Sidewinder is a lively, bohemian pub at 65 St James's Street in the heart of Brighton's Kemptown. It's best known for its two huge heated beer gardens, home-grown Carlito Burrito kitchen, board games and Sunday roasts — and a genuine live-music streak, with some of the best live music dotted throughout the month plus DJs every weekend. The vibe is friendly and informal rather than a dedicated gig hall, so it suits weekend DJ sets and small live acts. A solid Kemptown spot for a low-key live-music night with a PA and a couple of mics on hand.
Kemptown · Every Wednesday · Free
Sidewinder Open Mic
Brighton's Sidewinder pub hosts a weekly open mic night every Tuesday, welcoming all talents with a full PA.
Open mic at a glance Sidewinder · Brighton
Wednesday
Open mic night
May 2026
Listed since
26 Jul
Last verified
Free
Entry
12 min
Slot length
Verified
Listing status
Run a Brighton open mic? List it free — verified within 48 hours
Last updated: 26 July 2026
Sidewinder Open Mic — Quick Facts
Brighton's Sidewinder pub hosts a weekly open mic night every Tuesday, welcoming all talents with a full PA.
✓ Verified activeLast verified
The Details
Everything you need before you turn up
DayWednesday
Start20:00
Sign-up19:30 walk-in
Slot length12 min
EntryFree · 18+
Capacity–
Performer typesMusic
Sound engineerBYO / hire on the night
View on map
Where
Sidewinder65 St James's St
Kemptown
Brighton BN2 1PJ
Kemptown, Brighton — check venue website for parking and nearest station.
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.
Spotted something wrong with this listing?Closed, moved night, different start time? Let us know and we'll re-verify within 48 hours.
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About Sidewinder
About This Open Mic
Every Wednesday in Kemptown, Brighton
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 Brighton open mic directory
The Night
The Sidewinder is a lively Kemptown pub on Upper St James's Street whose 'legendary' open mic — now Evan Walsh's Open Mic, every Wednesday — is an anything-goes night where all artists are welcome: musicians, poets, comedians and more, running 8pm till 11pm. Best of all there's free beer for anyone who gets up to play, so the room is warm, busy and forgiving. Sign up on the night and play; it's free to come along. 65 Upper St James's Street, Kemptown, Brighton, BN2 1PJ.
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 Sidewinder’s Wednesday night runs.
19:30Sign-up
20:00Kick-off
23:00Last songs
00:00Venue closes
Every Wednesday 12-min slots Free entry
Find Sidewinder
65 St James's St, Kemptown, Brighton BN2 1PJ
Planning Your Wednesday Night
Arrive by 19:30 to sign up for a slot. Entry is free and the open mic typically runs until 23:00. A PA is provided — bring your own instrument and amp.
Part of the Brighton live music scene.
What should you charge for paid gigs?Most open mic musicians are ready for paid work sooner than they think. Check live UK rates by role, city, and venue size.
Try the Rate CalculatorCommon Questions
Seven things people ask before turning up at Brighton's Sidewinder open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 19:30. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Brighton 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 Brighton mics are free; browse the list.
Solo and duo acts work best given the gear available; ask the host before bringing a full band.
65 St James's St, Kemptown, Brighton BN2 1PJ.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Brighton regulars across the Brighton open mic scene. Brighton open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
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