The Penny Theatre is a genuinely unusual pub on Northgate at the edge of Canterbury's King's Mile — the site of the old Alexandra Music Hall and Penny Theatre that ran from 1750 to 1903. One side still houses a small Regency theatre, now an integral part of the pub, which transforms into a vibrant live-music venue every Friday and Saturday night, fully equipped with a P.A. and lighting rig alongside a stage, pool table and darts. The weekly music nights host all different genres, and the wider calendar packs in pub quizzes, drag bingo and karaoke. Part of the Social Pub & Kitchen group, it's a characterful, properly equipped room that's a strong booking for covers and original bands in the heart of Canterbury.
Canterbury · Every Friday · No fee listed
The Penny Theatre Open Mic
Canterbury's friday open mic.
Next night: Fri 13 Nov. Kick-off 19:00, sign-up from 19:00. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
At a glance
Checked 16 Oct 202619:00
Kick-off
Fridays
sign-up from 19:00Fridays
| Night | Every Friday |
| Sign-up | 19:00 walk-in |
| Slot | Ask the host |
| Entry | No fee listed · 18+ |
| Backline | PA provided |
01 — Inside the room
4 photosPhotos: Google
164
page views on GigXchange. Is it your night?
0 members voted to bring the venue onto GigXchange02 — The details
Before you goEverything you need to know
0
Member votes
votes to get this venue on GigXchange
| Capacity | – |
| Performer types | Musicians |
The check
| Status | Being verified |
Help keep this trueOne tap
Is this night still on?
No sign-up. We review corrections within 7 days.
03 — The night
Every FridayHow the night runs
19:00
Kick-off
FridaysRunning order
19:00 Kick-off
01:00 Venue closes
04 — Find The Penny Theatre
CanterburyGetting there
Canterbury
05 — What's on stage
1 provided · 6 TBC| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | TBC |
| Guitar amp | TBC |
| Bass amp | TBC |
| Keys / keyboard | TBC |
| Vocal mics | TBC |
| In-house engineer | TBC |
06 — About
CanterburyAbout the night
The Penny Theatre on Northgate (CT1 1BL) is a Canterbury institution: its stage has hosted Radiohead, Supergrass, Placebo, Skunk Anansie and Ash over the years. It used to run a free open mic where you could be crowned best act and win a cash prize, with walk-in sign-up from 7pm for an 8pm start, but the reimagined pub's own website now lists live music every Friday and Saturday and karaoke every Thursday, with no open mic, so check with the venue before you go.
It's 18+ only under the venue's R.O.A.R policy, so bring photo ID (passport or driving licence). Open daily from 10am, until 1am on Thursdays and late on Fridays and Saturdays.
The Penny Theatre is a genuinely unusual pub on Northgate at the edge of Canterbury's King's Mile — the site of the old Alexandra Music Hall and Penny Theatre that ran from 1750 to 1903. One side still houses a small Regency theatre, now an integral part of the pub, which transforms into a vibrant live-music venue every Friday and Saturday night, fully equipped with a P.A. and lighting rig alongside a stage, pool table and darts. The weekly music nights host all different genres, and the wider calendar packs in pub quizzes, drag bingo and karaoke. Part of the Social Pub & Kitchen group, it's a characterful, properly equipped room that's a strong booking for covers and original bands in the heart of Canterbury.
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Canterbury · Every Friday
The Penny Theatre Open Mic
Canterbury's friday open mic. Starts at 19:00.
- Friday
- Open mic night
- May 2026
- Listed since
- 16 Oct
- Last checked
- No fee
- Entry
- 19:00
- Sign-up time
- Community
- Listing status
Run a Canterbury open mic? List it free — reviewed before it goes live
Last updated: 13 November 2026
The Penny Theatre Open Mic — Quick Facts
The Penny Theatre Open Mic runs on Fridays at The Penny Theatre in Canterbury, 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.
Open mic status Last checked 16 Oct 2026
How sure we are
Partly verified
Music starts around 19:00. Sign-up is on the night from 19:00 - get there early to get a slot. A PA is listed; check what else is on stage before you bring a band.
Next nightFri 13 Nov · 19:00Starts in 11h 20m 11s
Age18+
Sign-upWalk-in on the night
BacklinePA provided
Sound engineerAsk the venue
Directory statusBeing verified
Member votes0 to get the venue on GigXchange
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. We review corrections within 7 days.
