The Kingsdown Vaults at 29–31 Kingsdown Parade, Bristol (BS6 5UE) is a quirky, characterful live-music boozer in the Kingsdown/Cotham area, with an open log fire, a sun-trap beer garden and a genuinely busy gig calendar. Live music runs every Friday and Saturday featuring the best local, national and international folk, country, skiffle and blues, with Bristol's top singer-songwriters playing every Saturday afternoon from 3pm. A weekly Thursday open-mic night — hosted by Ben Hopkin, Lewis Creaven or Elliot Sutcliffe — gives anyone the chance to take the stage, alongside a Tuesday quiz and Sunday comedy. Part of the Guerrilla Pubs group.
Kingsdown · Every Thursday · Free
The Kingsdown Vaults Open Mic
Bristol open mic at The Kingsdown Vaults — listed on Google Places. Schedule below pending venue confirmation; check the venue's own listings before turning up.
Open mic at a glance The Kingsdown Vaults · Bristol
Thursday
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 Kingsdown Vaults Open Mic — Quick Facts
Bristol open mic at The Kingsdown Vaults — 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
DayThursday
Start20:00
Sign-up19:30 walk-in
Slot length12 min
EntryFree · 18+
Capacity–
Performer typesMusic
Sound engineerBYO / hire on the night
View on map
Where
The Kingsdown Vaults29-31 Kingsdown Parade
Kingsdown
Bristol BS6 5UE
Kingsdown, Bristol — check venue website for parking and nearest station.
Contact
Walk-in sign-up only
No advance booking
Host: in-house team
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 Kingsdown Vaults
About This Open Mic
Every Thursday in Kingsdown, 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 Kingsdown Vaults runs a weekly open mic every Thursday from 8pm, hosted by Ben Hopkin and a rotating cast of Bristol's local musicians. It's been a fixture of this quirky live-music boozer's programme for years, with an open log fire inside and a lovely beer garden out back. Music-focused, free to play, and welcoming to anyone wanting a turn on stage — the venue also runs live bands on Fridays and Saturdays across folk, country, skiffle and blues.
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 Kingsdown Vaults’s Thursday night runs.
19:30Sign-up
20:00Kick-off
00:00Venue closes
Every Thursday 12-min slots Free entry
Find The Kingsdown Vaults
29-31 Kingsdown Parade, Kingsdown, Bristol BS6 5UE
Planning Your Thursday Night
Arrive by 19:30 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 Kingsdown Vaults 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.
29-31 Kingsdown Parade, Kingsdown, Bristol BS6 5UE.
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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