The Bell Inn is a historic, community-owned pub at 103 Walcot Street in central Bath (BA1 5BW) — bought out and run by its regulars, and one of the West Country's most celebrated grass-roots live-music pubs. Free live music runs across the week: Monday nights, every other Tuesday, Wednesday nights and Sunday afternoons, plus DJs on Friday nights and all day Saturday. The programme ranges from jazz and blues to folk and roots (and, in the pub's own words, "some things we are not sure what to call"), showcasing local and international acts alike. Every Thursday the Bell Back Bar hosts The Playgroup open mic, with slots from 8pm or by email reservation, a 2kw PA system and a house piano for performers to use. Opening hours run Mon–Tue 4–11pm, Wed–Sat 1–11pm and Sun 12–10:30pm.
Bath · Every Thursday · Free
Bath's Tuesday-night free open mic at 103 Walcot Street, BA1 5BW — community-owned pub, PA + guitar amp + piano, 12-minute slots.
Next night: Thu 19 Nov. Kick-off 19:00, sign-up from 19:30. 12-minute slots. Free entry.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
Thursdays
| Night | Every Thursday |
| Sign-up | 19:30 walk-in |
| Slot | 12 min |
| Entry | Free · 18+ |
| Backline | PA provided |
| Capacity | c. 120 standing |
| Performer types | Musicians · Poets · Comedians |
| Website | thebellinnbath.co.uk |
| Status | Verified running |
| Last checked | 26 Aug 2026 |
| Checked against | Venue website |
Bath BA1 5BW
The nearest station is Bath Spa (rail station), about 15 minutes' walk away.
| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | TBC |
| Guitar amp | Provided |
| Bass amp | TBC |
| Keys / keyboard | Provided |
| 2 vocal mics | Provided |
| In-house engineer | TBC |
The Bell is Bath's co-operatively owned music pub on Walcot Street - bought and run by its customers, staff and fans - and The Playgroup is its weekly Thursday open mic in the Back Room.
The night
Every Thursday, 7pm to 11pm, in the Back Room. Free to perform and free to watch. Music, poetry and comedy are all welcome: "Whether you are a singer with a new track, a poet with something to say, or a comedian looking for some laughs, we want to see what you've got." Even if you are not performing, come and support the local talent.
Gear
A PA, mics, guitars and a piano are provided, so you can turn up with nothing and still play.
Signing up
Come to the pub on the night to book your slot, or email ahead to reserve a place. Roughly 12-minute slots. Over-18s.
Also on
Live music three times a week across jazz, blues and folk, plus vinyl DJ nights at the weekend - all free.
Getting there
103 Walcot Street, Bath BA1 5BW, a few minutes' walk north of the city centre.
The Bell Inn is a historic, community-owned pub at 103 Walcot Street in central Bath (BA1 5BW) — bought out and run by its regulars, and one of the West Country's most celebrated grass-roots live-music pubs. Free live music runs across the week: Monday nights, every other Tuesday, Wednesday nights and Sunday afternoons, plus DJs on Friday nights and all day Saturday. The programme ranges from jazz and blues to folk and roots (and, in the pub's own words, "some things we are not sure what to call"), showcasing local and international acts alike. Every Thursday the Bell Back Bar hosts The Playgroup open mic, with slots from 8pm or by email reservation, a 2kw PA system and a house piano for performers to use. Opening hours run Mon–Tue 4–11pm, Wed–Sat 1–11pm and Sun 12–10:30pm.
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 Bell Inn Open Mic
Bath's Tuesday-night free open mic at 103 Walcot Street, BA1 5BW — community-owned pub, PA + guitar amp + piano, 12-minute slots.
- Thursday
- Open mic night
- Apr 2026
- Listed since
- 26 Aug
- Last verified
- Free
- Entry
- 12 min
- Slot length
- Verified
- Listing status
Last updated: 13 November 2026
The Bell Inn Open Mic — Quick Facts
The Bell Inn Open Mic runs on Thursdays at The Bell Inn in Bath, starting at 19:00 with sign-up from 19:30. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Music starts around 19:00, finishing about 23:00. Sign-up is on the night from 19:30 - get there early to get a slot. Each act gets about 12 minutes, so the night holds around 20 acts. There is a PA listed - ask what else is on stage before you load in.
What’s on in Bath this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
The Bell is Bath's co-operatively owned music pub on Walcot Street - bought and run by its customers, staff and fans - and The Playgroup is its weekly Thursday open mic in the Back Room.
The night
Every Thursday, 7pm to 11pm, in the Back Room. Free to perform and free to watch. Music, poetry and comedy are all welcome: "Whether you are a singer with a new track, a poet with something to say, or a comedian looking for some laughs, we want to see what you've got." Even if you are not performing, come and support the local talent.
Gear
A PA, mics, guitars and a piano are provided, so you can turn up with nothing and still play.
Signing up
Come to the pub on the night to book your slot, or email ahead to reserve a place. Roughly 12-minute slots. Over-18s.
Also on
Live music three times a week across jazz, blues and folk, plus vinyl DJ nights at the weekend - all free.
Getting there
103 Walcot Street, Bath BA1 5BW, a few minutes' walk north of the city centre.
What's on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
The Night at a Glance
How The Bell Inn’s Thursday night runs.
Every Thursday
Thu 19 Nov · Thu 26 Nov · Thu 3 Dec
The Bell Inn provides a PA system, 2 vocal mics, a guitar amp and keys — check the rest with the venue.
Arrive for 19:30 to get your name on the list, tune up before you go on, and plan a set that fits 12 minutes.
Find The Bell Inn
103 Walcot Street, Bath BA1 5BW
The nearest station is Bath Spa (rail station), about 15 minutes' walk away. You'll find The Bell Inn in Walcot Street, Bath; BA1 5BW is the postcode for sat-nav and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station.
The Claremont, Old Road Tavern, Bath Cider House and Assembly Inn
Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport (Open Government Licence).
Planning Your Thursday Night
Get there by 19:30 to sign up for a slot. The open mic runs until about 23:00. The Bell Inn provides a PA system, 2 vocal mics, a guitar amp and keys — check the rest with the venue.
What should you charge for paid gigs? Most open mic musicians are ready sooner than they think — try the Rate Calculator for live UK rates by role, city and venue size. Part of the Bath live music scene.
Common Questions
9 things people want to know before Bath's The Bell Inn open mic.
Venues Near The Bell Inn
No other gigs are listed at The Bell Inn in the GigXchange directory yet — these are the rooms around it, their size, kit and live nights.
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The Bell Inn open mic in brief. The Bell Inn open mic runs every Thursday from 19:00 (free entry); sign-up opens 19:30 and slots run about 12 minutes. The Bell Inn’s venue page lists its kit and capacity if you want to come back with a full band. The open mics near Bath are listed by day, for another night this week.
Booking or playing in Bath? 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 Bath gigs or check the going rate.
More rooms near The Bell Inn: Chapel Arts Centre, Cheese & Grain, Green Park Brasserie, Komedia, Melksham Assembly Hall, Music Workshop Coffeehouse, Neeld Community and Arts Centre, Old Road Tavern, Prestbury Sports Bar, Ring O' Bells and Roseberry Road Studios.
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