Whistle Binkies is an Edinburgh institution buried in the vaults under South Bridge in the Old Town (EH1 1LL), providing quality live music for the city seven nights a week. Up to four live bands play per night midweek, rising to as many as six acts on Fridays and Saturdays. It runs the longest-running open mic night in Edinburgh — hosted by Chris Buckley of The Moanin' Bones — with a showcase band from 8pm, open mic from 9pm (sign-up from 8pm), and a Monday jam session after the open mic. Entry is free Sunday to Thursday, with a small charge after midnight at weekends. The bar holds a late licence to 3am every night, with a full backline and house PA in the intimate basement room. Both originals and covers are welcome.
Edinburgh · Every Monday · No fee listed
Whistle Binkie's Open Mic
Edinburgh's Monday-night free open mic at 4-6 South Bridge, EH1 1LL — Old Town basement, full backline, in-house engineer, 10-minute slots, late licence to 1am.
Next night: Mon 16 Nov. Kick-off 21:00, sign-up from 20:00. 10-minute slots. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
At a glance
Checked 28 Sept 202621:00
Kick-off
Mondays
sign-up from 20:00Mondays
| Night | Every Monday |
| Sign-up | 20:00 walk-in |
| Slot | 10 min |
| Entry | No fee listed · 18+ |
| Backline | Full backline |
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. 100 standing |
| Performer types | Musicians |
| Host | Nico |
| Website | whistlebinkies.com |
The check
| Status | Verified running |
| Last checked | 28 Sept 2026 |
| Checked against | Venue website |
03 — The night
Every MondayHow the night runs
21:00
Kick-off
MondaysRunning order
20:00 Sign-up· Walk-in, ask for Nico
21:00 Kick-off· 10-minute slots
01:00 Last songs
04 — Find Whistle Binkie's
Old TownGetting there
4-6 South Bridge,
Old Town, Edinburgh EH1 1LL
Old Town, Edinburgh EH1 1LL
The nearest station is Edinburgh (rail station), about 5 minutes' walk away.
05 — What's on stage
6 provided| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | Provided |
| Guitar amp | Provided |
| Bass amp | Provided |
| Keys / keyboard | Bring your own |
| 3 vocal mics | Provided |
| In-house engineer | Provided |
06 — About
Old Town, EdinburghAbout the night
Whistle Binkie's is Edinburgh's longest-running open mic, held every Monday in the candlelit stone vaults under South Bridge and hosted by Nico. A showcase band warms the room from 8pm, the open mic proper kicks off at 9pm, and a free-for-all jam session runs from midnight onwards. Sign-up opens at 8pm at the venue on a first-come basis and slots go fast, so don't leave it late. Every Monday there's also a featured artist playing an extended set. The venue provides the full rig - a proper PA, house backline and professional sound engineers - so you can travel light, and there's a free beer for every performer. Entry is free, the bar runs to 3am, and the crowd is warm, late and music-first.
Whistle Binkies is an Edinburgh institution buried in the vaults under South Bridge in the Old Town (EH1 1LL), providing quality live music for the city seven nights a week. Up to four live bands play per night midweek, rising to as many as six acts on Fridays and Saturdays. It runs the longest-running open mic night in Edinburgh — hosted by Chris Buckley of The Moanin' Bones — with a showcase band from 8pm, open mic from 9pm (sign-up from 8pm), and a Monday jam session after the open mic. Entry is free Sunday to Thursday, with a small charge after midnight at weekends. The bar holds a late licence to 3am every night, with a full backline and house PA in the intimate basement room. Both originals and covers are welcome.
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Old Town · Every Monday
Whistle Binkie's Open Mic
Edinburgh's Monday-night free open mic at 4-6 South Bridge, EH1 1LL — Old Town basement, full backline, in-house engineer, 10-minute slots, late licence to 1am.
- Monday
- Open mic night
- Apr 2026
- Listed since
- 28 Sept
- Last verified
- No fee
- Entry
- 10 min
- Slot length
- Verified
- Listing status
Run a Edinburgh open mic? List it free — reviewed before it goes live
Last updated: 13 November 2026
Whistle Binkie's Open Mic — Quick Facts
Whistle Binkie's Open Mic runs on Mondays at Whistle Binkie's in Edinburgh, starting at 21:00 with sign-up from 20:00. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Open mic status Last verified 28 Sept 2026
How sure we are
Verified active
Checked against the venue’s own listing See Whistle Binkie's’s venue page →
Music starts around 21:00, finishing about 01:00. Sign-up is on the night from 20:00 - get there early to get a slot. Slots run about 10 minutes - room for roughly 24 acts. With full backline listed, you need little more than your instrument and pedals. Nico hosts the night.
