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.
Town Centre · Every 1st Thursday of the month · Free
The Queens Head Open Mic
Waltham Abbey's open mic on the first Thursday of each month at 60 Paternoster Hill, EN9 3LA.
Open mic at a glance The Queens Head · Waltham Abbey
Thursday
Open mic night
May 2026
Listed since
15 Jul
Last verified
Free
Entry
12 min
Slot length
Verified
Listing status
Run a Waltham Abbey open mic? List it free — verified within 48 hours
Last updated: 15 July 2026
The Queens Head Open Mic — Quick Facts
Waltham Abbey's open mic on the first Thursday of each month at 60 Paternoster Hill, EN9 3LA.
✓ 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+
Capacityc. 50 standing
Performer typesMusic
Sound engineerBYO / hire on the night
View on map
Where
The Queens Head60 Paternoster Hill
Town Centre
Waltham Abbey EN9 3LA
Town Centre, Waltham Abbey — 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 Queens Head
About This Open Mic
Every 1st Thursday of the month in Town Centre, Waltham Abbey
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 Waltham Abbey open mic directory
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. Each performer gets three songs, with a second go-round if the night allows; backing tracks are permitted, though live accompaniment is preferred. 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.
What's on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA + monitors
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
3 vocal mics
In-house engineer
The Night at a Glance
How The Queens Head’s Thursday night runs.
19:30Sign-up
20:00Kick-off
23:00Last songs
Every 1st Thursday of the month 12-min slots Free entry
Find The Queens Head
60 Paternoster Hill, Town Centre, Waltham Abbey EN9 3LA
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 Waltham Abbey 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 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.
PA + vocal mic provided. BYO instrument and amp.
12 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo.
Yes — free entry for performers and audience. Most Waltham Abbey mics are free; browse the list.
Solo and duo acts work best given the gear available; ask the host before bringing a full band.
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.
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