The Queens Head in Waltham Abbey hosts a friendly, free monthly open mic on the first Thursday of each month, run by John's Open Mics. Performers sign up from 7:30pm for an 8pm start, with acoustic, blues and folk all welcome — and a dedicated YouTube channel sharing recordings shows a genuinely active local performer community.
Waltham Abbey · Every 1st Thursday of the month · No fee listed
The Queens Head Open Mic
Waltham Abbey's open mic on the first Thursday of each month at 60 Paternoster Hill, EN9 3LA.
Next night: Thu 3 Dec. Kick-off 20:00, sign-up from 19:30. 12-minute slots. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
At a glance
Checked 5 Oct 202620:00
Kick-off
Thursdays
sign-up from 19:30Thursdays
| Night | Every 1st Thursday of the month |
| Sign-up | 19:30 walk-in |
| Slot | 12 min |
| Entry | No fee listed · 18+ |
| Backline | PA provided |
01 — Inside the room
4 photosPhotos: Google
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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. 50 standing |
| Performer types | Musicians |
| Host | John Drummond |
The check
| Status | Verified running |
| Last checked | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Checked against | Web listing |
03 — The night
Every 1st Thursday of the monthHow the night runs
20:00
Kick-off
ThursdaysRunning order
19:30 Sign-up· Walk-in, ask for John Drummond
20:00 Kick-off· 12-minute slots
23:00 Last songs
04 — Find The Queens Head
Town CentreGetting there
60 Paternoster Hill,
Town Centre, Waltham Abbey EN9 3LA
Town Centre, Waltham Abbey EN9 3LA
The nearest station is Waltham Cross (rail station), about 2 miles away - a taxi or bus is the easier last leg.
05 — What's on stage
2 provided| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | Bring your own |
| Guitar amp | Bring your own |
| Bass amp | Bring your own |
| Keys / keyboard | Bring your own |
| 3 vocal mics | Provided |
| In-house engineer | None |
06 — About
Town Centre, Waltham AbbeyAbout the night
The Queens Head on Paternoster Hill runs a proper monthly fixture on the John's Open Mics circuit - the first Thursday of each month, in a small Essex town on the London-Hertfordshire border, hosted by John Drummond. Each performer gets three songs, with the running order set, as the hosts put it, "by and large order of arrival". It is an acoustic night and backing tracks are discouraged. Past nights are documented on the event's own Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Sign-up process
Sign-up at the bar from 7:30pm for an 8pm start. Walk-in, first come first served.
Getting there
60 Paternoster Hill, EN9 3LA. 15 minutes from Waltham Cross Rail.
The venue
Traditional pub. 18+. Capacity c. 50. Full bar.
The Queens Head in Waltham Abbey hosts a friendly, free monthly open mic on the first Thursday of each month, run by John's Open Mics. Performers sign up from 7:30pm for an 8pm start, with acoustic, blues and folk all welcome — and a dedicated YouTube channel sharing recordings shows a genuinely active local performer community.
Played here before?One tap
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Run this room?
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What you get | 01 | Correct the day, time and sign-up |
| 02 | Edit your profile and photos |
| 03 | Receive artist enquiries |
| 04 | Update backline and capacity |
Town Centre · Every 1st Thursday of the month
The Queens Head Open Mic
Waltham Abbey's open mic on the first Thursday of each month at 60 Paternoster Hill, EN9 3LA.
- Thursday
- Open mic night
- May 2026
- Listed since
- 5 Oct
- Last verified
- No fee
- Entry
- 12 min
- Slot length
- Verified
- Listing status
Run a Waltham Abbey open mic? List it free — reviewed before it goes live
Last updated: 13 November 2026
The Queens Head Open Mic — Quick Facts
The Queens Head Open Mic runs on the 1st Thursday of the month at The Queens Head in Waltham Abbey, starting at 20:00 with sign-up from 19:30. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Open mic status Last verified 5 Oct 2026
How sure we are
Verified active
Checked against the venue’s own listing See The Queens Head’s venue page →
Music starts around 20:00, finishing about 23:00. It's walk-in sign-up, with the list opening at 19:30 - arrive early to get a slot. Each act gets about 12 minutes, so the night holds around 15 acts. There is a PA listed - ask what else is on stage before you load in. John Drummond hosts the night.
Next nightThu 3 Dec · 20:00Starts in 20d 12h 20m
Age18+
Sign-upWalk-in on the night
Capacityc. 50 standing
BacklinePA provided
Sound engineerNone in-house
HostJohn Drummond
Directory statusVerified active
Member votes0 to get the venue on GigXchange
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.