Next nightMon 16 Nov · 21:00Starts in 3d 12h 56m
Age18+
Sign-upWalk-in on the night
Capacityc. 100 standing
BacklineFull backline
Sound engineerIn-house, included
HostNico
Directory statusVerified active
Member votes0 to get the venue on GigXchange
Websitewhistlebinkies.com
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
Starts21:00until 01:00
Sign-up20:00Walk-in
Slots10minutes eachRoom for about 24 acts
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About This Open Mic
Whistle Binkie's is Edinburgh's longest-running open mic, held every Monday in the candlelit stone vaults under South Bridge and hosted by Nico. A showcase band warms the room from 8pm, the open mic proper kicks off at 9pm, and a free-for-all jam session runs from midnight onwards. Sign-up opens at 8pm at the venue on a first-come basis and slots go fast, so don't leave it late. Every Monday there's also a featured artist playing an extended set. The venue provides the full rig - a proper PA, house backline and professional sound engineers - so you can travel light, and there's a free beer for every performer. Entry is free, the bar runs to 3am, and the crowd is warm, late and music-first.
The kit on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA systemProvided
Drum kitProvided
Guitar ampProvided
Bass ampProvided
Keys / keyboardBring your own
3 vocal micsProvided
In-house engineerProvided
The Night at a Glance
How Whistle Binkie's’s Monday night runs.
Next nightMon 16 Nov · 21:00Starts in 3d 12h 56m
Sign-up opens20:00Walk-in on the night
Kick-off21:00Every Monday
Music ends01:00Last act finishes
Slots10minutes eachroom for about 24 acts
How often
Every Monday
Coming up
Mon 16 Nov · Mon 23 Nov · Mon 30 Nov
Kit
Whistle Binkie's provides a PA system, 3 vocal mics, a drum kit, a guitar amp, a bass amp and an in-house sound engineer; bring your own keys.
First time here?
Get there by 20:00 for a slot, have your instrument tuned before your turn and keep to about 10 minutes.
Find Whistle Binkie's
4-6 South Bridge, Old Town, Edinburgh EH1 1LL
Address4-6 South Bridge
AreaOld Town, Edinburgh
PostcodeEH1 1LL
DirectionsOpen in Google Maps →
Getting there
The nearest station is Edinburgh (rail station), about 5 minutes' walk away. Whistle Binkie's is in Old Town, Edinburgh — use EH1 1LL 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
Bannerman's Bar, The Bothy, Biddy Mulligans and The Auld Hundred
Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport (Open Government Licence).
Planning Your Monday Night
Be there by 20:00 to put your name down. The open mic runs until about 01:00. Full backline is provided — just bring your instrument and pedals.
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Common Questions
9 things people want to know before Edinburgh's Whistle Binkie's open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 20:00. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Edinburgh open mic nights for alternatives.
Full backline: drum kit, guitar amp, bass amp, PA and vocal mics, plus an in-house sound engineer. Bring your own instrument and pedals.
10 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo.
No entry fee is listed for Whistle Binkie'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.
Yes — full bands welcome and the backline is set up for it.
4-6 South Bridge, Old Town, Edinburgh EH1 1LL.
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 1LL. (Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport, Open Government Licence.)
Sign-up is walk-in on the night, from 20:00, 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 Whistle Binkie's
No other gigs are listed at Whistle Binkie's in the GigXchange directory yet — these are the rooms around it, their size, kit and live nights.
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Whistle Binkie's open mic in brief. The Whistle Binkie's open mic runs every Monday from 21:00 (no fee listed); sign-up opens 20:00 and slots run about 10 minutes. Whistle Binkie's’ venue page lists its kit and capacity if you want to come back with a full band. The open mics near Edinburgh are listed by day, for another night this week.
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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 Whistle Binkie's
All ›More rooms near Whistle Binkie's: George IV Bar, Liquid Room Edinburgh, O'Neills Edinburgh, People's Leisure Club, Edinburgh, Royal Mile Tavern, Sandy Bell's, Stramash, Subway Cowgate, The Banshee Labyrinth, The Caves and The Hive, Edinburgh.
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