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 · Free
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.
Open mic at a glance Pilgrim Bar · Edinburgh
Monday
Open mic night
Apr 2026
Listed since
23 Aug
Last verified
Free
Entry
12 min
Slot length
Verified
Listing status
Run a Edinburgh open mic? List it free — verified within 48 hours
Last updated: 23 August 2026
Pilgrim Bar Open Mic — Quick Facts
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.
✓ Verified activeLast verified
The Details
Everything you need before you turn up
DayMonday
Start20:30
Sign-up19:00
Slot length12 min
EntryFree · 18+
Capacity–
Performer typesMusicians
Sound engineerBYO / hire on the night
View on map
Where
Pilgrim Bar3 Robertson’s Cl
Edinburgh EH1 1LY
Edinburgh — check venue website for parking and nearest station.
Highlights
Free entry for all
PA system provided
Sign-up via online
Musicians 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 Pilgrim Bar
About This Open Mic
Every Monday in Edinburgh
Kicks off at 20:30, sign-up from 19:00
Free entry for performers and audience
12-minute slots
PA provided — BYO instrument
Part of the Edinburgh open mic directory
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.
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 Pilgrim Bar’s Monday night runs.
19:00Sign-up
20:30Kick-off
23:00Last songs
01:00Venue closes
Every Monday 12-min slots Free entry
Find Pilgrim Bar
3 Robertson’s Cl, Edinburgh EH1 1LY
Planning Your Monday Night
Arrive by 19:00 to sign up for a slot. Entry is free and the open mic typically runs until 23:00. A PA is provided — bring your own instrument and amp.
Part of the Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh's Pilgrim Bar open mic.
Sign-up via online. See all Edinburgh open mic nights.
PA + vocal mic provided. BYO instrument and amp.
12 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo.
Yes — free entry for performers and audience. Most Edinburgh mics are free; browse the list.
Solo and duo acts work best given the gear available; ask the host before bringing a full band.
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.
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