The John Hewitt at 51 Donegall Street, Belfast (BT1 2FH) is a much-loved social-enterprise bar — owned by the Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre and run by the Boundary Brewing Co-operative — that's one of the best spots in the city for live folk and traditional music. Its snug, traditional interior hosts an eclectic weekly programme: trad sessions plus jazz-funk fusion, blues, a regular jazz band, acoustic acts and the Belfast Groove Collective. Music sessions run Thursdays 8–10:30pm, Saturdays 6–10pm and Sundays 4–6:30pm, with the kitchen handled by Franky's Lasagneria.
Belfast · Every Wednesday · No fee listed
The John Hewitt Open Mic
Belfast open mic at The John Hewitt — listed on Google Places. Schedule details below are pending venue confirmation; check the venue's own listings before turning up.
Next night: Wed 18 Nov. Kick-off 20:00. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
At a glance
Checked 5 Sept 202620:00
Kick-off
Wednesdays
sign-up on the nightWednesdays
| Night | Every Wednesday |
| Sign-up | Ask the host |
| Slot | Ask the host |
| Entry | No fee listed · 18+ |
| Backline | PA provided |
01 — Inside the room
4 photosPhotos: Google
129
page views on GigXchange. Is it your night?
0 members voted to bring the venue onto GigXchange02 — The details
Before you goEverything you need to know
0
Member votes
votes to get this venue on GigXchange
| Capacity | – |
| Performer types | Musicians |
| Website | thejohnhewitt.com |
The check
| Status | Being verified |
Help keep this trueOne tap
Is this night still on?
No sign-up. We review corrections within 7 days.
03 — The night
Every WednesdayHow the night runs
20:00
Kick-off
WednesdaysRunning order
20:00 Kick-off
00:00 Venue closes
04 — Find The John Hewitt
BelfastGetting there
51 Donegall St,
Belfast BT1 2FH
Belfast BT1 2FH
05 — What's on stage
1 provided · 6 TBC| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | TBC |
| Guitar amp | TBC |
| Bass amp | TBC |
| Keys / keyboard | TBC |
| Vocal mics | TBC |
| In-house engineer | TBC |
06 — About
BelfastAbout the night
The John Hewitt is listed on Google Places as hosting open mic nights in Belfast. We've verified the venue exists at the address below; the day, start time and slot length still need direct confirmation from the venue.
Getting there
51 Donegall St, Belfast BT1 2FH.
Photos
Four photos sourced from Google Places contributors are shown above the map.
The John Hewitt at 51 Donegall Street, Belfast (BT1 2FH) is a much-loved social-enterprise bar — owned by the Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre and run by the Boundary Brewing Co-operative — that's one of the best spots in the city for live folk and traditional music. Its snug, traditional interior hosts an eclectic weekly programme: trad sessions plus jazz-funk fusion, blues, a regular jazz band, acoustic acts and the Belfast Groove Collective. Music sessions run Thursdays 8–10:30pm, Saturdays 6–10pm and Sundays 4–6:30pm, with the kitchen handled by Franky's Lasagneria.
Played here before?One tap
How was the night?
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Run this room?
This night - and this page - is yours.
What you get | 01 | Correct the day, time and sign-up |
| 02 | Edit your profile and photos |
| 03 | Receive artist enquiries |
| 04 | Update backline and capacity |
Belfast · Every Wednesday
The John Hewitt Open Mic
Belfast open mic at The John Hewitt — listed on Google Places. Schedule details below are pending venue confirmation; check the venue's own listings before turning up.
- Wednesday
- Open mic night
- Apr 2026
- Listed since
- 5 Sept
- Last checked
- No fee
- Entry
- —
- Sign-up time
- Community
- Listing status
Run a Belfast open mic? List it free — reviewed before it goes live
Last updated: 13 November 2026
The John Hewitt Open Mic — Quick Facts
The John Hewitt Open Mic runs on Wednesdays at The John Hewitt in Belfast, starting at 20:00. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Open mic status Last checked 5 Sept 2026
How sure we are
Partly verified
The night starts at 20:00. A PA is listed; check what else is on stage before you bring a band.
