The Old Plough is an award-winning pub at 18 Front Street in Birstall, a village just north of Leicester. It's a genuinely music-forward local: alongside Wednesday lunchtime jazz, it runs the Birstall Open Mic on the last Wednesday of each month from 7:30pm (acts get three songs; groups are kept to a trio or smaller and preferably acoustic), and an Acoustic Club every Tuesday at 8pm, with booked live bands on the first Saturday of the month. The open mic is a friendly, all-welcome night with a house PA — turn up, get on the list and play. Because it's monthly, it pulls a good crowd of regulars. With its packed acoustic calendar and 2025 tourism-business award, the Old Plough punches well above its weight for grass-roots live music. Call 0116 431 9099 or check the Old Plough Birstall Facebook page to confirm the next open-mic date.
Leicester · Every Wednesday · No fee listed
City Centre's wednesday-night free open mic at Old Plough — PA + vocal mic, walk-in sign-up from 7:30pm, 15-minute slots, all ages.
Next night: Wed 18 Nov. Kick-off 20:00, sign-up from 19:30. 15-minute slots. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
Wednesdays
| Night | Every Wednesday |
| Sign-up | 19:30 walk-in |
| Slot | 15 min |
| 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.
City Centre, Leicester LE4 4DP
The nearest station is Syston (rail station), about 2 miles away - a taxi or bus is the easier last leg.
| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | TBC |
| Guitar amp | TBC |
| Bass amp | TBC |
| Keys / keyboard | TBC |
| Vocal mics | TBC |
| In-house engineer | None |
Old Plough runs an open mic every Wednesday in City Centre, Leicester, starting at 8pm with free entry for performers and audience. It's one of Leicester's regular weekly open-mic slots — listed across [public open-mic guides](https://www.cliffbywater.com/open-mics/).
Sign-up opens at 7:30pm on a walk-in basis (no advance booking). Slots run 15-15 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo or 4 for a band. PA and at least one vocal mic provided. Bring your own instrument, amp and any pedals.
Sign-up process
The sign-up sheet goes out at 7:30pm at the venue. Popular wednesdays fill within 30-60 minutes — arrive early if you want a guaranteed slot. There is no advance booking, no online sign-up, no email list — strictly walk-in.
What to expect
Leicester open-mic crowds tend to be a mix of working musicians, friends and locals. Solo songwriters, duos and acoustic acts work best given the gear set-up; full bands should ask the host before turning up.
The Old Plough is an award-winning pub at 18 Front Street in Birstall, a village just north of Leicester. It's a genuinely music-forward local: alongside Wednesday lunchtime jazz, it runs the Birstall Open Mic on the last Wednesday of each month from 7:30pm (acts get three songs; groups are kept to a trio or smaller and preferably acoustic), and an Acoustic Club every Tuesday at 8pm, with booked live bands on the first Saturday of the month. The open mic is a friendly, all-welcome night with a house PA — turn up, get on the list and play. Because it's monthly, it pulls a good crowd of regulars. With its packed acoustic calendar and 2025 tourism-business award, the Old Plough punches well above its weight for grass-roots live music. Call 0116 431 9099 or check the Old Plough Birstall Facebook page to confirm the next open-mic date.
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 |
Old Plough Open Mic
City Centre's wednesday-night free open mic at Old Plough — PA + vocal mic, walk-in sign-up from 7:30pm, 15-minute slots, all ages.
- Wednesday
- Open mic night
- Apr 2026
- Listed since
- 25 Sept
- Last checked
- No fee
- Entry
- 15 min
- Slot length
- Community
- Listing status
Last updated: 13 November 2026
Old Plough Open Mic — Quick Facts
Old Plough Open Mic runs on Wednesdays at Old Plough in Leicester, starting at 20:00 with sign-up from 19:30. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Music starts around 20:00. Sign-up is on the night from 19:30 - get there early to get a slot. Slots run about 15 minutes. There is a PA listed - ask what else is on stage before you load in.
What’s on in Leicester this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
Old Plough runs an open mic every Wednesday in City Centre, Leicester, starting at 8pm with free entry for performers and audience. It's one of Leicester's regular weekly open-mic slots — listed across [public open-mic guides](https://www.cliffbywater.com/open-mics/).
Sign-up opens at 7:30pm on a walk-in basis (no advance booking). Slots run 15-15 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo or 4 for a band. PA and at least one vocal mic provided. Bring your own instrument, amp and any pedals.
Sign-up process
The sign-up sheet goes out at 7:30pm at the venue. Popular wednesdays fill within 30-60 minutes — arrive early if you want a guaranteed slot. There is no advance booking, no online sign-up, no email list — strictly walk-in.
What to expect
Leicester open-mic crowds tend to be a mix of working musicians, friends and locals. Solo songwriters, duos and acoustic acts work best given the gear set-up; full bands should ask the host before turning up.
The kit on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
The Night at a Glance
How Old Plough’s Wednesday night runs.
Every Wednesday
Wed 18 Nov · Wed 25 Nov · Wed 2 Dec
Old Plough provides a PA system; no in-house sound engineer — check the rest with the venue.
Get there by 19:30 for a slot, have your instrument tuned before your turn and keep to about 15 minutes.
Find Old Plough
18 Front Street, City Centre, Leicester LE4 4DP
The nearest station is Syston (rail station), about 2 miles away - a taxi or bus is the easier last leg. You'll find Old Plough in City Centre, Leicester; LE4 4DP is the postcode for sat-nav and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station.
The Black Dog, The Cookie, The Western Pub and The Organ Grinder
Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport (Open Government Licence).
Planning Your Wednesday Night
Be there by 19:30 to put your name down. Old Plough provides a PA system; no in-house sound engineer — 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. In the wider Leicester live music scene.
Common Questions
9 things people ask before turning up at Leicester's Old Plough open mic.
What’s On at Old Plough
The gigs coming up at Old Plough besides the open mic, from the GigXchange directory — each one links its listing.
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Old Plough open mic in brief. The Old Plough open mic runs every Wednesday from 20:00 (no fee listed); sign-up opens 19:30 and slots run about 15 minutes. Old Plough’s venue page lists its kit and capacity if you want to come back with a full band. For another night this week, the open mics near Leicester are listed by day.
Booking or playing in Leicester? 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 Leicester gigs or check the going rate.
Birstall Open MicWednesday, 25 November 2026
Birstall Open MicWednesday, 23 December 2026
Birstall Open MicWednesday, 27 January 2027
Birstall Open MicWednesday, 24 February 2027Birstall Open MicWednesday, 24 March 2027Birstall Open MicWednesday, 25 November 2026Birstall Open MicWednesday, 23 December 2026Birstall Open MicWednesday, 27 January 2027Birstall Open MicWednesday, 24 February 2027Birstall Open MicWednesday, 24 March 2027More dates at Old Plough: Birstall Open Mic, Birstall Open Mic and Birstall Open Mic.
Rooms near Old Plough: Firebug, The Big Difference, The International Independent Music, The Terrace, Leicester, 2Funky Complex, 2Funky Music Cafe, 33 Cank Street, 45 West, Baton Rouge Leicester, Blaby And Whetstone Social Club, Doppler Studio and Dover Castle.
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