The Griffin in Old Market, Bristol, is a vibrant community pub that thrives on its Thursday-night free open mic sessions. With a standing capacity of around 70, it fosters an intimate atmosphere for both original acts and covers, equipped with a PA system and guitar amp for performers. The venue's welcoming vibe makes it a cherished spot for local talent to showcase their skills.
Old Market · Every Thursday · Free
The Griffin Open Mic
Old Market's Thursday-night free open mic at 41 Halifax Street, BS2 0AS — community pub, PA + guitar amp, 12-minute slots.
Open mic at a glance The Griffin · Bristol
Thursday
Open mic night
Apr 2026
Listed since
03 Jun
Last verified
Free
Entry
12 min
Slot length
Community
Listing status
Run a Bristol open mic? List it free — verified within 48 hours
Last updated: 3 June 2026
The Griffin Open Mic — Quick Facts
Old Market's Thursday-night free open mic at 41 Halifax Street, BS2 0AS — community pub, PA + guitar amp, 12-minute slots.
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The Details
Everything you need before you turn up
DayThursday
Start20:00
Sign-up19:30 walk-in
Slot length12 min
EntryFree · 18+
Capacityc. 70 standing
Performer typesMusic
Sound engineerBYO / hire on the night
View on map
Where
The Griffin41 Halifax Street
Old Market
Bristol BS2 0AS
Old Market, Bristol — check venue website for parking and nearest station.
Highlights
Free entry for all
PA system provided
Walk-in sign-up
Music welcome
How do you rate this open mic?One tap, no sign-up required.
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About The Griffin
About This Open Mic
Every Thursday in Old Market, Bristol
Kicks off at 20:00, sign-up from 19:30
Free entry for performers and audience
12-minute slots
PA provided — BYO instrument
Part of the Bristol open mic directory
The Night
The Griffin is a Bristol Old Market community pub with a Thursday acoustic open mic.
180 minutes, 15 acts at 12 minutes.
Sign-up process
Sheet at the bar at 7:30pm. Walk-in.
Getting there
41 Halifax Street, BS2 0AS. 8 minutes from Bristol Temple Meads.
The venue
Community pub. 18+. Capacity c. 70.
What's on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA + monitors
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
2 vocal mics
In-house engineer
The Night at a Glance
How The Griffin’s Thursday night runs.
19:30Sign-up
20:00Kick-off
23:00Last songs
Every Thursday 12-min slots Free entry
Find The Griffin
41 Halifax Street, Old Market, Bristol BS2 0AS
Planning Your Thursday Night
Arrive by 19:30 to sign up for a slot. Entry is free and the open mic typically runs until 23:00. A PA is provided — bring your own instrument and amp.
Part of the Bristol live music scene.
What should you charge for paid gigs?Most open mic musicians are ready for paid work sooner than they think. Check live UK rates by role, city, and venue size.
Try the Rate CalculatorCommon Questions
Seven things people ask before turning up at Bristol's The Griffin open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 19:30. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Bristol open mic nights for alternatives.
PA + vocal mic provided. BYO instrument and amp.
12 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo.
Yes — free entry for performers and audience. Most Bristol mics are free; browse the list.
Solo and duo acts work best given the gear available; ask the host before bringing a full band.
41 Halifax Street, Old Market, Bristol BS2 0AS.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Bristol regulars across the Bristol open mic scene. Bristol open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
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