Smokey Joe's is a vintage and retro licensed diner, bar and arts venue at 16 Bennington Street in Cheltenham, packed with original Americana and serving brunch through to dinner with burgers and dishes made fresh onsite. It doubles as a busy small-room arts venue (around 50 capacity) with a genuinely broad live-music programme — jazz club nights, swing and jive dance nights, plus comedy, retro gaming, poetry and storytelling. A characterful, intimate stage well suited to jazz, swing, rock'n'roll and acoustic acts, with a house PA. Events line: 01242 232102.
Bennington Street · Every 1st Wednesday of the month · Free
Smokey Joe's Open Mic
Bennington Street's wednesday open mic.
Open mic at a glance Smokey Joe's · Cheltenham
Wednesday
Open mic night
May 2026
Listed since
26 Jul
Last verified
Free
Entry
19:00
Sign-up time
Verified
Listing status
Run a Cheltenham open mic? List it free — verified within 48 hours
Last updated: 26 July 2026
Smokey Joe's Open Mic — Quick Facts
✓ Verified activeLast verified
The Details
Everything you need before you turn up
DayWednesday
Start19:00
Sign-up19:00 walk-in
Slot length–
EntryFree · all ages
Capacity–
Performer typesMusic
Sound engineerBYO / hire on the night
View on map
Where
Smokey Joe'sBennington Street
Cheltenham GL50 4ED
Bennington Street, Cheltenham — 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 Smokey Joe's
About This Open Mic
Every 1st Wednesday of the month in Bennington Street, Cheltenham
Kicks off at 19:00
Free entry for performers and audience
Slot length — we’re on it, no info yet
PA provided — BYO instrument
Part of the Cheltenham open mic directory
The Night
Smokey Joe's is a wonderfully quirky cafe-bar-music-club on Bennington Street, full of 40s/50s rooms and an 80s games room, and it hosts a monthly open mic that draws both seasoned players and first-timers. Sign-up opens from 7pm and a PA, mics and stands are all supplied, so you just bring yourself and your instrument. It's a friendly, characterful room — free to come along — sitting within a wider line-up of jazz, swing nights, poetry and vintage events. 16 Bennington Street, Cheltenham, GL50 4ED.
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 Smokey Joe's’s Wednesday night runs.
19:00Sign-up
19:00Kick-off
Every 1st Wednesday of the month Free entry
Find Smokey Joe's
Bennington Street, Cheltenham GL50 4ED
Planning Your Wednesday Night
Arrive by 19:00 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 Cheltenham live music scene.
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Try the Rate CalculatorCommon Questions
Seven things people ask before turning up at Cheltenham's Smokey Joe's open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 19:00. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Cheltenham open mic nights for alternatives.
PA + vocal mic provided. BYO instrument and amp.
Slot length varies — check with the host.
Yes — free entry for performers and audience. Most Cheltenham mics are free; browse the list.
Solo and duo acts work best given the gear available; ask the host before bringing a full band.
Bennington Street, Cheltenham GL50 4ED.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Cheltenham regulars across the Cheltenham open mic scene. Cheltenham open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
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