The Retreat Open Mic

Name: Open Mic at The Retreat
Location: The Retreat

The Retreat Open Mic — Quick Facts

Reading's Thursday-night free folk open mic at 8 St John's Street, RG1 4EH — real-ale pub, PA + guitar amp, 15-minute slots.

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

The Details

Everything you need before you turn up

DayThursday

Start8pm

Sign-up7:30pm walk-in

Slot length15 min

EntryFree · all ages

Capacity~50 standing

Performer typesMusic · Folk

Sound engineerBYO / hire on the night

Where

The Retreat 8 St John's Street
City Centre
Reading RG1 4EH

Contact

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

Highlights

Free entry

PA provided

MusicFolkAll agesWalk-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

The Retreat is a small Reading real-ale pub with a Thursday folk-leaning open mic. Solo songwriters and duos dominate.

180 minutes, 12 acts at 15 minutes.

Sign-up process

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

Getting there

8 St John's Street, RG1 4EH. 12 minutes from Reading Rail.

The venue

Single small room. All ages until 9pm. Capacity ~50.

Common Questions

Seven things people ask before turning up at Reading's The Retreat open mic.

How do I sign up to play at The Retreat 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 Reading open mics the same week.

What backline does The Retreat 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 The Retreat open mic?

15 minutes per act — typically 4 songs solo or 5 for a band.

Is The Retreat open mic free?

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

Can I bring a band to The Retreat 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 The Retreat?

8 St John's Street, City Centre, Reading RG1 4EH.

What's the audience like on a Thursday night?

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