Lions Den is a gritty, independent basement live-music and events venue tucked into Deansgate Mews within Manchester's Great Northern complex, at 253 Deansgate (M3 4EN). With an intimate capacity of around 100, it keeps artists and audiences close, and the room is praised for its sound quality and friendly staff. The programme is genuinely eclectic — live bands across indie, rock, hip-hop and electronic, DJ nights, alternative comedy, open mic nights and even a community radio operation, alongside pool, darts and retro games. A PA is provided in-house. Open Tuesday to Thursday from 5pm (to midnight), Friday 5pm-1am and Saturday 3pm-1am, it's a proper grassroots room in the heart of the city centre.
Manchester · Every Wednesday · Free
Lions Den Manchester Open Mic
Manchester open mic at Lions Den Manchester — listed on Google Places. Schedule below pending venue confirmation; check the venue's own listings before turning up.
Open mic at a glance Lions Den Manchester · Manchester
Wednesday
Open mic night
Apr 2026
Listed since
12 Aug
Last verified
Free
Entry
12 min
Slot length
Verified
Listing status
Run a Manchester open mic? List it free — verified within 48 hours
Last updated: 12 August 2026
Lions Den Manchester Open Mic — Quick Facts
Manchester open mic at Lions Den Manchester — listed on Google Places. Schedule below pending venue confirmation; check the venue's own listings before turning up.
✓ Verified activeLast verified
The Details
Everything you need before you turn up
DayWednesday
Start19:00
Sign-up18:30 walk-in
Slot length12 min
EntryFree · 18+
Capacity–
Performer typesMusic · Comedy · Poetry
Sound engineerBYO / hire on the night
View on map
Where
Lions Den Manchester253 Deansgate
Manchester M3 4EN
Manchester — check venue website for parking and nearest station.
Highlights
Free entry for all
PA system provided
Walk-in sign-up
Music, Comedy, Poetry welcome
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 and we'll re-verify within 48 hours.
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About Lions Den Manchester
About This Open Mic
Every Wednesday in Manchester
Kicks off at 19:00, sign-up from 18:30
Free entry for performers and audience
12-minute slots
PA provided — BYO instrument
Part of the Manchester open mic directory
The Night
Lions Den, tucked in the Great Northern Warehouse on Deansgate Mews, runs one of Manchester's friendliest open mic nights every Wednesday, kicking off at 7pm until late. Turn up around 6:30pm to book a slot — there's no booking in advance and a strict no 'pay-to-play' policy — and you can perform three songs backed by the venue's in-house drummer, recorded live, with a free drink on the house and pro performance photos. Acoustic, indie, rock, comedy and spoken word are all welcome.
What's on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA + monitors
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer
The Night at a Glance
How Lions Den Manchester’s Wednesday night runs.
18:30Sign-up
19:00Kick-off
Every Wednesday 12-min slots Free entry
Find Lions Den Manchester
253 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EN
Planning Your Wednesday Night
Arrive by 18:30 to sign up for a slot. Entry is free and the open mic typically runs until late. A PA is provided — bring your own instrument and amp.
Part of the Manchester live music scene.
What should you charge for paid gigs?Most open mic musicians are ready for paid work sooner than they think. Check live UK rates by role, city, and venue size.
Try the Rate CalculatorCommon Questions
Seven things people ask before turning up at Manchester's Lions Den Manchester open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 18:30. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Manchester open mic nights for alternatives.
PA + vocal mic provided. BYO instrument and amp.
12 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo.
Yes — free entry for performers and audience. Most Manchester mics are free; browse the list.
Solo and duo acts work best given the gear available; ask the host before bringing a full band.
253 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EN.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Manchester regulars across the Manchester open mic scene. Manchester open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
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