The Polar Bear Music Club at 229 Spring Bank (HU3 1LR) is one of Hull's most beloved grassroots music venues — a Grade II listed former Victorian pub, complete with original stained-glass windows, that reopened in 2021 as a Community Interest Company after closing during the pandemic. Its anchor night is the legendary 'The Sesh', a free-entry live music night every Tuesday from 8pm showcasing local, national and international acts, with a live DJ taking over every Saturday from 10.30pm. The venue is dedicated to emerging talent and runs a full backline with an in-house sound engineer, making it an easy, well-supported stage for both original bands and cover acts. Free entry, late licence and a genuine community ethos make it a cornerstone of the Hull music scene.
Hull · Every Tuesday · No fee listed
Hull's Monday-night free open mic at 229 Spring Bank, HU3 1LR — long-running music pub, full backline, in-house engineer, 12-minute slots.
Next night: Tue 17 Nov. Kick-off 19:30. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
Tuesdays
| Night | Every Tuesday |
| Sign-up | Ask the host |
| Slot | Ask the host |
| Entry | No fee listed · 18+ |
| Backline | Full backline |
| Capacity | c. 150 standing |
| Performer types | Musicians |
| Website | thepolarbearmusic.com |
| Status | Being verified |
No sign-up. We review corrections within 7 days.
City Centre, Hull HU3 1LR
The nearest station is Hull (rail station), about 20 minutes' walk away.
| 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 |
The Polar Bear is Hull's longest-running independent music pub. Monday open mic uses the back gig room with full backline.
180 minutes, 15 acts at 12 minutes.
Sign-up process
Sheet at the bar at 7:30pm. Walk-in.
Getting there
229 Spring Bank, HU3 1LR. 12 minutes from Hull Rail.
The venue
Pub with back gig room. 18+. Capacity c. 150.
The Polar Bear Music Club at 229 Spring Bank (HU3 1LR) is one of Hull's most beloved grassroots music venues — a Grade II listed former Victorian pub, complete with original stained-glass windows, that reopened in 2021 as a Community Interest Company after closing during the pandemic. Its anchor night is the legendary 'The Sesh', a free-entry live music night every Tuesday from 8pm showcasing local, national and international acts, with a live DJ taking over every Saturday from 10.30pm. The venue is dedicated to emerging talent and runs a full backline with an in-house sound engineer, making it an easy, well-supported stage for both original bands and cover acts. Free entry, late licence and a genuine community ethos make it a cornerstone of the Hull music scene.
One tap. It tells the next act what to expect.
| 01 | Correct the day, time and sign-up |
| 02 | Edit your profile and photos |
| 03 | Receive artist enquiries |
| 04 | Update backline and capacity |
The Polar Bear Open Mic
Hull's Monday-night free open mic at 229 Spring Bank, HU3 1LR — long-running music pub, full backline, in-house engineer, 12-minute slots.
- Tuesday
- Open mic night
- Apr 2026
- Listed since
- 17 Sept
- Last checked
- No fee
- Entry
- —
- Sign-up time
- Community
- Listing status
Last updated: 13 November 2026
The Polar Bear Open Mic — Quick Facts
The Polar Bear Open Mic runs on Tuesdays at The Polar Bear in Hull, starting at 19:30. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
The night starts at 19:30 and runs to about 23:00. With full backline listed, you need little more than your instrument and pedals.
What’s on in Hull this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
The Polar Bear is Hull's longest-running independent music pub. Monday open mic uses the back gig room with full backline.
180 minutes, 15 acts at 12 minutes.
Sign-up process
Sheet at the bar at 7:30pm. Walk-in.
Getting there
229 Spring Bank, HU3 1LR. 12 minutes from Hull Rail.
The venue
Pub with back gig room. 18+. Capacity c. 150.
Equipment and backline at this venue — what's on stage, verified regularly.
The Night at a Glance
How The Polar Bear’s Tuesday night runs.
Every Tuesday
Tue 17 Nov · Tue 24 Nov · Tue 1 Dec
The Polar Bear 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.
Arrive early to get your name on the list, tune up before you go on.
Find The Polar Bear
229 Spring Bank, City Centre, Hull HU3 1LR
The nearest station is Hull (rail station), about 20 minutes' walk away. The Polar Bear is in City Centre, Hull — use HU3 1LR for sat-nav, taxis and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station before you set off.
Cherry's Bar, VOX, DiveHu5/Dive Coffee Co. and The New Adelphi Club
Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport (Open Government Licence).
Planning Your Tuesday Night
Get there 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.
What should you charge for paid gigs? 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 Hull live music scene.
Common Questions
9 questions people ask before going to Hull's The Polar Bear open mic.
What’s On at The Polar Bear
The gigs coming up at The Polar Bear besides the open mic, from the GigXchange directory — each one links its listing.
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The Polar Bear open mic in brief. The Polar Bear open mic runs every Tuesday from 19:30 (no fee listed). The Polar Bear’s venue page has its kit and capacity if you want to come back with a full band. The open mics near Hull are listed by day, for another night this week.
Booking or playing in Hull? 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.
Want paid gigs instead of open mics? See Hull gigs or check the going rate.
Rooms near The Polar Bear: Hull City Hall, Asylum Hull University Union, Baths Hall, Cafe INDIE, Cafe INDIEpendent, Cherry's Bar, Connexin Live, Cottingham Civic Hall, Dirty Dicks, DiveHu5/Dive Coffee Co., Driffield School, North Building and Drum & Cymbals.
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