The Bicycle Shop is a much-loved independent café-bar at 17 St Benedict's Street in Norwich (NR2 4PE), trading on the street since 2009 and spread over three handsome floors. Downstairs the basement Handle Bar is the home of its events programme — regular live music alongside open mic, poetry, art and vinyl nights — giving local performers an intimate, characterful stage. Food is served until 10pm on Thursday–Saturday (10am–midnight) and until 4pm on Sundays. It's a relaxed, creative hub in the heart of the Norwich Lanes.
Norwich · Every Thursday · No fee listed
The Bicycle Shop Open Mic
Norwich's Tuesday-night free open mic at 17 St Benedict's Street, NR2 4PE — café-bar / arts space, PA + guitar amp + piano, 12-minute slots.
Next night: Thu 19 Nov. Kick-off 20:00, sign-up from 19:30. 12-minute slots. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
At a glance
Checked 27 Aug 202620:00
Kick-off
Thursdays
sign-up from 19:30Thursdays
| Night | Every Thursday |
| Sign-up | 19:30 walk-in |
| Slot | 12 min |
| Entry | No fee listed · all ages |
| Backline | PA provided |
01 — Inside the room
4 photosPhotos: Google
151
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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 | c. 80 standing |
| Performer types | Musicians · Poets |
| Website | thebicycleshopcafe.com |
The check
| Status | Verified running |
| Last checked | 27 Aug 2026 |
| Checked against | Venue website |
03 — The night
Every ThursdayHow the night runs
20:00
Kick-off
ThursdaysRunning order
19:30 Sign-up· Walk-in
20:00 Kick-off· 12-minute slots
23:00 Last songs
23:30 Venue closes
04 — Find The Bicycle Shop
City CentreGetting there
17 St Benedict's Street,
City Centre, Norwich NR2 4PE
City Centre, Norwich NR2 4PE
The nearest station is Norwich (rail station), about 20 minutes' walk away.
05 — What's on stage
4 provided| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | Bring your own |
| Guitar amp | Provided |
| Bass amp | Bring your own |
| Keys / keyboard | Provided |
| 2 vocal mics | Provided |
| In-house engineer | None |
06 — About
City Centre, NorwichAbout the night
The Bicycle Shop has sat on St Benedict's Street since 2009 - a cafe-bar at street level with the Handle Bar in the basement, which is where the poetry, open mic, art and vinyl nights happen. The open mic falls on a Thursday: songwriters, poets and the occasional comedy set.
180 minutes, 15 acts at 12 minutes.
Sign-up process
Sheet at the bar at 7:30pm. Walk-in.
Getting there
17 St Benedict's Street, NR2 4PE. 12 minutes from Norwich Rail.
The venue
Ground-floor cafe-bar with a basement room. All ages until 9pm. Capacity c. 80.
The Bicycle Shop is a much-loved independent café-bar at 17 St Benedict's Street in Norwich (NR2 4PE), trading on the street since 2009 and spread over three handsome floors. Downstairs the basement Handle Bar is the home of its events programme — regular live music alongside open mic, poetry, art and vinyl nights — giving local performers an intimate, characterful stage. Food is served until 10pm on Thursday–Saturday (10am–midnight) and until 4pm on Sundays. It's a relaxed, creative hub in the heart of the Norwich Lanes.
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| 04 | Update backline and capacity |
City Centre · Every Thursday
The Bicycle Shop Open Mic
Norwich's Tuesday-night free open mic at 17 St Benedict's Street, NR2 4PE — café-bar / arts space, PA + guitar amp + piano, 12-minute slots.
- Thursday
- Open mic night
- Apr 2026
- Listed since
- 27 Aug
- Last verified
- No fee
- Entry
- 12 min
- Slot length
- Verified
- Listing status
Run a Norwich open mic? List it free — reviewed before it goes live
Last updated: 13 November 2026
The Bicycle Shop Open Mic — Quick Facts
The Bicycle Shop Open Mic runs on Thursdays at The Bicycle Shop in Norwich, starting at 20:00 with sign-up from 19:30. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Open mic status Last verified 27 Aug 2026
How sure we are
Verified active
Checked against the venue’s own listing See The Bicycle Shop’s venue page →
Music starts around 20:00, finishing about 23:00. Sign-up is on the night from 19:30 - get there early to get a slot. Each act gets about 12 minutes, so the night holds around 15 acts. A PA is listed; check what else is on stage before you bring a band.
Next nightThu 19 Nov · 20:00Starts in 6d 12h 08m
AgeAll ages
Sign-upWalk-in on the night
Capacityc. 80 standing
Who playsMusicians · Poets
BacklinePA provided
Sound engineerNone in-house
Directory statusVerified active
Member votes0 to get the venue on GigXchange
Websitethebicycleshopcafe.com
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.
