The Essex Arms is a character pub and grassroots live music venue at 14 Warley Hill, Brentwood, Essex (CM14 5HA). Long known locally for its entertainment line-up, it hosts live bands, gigs and open-mic nights in its 'SX'/Seaxe bar, alongside blues jams, quiz nights, jive-swing dance classes, karaoke and tribute acts. Promoters such as JAR (Just Another Rebellion) run regular multi-band original-music nights here featuring high-voltage rock'n'roll and punk-leaning acts, with tickets typically £10-£20. There's a patio beer garden, Marlowe's burgers and a private function room. Contact 01277 201164. (Note: imported as 'Watford' with an Ember Inns Watford website - both incorrect; the source listing and JAR gigs are at the Brentwood Essex Arms.)
Brentwood · Every Monday · No fee listed
Brentwood's Monday-night Phoenix FM Open Mic at 10 Warley Hill, CM14 5HA — weekly, community radio partnership.
Next night: Mon 16 Nov. Kick-off 20:00, sign-up from 19:30. 12-minute slots. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
Mondays
| Night | Every Monday |
| Sign-up | 19:30 walk-in |
| Slot | 12 min |
| Entry | No fee listed · 18+ |
| Backline | PA provided |
| Capacity | c. 60 standing |
| Performer types | Musicians |
| Status | Verified running |
| Last checked | 27 Sept 2026 |
| Checked against | Music directory |
Brentwood CM14 5HA
The nearest station is Brentwood (rail station), about 5 minutes' walk away.
| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | TBC |
| Guitar amp | TBC |
| Bass amp | TBC |
| Keys / keyboard | TBC |
| 2 vocal mics | Provided |
| In-house engineer | TBC |
The Essex Arms in Warley (Brentwood) runs the Phoenix FM Open Mic every Monday, 8pm until 10.15pm — a partnership with the local community radio station, where sets are recorded and some get aired on Phoenix 98FM's Sunday Sessions. It's geared to singers (pro, semi-pro and newcomers alike): two Shure SM58 mics, single instruments plug straight into the desk, and backing tracks from a laptop, tablet, phone or the house iPad are welcome. Note: full bands and long acoustic sets aren't suitable, though a singer with one accompanying instrument or a duet works fine. Free to play.
The Essex Arms is a character pub and grassroots live music venue at 14 Warley Hill, Brentwood, Essex (CM14 5HA). Long known locally for its entertainment line-up, it hosts live bands, gigs and open-mic nights in its 'SX'/Seaxe bar, alongside blues jams, quiz nights, jive-swing dance classes, karaoke and tribute acts. Promoters such as JAR (Just Another Rebellion) run regular multi-band original-music nights here featuring high-voltage rock'n'roll and punk-leaning acts, with tickets typically £10-£20. There's a patio beer garden, Marlowe's burgers and a private function room. Contact 01277 201164. (Note: imported as 'Watford' with an Ember Inns Watford website - both incorrect; the source listing and JAR gigs are at the Brentwood Essex Arms.)
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The Essex Arms Open Mic
Brentwood's Monday-night Phoenix FM Open Mic at 10 Warley Hill, CM14 5HA — weekly, community radio partnership.
- Monday
- Open mic night
- May 2026
- Listed since
- 27 Sept
- Last verified
- No fee
- Entry
- 12 min
- Slot length
- Verified
- Listing status
Last updated: 13 November 2026
The Essex Arms Open Mic — Quick Facts
The Essex Arms Open Mic runs on Mondays at The Essex Arms in Brentwood, starting at 20:00 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 20:00, finishing about 22:15. Sign-up is on the night from 19:30 - get there early to get a slot. Slots run about 12 minutes - room for roughly 11 acts. There is a PA listed - ask what else is on stage before you load in.
What’s on in Brentwood this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
The Essex Arms in Warley (Brentwood) runs the Phoenix FM Open Mic every Monday, 8pm until 10.15pm — a partnership with the local community radio station, where sets are recorded and some get aired on Phoenix 98FM's Sunday Sessions. It's geared to singers (pro, semi-pro and newcomers alike): two Shure SM58 mics, single instruments plug straight into the desk, and backing tracks from a laptop, tablet, phone or the house iPad are welcome. Note: full bands and long acoustic sets aren't suitable, though a singer with one accompanying instrument or a duet works fine. Free to play.
The kit on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
The Night at a Glance
How The Essex Arms’s Monday night runs.
Every Monday
Mon 16 Nov · Mon 23 Nov · Mon 30 Nov
The Essex Arms provides a PA system and 2 vocal mics — 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 Essex Arms
10 Warley Hill, Brentwood CM14 5HA
The nearest station is Brentwood (rail station), about 5 minutes' walk away. You'll find The Essex Arms in Warley, Brentwood; CM14 5HA is the postcode for sat-nav and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station.
Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport (Open Government Licence).
Planning Your Monday Night
Be there by 19:30 to put your name down. The open mic runs until about 22:15. The Essex Arms provides a PA system and 2 vocal mics — check the rest with the venue.
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. Part of the Brentwood live music scene.
Common Questions
9 things people ask before turning up at Brentwood's The Essex Arms open mic.
What’s On at The Essex Arms
The gigs coming up at The Essex Arms besides the open mic, from the GigXchange directory — each one links its listing.
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The Essex Arms open mic in brief. The Essex Arms open mic runs every Monday from 20:00 (no fee listed); sign-up opens 19:30 and slots run about 12 minutes. The Essex Arms’ venue page has its kit and capacity if you want to come back with a full band. For a different night this week, the open mics near Brentwood are listed by day.
Booking or playing in Brentwood? 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 Brentwood gigs or check the going rate.
A Slice of Chili Peppers & Things of Leon Tribute night!Saturday, 14 November 2026
ONE TRACK MIND'S 100th GIG | MND Foundation Charity NightFriday, 20 November 2026Rooms near The Essex Arms: Barleylands Social Club, Brentwood Centre, Brentwood Theatre, The Cock Tavern and The Robin.
Free to join. No subscription. 5% only if you want the deposit protected.
Run an open mic in Brentwood?
Add yours to the directory free. 2-minute submission, reviewed before it goes live.