Cactus Hound is a cosy, Berlin-esque cocktail bar at 33-35 Western Road in St Leonards-on-Sea (Hastings), known as much for its margaritas, tequila and mezcal as for its music. A weekly Tuesday open mic draws in local bands and singers, and the venue is a listed stop on the Hastings Fat Tuesday festival circuit, so it punches above its size on the live-music front. There's a lovely garden with colourful shelters out back, comfy seating and a dog-friendly welcome. The room is set up for performers, with a house PA, keys, guitar amp and a full backline, making it a flexible spot for both original acts and covers across mixed genres. Around 90 standing.
Hastings · Every Tuesday · No fee listed
Cactus Hound Open Mic
St Leonards-on-Sea's tuesday open mic. Full backline.
Next night: Tue 17 Nov. Kick-off 19:00. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
At a glance
Checked 12 Oct 202619:00
Kick-off
Tuesdays
sign-up on the nightTuesdays
| Night | Every Tuesday |
| Sign-up | Walk-in |
| Slot | Ask the host |
| Entry | No fee listed · all ages |
| Backline | Full backline |
01 — Inside the room
4 photosPhotos: Google
152
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 |
The check
| Status | Verified running |
| Last checked | 12 Oct 2026 |
| Checked against | Web listing |
03 — The night
Every TuesdayHow the night runs
19:00
Kick-off
TuesdaysRunning order
19:00 Kick-off
22:00 Last songs
23:00 Venue closes
04 — Find Cactus Hound
St Leonards-on-SeaGetting there
St Leonards-on-Sea, Hastings
05 — What's on stage
6 provided · 1 TBC| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | Provided |
| Guitar amp | Provided |
| Bass amp | Provided |
| Keys / keyboard | Provided |
| Vocal mics | Provided |
| In-house engineer | TBC |
06 — About
St Leonards-on-Sea, HastingsAbout the night
Cactus Hound is a tequila-and-mezcal cocktail bar at 33-35 Western Road in St Leonards-on-Sea, and every Tuesday it hosts Sounds at the Hound, a friendly weekly open mic from 7pm to 10pm hosted by Steve Didge (who also runs the Wednesday open mic at The Piper on Norman Road). The gear's all laid on — full PA, amps, piano, cajon and guitar — so you can just rock up and play. Regulars rate it as one of the best nights in town, with a warm, welcoming crowd, and it's listed every week in the Hastings Independent Press and on the Hastings Flyer open mic calendar.
Cactus Hound is a cosy, Berlin-esque cocktail bar at 33-35 Western Road in St Leonards-on-Sea (Hastings), known as much for its margaritas, tequila and mezcal as for its music. A weekly Tuesday open mic draws in local bands and singers, and the venue is a listed stop on the Hastings Fat Tuesday festival circuit, so it punches above its size on the live-music front. There's a lovely garden with colourful shelters out back, comfy seating and a dog-friendly welcome. The room is set up for performers, with a house PA, keys, guitar amp and a full backline, making it a flexible spot for both original acts and covers across mixed genres. Around 90 standing.
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St Leonards-on-Sea · Every Tuesday
Cactus Hound Open Mic
St Leonards-on-Sea's tuesday open mic. Full backline. Starts at 19:00.
- Tuesday
- Open mic night
- May 2026
- Listed since
- 12 Oct
- Last verified
- No fee
- Entry
- —
- Sign-up time
- Verified
- Listing status
Run a Hastings open mic? List it free — reviewed before it goes live
Last updated: 13 November 2026
Cactus Hound Open Mic — Quick Facts
Cactus Hound Open Mic runs on Tuesdays at Cactus Hound in Hastings, starting at 19:00. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Open mic status Last verified 12 Oct 2026
How sure we are
Verified active
Checked against the venue’s own listing See Cactus Hound’s venue page →
The night starts at 19:00 and runs to about 22:00. It's walk-in sign-up - arrive early to get a slot. With full backline listed, you need little more than your instrument and pedals.
Next nightTue 17 Nov · 19:00Starts in 4d 11h 23m
AgeAll ages
Sign-upWalk-in on the night
BacklineFull backline
Sound engineerAsk the venue
Directory statusVerified active
Member votes0 to get the venue on GigXchange
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.
