Pilgrim Bar sits in a vaulted close just off the Cowgate at 3 Robertson's Close, Edinburgh (EH1 1LY) — an eco-minded cocktail and food bar fitted out from reclaimed materials, including 1930s cinema seating and a bar built from old suitcases. It runs a free weekly open mic on Mondays (the 'Happy Mondays' night), with sign-up from 7pm and performances 7:30–10pm; the venue provides a PA, mics and cables, is drum-friendly and welcomes both originals and covers across all genres, with under-21s admitted and the chance to audition for paid gigs. The wider week mixes live music, Karaoke Tuesdays, the Thursday Cocktail Club and pub quizzes.
Edinburgh · Every Monday · No fee listed
Pilgrim Bar Open Mic
Edinburgh open mic at Pilgrim Bar — listed on Google Places. Schedule details below are pending venue confirmation; check the venue's own listings before turning up.
Next night: Mon 16 Nov. Kick-off 20:30, sign-up from 19:00. 12-minute slots. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
At a glance
Checked 23 Aug 202620:30
Kick-off
Mondays
sign-up from 19:00Mondays
| Night | Every Monday |
| Sign-up | 19:00 |
| Slot | 12 min |
| Entry | No fee listed · 18+ |
| Backline | PA provided |
01 — Inside the room
4 photosPhotos: Google
155
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 |
| Website | pilgrimbar.co.uk |
The check
| Status | Verified running |
| Last checked | 23 Aug 2026 |
| Checked against | Venue website |
03 — The night
Every MondayHow the night runs
20:30
Kick-off
MondaysRunning order
19:00 Sign-up· Sign up online
20:30 Kick-off· 12-minute slots
23:00 Last songs
01:00 Venue closes
04 — Find Pilgrim Bar
EdinburghGetting there
3 Robertson’s Cl,
Edinburgh EH1 1LY
Edinburgh EH1 1LY
The nearest station is Edinburgh (rail station), about 5 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
EdinburghAbout the night
Pilgrim Bar's Happy Mondays is a free weekly open mic in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town, in a vaulted close just off the Cowgate. Host Joe Clark 'presents our Monday night open mic antics every week from 8.30pm', running 8:30pm to 11pm, and the night takes everything from acoustic to electric, originals and covers alike - the room is drum-friendly with a PA, mics and cables provided. Reserve a slot in advance through the event page on pilgrimbar.co.uk (registration opens for each week and closes once the list is full) or ask at the bar on the night, and strong performers can even audition for paid gigs.
The venue
An eco-minded cocktail and food bar fitted out from reclaimed materials - 1930s cinema seating, a bar built from old suitcases - with a pub quiz every Tuesday at 7:30pm and a Sunday quiz and karaoke from 7:30pm, so Monday is the live-music night of the week.
Getting there
3 Robertson's Close, Cowgate, Edinburgh EH1 1LY - a few minutes' walk from Waverley station.
Pilgrim Bar sits in a vaulted close just off the Cowgate at 3 Robertson's Close, Edinburgh (EH1 1LY) — an eco-minded cocktail and food bar fitted out from reclaimed materials, including 1930s cinema seating and a bar built from old suitcases. It runs a free weekly open mic on Mondays (the 'Happy Mondays' night), with sign-up from 7pm and performances 7:30–10pm; the venue provides a PA, mics and cables, is drum-friendly and welcomes both originals and covers across all genres, with under-21s admitted and the chance to audition for paid gigs. The wider week mixes live music, Karaoke Tuesdays, the Thursday Cocktail Club and pub quizzes.
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Edinburgh · Every Monday
Pilgrim Bar Open Mic
Edinburgh open mic at Pilgrim Bar — listed on Google Places. Schedule details below are pending venue confirmation; check the venue's own listings before turning up.
- Monday
- Open mic night
- Apr 2026
- Listed since
- 23 Aug
- Last verified
- No fee
- Entry
- 12 min
- Slot length
- Verified
- Listing status
Run a Edinburgh open mic? List it free — reviewed before it goes live
Last updated: 13 November 2026
Pilgrim Bar Open Mic — Quick Facts
Pilgrim Bar Open Mic runs on Mondays at Pilgrim Bar in Edinburgh, starting at 20:30 with sign-up from 19:00. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Open mic status Last verified 23 Aug 2026
How sure we are
Verified active
Checked against the venue’s own listing See Pilgrim Bar’s venue page →
Music starts around 20:30, finishing about 23:00. Sign-up is online, in advance, from 19:00. Slots run about 12 minutes - room for roughly 12 acts. There is a PA listed - ask what else is on stage before you load in.
Next nightMon 16 Nov · 20:30Starts in 3d 12h 26m
Age18+
Sign-upOnline, in advance
BacklinePA provided
Sound engineerAsk the venue
Directory statusVerified active
Member votes0 to get the venue on GigXchange
Websitepilgrimbar.co.uk
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.
