The Bootlegger Brighton is a 1920s speakeasy-inspired cocktail bar tucked away on Middle Street, steps from the seafront (78 Middle Street, Brighton and Hove, BN1 1AL). Behind the exposed brick, Edison bulbs and Moonshine Bar downstairs, it runs a busy live-music programme — Jazz, Swing, Blues and Rock 'n' Roll bands and solo artists playing every week, plus regular open mic nights and jam sessions that even invite the audience up. With over 80 cocktails and a dance floor below, it's a lively, vintage-flavoured live room in the heart of Brighton.
Brighton · Every other Thursday · No fee listed
The Bootlegger Open Mic
Brighton open mic at The Bootlegger — listed on Google Places. Schedule details below are pending venue confirmation; check the venue's own listings before turning up.
Kick-off 19:30, sign-up from 19:30. 12-minute slots. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
At a glance
Checked 2 Sept 202619:30
Kick-off
Thursdays
sign-up from 19:30Thursdays
| Night | Every other Thursday |
| Sign-up | 19:30 walk-in |
| Slot | 12 min |
| Entry | No fee listed · 18+ |
| Backline | PA provided |
01 — Inside the room
4 photosPhotos: Google
118
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 | 2 Sept 2026 |
| Checked against | Venue website |
03 — The night
Every other ThursdayHow the night runs
Every other Thursday
Check the date before you goRunning order
19:30 Kick-off· 12-minute slots
02:00 Venue closes
04 — Find The Bootlegger
Brighton and HoveGetting there
78 Middle St, Brighton and Hove,
Brighton BN1 1AL
Brighton BN1 1AL
The nearest station is Brighton (rail station), about 15 minutes' walk away.
05 — What's on stage
1 provided · 6 TBC| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | TBC |
| Guitar amp | TBC |
| Bass amp | TBC |
| Keys / keyboard | TBC |
| Vocal mics | TBC |
| In-house engineer | TBC |
06 — About
Brighton and Hove, BrightonAbout the night
The Bootlegger is a 1920s speakeasy-inspired cocktail bar just off Brighton's seafront on Middle Street, with a soundtrack of jazz, swing, blues and rock 'n' roll. Its open mic runs every other Thursday, with sign-ups from 7.30pm — whether you're new on the scene, a local artist trying out new songs, or stepping up to perform for the very first time, they want you on the mic. Free to play and free to watch, with a warm, vintage atmosphere.
Sign-up process
Walk in and sign up from 7.30pm on the night.
Getting there
78 Middle St, Brighton BN1 1AL.
The Bootlegger Brighton is a 1920s speakeasy-inspired cocktail bar tucked away on Middle Street, steps from the seafront (78 Middle Street, Brighton and Hove, BN1 1AL). Behind the exposed brick, Edison bulbs and Moonshine Bar downstairs, it runs a busy live-music programme — Jazz, Swing, Blues and Rock 'n' Roll bands and solo artists playing every week, plus regular open mic nights and jam sessions that even invite the audience up. With over 80 cocktails and a dance floor below, it's a lively, vintage-flavoured live room in the heart of Brighton.
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| 04 | Update backline and capacity |
Brighton and Hove · Every other Thursday
The Bootlegger Open Mic
Brighton open mic at The Bootlegger — listed on Google Places. Schedule details below are pending venue confirmation; check the venue's own listings before turning up.
- Thursday
- Open mic night
- Apr 2026
- Listed since
- 2 Sept
- 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
The Bootlegger Open Mic — Quick Facts
The Bootlegger Open Mic runs on Thursdays (fortnightly) at The Bootlegger in Brighton, starting at 19:30 with sign-up from 19:30. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Open mic status Last verified 2 Sept 2026
How sure we are
Verified active
Checked against the venue’s own listing See The Bootlegger’s venue page →
Music starts around 19:30. Sign-up is on the night from 19:30 - get there early to get a slot. Slots run about 12 minutes. A PA is listed; check what else is on stage before you bring a band.
Age18+
Sign-upWalk-in on the night
BacklinePA provided
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.
NightThursdayEvery other Thursday
Starts19:30start time
Sign-up19:30Walk-in
Slots12minutes each
What’s on in Brighton this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
The Bootlegger is a 1920s speakeasy-inspired cocktail bar just off Brighton's seafront on Middle Street, with a soundtrack of jazz, swing, blues and rock 'n' roll. Its open mic runs every other Thursday, with sign-ups from 7.30pm — whether you're new on the scene, a local artist trying out new songs, or stepping up to perform for the very first time, they want you on the mic. Free to play and free to watch, with a warm, vintage atmosphere.
Sign-up process
Walk in and sign up from 7.30pm on the night.
Getting there
78 Middle St, Brighton BN1 1AL.
The kit on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA systemProvided
Drum kitTBC
Guitar ampTBC
Bass ampTBC
Keys / keyboardTBC
Vocal micsTBC
In-house engineerTBC
The Night at a Glance
How The Bootlegger’s Thursday night runs.
Sign-up opens · Kick-off19:30Walk-in on the night
Venue closes02:00The listed closing time
Slots12minutes each
How often
Every other Thursday
Getting there
Brighton and Hove, Brighton, BN1 1AL - the map is below.
Kit
The Bootlegger provides a PA system — check the rest with the venue.
First time here?
Arrive for 19:30 to get your name on the list, tune up before you go on, and plan a set that fits 12 minutes.
Find The Bootlegger
78 Middle St, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1AL
Address78 Middle St, Brighton and Hove
AreaBrighton and Hove, Brighton
PostcodeBN1 1AL
DirectionsOpen in Google Maps →
Getting there
The nearest station is Brighton (rail station), about 15 minutes' walk away. The Bootlegger is in Brighton and Hove, Brighton — use BN1 1AL 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 Thursday Night
Arrive by 19:30 to sign up for a slot. The Bootlegger provides a PA system — check the rest with the venue.
The scene Live music in Brightonthe venues, the gigs and where it happensGet gigs How to get gigs in Brightonpay, venues that book, how to pitchBands Find a band in Brightonacts to book or play alongsideGigs Upcoming gigs in Brightonevery 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 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 Brighton live music scene.
Common Questions
9 questions people ask before going to Brighton's The Bootlegger 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.
The Bootlegger provides a PA system — check the rest with the venue.
12 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo.
No entry fee is listed for The Bootlegger'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.
78 Middle St, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1AL.
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 15 minutes' walk away. For sat-nav and taxis, the postcode is BN1 1AL. (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. Browse other Brighton open mics.
Venues Near The Bootlegger
No other gigs are listed at The Bootlegger 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 →
The Bootlegger open mic in brief. The Bootlegger open mic runs every other Thursday from 19:30 (no fee listed); sign-up opens 19:30 and slots run about 12 minutes. Coming back with a full band? The Bootlegger’s venue page has its kit and capacity listed. 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 ›After paid gigs rather than open mics? See Brighton gigs or check the going rate.
10 — Venues near The Bootlegger
All ›More rooms near The Bootlegger: Dead Wax Social, Fiddlers Elbow, The Bee's Mouth, The Dorset, The Lewes Road Inn, The Quadrant, West Quay, Brighton Marina, Ye Olde King & Queen Brighton, Ancient Mariner, Artista Cafe and Gallery and Audioactive Worthing.
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