The Thomas Wolsey is a characterful free house set in a 16th-century timber-framed merchant's house at 9-13 St Peter's Street, Ipswich (IP1 1XF), run by owner Damon Jeffery. Ed Sheeran, who grew up in nearby Framlingham, turned it into "The Old Phone" for a surprise hour-long gig, and a mural at the pub now marks the visit. It blends a traditional Tudor-pub feel with a busy entertainment calendar. Live music is the Friday-night staple, with local bands and tribute acts spanning rock, blues and more. On top of that, the pub runs the Gifted Melon comedy night on the third Thursday of each month (tickets around £3) and serves Mylo's handmade pizzas. A genuinely popular, lively town-centre venue with a strong reputation for supporting local musicians.
Ipswich · Every Wednesday · No fee listed
Ipswich's wednesday open mic.
Next night: Wed 18 Nov. Kick-off 18:00. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
Wednesdays
| Night | Every Wednesday |
| Sign-up | Walk-in |
| Slot | Ask the host |
| Entry | No fee listed · all ages |
| Backline | PA provided |
| Capacity | – |
| Performer types | Musicians |
| Status | Being verified |
No sign-up. We review corrections within 7 days.
| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | TBC |
| Guitar amp | TBC |
| Bass amp | TBC |
| Keys / keyboard | TBC |
| Vocal mics | TBC |
| In-house engineer | TBC |
The Thomas Wolsey, a 16th-century merchant's house turned cosy free house in the centre of Ipswich, has run an open mic hosted by Anna Napoletana on a Wednesday evening from 6pm. We could only confirm a single dated listing (15 May), so we can't yet say it runs to a fixed schedule — pop the pub a message before heading down. It's a traditional, low-key room rather than a full-backline stage, so bring a guitar and expect a relaxed singer-songwriter feel.
The Thomas Wolsey is a characterful free house set in a 16th-century timber-framed merchant's house at 9-13 St Peter's Street, Ipswich (IP1 1XF), run by owner Damon Jeffery. Ed Sheeran, who grew up in nearby Framlingham, turned it into "The Old Phone" for a surprise hour-long gig, and a mural at the pub now marks the visit. It blends a traditional Tudor-pub feel with a busy entertainment calendar. Live music is the Friday-night staple, with local bands and tribute acts spanning rock, blues and more. On top of that, the pub runs the Gifted Melon comedy night on the third Thursday of each month (tickets around £3) and serves Mylo's handmade pizzas. A genuinely popular, lively town-centre venue with a strong reputation for supporting local musicians.
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 |
Thomas Wolsey Open Mic
Ipswich's wednesday open mic. Starts at 18:00.
- Wednesday
- Open mic night
- May 2026
- Listed since
- 25 Oct
- Last checked
- No fee
- Entry
- —
- Sign-up time
- Community
- Listing status
Last updated: 13 November 2026
Thomas Wolsey Open Mic — Quick Facts
Thomas Wolsey Open Mic runs on Wednesdays at Thomas Wolsey in Ipswich, starting at 18:00. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Music starts around 18:00. It's walk-in sign-up - arrive early to get a slot. A PA is listed; check what else is on stage before you bring a band.
What’s on in Ipswich this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
The Thomas Wolsey, a 16th-century merchant's house turned cosy free house in the centre of Ipswich, has run an open mic hosted by Anna Napoletana on a Wednesday evening from 6pm. We could only confirm a single dated listing (15 May), so we can't yet say it runs to a fixed schedule — pop the pub a message before heading down. It's a traditional, low-key room rather than a full-backline stage, so bring a guitar and expect a relaxed singer-songwriter feel.
The kit on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
The Night at a Glance
How Thomas Wolsey’s Wednesday night runs.
Every Wednesday
Wed 18 Nov · Wed 25 Nov · Wed 2 Dec
Thomas Wolsey provides a PA system — check the rest with the venue.
Get there early for a slot, have your instrument tuned before your turn.
Find Thomas Wolsey
Ipswich
You'll find Thomas Wolsey in Ipswich. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station.
Coda Colchester, Three Wise Monkeys Ipswich, Steamboat Tavern and BAR 82 The Espresso Lounge
Planning Your Wednesday Night
Arrive early to get your name down. Thomas Wolsey provides a PA system — check the rest with the venue.
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 Ipswich live music scene.
Common Questions
8 questions people ask before going to Ipswich's Thomas Wolsey open mic.
Venues Near Thomas Wolsey
No other gigs are listed at Thomas Wolsey in the GigXchange directory yet — these are the rooms around it, their size, kit and live nights.
Keep up with Ipswich
One email a week with live music near you. Free, and it keeps grassroots rooms full.
Help keep grassroots venues open in Ipswich
—A UK venue stops hosting live music every 5 days — and turning up is what keeps a room open. Get a free weekly email of gigs in Ipswich. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy.
See what’s on in Ipswich over the next four weeks →
Thomas Wolsey open mic in brief. The Thomas Wolsey open mic runs every Wednesday from 18:00 (no fee listed). Coming back with a full band? Thomas Wolsey’s venue page has its kit and capacity listed. The open mics near Ipswich are listed by day, for another night this week.
Booking or playing in Ipswich? 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.
After paid gigs rather than open mics? See Ipswich gigs or check the going rate.
More rooms near Thomas Wolsey: Oakes Barn, Steamboat Tavern, Swan and Hedgehog Inn, The Baths, The Brickmakers Arms, The Bull, The Church Cafe Bar, The Plough, The Sweffling White Horse, Theatre Royal and Three Wise Monkeys Ipswich.
Free to join. No subscription. 5% only if you want the deposit protected.
Run an open mic in Ipswich?
Add yours to the directory free. 2-minute submission, reviewed before it goes live.