The Canteen at 80 Stokes Croft is a cornerstone of Bristol's grassroots scene (BS1 3QY), sustainably serving vegetarian food, Bristol booze and free live music. Opened in August 2009 to serve Hamilton House and the Stokes Croft community, it puts on free live music almost every night — bands play six nights a week and entry is free daily, with a small charge after 9:30pm on Friday and Saturday. The programme is genuinely eclectic, from open-mic hip-hop nights to Afrobeat, Latin jazz and folk. Around 90,000 people come to its gigs each year and over 300 artists and groups appear on its stage annually. A full-backline, sound-engineered room — one of Bristol's busiest small venues.
Bristol · Every Sunday · No fee listed
The Canteen Open Mic
Stokes Croft's Sunday-night free open mic at 80 Stokes Croft, BS1 3QY — community-run venue, full backline including piano, 10-minute slots.
Next night: Sun 15 Nov. Kick-off 21:00, sign-up from 20:30. 10-minute slots. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
At a glance
Checked 2 Sept 202621:00
Kick-off
Sundays
sign-up from 20:30Sundays
| Night | Every Sunday |
| Sign-up | 20:30 walk-in |
| Slot | 10 min |
| Entry | No fee listed · all ages |
| Backline | Full backline |
01 — Inside the room
4 photosPhotos: Google
197
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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 | c. 200 standing |
| Performer types | Musicians · Poets |
| Website | canteenbristol.co.uk |
The check
| Status | Being verified |
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03 — The night
Every SundayHow the night runs
21:00
Kick-off
SundaysRunning order
20:30 Sign-up· Walk-in
21:00 Kick-off· 10-minute slots
00:00 Last songs
04 — Find The Canteen
Stokes CroftGetting there
80 Stokes Croft,
Bristol BS1 3QY
Bristol BS1 3QY
The nearest station is Montpelier (rail station), about 15 minutes' walk away.
05 — What's on stage
7 provided| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | Provided |
| Guitar amp | Provided |
| Bass amp | Provided |
| Keys / keyboard | Provided |
| 3 vocal mics | Provided |
| In-house engineer | Provided |
06 — About
Stokes Croft, BristolAbout the night
The Canteen is a community-run venue at the heart of Stokes Croft. Music every night of the week, free entry, and a Sunday open mic that pulls in Bristol's songwriting scene.
180 minutes, 18 acts at 10 minutes. Vegetarian and vegan kitchen. The piano on the stage is a real upright.
Sign-up process
Sheet at the bar at 8:30pm. Walk-in.
Getting there
80 Stokes Croft, BS1 3QY. 12 minutes' walk from Bristol Temple Meads. Buses 8, 9, 70, 71 stop directly outside.
The venue
Single big bar/restaurant room with a stage. All ages until 9pm, then 18+. Capacity c. 200.
The Canteen at 80 Stokes Croft is a cornerstone of Bristol's grassroots scene (BS1 3QY), sustainably serving vegetarian food, Bristol booze and free live music. Opened in August 2009 to serve Hamilton House and the Stokes Croft community, it puts on free live music almost every night — bands play six nights a week and entry is free daily, with a small charge after 9:30pm on Friday and Saturday. The programme is genuinely eclectic, from open-mic hip-hop nights to Afrobeat, Latin jazz and folk. Around 90,000 people come to its gigs each year and over 300 artists and groups appear on its stage annually. A full-backline, sound-engineered room — one of Bristol's busiest small venues.
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| 04 | Update backline and capacity |
Stokes Croft · Every Sunday
The Canteen Open Mic
Stokes Croft's Sunday-night free open mic at 80 Stokes Croft, BS1 3QY — community-run venue, full backline including piano, 10-minute slots.
- Sunday
- Open mic night
- Apr 2026
- Listed since
- 2 Sept
- Last checked
- No fee
- Entry
- 10 min
- Slot length
- Community
- Listing status
Run a Bristol open mic? List it free — reviewed before it goes live
Last updated: 13 November 2026
The Canteen Open Mic — Quick Facts
The Canteen Open Mic runs on Sundays at The Canteen in Bristol, starting at 21:00 with sign-up from 20:30. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Open mic status Last checked 2 Sept 2026
How sure we are
Partly verified
The night starts at 21:00 and runs to about 00:00. It's walk-in sign-up, with the list opening at 20:30 - arrive early to get a slot. Each act gets about 10 minutes, so the night holds around 18 acts. With full backline listed, you need little more than your instrument and pedals.
Next nightSun 15 Nov · 21:00Starts in 2d 13h 22m
AgeAll ages
Sign-upWalk-in on the night
Capacityc. 200 standing
Who playsMusicians · Poets
BacklineFull backline
Sound engineerIn-house, included
Directory statusBeing verified
Member votes0 to get the venue on GigXchange
Websitecanteenbristol.co.uk
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.
