The Cock Tavern is a traditional High Street pub in Chipping Ongar that has been refurbished under new management, serving real ales and home-cooked food. It hosts The Acoustic Jukebox open mic on the second Thursday of each month, with PA and mics provided and a house guitarist on hand to back most songs. Under-18s are welcome to perform before 9pm, making it a friendly, family-inclusive grassroots night.
Town Centre · Monthly on Thursdays · Free
The Cock Tavern Open Mic
Chipping Ongar's Acoustic Jukbox Open Mic on the second Thursday of each month at 218 High Street, CM5 9AB.
Open mic at a glance The Cock Tavern · Chipping Ongar
Thursday
Open mic night
May 2026
Listed since
03 Jun
Last verified
Free
Entry
12 min
Slot length
Verified
Listing status
Run a Chipping Ongar open mic? List it free — verified within 48 hours
Last updated: 3 June 2026
The Cock Tavern Open Mic — Quick Facts
Chipping Ongar's Acoustic Jukbox Open Mic on the second Thursday of each month at 218 High Street, CM5 9AB.
✓ Verified activeLast verified
The Details
Everything you need before you turn up
DayThursday
Start20:00
Sign-up19:30 walk-in
Slot length12 min
EntryFree · all ages
Capacityc. 50 standing
Performer typesMusic
Sound engineerBYO / hire on the night
View on map
Where
The Cock Tavern218 High Street
Town Centre
Chipping Ongar CM5 9AB
Town Centre, Chipping Ongar — check venue website for parking and nearest station.
Contact
Walk-in sign-up only
No advance booking
Host: in-house team
Highlights
Free entry for all
PA system provided
Walk-in sign-up
Music welcome
How do you rate this open mic?One tap, no sign-up required.
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About The Cock Tavern
About This Open Mic
Monthly on Thursdays in Town Centre, Chipping Ongar
Kicks off at 20:00, sign-up from 19:30
Free entry for performers and audience
12-minute slots
PA provided — BYO instrument
Part of the Chipping Ongar open mic directory
The Night
The Cock Tavern, a traditional real-ale pub on Chipping Ongar's High Street, hosts the Acoustic Jukebox Open Mic on the second Thursday of every month, 8pm till 10:30pm. There's a lovely twist that sets it apart: a resident guitarist is on hand who can accompany pretty much any song you'd like to sing, so even singers without an instrument can take the stage (message ahead if you want an accompanist). PA and mics are provided, and under-18s are welcome to perform before 9pm, making it one of the more family-friendly mics in rural Essex.
What's on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA + monitors
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
2 vocal mics
In-house engineer
The Night at a Glance
How The Cock Tavern’s Thursday night runs.
19:30Sign-up
20:00Kick-off
22:30Last songs
23:00Venue closes
Monthly on Thursdays 12-min slots Free entry
Find The Cock Tavern
218 High Street, Town Centre, Chipping Ongar CM5 9AB
Planning Your Thursday Night
Arrive by 19:30 to sign up for a slot. Entry is free and the open mic typically runs until 22:30. A PA is provided — bring your own instrument and amp.
Part of the Chipping Ongar live music scene.
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Try the Rate CalculatorCommon Questions
Seven things people ask before turning up at Chipping Ongar's The Cock Tavern open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 19:30. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Chipping Ongar open mic nights for alternatives.
PA + vocal mic provided. BYO instrument and amp.
12 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo.
Yes — free entry for performers and audience. Most Chipping Ongar mics are free; browse the list.
Solo and duo acts work best given the gear available; ask the host before bringing a full band.
218 High Street, Town Centre, Chipping Ongar CM5 9AB.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Chipping Ongar regulars across the Chipping Ongar open mic scene. Chipping Ongar open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
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