Next nightWed 18 Nov · 20:00Starts in 5d 12h 23m
Age18+
BacklinePA provided
Sound engineerAsk the venue
Directory statusBeing verified
Member votes0 to get the venue on GigXchange
Websitethejohnhewitt.com
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. We review corrections within 7 days.
NightWednesdayEvery WednesdayNext: Wed 18 Nov
Starts20:00start time
Sign-upTBCsign-upNot confirmed yet
SlotsTBCslot lengthNot confirmed yet
What’s on in Belfast this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
The John Hewitt is listed on Google Places as hosting open mic nights in Belfast. We've verified the venue exists at the address below; the day, start time and slot length still need direct confirmation from the venue.
Getting there
51 Donegall St, Belfast BT1 2FH.
Photos
Four photos sourced from Google Places contributors are shown above the map.
Equipment and backline at this venue — what's on stage, verified regularly.
PA systemProvided
Drum kitTBC
Guitar ampTBC
Bass ampTBC
Keys / keyboardTBC
Vocal micsTBC
In-house engineerTBC
The Night at a Glance
How The John Hewitt’s Wednesday night runs.
Next nightWed 18 Nov · 20:00Starts in 5d 12h 23m
Kick-off20:00Every Wednesday
Venue closes00:00The listed closing time
How often
Every Wednesday
Coming up
Wed 18 Nov · Wed 25 Nov · Wed 2 Dec
Kit
The John Hewitt provides a PA system — check the rest with the venue.
First time here?
Get there early for a slot, have your instrument tuned before your turn.
Find The John Hewitt
51 Donegall St, Belfast BT1 2FH
Address51 Donegall St
AreaBelfast
PostcodeBT1 2FH
DirectionsOpen in Google Maps →
Getting there
The John Hewitt is in Belfast — use BT1 2FH for sat-nav, taxis and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station before you set off.
Open mics nearby
Oh Yeah Music Centre, Denvir's Coaching Inn, The Second Fiddle and The American Bar
Planning Your Wednesday Night
Arrive early to get your name down. The John Hewitt provides a PA system — check the rest with the venue.
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What should you charge for a paid gig? 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 Belfast live music scene.
Common Questions
8 questions people ask before going to Belfast's The John Hewitt open mic.
Sign-up via the venue. See all Belfast open mic nights.
The John Hewitt provides a PA system — check the rest with the venue.
Slot length varies — check with the host.
No entry fee is listed for The John Hewitt's open mic - most open mics are free to play and to watch, but check with the venue before you go. Browse Belfast open mics.
Ask the host before bringing a full band — solo and duo acts are the usual open-mic format.
51 Donegall St, Belfast BT1 2FH.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Belfast regulars across the Belfast open mic scene. Belfast open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
GigXchange doesn't publish venue phone numbers or emails - the venue's own website is linked on this page. Browse other Belfast open mics.
Venues Near The John Hewitt
No other gigs are listed at The John Hewitt in the GigXchange directory yet — these are the rooms around it, their size, kit and live nights.
08 — Keep up with Belfast
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See what’s on in Belfast over the next four weeks →
The John Hewitt open mic in brief. The John Hewitt open mic runs every Wednesday from 20:00 (no fee listed). The John Hewitt’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 Belfast are listed by day.
Booking or playing in Belfast? 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.
09 — More Belfast open mics
All ›Looking for paid gigs, not open mics? See Belfast gigs or check the going rate.
10 — Venues near The John Hewitt
All ›More rooms near The John Hewitt: Bullitt Hotel, Denvir's Coaching Inn, Empire Music Hall, Errigle Inn, Fibber Magees, Fountain Lane, Granny Annies Kitchen, Haymarket Belfast, Henry's, Kelly's Cellars and Kitchen Bar.
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