Smile Bar & Venue is a grassroots live-music hub on Wakefield Road in Aspley, Huddersfield, built inside a former snooker hall — eagle-eyed visitors can still spot old snooker-table fittings along the edge of the stage. Run with a clear mission to give unsigned acts a platform (it's backed by its own online station, Smile Radio), the venue holds roughly 250 seated and up to 650 standing for live shows, making it one of the larger grassroots rooms in the area. The programme spans original up-and-coming artists of any genre, tribute acts and comedy nights, with an open-mic-style new-talent night running on alternate Wednesdays hosted by Graeme and Peter. It's open Wednesday and Thursday from 4pm, Friday from 4pm till late, and from noon on Saturday and Sunday, operating as a cashless, card-only bar.
Huddersfield · Every other Wednesday · No fee listed
Huddersfield's weekly open mic night at Smile Bar and Venue.
Kick-off 19:30, sign-up from 19:00. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
Wednesdays
| Night | Every other Wednesday |
| Sign-up | 19:00 walk-in |
| Slot | Ask the host |
| Entry | No fee listed · 18+ |
| Backline | PA provided |
| Capacity | – |
| Performer types | Musicians |
| Host | Graeme and Peter |
| Website | smilebarandvenue.co.uk |
| Status | Verified running |
| Last checked | 16 Oct 2026 |
| Checked against | Venue website |
Times marked tbc aren't confirmed yet - we're working to find out.
Huddersfield HD1 3AQ
The nearest station is Huddersfield (rail station), about 15 minutes' walk away.
| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | Provided |
| Guitar amp | Provided |
| Bass amp | Provided |
| Keys / keyboard | Bring your own |
| 2 vocal mics | Provided |
| In-house engineer | TBC |
Smile Bar & Venue on Wakefield Road in Huddersfield (38 Wakefield Rd, HD1 3AQ) runs its 'Live Lounge' open mic on alternate Wednesdays through the year, hosted by Graeme and Peter, who offer support to every performer. It's an open, supportive night for up-and-coming artists of any genre, with other musicians cheering you on in a relaxed setting, and the upstairs café bar also hosts acoustic nights and midweek drinks.
You can put yourself forward ahead of time via the form on the venue's website, which asks for your two chosen songs; the start time isn't published, so check with the bar before you go. The venue opens from 4pm on Wednesdays, and the main room's calendar is packed with tribute nights, blues and comedy.
Smile Bar & Venue is a grassroots live-music hub on Wakefield Road in Aspley, Huddersfield, built inside a former snooker hall — eagle-eyed visitors can still spot old snooker-table fittings along the edge of the stage. Run with a clear mission to give unsigned acts a platform (it's backed by its own online station, Smile Radio), the venue holds roughly 250 seated and up to 650 standing for live shows, making it one of the larger grassroots rooms in the area. The programme spans original up-and-coming artists of any genre, tribute acts and comedy nights, with an open-mic-style new-talent night running on alternate Wednesdays hosted by Graeme and Peter. It's open Wednesday and Thursday from 4pm, Friday from 4pm till late, and from noon on Saturday and Sunday, operating as a cashless, card-only bar.
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 |
Smile Bar and Venue Open Mic
Huddersfield's weekly open mic night at Smile Bar and Venue. Starts at 19:30.
- Wednesday
- Open mic night
- May 2026
- Listed since
- 16 Oct
- Last verified
- No fee
- Entry
- 19:00
- Sign-up time
- Verified
- Listing status
Last updated: 13 November 2026
Smile Bar and Venue Open Mic — Quick Facts
Smile Bar and Venue Open Mic runs on Wednesdays (fortnightly) at Smile Bar and Venue in Huddersfield, starting at 19:30 with sign-up from 19:00. Huddersfield's weekly open mic night at Smile Bar and Venue. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Music starts around 19:30. Sign-up is on the night from 19:00 - get there early to get a slot. There is a PA listed - ask what else is on stage before you load in. Graeme and Peter hosts the night.
What’s on in Huddersfield this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
Smile Bar & Venue on Wakefield Road in Huddersfield (38 Wakefield Rd, HD1 3AQ) runs its 'Live Lounge' open mic on alternate Wednesdays through the year, hosted by Graeme and Peter, who offer support to every performer. It's an open, supportive night for up-and-coming artists of any genre, with other musicians cheering you on in a relaxed setting, and the upstairs café bar also hosts acoustic nights and midweek drinks.
