The Shakespeare is a bar and kitchen set in a 300-year-old building at the heart of Sadler Gate in Derby's Cathedral Quarter. Closed since 2020, it was reborn in September 2023 after a £385,000 refurbishment, blending heritage with contemporary style and adding a Scandinavian-style rear garden. Food runs to American-style pizzas, smoked meats and gourmet burgers, with all-day cocktail deals and bottomless brunch. For performers, it runs live music and DJ nights plus a weekly Sunday open mic and summer garden jam sessions, comfortably hosting up to around 200. A lively, well-equipped grassroots spot in central Derby.
Derby · Every Sunday · Free
The Shakespeare Open Mic
Derby's sunday open mic.
Open mic at a glance The Shakespeare · Derby
Sunday
Open mic night
May 2026
Listed since
03 Aug
Last verified
Free
Entry
—
Sign-up time
Community
Listing status
Run a Derby open mic? List it free — verified within 48 hours
Last updated: 3 June 2026
The Shakespeare Open Mic — Quick Facts
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The Details
Everything you need before you turn up
DaySunday
Start19:00
Sign-up walk-in
Slot length–
EntryFree · all ages
Capacity–
Performer typesMusic
Sound engineerBYO / hire on the night
View on map
Where
The ShakespeareDerby DE1 3NF
Derby — 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.
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About The Shakespeare
About This Open Mic
Every Sunday in Derby
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 Derby open mic directory
The Night
The Shakespeare Bar & Kitchen is a lively spot on Saddler Gate in Derby's city centre, doing cocktails, burgers, pizza, bottomless brunch and regular live music and DJ nights. There are unverified mentions of a Sunday open mic, but we couldn't confirm it on any dedicated open-mic listing (it isn't on Open Mic Finder's Derby pages), so treat the night and time as unconfirmed and check the venue's Instagram (@shakespearederby) before turning up.
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 Shakespeare’s Sunday night runs.
19:00Kick-off
02:00Venue closes
Every Sunday Free entry
Find The Shakespeare
Derby DE1 3NF
Planning Your Sunday Night
Arrive early 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 Derby 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 Derby's The Shakespeare open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at . Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Derby 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 Derby mics are free; browse the list.
Solo and duo acts work best given the gear available; ask the host before bringing a full band.
Derby DE1 3NF.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Derby regulars across the Derby open mic scene. Derby open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
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