3 1LR

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 Polar Bear is Hull's longest-running independent music pub. Monday open mic uses the back gig room with full backline.

180 minutes, 15 acts at 12 minutes.

Sign-up process

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

Getting there

229 Spring Bank, HU3 1LR. 12 minutes from Hull Rail.

The venue

Pub with back gig room. 18+. Capacity ~150.

Common Questions

Seven things people ask before turning up at Hull's The Polar Bear open mic.

How do I sign up to play at The Polar Bear 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 Hull open mics the same week.

What backline does The Polar Bear 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 Polar Bear open mic?

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

Is The Polar Bear open mic free?

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

Can I bring a band to The Polar Bear 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 Hull.

Where is The Polar Bear?

229 Spring Bank, City Centre, Hull HU3 1LR.

What's the audience like on a Monday night?

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