NightThursdayEvery 1st Thursday of the monthNext: Thu 3 Dec
Starts20:00until 23:00
Sign-up19:30Walk-in
Slots12minutes eachRoom for about 15 acts
What’s on in Waltham Abbey this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
The Queens Head on Paternoster Hill runs a proper monthly fixture on the John's Open Mics circuit - the first Thursday of each month, in a small Essex town on the London-Hertfordshire border, hosted by John Drummond. Each performer gets three songs, with the running order set, as the hosts put it, "by and large order of arrival". It is an acoustic night and backing tracks are discouraged. Past nights are documented on the event's own Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Sign-up process
Sign-up at the bar from 7:30pm for an 8pm start. Walk-in, first come first served.
Getting there
60 Paternoster Hill, EN9 3LA. 15 minutes from Waltham Cross Rail.
The venue
Traditional pub. 18+. Capacity c. 50. Full bar.
Equipment and backline at this venue — what's on stage, verified regularly.
PA systemProvided
Drum kitBring your own
Guitar ampBring your own
Bass ampBring your own
Keys / keyboardBring your own
3 vocal micsProvided
In-house engineerNone
The Night at a Glance
How The Queens Head’s Thursday night runs.
Next nightThu 3 Dec · 20:00Starts in 20d 12h 20m
Sign-up opens19:30Walk-in on the night
Kick-off20:00Every 1st Thursday of the month
Music ends · Venue closes23:00Last act finishes
Slots12minutes eachroom for about 15 acts
How often
Every 1st Thursday of the month
Coming up
Thu 3 Dec · Thu 7 Jan · Thu 4 Feb
Kit
The Queens Head provides a PA system and 3 vocal mics; bring your own drum kit, guitar amp, bass amp and keys; no in-house sound engineer.
First time here?
Arrive for 19:30 to get your name on the list, tune up before you go on, and plan a set that fits 12 minutes.
Find The Queens Head
60 Paternoster Hill, Town Centre, Waltham Abbey EN9 3LA
Address60 Paternoster Hill
AreaTown Centre, Waltham Abbey
PostcodeEN9 3LA
DirectionsOpen in Google Maps →
Getting there
The nearest station is Waltham Cross (rail station), about 2 miles away - a taxi or bus is the easier last leg. The Queens Head is in Town Centre, Waltham Abbey — use EN9 3LA for sat-nav, taxis and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station before you set off.
Open mics nearby
Hertford Corn Exchange, The Golden Fleece, The Hertford Club and The Herald
Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport (Open Government Licence).
Planning Your Thursday Night
Get there by 19:30 to sign up for a slot. The open mic runs until about 23:00. The Queens Head provides a PA system and 3 vocal mics; bring your own drum kit, guitar amp, bass amp and keys; no in-house sound engineer.
The scene Live music in Waltham Abbeythe venues, the gigs and where it happensGet gigs How to get gigs in Waltham Abbeypay, venues that book, how to pitchBands Find a band in Waltham Abbeyacts to book or play alongsideGigs Upcoming gigs in Waltham Abbeyevery listing, sorted by dateArtists Browse artist profilesfind acts to play or collaborate withOpen mics UK Open Mic Finderfree stage time, night by night
What should you charge for a paid gig? 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 Waltham Abbey live music scene.
Common Questions
9 things people ask before turning up at Waltham Abbey's The Queens Head open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 19:30. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Waltham Abbey open mic nights for alternatives.
The Queens Head provides a PA system and 3 vocal mics; bring your own drum kit, guitar amp, bass amp and keys; no in-house sound engineer.
12 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo.
No entry fee is listed for The Queens Head's open mic - most open mics are free to play and to watch, but check with the venue before you go. Browse Waltham Abbey open mics.
Ask the host before bringing a full band — solo and duo acts are the usual open-mic format.
60 Paternoster Hill, Town Centre, Waltham Abbey EN9 3LA.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Waltham Abbey regulars across the Waltham Abbey open mic scene. Waltham Abbey open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
The nearest station is Waltham Cross (rail station), about 2 miles away - a taxi or bus is the easier last leg. For sat-nav and taxis, the postcode is EN9 3LA. (Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport, Open Government Licence.)
Sign-up is walk-in on the night, from 19:30, so you do not need to book ahead. GigXchange doesn't publish venue phone numbers or emails. Browse other Waltham Abbey open mics.
Venues Near The Queens Head
No other gigs are listed at The Queens Head in the GigXchange directory yet — these are the rooms around it, their size, kit and live nights.
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See what’s on in Waltham Abbey over the next four weeks →
The Queens Head open mic in brief. The Queens Head open mic runs every 1st Thursday of the month from 20:00 (no fee listed); sign-up opens 19:30 and slots run about 12 minutes. Coming back with a full band? The Queens Head’s venue page has its kit and capacity listed. For another night this week, the open mics near Waltham Abbey are listed by day.
Booking or playing in Waltham Abbey? 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 Waltham Abbey open mics
All ›After paid gigs rather than open mics? See Waltham Abbey gigs or check the going rate.
10 — Venues near The Queens Head
All ›More rooms near The Queens Head: Hertford Corn Exchange, Southern Maltings, Stanstead Abbotts & St Margarets Village Club, The Dog And Whistle, The Golden Fleece and The Herald.
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