Sandy Bell's is one of Scotland's most famous traditional pubs, a tiny folk bar on Forrest Road in Edinburgh's Old Town with a standing capacity of around 70. Traditional music sessions have run here since 1942 and the pub played a major part in the folk revival; today sessions are held daily — nightly from 9pm, with a slow session every Monday at 6pm, the Scottish mouth-organ group every second Monday, and afternoon sessions on Saturdays and Sundays. It pours an extensive range of Scottish malt whiskies and cask beer and serves homemade pies, soup and toasties through the day. The format is informal acoustic session playing, so it's ideal for folk, Scottish-traditional and acoustic musicians who want to join in.
Edinburgh · Every Wednesday · No fee listed
Sandy Bell's Open Mic
Edinburgh's Wednesday-night free Scottish-trad open mic at 25 Forrest Road, EH1 2QH — historic folk pub, PA + guitar amp, 12-minute slots.
Next night: Wed 18 Nov. Kick-off 21:00, sign-up from 20:30. 12-minute slots. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
At a glance
Checked 20 Aug 202621:00
Kick-off
Wednesdays
sign-up from 20:30Wednesdays
| Night | Every Wednesday |
| Sign-up | 20:30 walk-in |
| Slot | 12 min |
| Entry | No fee listed · 18+ |
| Backline | PA provided |
01 — Inside the room
4 photosPhotos: Google
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0 members voted to bring the venue onto GigXchange02 — The details
Before you goEverything you need to know
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Member votes
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| Capacity | c. 70 standing |
| Performer types | Musicians |
| Website | sandybellsedinburgh.co.uk |
The check
| Status | Verified running |
| Last checked | 20 Aug 2026 |
| Checked against | Venue website |
03 — The night
Every WednesdayHow the night runs
21:00
Kick-off
WednesdaysRunning order
20:30 Sign-up· Walk-in
21:00 Kick-off· 12-minute slots
00:30 Last songs
01:00 Venue closes
04 — Find Sandy Bell's
Old TownGetting there
25 Forrest Road,
Old Town, Edinburgh EH1 2QH
Old Town, Edinburgh EH1 2QH
The nearest station is Edinburgh (rail station), about 10 minutes' walk away.
05 — What's on stage
3 provided| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | Bring your own |
| Guitar amp | Provided |
| Bass amp | Bring your own |
| Keys / keyboard | Bring your own |
| 2 vocal mics | Provided |
| In-house engineer | None |
06 — About
Old Town, EdinburghAbout the night
Sandy Bell's is Edinburgh's most famous traditional and folk music pub, tucked into Forrest Road in the Old Town and a cornerstone of the Scottish folk revival since the 1960s. Rather than a formal open mic, it runs informal trad sessions nightly from around 9pm (plus afternoon sessions some days and a slow session on Mondays at 6pm) — you bring an instrument and join in. It's the player's night out as much as the audience's, so it's about sitting in respectfully rather than booking a stage slot.
Sandy Bell's is one of Scotland's most famous traditional pubs, a tiny folk bar on Forrest Road in Edinburgh's Old Town with a standing capacity of around 70. Traditional music sessions have run here since 1942 and the pub played a major part in the folk revival; today sessions are held daily — nightly from 9pm, with a slow session every Monday at 6pm, the Scottish mouth-organ group every second Monday, and afternoon sessions on Saturdays and Sundays. It pours an extensive range of Scottish malt whiskies and cask beer and serves homemade pies, soup and toasties through the day. The format is informal acoustic session playing, so it's ideal for folk, Scottish-traditional and acoustic musicians who want to join in.
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Old Town · Every Wednesday
Sandy Bell's Open Mic
Edinburgh's Wednesday-night free Scottish-trad open mic at 25 Forrest Road, EH1 2QH — historic folk pub, PA + guitar amp, 12-minute slots.
- Wednesday
- Open mic night
- Apr 2026
- Listed since
- 20 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
Sandy Bell's Open Mic — Quick Facts
Sandy Bell's Open Mic runs on Wednesdays at Sandy Bell's in Edinburgh, starting at 21:00 with sign-up from 20:30. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Open mic status Last verified 20 Aug 2026
How sure we are
Verified active
Checked against the venue’s own listing See Sandy Bell's’s venue page →
The night starts at 21:00 and runs to about 00:30. It's walk-in sign-up, with the list opening at 20:30 - arrive early to get a slot. Slots run about 12 minutes - room for roughly 17 acts. There is a PA listed - ask what else is on stage before you load in.
