The Dorset has stood on the corner of Gardner Street and North Road in the heart of Brighton's North Laine since 1819, serving food, ale and wine amid the colour of the lanes. It runs regular music events — open mics and DJ nights — with live music held upstairs in the evenings, while in summer the lively crowd spills onto pedestrianised Gardner Street around banquet tables and benches. A traditional yet buzzing North Laine pub that pairs pub-classic food and Sunday roasts with an easygoing live-music and open-mic programme.
Brighton · Every Monday · No fee listed
The Dorset Open Mic
North Laine's monday open mic.
Next night: Mon 16 Nov. Kick-off 20:00. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
At a glance
Checked 18 Oct 202620:00
Kick-off
Mondays
sign-up on the nightMondays
| Night | Every Monday |
| Sign-up | Walk-in |
| Slot | Ask the host |
| Entry | No fee listed · all ages |
| Backline | PA provided |
01 — Inside the room
4 photosPhotos: Google
121
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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 | Being verified |
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03 — The night
Every MondayHow the night runs
20:00
Kick-off
MondaysRunning order
20:00 Kick-off
23:00 Venue closes
04 — Find The Dorset
North LaineGetting there
North Laine, Brighton BN1 1YB
The nearest station is Brighton (rail station), about 5 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
North Laine, BrightonAbout the night
The Dorset is a handsome pub on North Road that's been pouring since 1819, right in the heart of Brighton's North Laine, and it has long been listed for a weekly open mic. A 2018 Brighton guide had it every Monday from 8:30pm to 11:30pm: a lively, sociable night that often tipped into dancing or an end-of-evening jam, with a full PA plus jack and XLR leads provided so performers could just turn up and plug in. We can't currently confirm it's still running: when we checked in October 2026 the pub's own what's-on page listed Retro Gaming Wednesdays (6:30pm to 10:30pm) and live sport, but no open mic. Check with the Dorset before you take your instrument down.
The Dorset has stood on the corner of Gardner Street and North Road in the heart of Brighton's North Laine since 1819, serving food, ale and wine amid the colour of the lanes. It runs regular music events — open mics and DJ nights — with live music held upstairs in the evenings, while in summer the lively crowd spills onto pedestrianised Gardner Street around banquet tables and benches. A traditional yet buzzing North Laine pub that pairs pub-classic food and Sunday roasts with an easygoing live-music and open-mic programme.
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North Laine · Every Monday
The Dorset Open Mic
North Laine's monday open mic. Starts at 20:00.
- Monday
- Open mic night
- May 2026
- Listed since
- 18 Oct
- Last checked
- No fee
- Entry
- —
- Sign-up time
- Community
- Listing status
Run a Brighton open mic? List it free — reviewed before it goes live
Last updated: 13 November 2026
The Dorset Open Mic — Quick Facts
The Dorset Open Mic runs on Mondays at The Dorset in Brighton, starting at 20:00. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Open mic status Last checked 18 Oct 2026
How sure we are
Partly verified
The night starts at 20:00. Sign-up is on the night - get there early to get a slot. A PA is listed; check what else is on stage before you bring a band.
Next nightMon 16 Nov · 20:00Starts in 3d 12h 23m
AgeAll ages
Sign-upWalk-in on the night
BacklinePA provided
Sound engineerAsk the venue
Directory statusBeing verified
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.
NightMondayEvery MondayNext: Mon 16 Nov
Starts20:00start time
Sign-upWalk-insign-up
SlotsTBCslot lengthNot confirmed yet
What’s on in Brighton this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
The Dorset is a handsome pub on North Road that's been pouring since 1819, right in the heart of Brighton's North Laine, and it has long been listed for a weekly open mic. A 2018 Brighton guide had it every Monday from 8:30pm to 11:30pm: a lively, sociable night that often tipped into dancing or an end-of-evening jam, with a full PA plus jack and XLR leads provided so performers could just turn up and plug in. We can't currently confirm it's still running: when we checked in October 2026 the pub's own what's-on page listed Retro Gaming Wednesdays (6:30pm to 10:30pm) and live sport, but no open mic. Check with the Dorset before you take your instrument down.
What's 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 Dorset’s Monday night runs.
Next nightMon 16 Nov · 20:00Starts in 3d 12h 23m
Kick-off20:00Every Monday
Venue closes23:00The listed closing time
How often
Every Monday
Coming up
Mon 16 Nov · Mon 23 Nov · Mon 30 Nov
Kit
The Dorset provides a PA system — check the rest with the venue.
First time here?
Arrive early to get your name on the list, tune up before you go on.
Find The Dorset
North Laine, Brighton BN1 1YB
AreaNorth Laine, Brighton
PostcodeBN1 1YB
DirectionsOpen in Google Maps →
Getting there
The nearest station is Brighton (rail station), about 5 minutes' walk away. The Dorset is in North Laine, Brighton — use BN1 1YB 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 Monday Night
Arrive early to get your name down. The Dorset 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 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. In the wider Brighton live music scene.
Common Questions
9 things people ask before turning up at Brighton's The Dorset open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Brighton open mic nights for alternatives.
The Dorset provides a PA system — check the rest with the venue.
Slot length varies — check with the host.
No entry fee is listed for The Dorset'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.
The Dorset is in North Laine, Brighton BN1 1YB. Get directions, or see the other Brighton open mics.
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 5 minutes' walk away. For sat-nav and taxis, the postcode is BN1 1YB. (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 Brighton open mics.
Venues Near The Dorset
No other gigs are listed at The Dorset 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 Dorset open mic in brief. The Dorset open mic runs every Monday from 20:00 (no fee listed). Coming back with a full band? The Dorset’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 ›Looking for paid gigs, not open mics? See Brighton gigs or check the going rate.
10 — Venues near The Dorset
All ›More rooms near The Dorset: Audioactive Worthing, Bali Brasserie, Bar Medusa, Bar Orange, Barbara's Bier Haus Brighton, Bohemia Brighton, Bom-Bane's, Brighton Electric, Brighton Rocks, Brighton Tavern and Carats Cafe.
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