The Craftsman is a friendly Southend live-music room that runs a weekly open mic, live lounge and jam night every Thursday from 8pm. Performers get free drinks and an excellent sound system, with all levels welcome and newcomers actively encouraged. Standard kit includes an acoustic guitar, two mics and backing tracks, and you can request extras like a drum kit, electric guitar and amp, keyboard or cajon with a day's notice.
Southend · Every Thursday · No fee listed
Southend's Thursday-night free open mic — craft beer bar.
Next night: Thu 19 Nov. Kick-off 20:00. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
Thursdays
| Night | Every Thursday |
| Sign-up | Ask the host |
| Slot | Ask the host |
| Entry | No fee listed · 18+ |
| Backline | PA provided |
| Capacity | c. 50 standing |
| Performer types | Musicians |
| Status | Being verified |
No sign-up. We review corrections within 7 days.
Southend SS1 1BW
The nearest station is Southend Central (rail station), about 5 minutes' walk away.
| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | Provided |
| Guitar amp | Provided |
| Bass amp | Bring your own |
| Keys / keyboard | Provided |
| 2 vocal mics | Provided |
| In-house engineer | None |
Thursday open mic runs weekly at this craft beer bar near Southend High Street.
Sign-up process
Walk-in.
Getting there
Alexandra Street, SS1 1BW. 5 minutes from Southend Central Rail.
The venue
18+. Capacity c. 50.
The Craftsman is a friendly Southend live-music room that runs a weekly open mic, live lounge and jam night every Thursday from 8pm. Performers get free drinks and an excellent sound system, with all levels welcome and newcomers actively encouraged. Standard kit includes an acoustic guitar, two mics and backing tracks, and you can request extras like a drum kit, electric guitar and amp, keyboard or cajon with a day's notice.
One tap. It tells the next act what to expect.
| 01 | Correct the day, time and sign-up |
| 02 | Edit your profile and photos |
| 03 | Receive artist enquiries |
| 04 | Update backline and capacity |
The Craftsman Open Mic
Southend's Thursday-night free open mic — craft beer bar. Starts at 20:00.
- Thursday
- Open mic night
- May 2026
- Listed since
- 30 Sept
- Last checked
- No fee
- Entry
- —
- Sign-up time
- Community
- Listing status
About this directory
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More Southend open mics
Last updated: 13 November 2026
The Craftsman Open Mic — Quick Facts
The Craftsman Open Mic runs on Thursdays at The Craftsman in Southend, starting at 20:00. Southend's Thursday-night free open mic — craft beer bar. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.

The night starts at 20:00 and runs to about 23:00. A PA is listed; check what else is on stage before you bring a band.
What’s on in Southend this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
Thursday open mic runs weekly at this craft beer bar near Southend High Street.
Sign-up process
Walk-in.
Getting there
Alexandra Street, SS1 1BW. 5 minutes from Southend Central Rail.
The venue
18+. Capacity c. 50.
Equipment and backline at this venue — what's on stage, verified regularly.
The Night at a Glance
How The Craftsman’s Thursday night runs.
Every Thursday
Thu 19 Nov · Thu 26 Nov · Thu 3 Dec
The Craftsman provides a PA system, 2 vocal mics, a drum kit, a guitar amp and keys; bring your own bass amp; no in-house sound engineer.
Arrive early to get your name on the list, tune up before you go on.
Find The Craftsman
Alexandra Street, Southend SS1 1BW
The nearest station is Southend Central (rail station), about 5 minutes' walk away. You'll find The Craftsman in Southend; SS1 1BW is the postcode for sat-nav and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station.
The Park Tavern, East Coast Social, The Railway Hotel and The Alex
Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport (Open Government Licence).
Planning Your Thursday Night
Get there early to sign up for a slot. The open mic runs until about 23:00. The Craftsman provides a PA system, 2 vocal mics, a drum kit, a guitar amp and keys; bring your own bass amp; no in-house sound engineer.
How much should paid gigs pay you? Most open mic musicians are ready sooner than they think — try the Rate Calculator for live UK rates by role, city and venue size. A night in the Southend live music scene.
Common Questions
9 things people want to know before Southend's The Craftsman open mic.
Venues Near The Craftsman
No other gigs are listed at The Craftsman in the GigXchange directory yet — these are the rooms around it, their size, kit and live nights.
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See what’s on in Southend over the next four weeks →
The Craftsman open mic in brief. The Craftsman open mic runs every Thursday from 20:00 (no fee listed). The Craftsman’s venue page lists its kit and capacity if you want to come back with a full band. For another night this week, the open mics near Southend are listed by day.
Booking or playing in Southend? The GX Index publishes what UK gigs actually pay, by city, band size and venue type, and the GX Index reports set out the methodology and the sample behind every figure. Both are free to read and free to cite.
Keep exploring: the UK gig directory for what's coming up, the venue directory for rooms that book live music, the open mic finder for recurring stage time, and what's on across the UK this week. The blog covers pricing, contracts and getting booked, and about GigXchange explains who runs it and why. Something not right on this page? Tell us — or start on the home page.
Looking for paid gigs, not open mics? See Southend gigs or check the going rate.
More rooms near The Craftsman: Garon Park, Leigh Community Centre, Leigh on Sea Constitutional Club, Southend Cliffs Pavilion, St Andrew's Church, The Alex, The Mill Arts And Events Centre, The Mole Hole Micro Pub, The Park Tavern, The Railway Hotel and The Welcome Club.
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