NightTuesdayEvery TuesdayNext: Tue 17 Nov
Starts19:00until 22:00
Sign-upWalk-insign-up
SlotsTBCslot lengthNot confirmed yet
What’s on in Hastings this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
Cactus Hound is a tequila-and-mezcal cocktail bar at 33-35 Western Road in St Leonards-on-Sea, and every Tuesday it hosts Sounds at the Hound, a friendly weekly open mic from 7pm to 10pm hosted by Steve Didge (who also runs the Wednesday open mic at The Piper on Norman Road). The gear's all laid on — full PA, amps, piano, cajon and guitar — so you can just rock up and play. Regulars rate it as one of the best nights in town, with a warm, welcoming crowd, and it's listed every week in the Hastings Independent Press and on the Hastings Flyer open mic calendar.
The kit on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA systemProvided
Drum kitProvided
Guitar ampProvided
Bass ampProvided
Keys / keyboardProvided
Vocal micsProvided
In-house engineerTBC
The Night at a Glance
How Cactus Hound’s Tuesday night runs.
Next nightTue 17 Nov · 19:00Starts in 4d 11h 23m
Kick-off19:00Every Tuesday
Music ends22:00Last act finishes
Venue closes23:00The listed closing time
How often
Every Tuesday
Coming up
Tue 17 Nov · Tue 24 Nov · Tue 1 Dec
Kit
Cactus Hound provides a PA system, vocal mics, a drum kit, a guitar amp, a bass amp and keys — check the rest with the venue.
First time here?
Get there early for a slot, have your instrument tuned before your turn.
Find Cactus Hound
St Leonards-on-Sea, Hastings
AreaSt Leonards-on-Sea, Hastings
DirectionsOpen in Google Maps →
Getting there
You'll find Cactus Hound in St Leonards-on-Sea, Hastings. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station.
Open mics nearby
Dawsons Wine Bar, French's, Buskers Bar and Barnaby's Lounge
Planning Your Tuesday Night
Arrive early to sign up for a slot. The open mic runs until about 22:00. Full backline is provided — just bring your instrument and pedals.
The scene Live music in Hastingsthe venues, the gigs and where it happensGet gigs How to get gigs in Hastingspay, venues that book, how to pitchBands Find a band in Hastingsacts to book or play alongsideGigs Upcoming gigs in Hastingsevery 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 a paid gig? Most open mic musicians are ready sooner than they think — try the Rate Calculator for live UK rates by role, city and venue size. A night in the Hastings live music scene.
Common Questions
8 questions people ask before going to Hastings' Cactus Hound open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Hastings open mic nights for alternatives.
Full backline: drum kit, guitar amp, bass amp, PA and vocal mics. Bring your own instrument and pedals.
Slot length varies — check with the host.
No entry fee is listed for Cactus Hound's open mic - most open mics are free to play and to watch, but check with the venue before you go. Browse Hastings open mics.
Yes — full bands welcome and the backline is set up for it.
Cactus Hound is in St Leonards-on-Sea, Hastings. Get directions, or see the other Hastings open mics.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Hastings regulars across the Hastings open mic scene. Hastings open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
Sign-up is walk-in on the night, so you do not need to book ahead. GigXchange doesn't publish venue phone numbers or emails. Browse other Hastings open mics.
Venues Near Cactus Hound
No other gigs are listed at Cactus Hound in the GigXchange directory yet — these are the rooms around it, their size, kit and live nights.
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See what’s on in Hastings over the next four weeks →
Cactus Hound open mic in brief. The Cactus Hound open mic runs every Tuesday from 19:00 (no fee listed). Cactus Hound’s venue page has its kit and capacity if you want to come back with a full band. For another night this week, the open mics near Hastings are listed by day.
Booking or playing in Hastings? 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 Hastings open mics
All ›Want paid gigs instead of open mics? See Hastings gigs or check the going rate.
10 — Venues near Cactus Hound
All ›More rooms near Cactus Hound: De La Warr Pavilion, Eastbourne Bandstand, French's, Printers Playhouse, Ritual Bar, The Carlisle, The Crown House Hastings, The Frontier Bar, The General Havelock, The Jenny Lind and The Lamb Inn.
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