Next nightWed 18 Nov · 21:00Starts in 5d 12h 56m
Age18+
Sign-upWalk-in on the night
Capacityc. 70 standing
BacklinePA provided
Sound engineerNone in-house
Directory statusVerified active
Member votes0 to get the venue on GigXchange
Websitesandybellsedinburgh.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.
NightWednesdayEvery WednesdayNext: Wed 18 Nov
Starts21:00until 00:30
Sign-up20:30Walk-in
Slots12minutes eachRoom for about 17 acts
What’s on in Edinburgh this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
Sandy Bell's is Edinburgh's most famous traditional and folk music pub, tucked into Forrest Road in the Old Town and a cornerstone of the Scottish folk revival since the 1960s. Rather than a formal open mic, it runs informal trad sessions nightly from around 9pm (plus afternoon sessions some days and a slow session on Mondays at 6pm) — you bring an instrument and join in. It's the player's night out as much as the audience's, so it's about sitting in respectfully rather than booking a stage slot.
What's on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA systemProvided
Drum kitBring your own
Guitar ampProvided
Bass ampBring your own
Keys / keyboardBring your own
2 vocal micsProvided
In-house engineerNone
The Night at a Glance
How Sandy Bell's’s Wednesday night runs.
Next nightWed 18 Nov · 21:00Starts in 5d 12h 56m
Sign-up opens20:30Walk-in on the night
Kick-off21:00Every Wednesday
Music ends00:30Last act finishes
Venue closes01:00The listed closing time
Slots12minutes eachroom for about 17 acts
How often
Every Wednesday
Coming up
Wed 18 Nov · Wed 25 Nov · Wed 2 Dec
Kit
Sandy Bell's provides a PA system, 2 vocal mics and a guitar amp; bring your own drum kit, bass amp and keys; no in-house sound engineer.
First time here?
Get there by 20:30 for a slot, have your instrument tuned before your turn and keep to about 12 minutes.
Find Sandy Bell's
25 Forrest Road, Old Town, Edinburgh EH1 2QH
Address25 Forrest Road
AreaOld Town, Edinburgh
PostcodeEH1 2QH
DirectionsOpen in Google Maps →
Getting there
The nearest station is Edinburgh (rail station), about 10 minutes' walk away. You'll find Sandy Bell's in Old Town, Edinburgh; EH1 2QH 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 Wednesday Night
Arrive by 20:30 to sign up for a slot. The open mic runs until about 00:30. Sandy Bell's provides a PA system, 2 vocal mics and a guitar amp; bring your own drum kit, bass amp and keys; no in-house sound engineer.
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Common Questions
9 things people want to know before Edinburgh's Sandy Bell's open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 20:30. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Edinburgh open mic nights for alternatives.
Sandy Bell's provides a PA system, 2 vocal mics and a guitar amp; bring your own drum kit, bass amp and keys; no in-house sound engineer.
12 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo.
No entry fee is listed for Sandy Bell's'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.
25 Forrest Road, Old Town, Edinburgh EH1 2QH.
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 10 minutes' walk away. For sat-nav and taxis, the postcode is EH1 2QH. (Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport, Open Government Licence.)
Sign-up is walk-in on the night, from 20:30, 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 Edinburgh open mics.
Venues Near Sandy Bell's
No other gigs are listed at Sandy Bell's in the GigXchange directory yet — these are the rooms around it, their size, kit and live nights.
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Sandy Bell's open mic in brief. The Sandy Bell's open mic runs every Wednesday from 21:00 (no fee listed); sign-up opens 20:30 and slots run about 12 minutes. Coming back with a full band? Sandy Bell's’ venue page has its kit and capacity listed. For a different night this week, the open mics near Edinburgh are listed by day.
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09 — More Edinburgh open mics
All ›Want paid gigs instead of open mics? See Edinburgh gigs or check the going rate.
10 — Venues near Sandy Bell's
All ›More rooms near Sandy Bell's: George IV Bar, Liquid Room Edinburgh, O'Neills Edinburgh, People's Leisure Club, Edinburgh, Royal Mile Tavern, Stramash, Subway Cowgate, The Banshee Labyrinth, The Caves, The Hive, Edinburgh and The Jazz Bar.
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