The Dublin Castle is a legendary Camden Town music venue at 94 Parkway, NW1 7AN — famous since the late 1970s when Madness built their reputation here, and a launchpad for countless indie, rock and alternative bands. The back room is a proper gig space with a big stage and full backline, putting on live music most nights of the week. Its best-known fixture for new performers is the Monday open mic, running 7pm-11pm with a full backline and in-house support, welcoming everyone from solo singer-songwriters to full bands; sign-up is strictly on the night (sheet opens 7pm sharp, so arrive early). The venue also hosts the monthly Electronic Music Open Mic (EMOM) on the first Wednesday. The single most-cited starter mic in central London, with around 120 capacity.
London · Every Monday · No fee listed
Camden's Monday-night free open mic at 94 Parkway, NW1 7AN — full backline, in-house sound engineer, walk-in sign-up from 7pm, 15-minute slots, all ages. The single most-cited starter mic in central London.
Next night: Mon 16 Nov. Kick-off 19:00, sign-up from 19:00. 10-minute slots. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
Mondays
| Night | Every Monday |
| Sign-up | 19:00 walk-in |
| Slot | 10 min |
| Entry | No fee listed · 18+ |
| Backline | Full backline |
| Capacity | c. 120 standing |
| Performer types | Musicians |
| Host | Andrew John Hepburn |
| Website | thedublincastle.com |
| Status | Verified running |
| Last checked | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Checked against | Web listing |
Camden Town, London NW1 7AN
The nearest station is Camden Town (Underground station), about 5 minutes' walk away.
| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | Provided |
| Guitar amp | Provided |
| Bass amp | Provided |
| Keys / keyboard | Bring your own |
| Vocal mics | Provided |
| In-house engineer | Provided |
The Dublin Castle is one of Camden's most storied live music pubs, at 94 Parkway in the heart of NW1. Madness built their early reputation here from 1979, and the back room has since hosted first London shows from bands including Blur and Coldplay (whose debut under that name came on 22 February 1998), with Amy Winehouse a fixture in the early 2000s. Alongside its ticketed gigs (typically GBP 10 to 15), the pub runs a free open mic every Monday: sign-up opens at 7pm at the venue on a first-come basis - no advance bookings or reservations - and the night runs to 11pm, when the sound engineer goes home. Each act gets a maximum of 10 minutes, including setup time. Full backline is provided - guitar and bass amps, a full drum kit with destructibles, and a PA with mics, stands, DI boxes and a mixing desk run by the in-house engineer. There is no piano or keyboard, so bring your own. Most acts are singer-songwriters or bands, but all performers are welcome. The venue has a strict 18+ policy. It remains one of the most-cited starter mics in central London.
The Dublin Castle is a legendary Camden Town music venue at 94 Parkway, NW1 7AN — famous since the late 1970s when Madness built their reputation here, and a launchpad for countless indie, rock and alternative bands. The back room is a proper gig space with a big stage and full backline, putting on live music most nights of the week. Its best-known fixture for new performers is the Monday open mic, running 7pm-11pm with a full backline and in-house support, welcoming everyone from solo singer-songwriters to full bands; sign-up is strictly on the night (sheet opens 7pm sharp, so arrive early). The venue also hosts the monthly Electronic Music Open Mic (EMOM) on the first Wednesday. The single most-cited starter mic in central London, with around 120 capacity.
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 Dublin Castle Open Mic
Camden's Monday-night free open mic at 94 Parkway, NW1 7AN — full backline, in-house sound engineer, walk-in sign-up from 7pm, 15-minute slots, all ages. The single most-cited starter mic in central London.
- Monday
- Open mic night
- Apr 2026
- Listed since
- 5 Oct
- Last verified
- No fee
- Entry
- 10 min
- Slot length
- Verified
- Listing status
Last updated: 13 November 2026
The Dublin Castle Open Mic — Quick Facts
The Dublin Castle Open Mic runs on Mondays at The Dublin Castle in London, starting at 19:00 with sign-up from 19:00. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
The night starts at 19:00 and runs to about 23:00. It's walk-in sign-up, with the list opening at 19:00 - arrive early to get a slot. Each act gets about 10 minutes, so the night holds around 24 acts. With full backline listed, you need little more than your instrument and pedals. Andrew John Hepburn hosts the night.
What’s on in London this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
The Dublin Castle is one of Camden's most storied live music pubs, at 94 Parkway in the heart of NW1. Madness built their early reputation here from 1979, and the back room has since hosted first London shows from bands including Blur and Coldplay (whose debut under that name came on 22 February 1998), with Amy Winehouse a fixture in the early 2000s. Alongside its ticketed gigs (typically GBP 10 to 15), the pub runs a free open mic every Monday: sign-up opens at 7pm at the venue on a first-come basis - no advance bookings or reservations - and the night runs to 11pm, when the sound engineer goes home. Each act gets a maximum of 10 minutes, including setup time. Full backline is provided - guitar and bass amps, a full drum kit with destructibles, and a PA with mics, stands, DI boxes and a mixing desk run by the in-house engineer. There is no piano or keyboard, so bring your own. Most acts are singer-songwriters or bands, but all performers are welcome. The venue has a strict 18+ policy. It remains one of the most-cited starter mics in central London.
What's on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
The Night at a Glance
How The Dublin Castle’s Monday night runs.
Every Monday
Mon 16 Nov · Mon 23 Nov · Mon 30 Nov
The Dublin Castle provides a PA system, vocal mics, a drum kit, a guitar amp, a bass amp and an in-house sound engineer; bring your own keys.
Arrive for 19:00 to get your name on the list, tune up before you go on, and plan a set that fits 10 minutes.
Find The Dublin Castle
94 Parkway, Camden Town, London NW1 7AN
The nearest station is Camden Town (Underground station), about 5 minutes' walk away. You'll find The Dublin Castle in Camden Town, London; NW1 7AN is the postcode for sat-nav and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station.
Sindercombe Social, The Hawley Arms, Vortex Jazz Club and The Blues Kitchen Camden
Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport (Open Government Licence).
Planning Your Monday Night
Arrive by 19:00 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. In the wider London live music scene.
Common Questions
9 questions people ask before going to London's The Dublin Castle open mic.
What’s On at The Dublin Castle
The gigs coming up at The Dublin Castle besides the open mic, from the GigXchange directory — each one links its listing.
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenrePop
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenrePop
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenrePop
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenrePop
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenrePop
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenrePop
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenrePop
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenrePop
Keep up with London
One email a week with live music near you. Free, and it keeps grassroots rooms full.
Help keep grassroots venues open in London
—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 London. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy.
See what’s on in London over the next four weeks →
The Dublin Castle open mic in brief. The Dublin Castle open mic runs every Monday from 19:00 (no fee listed); sign-up opens 19:00 and slots run about 10 minutes. Coming back with a full band? The Dublin Castle’s venue page has its kit and capacity listed. For another night this week, the open mics near London are listed by day.
Booking or playing in London? 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.
Looking for paid gigs, not open mics? See London gigs or check the going rate.
Rooms near The Dublin Castle: Green Note, Jazz Cafe, The Black Heart, The Elephants Head, The Hawley Arms, Underworld, 100 Club, 1901 Arts Club, 21Soho, 229, 30's And Avenue and 606 Club.
Free to join. No subscription. 5% only if you want the deposit protected.
Run an open mic in London?
Add yours to the directory free. 2-minute submission, reviewed before it goes live.