The Piper is a rock 'n' roll grassroots pub and music venue at 1 Norman Road, St Leonards-on-Sea (Hastings), occupying the former Norman Arms and reopened in July 2019. Its 200-capacity upstairs room is a proper live space, built around a raised 10-foot stage with professional PA and audio plus a green room, and it hosts touring bands on the national circuit alongside open-mic nights and other arts events. Acts are generally ticketed in advance. Welcoming both original music and covers, The Piper is one of the strongest grassroots additions to the Hastings live circuit and a key fixture for emerging and touring talent on the East Sussex coast.
Hastings · Every Wednesday · Free
The Piper Open Mic
Hastings's wednesday open mic. Full backline.
Next night: Wed 18 Nov. Kick-off 20:00. Free entry.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
At a glance
Checked 22 Oct 202620:00
Kick-off
Wednesdays
sign-up on the nightWednesdays
| Night | Every Wednesday |
| Sign-up | Walk-in |
| Slot | Ask the host |
| Entry | Free · all ages |
| Backline | Full backline |
01 — Inside the room
4 photosPhotos: Google
167
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 | 22 Oct 2026 |
| Checked against | Web listing |
03 — The night
Every WednesdayHow the night runs
20:00
Kick-off
WednesdaysRunning order
20:00 Kick-off
23:00 Last songs
00:00 Venue closes
04 — Find The Piper
HastingsGetting there
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
HastingsAbout the night
The Piper in St Leonards-on-Sea (Hastings) hosts a weekly open mic every Wednesday from 8pm to 11pm, hosted by Steve Didge. It's a warm, traditional-meets-modern pub with a cracking draught selection and a proper 200-capacity live room upstairs, so there's a real stage feel to it. Entry is free whether you're playing or just there to watch. Full PA, guitar, piano, cajon and amps are provided — just turn up and show off your skills.
The Piper is a rock 'n' roll grassroots pub and music venue at 1 Norman Road, St Leonards-on-Sea (Hastings), occupying the former Norman Arms and reopened in July 2019. Its 200-capacity upstairs room is a proper live space, built around a raised 10-foot stage with professional PA and audio plus a green room, and it hosts touring bands on the national circuit alongside open-mic nights and other arts events. Acts are generally ticketed in advance. Welcoming both original music and covers, The Piper is one of the strongest grassroots additions to the Hastings live circuit and a key fixture for emerging and touring talent on the East Sussex coast.
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Hastings · Every Wednesday
The Piper Open Mic
Hastings's wednesday open mic. Full backline. Starts at 20:00.
- Wednesday
- Open mic night
- May 2026
- Listed since
- 22 Oct
- Last verified
- Free
- 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
The Piper Open Mic — Quick Facts
The Piper Open Mic runs on Wednesdays at The Piper in Hastings, starting at 20:00. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Open mic status Last verified 22 Oct 2026
How sure we are
Verified active
Checked against the venue’s own listing See The Piper’s venue page →
Music starts around 20:00, finishing about 23:00. 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 nightWed 18 Nov · 20:00Starts in 5d 12h 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.
NightWednesdayEvery WednesdayNext: Wed 18 Nov
Starts20:00until 23:00
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
The Piper in St Leonards-on-Sea (Hastings) hosts a weekly open mic every Wednesday from 8pm to 11pm, hosted by Steve Didge. It's a warm, traditional-meets-modern pub with a cracking draught selection and a proper 200-capacity live room upstairs, so there's a real stage feel to it. Entry is free whether you're playing or just there to watch. Full PA, guitar, piano, cajon and amps are provided — just turn up and show off your skills.
What's 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 The Piper’s Wednesday night runs.
Next nightWed 18 Nov · 20:00Starts in 5d 12h 23m
Kick-off20:00Every Wednesday
Music ends23:00Last act finishes
Venue closes00:00The listed closing time
How often
Every Wednesday
Coming up
Wed 18 Nov · Wed 25 Nov · Wed 2 Dec
Kit
The Piper 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?
Arrive early to get your name on the list, tune up before you go on.
Find The Piper
Hastings
AreaHastings
DirectionsOpen in Google Maps →
Getting there
The Piper is in Hastings. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station before you set off.
Open mics nearby
Dawsons Wine Bar, French's, Buskers Bar and Barnaby's Lounge
Planning Your Wednesday Night
Arrive early to sign up for a slot. The open mic runs until about 23:00. 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. Part of the Hastings live music scene.
Common Questions
8 things people ask before turning up at Hastings' The Piper 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.
Yes, entry to The Piper's open mic was free at our last check, but check with the venue before you go. Browse Hastings open mics.
Yes — full bands welcome and the backline is set up for it.
The Piper is in Saint 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.
What’s On at The Piper
The gigs coming up at The Piper besides the open mic, from the GigXchange directory — each one links its listing.
MAR
25
GANS
Hastings
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Punk Rock
View details›
MAR
25
GANS
Hastings
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Punk Rock
View details›
MAR
25
GANS
Hastings
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Punk Rock
View details›
MAR
25
GANS
Hastings
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Punk Rock
View details›
MAR
25
GANS
Hastings
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Punk Rock
View details›
MAR
25
GANS
Hastings
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Punk Rock
View details›
MAR
25
GANS
Hastings
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Punk Rock
View details›
MAR
25
GANS
Hastings
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Punk Rock
View details›
08 — Keep up with Hastings
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See what’s on in Hastings over the next four weeks →
The Piper open mic in brief. The Piper open mic runs every Wednesday from 20:00 (free entry). The Piper’s venue page has its kit and capacity if you want to come back with a full band. For a different 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 ›Looking for paid gigs, not open mics? See Hastings gigs or check the going rate.
10 — What's on at The Piper
All ›Rooms near The Piper: Barnaby's Lounge, Buskers Bar, Dawsons Wine Bar, Eastbourne Bandstand, French's, Printers Playhouse, The General Havelock, The Jenny Lind, The Stage Door, Blackbox Hastings, Cactus Hound and De La Warr Pavilion.
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