You can put yourself forward ahead of time via the form on the venue's website, which asks for your two chosen songs; the start time isn't published, so check with the bar before you go. The venue opens from 4pm on Wednesdays, and the main room's calendar is packed with tribute nights, blues and comedy.
Equipment and backline at this venue — what's on stage, verified regularly.
The Night at a Glance
How Smile Bar and Venue’s Wednesday night runs.
Every other Wednesday
Huddersfield, HD1 3AQ - the map is below.
Smile Bar and Venue provides a PA system, 2 vocal mics, a drum kit, a guitar amp and a bass amp; bring your own keys — check the rest with the venue.
Get there by 19:00 for a slot, have your instrument tuned before your turn.
Find Smile Bar and Venue
38 Wakefield Rd, Huddersfield HD1 3AQ
The nearest station is Huddersfield (rail station), about 15 minutes' walk away. You'll find Smile Bar and Venue in Huddersfield; HD1 3AQ is the postcode for sat-nav and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station.
Ling Bob, Shoulder of Mutton, THE HEAD OF STEAM • HUDDERSFIELD and The Salt Cellar
Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport (Open Government Licence).
Planning Your Wednesday Night
Get there by 19:00 to sign up for a slot. Smile Bar and Venue provides a PA system, 2 vocal mics, a drum kit, a guitar amp and a bass amp; bring your own 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 Huddersfield live music scene.
Common Questions
9 things people ask before turning up at Huddersfield's Smile Bar and Venue open mic.
What’s On at Smile Bar and Venue
The gigs coming up at Smile Bar and Venue besides the open mic, from the GigXchange directory — each one links its listing.
- Entry—
- TicketsAvailable
- AgeAll ages
- GenreCountry, World Music, Tribute Act
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Indie Rock, Alternative Rock
- Entry£18.00
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreJazz, Tribute Act
- Entry—
- TicketsAvailable
- AgeAll ages
- GenreCountry, World Music, Tribute Act
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Indie Rock, Alternative Rock
- Entry£18.00
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreJazz, Tribute Act
- Entry—
- TicketsAvailable
- AgeAll ages
- GenreCountry, World Music, Tribute Act
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Indie Rock, Alternative Rock
- Entry£18.00
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreJazz, Tribute Act
Keep up with Huddersfield
One email a week with live music near you. Free, and it keeps grassroots rooms full.
Help keep grassroots venues open in Huddersfield
—A UK venue stops hosting live music every 5 days — and turning up is what keeps a room open. Get a free weekly email of gigs in Huddersfield. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy.
See what’s on in Huddersfield over the next four weeks →
Smile Bar and Venue open mic in brief. The Smile Bar and Venue open mic runs every other Wednesday from 19:30 (no fee listed); sign-up opens 19:00. Smile Bar and Venue’s venue page has its kit and capacity if you want to come back with a full band. For another night this week, the open mics near Huddersfield are listed by day.
Booking or playing in Huddersfield? 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.
Want paid gigs instead of open mics? See Huddersfield gigs or check the going rate.
Luke Combs UK tribute in HUDDERSFIELD!Friday, 11 December 2026
The Kopycat Killers, Scam Fender, Subarctic MonkeysFriday, 23 April 2027
Space Cowboy - The Ultimate Tribute To JamiroquaiSaturday, 1 May 2027Luke Combs UK tribute in HUDDERSFIELD!Friday, 11 December 2026The Kopycat Killers, Scam Fender, Subarctic MonkeysFriday, 23 April 2027Space Cowboy - The Ultimate Tribute To JamiroquaiSaturday, 1 May 2027Rooms near Smile Bar and Venue: Amped, Lawrence Batley Theatre, Nightrain, Northern Quarter, Huddersfield, Platform Bar, Red Rooster, Tapestry Arts, The Exchange Craft Beer House, The Grayston Unity, The Grove Inn, THE HEAD OF STEAM • HUDDERSFIELD and The Live Room at Saltaire.
Free to join. No subscription. 5% only if you want the deposit protected.
Run an open mic in Huddersfield?
Add yours to the directory free. 2-minute submission, reviewed before it goes live.