The Ill Repute is a characterful live-music pub at 16 West Street in Bristol's Old Market, open Tuesday to Sunday and packed with retro motorbikes and racks of vinyl in its front room. Live acts play through the week — free, and spanning everything from blues to ska — with an open-mic night every other Wednesday, while a basement 'Subterranean Social Club' doubles as a movie and function room. It's also one of Bristol's go-to spots for homemade Mexican food, with a menu of tacos and burritos, plus an infamous Elvis-themed bathroom.
Old Market · Every other Wednesday · Free
The Ill Repute Open Mic
Bristol open mic at The Ill Repute — listed on Google Places. Schedule below pending venue confirmation; check the venue's own listings before turning up.
Open mic at a glance The Ill Repute · Bristol
Wednesday
Open mic night
Apr 2026
Listed since
03 Jun
Last verified
Free
Entry
12 min
Slot length
Verified
Listing status
Run a Bristol open mic? List it free — verified within 48 hours
Last updated: 3 June 2026
The Ill Repute Open Mic — Quick Facts
Bristol open mic at The Ill Repute — listed on Google Places. Schedule below pending venue confirmation; check the venue's own listings before turning up.
✓ Verified activeLast verified
The Details
Everything you need before you turn up
DayWednesday
Start21:00
Sign-up20:00 walk-in
Slot length12 min
EntryFree · 18+
Capacity–
Performer typesMusic
Sound engineerBYO / hire on the night
View on map
Where
The Ill Repute16 West St
Old Market
Bristol BS2 0DF
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.
Spotted something wrong with this listing?Closed, moved night, different start time? Let us know and we'll re-verify within 48 hours.
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About The Ill Repute
About This Open Mic
Every other Wednesday in Old Market, Bristol
Kicks off at 21:00, sign-up from 20:00
Free entry for performers and audience
12-minute slots
PA provided — BYO instrument
Part of the Bristol open mic directory
The Night
The Ill Repute is a brilliantly oddball Old Market pub — retro motorbikes, walls of vinyl and a 'Subterranean Social Club' downstairs. Its open mic runs every other Wednesday from 9pm; turn up by 8pm to put your name down, and every performer bags a free drink for their trouble. It's a warm, music-loving crowd, so a good shout for a relaxed mid-week play.
What's on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA + monitors
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer
The Night at a Glance
How The Ill Repute’s Wednesday night runs.
20:00Sign-up
21:00Kick-off
00:00Venue closes
Every other Wednesday 12-min slots Free entry
Find The Ill Repute
16 West St, Old Market, Bristol BS2 0DF
Planning Your Wednesday Night
Arrive by 20:00 to sign up for a slot. Entry is free and the open mic typically runs until late. 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 Ill Repute open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 20:00. 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.
16 West St, Old Market, Bristol BS2 0DF.
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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