The Golden Lion is a much-loved community pub and live-music venue at 244 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol (BS7 8NZ) — cask ales, a friendly local crowd and live music or events seven days a week: open mic on Mondays, live bands Tuesday to Saturday, and a film club on Sundays. Its Monday open mic runs 9pm–11:30pm, hosted by Jim Davies (of The Rin Tins) — an all-skills, all-styles night where everything from singing and original songs to poetry and comedy is welcome. A genuinely well-equipped open mic: a full backline is provided — acoustic guitar, bass, drums, keyboard and congas — so you can turn up and play whatever you like, solo or full band. A staple of the Gloucester Road open-mic circuit. Confirmed open and gigging in 2026 (CAMRA, Open Mic Finder, Time Out, Gigseekr).
Bristol · Every Monday · No fee listed
Gloucester Rd's monday-night free open mic at The Golden Lion — PA + vocal mic, walk-in sign-up from 8:30pm, 15-minute slots, all ages.
Next night: Mon 16 Nov. Kick-off 21:00, sign-up from 20:30. 15-minute slots. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
Mondays
| Night | Every Monday |
| Sign-up | 20:30 walk-in |
| Slot | 15 min |
| Entry | No fee listed · all ages |
| Backline | Full backline |
| Capacity | – |
| Performer types | Musicians · Poets · Comedians |
| Host | Jim Davies |
| Status | Verified running |
| Last checked | 30 Sept 2026 |
| Checked against | Ticket listing |
Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8NZ
The nearest station is Ashley Down (rail station), about 15 minutes' walk away.
| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | Provided |
| Guitar amp | Provided |
| Bass amp | Provided |
| Keys / keyboard | Provided |
| Vocal mics | Provided |
| In-house engineer | TBC |
The Golden Lion on Gloucester Road runs a properly equipped weekly open mic every Monday, 9pm to 11:30pm, with Jim Davies of The Rin Tins leading proceedings. It's a well-loved Bristol music pub and all skills are welcome — poetry, singing and comedy all get a turn. The big draw for players is the full backline: house PA, drum kit, bass, keyboard, congas and an acoustic guitar all set up, so you can turn up almost empty-handed and still play a full band sound. Sign-up is walk-in, so arrive early on a busy Monday.
The Golden Lion is a much-loved community pub and live-music venue at 244 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol (BS7 8NZ) — cask ales, a friendly local crowd and live music or events seven days a week: open mic on Mondays, live bands Tuesday to Saturday, and a film club on Sundays. Its Monday open mic runs 9pm–11:30pm, hosted by Jim Davies (of The Rin Tins) — an all-skills, all-styles night where everything from singing and original songs to poetry and comedy is welcome. A genuinely well-equipped open mic: a full backline is provided — acoustic guitar, bass, drums, keyboard and congas — so you can turn up and play whatever you like, solo or full band. A staple of the Gloucester Road open-mic circuit. Confirmed open and gigging in 2026 (CAMRA, Open Mic Finder, Time Out, Gigseekr).
One tap. It tells the next act what to expect.
| 01 | Correct the day, time and sign-up |
| 02 | Edit your profile and photos |
| 03 | Receive artist enquiries |
| 04 | Update backline and capacity |
The Golden Lion Open Mic
Gloucester Rd's monday-night free open mic at The Golden Lion — PA + vocal mic, walk-in sign-up from 8:30pm, 15-minute slots, all ages.
- Monday
- Open mic night
- Apr 2026
- Listed since
- 30 Sept
- Last verified
- No fee
- Entry
- 15 min
- Slot length
- Verified
- Listing status
Last updated: 13 November 2026
The Golden Lion Open Mic — Quick Facts
The Golden Lion Open Mic runs on Mondays at The Golden Lion 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.
Music starts around 21:00, finishing about 23:30. It's walk-in sign-up, with the list opening at 20:30 - arrive early to get a slot. Each act gets about 15 minutes, so the night holds around 10 acts. Full backline is listed, so you can travel light - bring your instrument, pedals and breakables. Jim Davies hosts the night.
What’s on in Bristol this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
The Golden Lion on Gloucester Road runs a properly equipped weekly open mic every Monday, 9pm to 11:30pm, with Jim Davies of The Rin Tins leading proceedings. It's a well-loved Bristol music pub and all skills are welcome — poetry, singing and comedy all get a turn. The big draw for players is the full backline: house PA, drum kit, bass, keyboard, congas and an acoustic guitar all set up, so you can turn up almost empty-handed and still play a full band sound. Sign-up is walk-in, so arrive early on a busy Monday.
The kit on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
The Night at a Glance
How The Golden Lion’s Monday night runs.
Every Monday
Mon 16 Nov · Mon 23 Nov · Mon 30 Nov
The Golden Lion provides a PA system, vocal mics, a drum kit, a guitar amp, a bass amp and keys — check the rest with the venue.
Get there by 20:30 for a slot, have your instrument tuned before your turn and keep to about 15 minutes.
Find The Golden Lion
244 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8NZ
The nearest station is Ashley Down (rail station), about 15 minutes' walk away. The Golden Lion is in Bishopston, Bristol — use BS7 8NZ for sat-nav, taxis and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station before you set off.
Chepstow Club, The Bristol Fringe, The Jam Jar and Sidney & Eden
Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport (Open Government Licence).
Planning Your Monday Night
Arrive by 20:30 to sign up for a slot. The open mic runs until about 23:30. Full backline is provided — just bring your instrument and pedals.
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. Part of the Bristol live music scene.
Common Questions
9 things people want to know before Bristol's The Golden Lion open mic.
What’s On at The Golden Lion
The gigs coming up at The Golden Lion besides the open mic, from the GigXchange directory — each one links its listing.
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Indie Rock
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- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Indie Rock
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Indie Rock
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Indie Rock
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Indie Rock
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Indie Rock
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Indie Rock
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Indie Rock
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The Golden Lion open mic in brief. The Golden Lion open mic runs every Monday from 21:00 (no fee listed); sign-up opens 20:30 and slots run about 15 minutes. The Golden Lion’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.
Looking for paid gigs, not open mics? See Bristol gigs or check the going rate.
Rooms near The Golden Lion: Sidney & Eden, The Blue Lagoon, The Gallimaufry, Barrelhouse, Basement 45, Bristol Beacon, Bristol Strange Brew, Cafe Kino, Cat & Wheel, Chepstow Club, Crofters Rights and Cube Cinema.
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