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.
Brighton · Every Wednesday · No fee listed
Sidewinder Open Mic
Brighton's Sidewinder pub hosts a weekly open mic night every Tuesday, welcoming all talents with a full PA.
Next night: Wed 18 Nov. Kick-off 20:00, sign-up from 19:30. 12-minute slots. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
At a glance
Checked 14 Oct 202620:00
Kick-off
Wednesdays
sign-up from 19:30Wednesdays
| Night | Every Wednesday |
| Sign-up | 19:30 walk-in |
| Slot | 12 min |
| Entry | No fee listed · 18+ |
| Backline | PA provided |
01 — Inside the room
4 photosPhotos: Google
177
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 |
| Website | sidewinder.pub |
The check
| Status | Verified running |
| Last checked | 14 Oct 2026 |
| Checked against | Web listing |
03 — The night
Every WednesdayHow the night runs
20:00
Kick-off
WednesdaysRunning order
19:30 Sign-up· Walk-in
20:00 Kick-off· 12-minute slots
23:00 Last songs
00:00 Venue closes
04 — Find Sidewinder
KemptownGetting there
65 St James's St,
Kemptown, Brighton BN2 1PJ
Kemptown, Brighton BN2 1PJ
The nearest station is Brighton (rail station), about 20 minutes' walk away.
05 — What's on stage
2 provided · 5 TBC| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | TBC |
| Guitar amp | TBC |
| Bass amp | TBC |
| Keys / keyboard | TBC |
| 2 vocal mics | Provided |
| In-house engineer | TBC |
06 — About
Kemptown, BrightonAbout 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.
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.
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Kemptown · Every Wednesday
Sidewinder Open Mic
Brighton's Sidewinder pub hosts a weekly open mic night every Tuesday, welcoming all talents with a full PA. Starts at 20:00.
- Wednesday
- Open mic night
- May 2026
- Listed since
- 14 Oct
- Last verified
- No fee
- Entry
- 12 min
- Slot length
- Verified
- Listing status
Run a Brighton open mic? List it free — reviewed before it goes live
Last updated: 13 November 2026
Sidewinder Open Mic — Quick Facts
Sidewinder Open Mic runs on Wednesdays at Sidewinder in Brighton, starting at 20:00 with sign-up from 19:30. Brighton's Sidewinder pub hosts a weekly open mic night every Tuesday, welcoming all talents with a full PA. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Open mic status Last verified 14 Oct 2026
How sure we are
Verified active
Checked against the venue’s own listing See Sidewinder’s venue page →
The night starts at 20:00 and runs to about 23:00. Sign-up is on the night from 19:30 - get there early to get a slot. Slots run about 12 minutes - room for roughly 15 acts. A PA is listed; check what else is on stage before you bring a band.
Next nightWed 18 Nov · 20:00Starts in 5d 12h 09m
Age18+
Sign-upWalk-in on the night
BacklinePA provided
Sound engineerAsk the venue
Directory statusVerified active
Member votes0 to get the venue on GigXchange
Websitesidewinder.pub
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
Starts20:00until 23:00
Sign-up19:30Walk-in
Slots12minutes eachRoom for about 15 acts
What’s on in Brighton this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
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.
Equipment and backline at this venue — what's on stage, verified regularly.
PA systemProvided
Drum kitTBC
Guitar ampTBC
Bass ampTBC
Keys / keyboardTBC
2 vocal micsProvided
In-house engineerTBC
The Night at a Glance
How Sidewinder’s Wednesday night runs.
Next nightWed 18 Nov · 20:00Starts in 5d 12h 09m
Sign-up opens19:30Walk-in on the night
Kick-off20:00Every Wednesday
Music ends23:00Last act finishes
Venue closes00:00The listed closing time
Slots12minutes eachroom for about 15 acts
How often
Every Wednesday
Coming up
Wed 18 Nov · Wed 25 Nov · Wed 2 Dec
Kit
Sidewinder provides a PA system and 2 vocal mics — check the rest with the venue.
First time here?
Get there by 19:30 for a slot, have your instrument tuned before your turn and keep to about 12 minutes.
Find Sidewinder
65 St James's St, Kemptown, Brighton BN2 1PJ
Address65 St James's St
AreaKemptown, Brighton
PostcodeBN2 1PJ
DirectionsOpen in Google Maps →
Getting there
The nearest station is Brighton (rail station), about 20 minutes' walk away. Sidewinder is in Kemptown, Brighton — use BN2 1PJ for sat-nav, taxis and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station before you set off.
Open mics nearby
Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport (Open Government Licence).
Planning Your Wednesday Night
Arrive by 19:30 to sign up for a slot. The open mic runs until about 23:00. Sidewinder provides a PA system and 2 vocal mics — check the rest with the venue.
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Common Questions
9 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.
Sidewinder provides a PA system and 2 vocal mics — check the rest with the venue.
12 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo.
No entry fee is listed for Sidewinder's open mic - most open mics are free to play and to watch, but check with the venue before you go. Browse Brighton open mics.
Ask the host before bringing a full band — solo and duo acts are the usual open-mic format.
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.
The nearest station is Brighton (rail station), about 20 minutes' walk away. For sat-nav and taxis, the postcode is BN2 1PJ. (Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport, Open Government Licence.)
Sign-up is walk-in on the night, from 19:30, so you do not need to book ahead. GigXchange doesn't publish venue phone numbers or emails - the venue's own website is linked on this page. Browse other Brighton open mics.
Venues Near Sidewinder
No other gigs are listed at Sidewinder 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 Brighton over the next four weeks →
Sidewinder open mic in brief. The Sidewinder open mic runs every Wednesday from 20:00 (no fee listed); sign-up opens 19:30 and slots run about 12 minutes. Sidewinder’s venue page lists its kit and capacity if you want to come back with a full band. The open mics near Brighton are listed by day, for another night this week.
Booking or playing in Brighton? 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 Brighton open mics
All ›Looking for paid gigs, not open mics? See Brighton gigs or check the going rate.
10 — Venues near Sidewinder
All ›More rooms near Sidewinder: The Oak, Alphabet Brighton, Ancient Mariner, Artista Cafe and Gallery, Audioactive Worthing, Bali Brasserie, Bar Medusa, Bar Orange, Barbara's Bier Haus Brighton, Bohemia Brighton and Bom-Bane's.
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