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.
Next night: Sun 15 Nov. Kick-off 19:00. Free entry.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
At a glance
Checked 22 Oct 202619:00
Kick-off
Sundays
sign-up on the nightSundays
| Night | Every Sunday |
| Sign-up | Walk-in |
| Slot | Ask the host |
| Entry | Free · all ages |
| Backline | PA provided |
01 — Inside the room
4 photosPhotos: Google
208
page views on GigXchange. Is it your night?
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 | – |
| Performer types | Musicians |
The check
| Status | Verified running |
| Last checked | 22 Oct 2026 |
| Checked against | Web listing |
03 — The night
Every SundayHow the night runs
19:00
Kick-off
SundaysRunning order
19:00 Kick-off
23:00 Last songs
02:00 Venue closes
04 — Find The Shakespeare
DerbyGetting there
Derby DE1 3NF
The nearest station is Derby (rail station), about 20 minutes' walk away.
05 — What's on stage
1 provided · 6 TBC| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | TBC |
| Guitar amp | TBC |
| Bass amp | TBC |
| Keys / keyboard | TBC |
| Vocal mics | TBC |
| In-house engineer | TBC |
06 — About
DerbyAbout the night
The Shakespeare Bar & Kitchen is a lively spot on Sadler Gate in Derby's city centre, doing cocktails, sourdough pizzas, burgers, bottomless brunch and regular live music and DJ nights, with a garden out the back. Every Sunday from 7pm to 11pm it hosts a weekly open mic, listed by the University of Derby students' union as its official weekly open mic night, and everyone is welcome to perform: grab your guitar, bring your singing voice, or just come and enjoy the music with your mates.
It's free to play and free to watch, and students get 20% off selected food and drinks on the night. There's no published sign-up time, so arrive early to get your name down, and check the venue's Instagram (@shakespearederby) for any changes before you head out.
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.
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Derby · Every Sunday
The Shakespeare Open Mic
Derby's sunday open mic. Starts at 19:00.
- Sunday
- Open mic night
- May 2026
- Listed since
- 22 Oct
- Last verified
- Free
- Entry
- —
- Sign-up time
- Verified
- Listing status
Run a Derby open mic? List it free — reviewed before it goes live
Last updated: 13 November 2026
The Shakespeare Open Mic — Quick Facts
The Shakespeare Open Mic runs on Sundays at The Shakespeare in Derby, starting at 19:00. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Open mic status Last verified 22 Oct 2026
How sure we are
Verified active
Checked against the venue’s own listing See The Shakespeare’s venue page →
The night starts at 19:00 and runs to about 23:00. It's walk-in sign-up - arrive early to get a slot. A PA is listed; check what else is on stage before you bring a band.
Next nightSun 15 Nov · 19:00Starts in 2d 11h 23m
AgeAll ages
Sign-upWalk-in on the night
BacklinePA provided
Sound engineerAsk the venue
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.
NightSundayEvery SundayNext: Sun 15 Nov
Starts19:00until 23:00
Sign-upWalk-insign-up
SlotsTBCslot lengthNot confirmed yet
What’s on in Derby this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
The Shakespeare Bar & Kitchen is a lively spot on Sadler Gate in Derby's city centre, doing cocktails, sourdough pizzas, burgers, bottomless brunch and regular live music and DJ nights, with a garden out the back. Every Sunday from 7pm to 11pm it hosts a weekly open mic, listed by the University of Derby students' union as its official weekly open mic night, and everyone is welcome to perform: grab your guitar, bring your singing voice, or just come and enjoy the music with your mates.
It's free to play and free to watch, and students get 20% off selected food and drinks on the night. There's no published sign-up time, so arrive early to get your name down, and check the venue's Instagram (@shakespearederby) for any changes before you head out.
Equipment and backline at this venue — what's on stage, verified regularly.
PA systemProvided
Drum kitTBC
Guitar ampTBC
Bass ampTBC
Keys / keyboardTBC
Vocal micsTBC
In-house engineerTBC
The Night at a Glance
How The Shakespeare’s Sunday night runs.
Next nightSun 15 Nov · 19:00Starts in 2d 11h 23m
Kick-off19:00Every Sunday
Music ends23:00Last act finishes
Venue closes02:00The listed closing time
How often
Every Sunday
Coming up
Sun 15 Nov · Sun 22 Nov · Sun 29 Nov
Kit
The Shakespeare provides a PA system — check the rest with the venue.
First time here?
Get there early for a slot, have your instrument tuned before your turn.
Find The Shakespeare
Derby DE1 3NF
AreaDerby
PostcodeDE1 3NF
DirectionsOpen in Google Maps →
Getting there
The nearest station is Derby (rail station), about 20 minutes' walk away. The Shakespeare is in Derby — use DE1 3NF 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
Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport (Open Government Licence).
Planning Your Sunday Night
Get there early to sign up for a slot. The open mic runs until about 23:00. The Shakespeare provides a PA system — check the rest with the venue.
The scene Live music in Derbythe venues, the gigs and where it happensGet gigs How to get gigs in Derbypay, venues that book, how to pitchBands Find a band in Derbyacts to book or play alongsideGigs Upcoming gigs in Derbyevery listing, sorted by dateArtists Browse artist profilesfind acts to play or collaborate withOpen mics UK Open Mic Finderfree stage time, night by night
How much should paid gigs pay you? 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 Derby live music scene.
Common Questions
9 things people want to know before Derby's The Shakespeare open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Derby open mic nights for alternatives.
The Shakespeare provides a PA system — check the rest with the venue.
Slot length varies — check with the host.
Yes, entry to The Shakespeare's open mic was free at our last check, but check with the venue before you go. Browse Derby open mics.
Ask the host before bringing a full band — solo and duo acts are the usual open-mic format.
The Shakespeare is in Derby DE1 3NF. Get directions, or see the other Derby open mics.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Derby regulars across the Derby open mic scene. Derby open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
The nearest station is Derby (rail station), about 20 minutes' walk away. For sat-nav and taxis, the postcode is DE1 3NF. (Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport, Open Government Licence.)
Sign-up is walk-in on the night, so you do not need to book ahead. GigXchange doesn't publish venue phone numbers or emails. Browse other Derby open mics.
Venues Near The Shakespeare
No other gigs are listed at The Shakespeare 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 Derby over the next four weeks →
The Shakespeare open mic in brief. The Shakespeare open mic runs every Sunday from 19:00 (free entry). The Shakespeare’s venue page has its kit and capacity if you want to come back with a full band. The open mics near Derby are listed by day, for another night this week.
Booking or playing in Derby? 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 Derby open mics
All ›After paid gigs rather than open mics? See Derby gigs or check the going rate.
10 — Venues near The Shakespeare
All ›More rooms near The Shakespeare: The Bishop Blaise, The Bless, The Brookfield, The Creaky Floorboard, The Flowerpot, The Lyric Rooms, The Maypole Inn, The Royal Standard, The Smithfield, Burton Folk Club and Catton Hall and Gardens.
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