NightSundayEvery SundayNext: Sun 15 Nov
Starts21:00until 00:00
Sign-up20:30Walk-in
Slots10minutes eachRoom for about 18 acts
What’s on in Bristol this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
The Canteen is a community-run venue at the heart of Stokes Croft. Music every night of the week, free entry, and a Sunday open mic that pulls in Bristol's songwriting scene.
180 minutes, 18 acts at 10 minutes. Vegetarian and vegan kitchen. The piano on the stage is a real upright.
Sign-up process
Sheet at the bar at 8:30pm. Walk-in.
Getting there
80 Stokes Croft, BS1 3QY. 12 minutes' walk from Bristol Temple Meads. Buses 8, 9, 70, 71 stop directly outside.
The venue
Single big bar/restaurant room with a stage. All ages until 9pm, then 18+. Capacity c. 200.
What's on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA systemProvided
Drum kitProvided
Guitar ampProvided
Bass ampProvided
Keys / keyboardProvided
3 vocal micsProvided
In-house engineerProvided
The Night at a Glance
How The Canteen’s Sunday night runs.
Next nightSun 15 Nov · 21:00Starts in 2d 13h 22m
Sign-up opens20:30Walk-in on the night
Kick-off21:00Every Sunday
Music ends · Venue closes00:00Last act finishes
Slots10minutes eachroom for about 18 acts
How often
Every Sunday
Coming up
Sun 15 Nov · Sun 22 Nov · Sun 29 Nov
Kit
The Canteen provides a PA system, 3 vocal mics, a drum kit, a guitar amp, a bass amp, keys and an in-house sound engineer.
First time here?
Get there by 20:30 for a slot, have your instrument tuned before your turn and keep to about 10 minutes.
Find The Canteen
80 Stokes Croft, Bristol BS1 3QY
Address80 Stokes Croft
AreaStokes Croft, Bristol
PostcodeBS1 3QY
DirectionsOpen in Google Maps →
Getting there
The nearest station is Montpelier (rail station), about 15 minutes' walk away. You'll find The Canteen in Stokes Croft, Bristol; BS1 3QY is the postcode for sat-nav and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station.
Open mics nearby
Chepstow Club, The Bristol Fringe, The Jam Jar and Sidney & Eden
Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport (Open Government Licence).
Planning Your Sunday Night
Arrive by 20:30 to sign up for a slot. The open mic runs until about 00:00. Full backline is provided — just bring your instrument and pedals.
The scene Live music in Bristolthe venues, the gigs and where it happensGet gigs How to get gigs in Bristolpay, venues that book, how to pitchBands Find a band in Bristolacts to book or play alongsideGigs Upcoming gigs in Bristolevery listing, sorted by dateArtists Browse artist profilesfind acts to play or collaborate withOpen mics UK Open Mic Finderfree stage time, night by night
How much should paid gigs pay you? Most open mic musicians are ready sooner than they think — try the Rate Calculator for live UK rates by role, city and venue size. A night in the Bristol live music scene.
Common Questions
9 questions people ask before going to Bristol's The Canteen open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 20:30. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Bristol open mic nights for alternatives.
Full backline: drum kit, guitar amp, bass amp, PA and vocal mics, plus an in-house sound engineer. Bring your own instrument and pedals.
10 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo.
No entry fee is listed for The Canteen's open mic - most open mics are free to play and to watch, but check with the venue before you go. Browse Bristol open mics.
Yes — full bands welcome and the backline is set up for it.
80 Stokes Croft, Bristol BS1 3QY.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Bristol regulars across the Bristol open mic scene. Bristol open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
The nearest station is Montpelier (rail station), about 15 minutes' walk away. For sat-nav and taxis, the postcode is BS1 3QY. (Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport, Open Government Licence.)
Sign-up is walk-in on the night, from 20:30, 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 Bristol open mics.
Venues Near The Canteen
No other gigs are listed at The Canteen in the GigXchange directory yet — these are the rooms around it, their size, kit and live nights.
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The Canteen open mic in brief. The Canteen open mic runs every Sunday from 21:00 (no fee listed); sign-up opens 20:30 and slots run about 10 minutes. The Canteen’s venue page lists its kit and capacity if you want to come back with a full band. For a different night this week, the open mics near Bristol are listed by day.
Booking or playing in Bristol? 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 Bristol open mics
All ›After paid gigs rather than open mics? See Bristol gigs or check the going rate.
10 — Venues near The Canteen
All ›More rooms near The Canteen: Basement 45, Bristol Beacon, Bristol Strange Brew, Cat & Wheel, Chepstow Club, Cube Cinema, Document Bristol, El Rincón, Electric Bristol, Exchange and Grain Barge.
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