NightThursdayEvery ThursdayNext: Thu 19 Nov
Starts20:00until 23:00
Sign-up19:30Walk-in
Slots12minutes eachRoom for about 15 acts
What’s on in Norwich this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
The Bicycle Shop has sat on St Benedict's Street since 2009 - a cafe-bar at street level with the Handle Bar in the basement, which is where the poetry, open mic, art and vinyl nights happen. The open mic falls on a Thursday: songwriters, poets and the occasional comedy set.
180 minutes, 15 acts at 12 minutes.
Sign-up process
Sheet at the bar at 7:30pm. Walk-in.
Getting there
17 St Benedict's Street, NR2 4PE. 12 minutes from Norwich Rail.
The venue
Ground-floor cafe-bar with a basement room. All ages until 9pm. Capacity c. 80.
The kit on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA systemProvided
Drum kitBring your own
Guitar ampProvided
Bass ampBring your own
Keys / keyboardProvided
2 vocal micsProvided
In-house engineerNone
The Night at a Glance
How The Bicycle Shop’s Thursday night runs.
Next nightThu 19 Nov · 20:00Starts in 6d 12h 08m
Sign-up opens19:30Walk-in on the night
Kick-off20:00Every Thursday
Music ends23:00Last act finishes
Venue closes23:30The listed closing time
Slots12minutes eachroom for about 15 acts
How often
Every Thursday
Coming up
Thu 19 Nov · Thu 26 Nov · Thu 3 Dec
Kit
The Bicycle Shop provides a PA system, 2 vocal mics, a guitar amp and keys; bring your own drum kit and bass amp; no in-house sound engineer.
First time here?
Arrive for 19:30 to get your name on the list, tune up before you go on, and plan a set that fits 12 minutes.
Find The Bicycle Shop
17 St Benedict's Street, City Centre, Norwich NR2 4PE
Address17 St Benedict's Street
AreaCity Centre, Norwich
PostcodeNR2 4PE
DirectionsOpen in Google Maps →
Getting there
The nearest station is Norwich (rail station), about 20 minutes' walk away. You'll find The Bicycle Shop in City Centre, Norwich; NR2 4PE is the postcode for sat-nav and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station.
Open mics nearby
Dead Wax Norwich, The Champion, Voodoo Daddy's and Pear Tree Inn
Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport (Open Government Licence).
Planning Your Thursday Night
Arrive by 19:30 to sign up for a slot. The open mic runs until about 23:00. The Bicycle Shop provides a PA system, 2 vocal mics, a guitar amp and keys; bring your own drum kit and bass amp; no in-house sound engineer.
The scene Live music in Norwichthe venues, the gigs and where it happensGet gigs How to get gigs in Norwichpay, venues that book, how to pitchBands Find a band in Norwichacts to book or play alongsideGigs Upcoming gigs in Norwichevery listing, sorted by dateArtists Browse artist profilesfind acts to play or collaborate withOpen mics UK Open Mic Finderfree stage time, night by night
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 Norwich live music scene.
Common Questions
9 things people ask before turning up at Norwich's The Bicycle Shop open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 19:30. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Norwich open mic nights for alternatives.
The Bicycle Shop provides a PA system, 2 vocal mics, a guitar amp and keys; bring your own drum kit and bass amp; no in-house sound engineer.
12 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo.
No entry fee is listed for The Bicycle Shop's open mic - most open mics are free to play and to watch, but check with the venue before you go. Browse Norwich open mics.
Ask the host before bringing a full band — solo and duo acts are the usual open-mic format.
17 St Benedict's Street, City Centre, Norwich NR2 4PE.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Norwich regulars across the Norwich open mic scene. Norwich open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
The nearest station is Norwich (rail station), about 20 minutes' walk away. For sat-nav and taxis, the postcode is NR2 4PE. (Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport, Open Government Licence.)
Sign-up is walk-in on the night, from 19:30, so you do not need to book ahead. GigXchange doesn't publish venue phone numbers or emails - the venue's own website is linked on this page. Browse other Norwich open mics.
Venues Near The Bicycle Shop
No other gigs are listed at The Bicycle Shop in the GigXchange directory yet — these are the rooms around it, their size, kit and live nights.
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The Bicycle Shop open mic in brief. The Bicycle Shop open mic runs every Thursday from 20:00 (no fee listed); sign-up opens 19:30 and slots run about 12 minutes. The Bicycle Shop’s venue page has its kit and capacity if you want to come back with a full band. The open mics near Norwich are listed by day, for another night this week.
Booking or playing in Norwich? 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 Norwich open mics
All ›Looking for paid gigs, not open mics? See Norwich gigs or check the going rate.
10 — Venues near The Bicycle Shop
All ›More rooms near The Bicycle Shop: Corn Hall Diss, Dead Wax Norwich, Dereham Memorial Hall, Earlham Park, East Point Pavilion, Gunton Estate Community Hall, Henham Park, Kerry’s, Last Pub Standing, Louis Marchesi and Mr Postles Apothecary.
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