Ruskins is a live music bar in the centre of Kendals nightlife area on Stricklandgate, serving local ales, whisky and an extensive wine list. It runs a regular programme of live performances from touring and local artists, alongside weekly jam, quiz and pool nights. Its free Wednesday Acoustic Jam Night is open to all musicians.
Kendal · Every Wednesday · No fee listed
Ruskins Bar Open Mic
Town Centre's wednesday open mic.
Next night: Wed 18 Nov. Kick-off 21:00. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
At a glance
Checked 31 Oct 202621:00
Kick-off
Wednesdays
sign-up on the nightWednesdays
| Night | Every Wednesday |
| Sign-up | Walk-in |
| Slot | Ask the host |
| Entry | No fee listed · all ages |
| Backline | Ask the host |
01 — Inside the room
4 photosPhotos: Google
150
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 |
The check
| Status | Verified running |
| Last checked | 31 Oct 2026 |
| Checked against | Venue website |
03 — The night
Every WednesdayHow the night runs
21:00
Kick-off
WednesdaysRunning order
21:00 Kick-off
00:30 Venue closes
04 — Find Ruskins Bar
Town CentreGetting there
12-14 Stricklandgate,
Town Centre, Kendal LA9 4ND
Town Centre, Kendal LA9 4ND
The nearest station is Kendal (rail station), about 10 minutes' walk away.
05 — What's on stage
TBC| PA system | TBC |
| Drum kit | TBC |
| Guitar amp | TBC |
| Bass amp | TBC |
| Keys / keyboard | TBC |
| Vocal mics | TBC |
| In-house engineer | TBC |
06 — About
Town Centre, KendalAbout the night
Free weekly Acoustic Jam Night at Ruskins Bar in central Kendal, every Wednesday from 9pm. The venue's own listing says all musicians are welcome. Ruskins also runs a second open floor night, Open Mic Night: The Sunday Edition, covering music, stand up and poetry at 8pm, but only a single Sunday date was listed at the time of checking, so its recurrence is unconfirmed.
Ruskins is a live music bar in the centre of Kendals nightlife area on Stricklandgate, serving local ales, whisky and an extensive wine list. It runs a regular programme of live performances from touring and local artists, alongside weekly jam, quiz and pool nights. Its free Wednesday Acoustic Jam Night is open to all musicians.
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Town Centre · Every Wednesday
Ruskins Bar Open Mic
Town Centre's wednesday open mic. Starts at 21:00.
- Wednesday
- Open mic night
- Aug 2026
- Listed since
- 31 Oct
- Last verified
- No fee
- Entry
- —
- Sign-up time
- Verified
- Listing status
Run a Kendal open mic? List it free — reviewed before it goes live
Last updated: 13 November 2026
Ruskins Bar Open Mic — Quick Facts
Ruskins Bar Open Mic runs on Wednesdays at Ruskins Bar in Kendal, starting at 21:00. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Open mic status Last verified 31 Oct 2026
How sure we are
Verified active
Checked against the venue’s own listing See Ruskins Bar’s venue page →
The night starts at 21:00. It's walk-in sign-up - arrive early to get a slot.
Next nightWed 18 Nov · 21:00Starts in 5d 13h 22m
Sign-upWalk-in on the night
BacklineNot confirmed yet
Sound engineerAsk the venue
Directory statusVerified active
Member votes0 to get the venue on GigXchange
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
Starts21:00start time
Sign-upWalk-insign-up
SlotsTBCslot lengthNot confirmed yet
What’s on in Kendal this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
Free weekly Acoustic Jam Night at Ruskins Bar in central Kendal, every Wednesday from 9pm. The venue's own listing says all musicians are welcome. Ruskins also runs a second open floor night, Open Mic Night: The Sunday Edition, covering music, stand up and poetry at 8pm, but only a single Sunday date was listed at the time of checking, so its recurrence is unconfirmed.
Equipment and backline at this venue — what's on stage, verified regularly.
PA systemTBC
Drum kitTBC
Guitar ampTBC
Bass ampTBC
Keys / keyboardTBC
Vocal micsTBC
In-house engineerTBC
The Night at a Glance
How Ruskins Bar’s Wednesday night runs.
Next nightWed 18 Nov · 21:00Starts in 5d 13h 22m
Kick-off21:00Every Wednesday
Venue closes00:30The listed closing time
How often
Every Wednesday
Coming up
Wed 18 Nov · Wed 25 Nov · Wed 2 Dec
First time here?
Get there early for a slot, have your instrument tuned before your turn.
Find Ruskins Bar
12-14 Stricklandgate, Town Centre, Kendal LA9 4ND
Address12-14 Stricklandgate
AreaTown Centre, Kendal
PostcodeLA9 4ND
DirectionsOpen in Google Maps →
Getting there
The nearest station is Kendal (rail station), about 10 minutes' walk away. You'll find Ruskins Bar in Town Centre, Kendal; LA9 4ND is the postcode for sat-nav and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station.
Open mics nearby
Ye Olde John O'Gaunt, Piel Castle Inn, The Galleon Bar and The Wobbly Cobbler
Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport (Open Government Licence).
Planning Your Wednesday Night
Arrive early to get your name down. The kit is not listed yet — ask the host what is provided.
The scene Live music in Kendalthe venues, the gigs and where it happensGet gigs How to get gigs in Kendalpay, venues that book, how to pitchBands Find a band in Kendalacts to book or play alongsideGigs Upcoming gigs in Kendalevery listing, sorted by dateArtists Browse artist profilesfind acts to play or collaborate withOpen mics UK Open Mic Finderfree stage time, night by night
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 Kendal live music scene.
Common Questions
9 questions people ask before going to Kendal's Ruskins Bar open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Kendal open mic nights for alternatives.
Ruskins Bar has not listed its kit yet — ask the host before you go.
Slot length varies — check with the host.
No entry fee is listed for Ruskins Bar's open mic - most open mics are free to play and to watch, but check with the venue before you go. Browse Kendal open mics.
Ask the host before bringing a full band — solo and duo acts are the usual open-mic format.
12-14 Stricklandgate, Town Centre, Kendal LA9 4ND.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Kendal regulars across the Kendal open mic scene. Kendal open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
The nearest station is Kendal (rail station), about 10 minutes' walk away. For sat-nav and taxis, the postcode is LA9 4ND. (Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport, Open Government Licence.)
Sign-up is walk-in on the night, so you do not need to book ahead. GigXchange doesn't publish venue phone numbers or emails. Browse other Kendal open mics.
Venues Near Ruskins Bar
No other gigs are listed at Ruskins Bar 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 Kendal over the next four weeks →
Ruskins Bar open mic in brief. The Ruskins Bar open mic runs every Wednesday from 21:00 (no fee listed). Ruskins Bar’s venue page lists its kit and capacity if you want to come back with a full band. For a different night this week, the open mics near Kendal are listed by day.
Booking or playing in Kendal? 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 Kendal open mics
All ›Looking for paid gigs, not open mics? See Kendal gigs or check the going rate.
10 — Venues near Ruskins Bar
All ›More rooms near Ruskins Bar: Birkers Bar & Grill, Bloomfield Brewhouse, Bootleg Social, Central Pier Showbar Blackpool, GinPig, Golden Lion, Gregson Arts & Community Centre, Kanteena, Lake District Music, Layton Institute and Lowther Pavilion.
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