NightMondayEvery MondayNext: Mon 16 Nov
Starts20:30until 23:00
Sign-up19:00Online
Slots12minutes eachRoom for about 12 acts
What’s on in Edinburgh this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
Pilgrim Bar's Happy Mondays is a free weekly open mic in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town, in a vaulted close just off the Cowgate. Host Joe Clark 'presents our Monday night open mic antics every week from 8.30pm', running 8:30pm to 11pm, and the night takes everything from acoustic to electric, originals and covers alike - the room is drum-friendly with a PA, mics and cables provided. Reserve a slot in advance through the event page on pilgrimbar.co.uk (registration opens for each week and closes once the list is full) or ask at the bar on the night, and strong performers can even audition for paid gigs.
The venue
An eco-minded cocktail and food bar fitted out from reclaimed materials - 1930s cinema seating, a bar built from old suitcases - with a pub quiz every Tuesday at 7:30pm and a Sunday quiz and karaoke from 7:30pm, so Monday is the live-music night of the week.
Getting there
3 Robertson's Close, Cowgate, Edinburgh EH1 1LY - a few minutes' walk from Waverley station.
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 Pilgrim Bar’s Monday night runs.
Next nightMon 16 Nov · 20:30Starts in 3d 12h 26m
Sign-up opens19:00Online, in advance
Kick-off20:30Every Monday
Music ends23:00Last act finishes
Venue closes01:00The listed closing time
Slots12minutes eachroom for about 12 acts
How often
Every Monday
Coming up
Mon 16 Nov · Mon 23 Nov · Mon 30 Nov
Kit
Pilgrim Bar provides a PA system — check the rest with the venue.
First time here?
Book your slot online, in advance, then arrive in time for 20:30 with a set that fits 12 minutes.
Find Pilgrim Bar
3 Robertson’s Cl, Edinburgh EH1 1LY
Address3 Robertson’s Cl
AreaEdinburgh
PostcodeEH1 1LY
DirectionsOpen in Google Maps →
Getting there
The nearest station is Edinburgh (rail station), about 5 minutes' walk away. You'll find Pilgrim Bar in Edinburgh; EH1 1LY is the postcode for sat-nav and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station.
Open mics nearby
Bannerman's Bar, The Bothy, Biddy Mulligans and The Auld Hundred
Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport (Open Government Licence).
Planning Your Monday Night
Book your slot online, in advance, then arrive in time for 20:30. The open mic runs until about 23:00. Pilgrim Bar provides a PA system — check the rest with the venue.
The scene Live music in Edinburghthe venues, the gigs and where it happensGet gigs How to get gigs in Edinburghpay, venues that book, how to pitchBands Find a band in Edinburghacts to book or play alongsideGigs Upcoming gigs in Edinburghevery listing, sorted by dateArtists Browse artist profilesfind acts to play or collaborate withOpen mics UK Open Mic Finderfree stage time, night by night
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. In the wider Edinburgh live music scene.
Common Questions
9 things people ask before turning up at Edinburgh's Pilgrim Bar open mic.
Sign-up via online. See all Edinburgh open mic nights.
Pilgrim Bar provides a PA system — check the rest with the venue.
12 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo.
No entry fee is listed for Pilgrim Bar's open mic - most open mics are free to play and to watch, but check with the venue before you go. Browse Edinburgh open mics.
Ask the host before bringing a full band — solo and duo acts are the usual open-mic format.
3 Robertson’s Cl, Edinburgh EH1 1LY.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Edinburgh regulars across the Edinburgh open mic scene. Edinburgh open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
The nearest station is Edinburgh (rail station), about 5 minutes' walk away. For sat-nav and taxis, the postcode is EH1 1LY. (Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport, Open Government Licence.)
Sign-up is online, in advance. GigXchange doesn't publish venue phone numbers or emails - the venue's own website is linked on this page. Browse other Edinburgh open mics.
Venues Near Pilgrim Bar
No other gigs are listed at Pilgrim Bar in the GigXchange directory yet — these are the rooms around it, their size, kit and live nights.
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Pilgrim Bar open mic in brief. The Pilgrim Bar open mic runs every Monday from 20:30 (no fee listed); sign-up opens 19:00 and slots run about 12 minutes. Coming back with a full band? Pilgrim Bar’s venue page has its kit and capacity listed. The open mics near Edinburgh are listed by day, for another night this week.
Booking or playing in Edinburgh? 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 Edinburgh open mics
All ›Want paid gigs instead of open mics? See Edinburgh gigs or check the going rate.
10 — Venues near Pilgrim Bar
All ›More rooms near Pilgrim Bar: Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh Corn Exchange, Footlights Bar and Grill, Home Bar, Kitty O'Shea's Edinburgh, Malones Edinburgh, Monkey Barrel Comedy, Puffin' Rooms, Red Rocks, Rose & Crown and Shoogly Peg.
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