The Maidens Head is a live music venue in 28 Wincheap, Canterbury, hosting regular open mic nights for local musicians and performers. Whether you're a seasoned gigging musician or stepping up to perform for the first time, The Maidens Head provides a welcoming stage and audience.
Canterbury · Every Thursday · No fee listed
28 Wincheap's thursday open mic.
Next night: Thu 19 Nov. Kick-off 18:00. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
Thursdays
| Night | Every Thursday |
| Sign-up | Walk-in |
| Slot | Ask the host |
| Entry | No fee listed · all ages |
| Backline | PA provided |
| Capacity | – |
| Performer types | Musicians · Comedians · Poets |
| Status | Verified running |
| Last checked | 18 Oct 2026 |
| Checked against | Web listing |
The nearest station is Canterbury East (rail station), about 5 minutes' walk away.
| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | Provided |
| Guitar amp | Provided |
| Bass amp | Provided |
| Keys / keyboard | Provided |
| Vocal mics | Provided |
| In-house engineer | TBC |
The Maiden's Head on Wincheap is one of Canterbury's oldest buildings (it dates to 1446), and it runs a brilliantly well-equipped open mic every Thursday from 6 to 10pm. All acts are welcome — it's not just for musicians, they've had stand-up comedy and poetry too — and there's a genuine community feel. The backline is exceptional for an open mic: a full drum kit (with a house drummer), electric bass through the PA (with a house bassist), electric guitar and amp, an 88-key hammer-graded keyboard and two mics. Book ahead via host Jamie and the WhatsApp group, or just turn up early to guarantee a slot.
The Maidens Head is a live music venue in 28 Wincheap, Canterbury, hosting regular open mic nights for local musicians and performers.
One tap. It tells the next act what to expect.
The Maidens Head Open Mic
28 Wincheap's thursday open mic.
- Thursday
- Open mic night
- May 2026
- Listed since
- 18 Oct
- Last verified
- No fee
- Entry
- —
- Sign-up time
- Verified
- Listing status
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Last updated: 13 November 2026
The Maidens Head Open Mic — Quick Facts
The Maidens Head Open Mic runs on Thursdays at The Maidens Head in Canterbury, starting at 18:00. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
The night starts at 18:00 and runs to about 22:00. Sign-up is on the night - get there early to get a slot. There is a PA listed - ask what else is on stage before you load in.
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About This Open Mic
The Maiden's Head on Wincheap is one of Canterbury's oldest buildings (it dates to 1446), and it runs a brilliantly well-equipped open mic every Thursday from 6 to 10pm. All acts are welcome — it's not just for musicians, they've had stand-up comedy and poetry too — and there's a genuine community feel. The backline is exceptional for an open mic: a full drum kit (with a house drummer), electric bass through the PA (with a house bassist), electric guitar and amp, an 88-key hammer-graded keyboard and two mics. Book ahead via host Jamie and the WhatsApp group, or just turn up early to guarantee a slot.
What's on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
The Night at a Glance
How The Maidens Head’s Thursday night runs.
Every Thursday
Thu 19 Nov · Thu 26 Nov · Thu 3 Dec
The Maidens Head provides a PA system, vocal mics, a drum kit, a guitar amp, a bass amp and keys — check the rest with the venue.
Arrive early to get your name on the list, tune up before you go on.
Find The Maidens Head
28 Wincheap, Canterbury CT1 3QZ
The nearest station is Canterbury East (rail station), about 5 minutes' walk away. You'll find The Maidens Head in 28 Wincheap, Canterbury; CT1 3QZ is the postcode for sat-nav and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station.
The Foundry, The Lifeboat, Your Music School (YMS) and Rosslyn Court
Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport (Open Government Licence).
Planning Your Thursday Night
Arrive early to sign up for a slot. The open mic runs until about 22:00. The Maidens Head provides a PA system, vocal mics, a drum kit, a guitar amp, a bass amp and keys — check the rest with the venue.
How much should paid gigs pay you? 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
9 things people want to know before Canterbury's The Maidens Head open mic.
Venues Near The Maidens Head
No other gigs are listed at The Maidens Head in the GigXchange directory yet — these are the rooms around it, their size, kit and live nights.
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The Maidens Head open mic in brief. The Maidens Head open mic runs every Thursday from 18:00 (no fee listed). The open mics near Canterbury are listed by day, for another night this week.
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.
After paid gigs rather than open mics? See Canterbury gigs or check the going rate.
More rooms near The Maidens Head: Drill Shed, Folkestone Railway Social Club, Folklore, Hall By The Sea, Dreamland Margate, Leas Cliff Hall, Maiden's Head, Margate Lido Complex, Quarterhouse, Queens Road Baptist Centre - Concerts and Workshops, Rosslyn Court and Royal Norfolk Hotel.
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