NightFridayEvery FridayNext: Fri 13 Nov
Starts19:00start time
Sign-up19:00Walk-in
SlotsTBCslot lengthNot confirmed yet
What’s on in Canterbury this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
The Penny Theatre on Northgate (CT1 1BL) is a Canterbury institution: its stage has hosted Radiohead, Supergrass, Placebo, Skunk Anansie and Ash over the years. It used to run a free open mic where you could be crowned best act and win a cash prize, with walk-in sign-up from 7pm for an 8pm start, but the reimagined pub's own website now lists live music every Friday and Saturday and karaoke every Thursday, with no open mic, so check with the venue before you go.
It's 18+ only under the venue's R.O.A.R policy, so bring photo ID (passport or driving licence). Open daily from 10am, until 1am on Thursdays and late on Fridays and Saturdays.
What's on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA systemProvided
Drum kitTBC
Guitar ampTBC
Bass ampTBC
Keys / keyboardTBC
Vocal micsTBC
In-house engineerTBC
The Night at a Glance
How The Penny Theatre’s Friday night runs.
Next nightFri 13 Nov · 19:00Starts in 11h 20m 11s
Sign-up opens · Kick-off19:00Walk-in on the night
Venue closes01:00The listed closing time
How often
Every Friday
Coming up
Fri 13 Nov · Fri 20 Nov · Fri 27 Nov
Kit
The Penny Theatre provides a PA system — check the rest with the venue.
First time here?
Get there by 19:00 for a slot, have your instrument tuned before your turn.
Find The Penny Theatre
Canterbury
AreaCanterbury
DirectionsOpen in Google Maps →
Getting there
You'll find The Penny Theatre in Canterbury. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station.
Open mics nearby
The Foundry, The Lifeboat, Your Music School (YMS) and Rosslyn Court
Planning Your Friday Night
Be there by 19:00 to put your name down. The Penny Theatre provides a PA system — check the rest with the venue.
The scene Live music in Canterburythe venues, the gigs and where it happensGet gigs How to get gigs in Canterburypay, venues that book, how to pitchBands Find a band in Canterburyacts to book or play alongsideGigs Upcoming gigs in Canterburyevery listing, sorted by dateArtists Browse artist profilesfind acts to play or collaborate withOpen mics UK Open Mic Finderfree stage time, night by night
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 Canterbury live music scene.
Common Questions
8 things people want to know before Canterbury's The Penny Theatre open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 19:00. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Canterbury open mic nights for alternatives.
The Penny Theatre provides a PA system — check the rest with the venue.
Slot length varies — check with the host.
No entry fee is listed for The Penny Theatre's open mic - most open mics are free to play and to watch, but check with the venue before you go. Browse Canterbury open mics.
Ask the host before bringing a full band — solo and duo acts are the usual open-mic format.
The Penny Theatre is in Canterbury. Get directions, or see the other Margate open mics.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Canterbury regulars across the Canterbury open mic scene. Canterbury open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
Sign-up is walk-in on the night, from 19:00, so you do not need to book ahead. GigXchange doesn't publish venue phone numbers or emails. Browse other Canterbury open mics.
Venues Near The Penny Theatre
No other gigs are listed at The Penny Theatre in the GigXchange directory yet — these are the rooms around it, their size, kit and live nights.
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See what’s on in Canterbury over the next four weeks →
The Penny Theatre open mic in brief. The Penny Theatre open mic runs every Friday from 19:00 (no fee listed); sign-up opens 19:00. Coming back with a full band? The Penny Theatre’s venue page has its kit and capacity listed. For a different night this week, the open mics near Canterbury are listed by day.
Booking or playing in Canterbury? 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.
09 — More Canterbury open mics
All ›After paid gigs rather than open mics? See Canterbury gigs or check the going rate.
10 — Venues near The Penny Theatre
All ›More rooms near The Penny Theatre: Broadstairs Pavilion, Deal Astor Theatre, Dreamland Margate, Scenic Stage, Drill Shed, Elsewhere, Hall By The Sea, Dreamland Margate, Leas Cliff Hall, Maiden's Head, Margate Lido Complex, Quarterhouse and Queens Road Baptist Centre - Concerts and Workshops.
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