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 · Free
The Penny Theatre Open Mic
Canterbury's friday open mic.
Open mic at a glance The Penny Theatre · Canterbury
Friday
Open mic night
May 2026
Listed since
27 Jul
Last verified
Free
Entry
19:00
Sign-up time
Community
Listing status
Run a Canterbury open mic? List it free — verified within 48 hours
Last updated: 2 June 2026
The Penny Theatre Open Mic — Quick Facts
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The Details
Everything you need before you turn up
DayFriday
Start19:00
Sign-up19:00 walk-in
Slot length–
EntryFree · 18+
Capacity–
Performer typesMusic
Sound engineerBYO / hire on the night
View on map
Where
The Penny TheatreCanterbury
Canterbury — check venue website for parking and nearest station.
Contact
Walk-in sign-up only
No advance booking
Host: in-house team
Highlights
Free entry for all
PA system provided
Walk-in sign-up
Music welcome
How do you rate this open mic?One tap, no sign-up required.
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About The Penny Theatre
About This Open Mic
Every Friday in Canterbury
Kicks off at 19:00
Free entry for performers and audience
Slot length — we’re on it, no info yet
PA provided — BYO instrument
Part of the Canterbury open mic directory
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, and it still runs a free open mic where you could be crowned best act and win a cash prize. Sign-up is walk-in from 7pm on the night for an estimated 8pm start; get there and registered before 8pm, when the running-order draw is made. It's 18+ only under the venue's R.O.A.R policy, so bring photo ID (passport or driving licence).
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 The Penny Theatre’s Friday night runs.
19:00Sign-up
19:00Kick-off
01:00Venue closes
Every Friday Free entry
Find The Penny Theatre
Canterbury
Planning Your Friday Night
Arrive by 19:00 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 Canterbury 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 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.
PA + vocal mic provided. BYO instrument and amp.
Slot length varies — check with the host.
Yes — free entry for performers and audience. Most Canterbury mics are free; browse the list.
Solo and duo acts work best given the gear available; ask the host before bringing a full band.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Canterbury regulars across the Canterbury open mic scene. Canterbury open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
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