The White Swan on French Gate in Doncaster runs an open mic on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, 2.30pm to 5.30pm. It is a real-ale town-centre pub next to the Frenchgate Centre with a wider live music programme - two open mic sessions a month, an acoustic night, and a jazz lunchtime on the first Saturday.
Sign-up process
Walk-in on the day.
Getting there
34 French Gate, Doncaster, DN1 1QQ. Adjacent to Church Way and the Frenchgate Shopping Centre, a short walk from Doncaster station.
The venue
Traditional town-centre real ale pub.
The White Swan sits on French Gate in the middle of Doncaster, next to Church Way and the Frenchgate Centre and a short walk from the station. It is a real ale pub first, but it carries a genuine live music programme rather than a single token night.
The open mic runs on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, 2.30pm to 5.30pm - an afternoon session, which is unusual and worth knowing before you plan around it. Alongside the two monthly open mics the pub runs an acoustic night and a jazz lunchtime on the first Saturday of the month.
Run a Doncaster open mic? List it free — reviewed before it goes live
Last updated: 13 November 2026
The White Swan Open Mic — Quick Facts
The White Swan Open Mic runs on Thursdays (fortnightly) at The White Swan in Doncaster, starting at 14:30 with sign-up from 19:30. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
The White Swan sits on French Gate in the middle of Doncaster, next to Church Way and the Frenchgate Centre and a short walk from the station. It is a real ale pub first, but it carries a genuine live music programme rather than a single token night.
The open mic runs on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, 2.30pm to 5.30pm - an afternoon session, which is unusual and worth knowing before you plan around it. Alongside the two monthly open mics the pub runs an acoustic night and a jazz lunchtime on the first Saturday of the month.
34 French Gate, Doncaster, DN1 1QQ.
More open mic nights in Doncaster: The Wool Market, Carpenters Arms, Brown Cow and 5 more - day and sign-up where listed.
The White Swan on French Gate in Doncaster runs an open mic on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, 2.30pm to 5.30pm. It is a real-ale town-centre pub next to the Frenchgate Centre with a wider live music programme - two open mic sessions a month, an acoustic night, and a jazz lunchtime on the first Saturday.
Sign-up process
Walk-in on the day.
Getting there
34 French Gate, Doncaster, DN1 1QQ. Adjacent to Church Way and the Frenchgate Shopping Centre, a short walk from Doncaster station.
The venue
Traditional town-centre real ale pub.
Equipment and backline at this venue — what's on stage, verified regularly.
PA systemTBC
Drum kitTBC
Guitar ampTBC
Bass ampTBC
Keys / keyboardTBC
Vocal micsTBC
In-house engineerTBC
The Night at a Glance
How The White Swan’s Thursday night runs.
Kick-off14:30Every other Thursday
Music ends17:30Last act finishes
Sign-up opens19:30Walk-in on the night
Venue closes20:00The listed closing time
How often
Every other Thursday
Getting there
Doncaster, DN1 1QQ - the map is below.
First time here?
Get there by 19:30 for a slot, have your instrument tuned before your turn.
The nearest station is Doncaster (rail station), about 5 minutes' walk away. The White Swan is in Doncaster — use DN1 1QQ for sat-nav, taxis and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station before you set off.
What should you charge for paid gigs? 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 Doncaster live music scene.
Common Questions
9 things people want to know before Doncaster's The White Swan open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 19:30. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Doncaster open mic nights for alternatives.
The White Swan has not listed its kit yet — ask the host before you go.
Slot length varies — check with the host.
No entry fee is listed for The White Swan's open mic - most open mics are free to play and to watch, but check with the venue before you go. Browse Doncaster open mics.
Ask the host before bringing a full band — solo and duo acts are the usual open-mic format.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Doncaster regulars across the Doncaster open mic scene. Doncaster open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
The nearest station is Doncaster (rail station), about 5 minutes' walk away. For sat-nav and taxis, the postcode is DN1 1QQ. (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 - the venue's own website is linked on this page. Browse other Doncaster open mics.
Venues Near The White Swan
No other gigs are listed at The White Swan in the GigXchange directory yet — these are the rooms around it, their size, kit and live nights.
More live music venues: Doncaster Brewery Tap, Hallcross, Rustic Arms and 9 more - each with its own page of size, kit and nights where we have them.
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The White Swan open mic in brief. The White Swan open mic runs every other Thursday from 14:30 (no fee listed); sign-up opens 19:30. The White Swan’s venue page lists its kit and capacity if you want to come back with a full band. The open mics near Doncaster are listed by day, for another night this week.
Booking or playing in Doncaster? 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.
