The Brickmakers is Norwich's ultimate grassroots live-music venue at 496 Sprowston Road (NR3 4DY), with two stages (the main room and B2) running live music seven days a week, 364 days a year — over 90 bands a month. It's a genuine institution on the Norwich circuit, hosting everything from local favourites to touring bands from across the world. Alongside the packed gig calendar it runs a monthly open mic on the second and last Thursday of the month from 7:30pm, hosted by Peter Turrell — no advance booking, just turn up and put your name down for two or three songs. It's open to all abilities, and comedians and poets are welcome too. Full backline is set up with a vocal PA, so solo acts, duos and bands all work. With music almost every night, the crowd is a knowledgeable mix of working musicians, gig-goers and locals.
Norwich · Every other Thursday · Free
Sprowston Rd's thursday-night free open mic at The Brickmakers — full backline, in-house sound engineer, walk-in sign-up from 7pm, 10-minute slots, all ages.
Kick-off 19:30, sign-up from 19:00. 10-minute slots. Free entry.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
Thursdays
| Night | Every other Thursday |
| Sign-up | 19:00 walk-in |
| Slot | 10 min |
| Entry | Free · all ages |
| Backline | Full backline |
| Capacity | – |
| Performer types | Musicians · Comedians · Poets |
| Host | Peter Turrell |
| Website | brickmakersnorwich.co.uk |
| Status | Verified running |
| Last checked | 30 Sept 2026 |
| Checked against | Venue website |
Sprowston Rd, Norwich NR3 4DY
The nearest station is Norwich (rail station), about 1.5 miles away - a taxi or bus is the easier last leg.
| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | Provided |
| Guitar amp | Provided |
| Bass amp | Provided |
| Keys / keyboard | TBC |
| Vocal mics | Provided |
| In-house engineer | Provided |
The Brickmakers on Sprowston Road is one of Norwich's best-loved live-music pubs - live music nearly every night across two stages - and it hosts an open mic on the second and last Thursday of each month from 7:30pm, hosted by Peter Turrell. No advance booking: just turn up, pop your name down and play 2-3 songs, with most weeks also featuring a guest performer alongside the open-mic acts. It is open to all abilities, and comedians and poets are welcome too. Free entry, with a proper gig-room PA and sound to play through.
The Brickmakers is Norwich's ultimate grassroots live-music venue at 496 Sprowston Road (NR3 4DY), with two stages (the main room and B2) running live music seven days a week, 364 days a year — over 90 bands a month. It's a genuine institution on the Norwich circuit, hosting everything from local favourites to touring bands from across the world. Alongside the packed gig calendar it runs a monthly open mic on the second and last Thursday of the month from 7:30pm, hosted by Peter Turrell — no advance booking, just turn up and put your name down for two or three songs. It's open to all abilities, and comedians and poets are welcome too. Full backline is set up with a vocal PA, so solo acts, duos and bands all work. With music almost every night, the crowd is a knowledgeable mix of working musicians, gig-goers and locals.
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The Brickmakers Open Mic
Sprowston Rd's thursday-night free open mic at The Brickmakers — full backline, in-house sound engineer, walk-in sign-up from 7pm, 10-minute slots, all ages.
- Thursday
- Open mic night
- Apr 2026
- Listed since
- 30 Sept
- Last verified
- Free
- Entry
- 10 min
- Slot length
- Verified
- Listing status
Last updated: 13 November 2026
The Brickmakers Open Mic — Quick Facts
The Brickmakers Open Mic runs on Thursdays (fortnightly) at The Brickmakers in Norwich, starting at 19:30 with sign-up from 19:00. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Music starts around 19:30. Sign-up is on the night from 19:00 - get there early to get a slot. Each act gets about 10 minutes. With full backline listed, you need little more than your instrument and pedals. Peter Turrell hosts the night.
What’s on in Norwich this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
The Brickmakers on Sprowston Road is one of Norwich's best-loved live-music pubs - live music nearly every night across two stages - and it hosts an open mic on the second and last Thursday of each month from 7:30pm, hosted by Peter Turrell. No advance booking: just turn up, pop your name down and play 2-3 songs, with most weeks also featuring a guest performer alongside the open-mic acts. It is open to all abilities, and comedians and poets are welcome too. Free entry, with a proper gig-room PA and sound to play through.
Equipment and backline at this venue — what's on stage, verified regularly.
The Night at a Glance
How The Brickmakers’s Thursday night runs.
Every other Thursday
Sprowston Rd, Norwich, NR3 4DY - the map is below.
The Brickmakers provides a PA system, vocal mics, a drum kit, a guitar amp, a bass amp and an in-house sound engineer — check the rest with the venue.
Get there by 19:00 for a slot, have your instrument tuned before your turn and keep to about 10 minutes.
Find The Brickmakers
496 Sprowston Road, Sprowston Rd, Norwich NR3 4DY
The nearest station is Norwich (rail station), about 1.5 miles away - a taxi or bus is the easier last leg. The Brickmakers is in Sprowston Rd, Norwich — use NR3 4DY for sat-nav, taxis and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station before you set off.
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 19:00 to sign up for a slot. Full backline is provided — just bring your instrument and pedals.
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. A night in the Norwich live music scene.
Common Questions
9 questions people ask before going to Norwich's The Brickmakers open mic.
Venues Near The Brickmakers
No other gigs are listed at The Brickmakers in the GigXchange directory yet — these are the rooms around it, their size, kit and live nights.
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The Brickmakers open mic in brief. The Brickmakers open mic runs every other Thursday from 19:30 (free entry); sign-up opens 19:00 and slots run about 10 minutes. The Brickmakers’ venue page has its kit and capacity if you want to come back with a full band. For another night this week, the open mics near Norwich are listed by day.
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.
Looking for paid gigs, not open mics? See Norwich gigs or check the going rate.
More rooms near The Brickmakers: Earlham Park, East Point Pavilion, Gonzo's Tea Room, Gunton Estate Community Hall, Henham Park, Kerry’s, Last Pub Standing, Louis Marchesi, Mr Postles Apothecary, Narborough Sports & Social Club and Norwich Arts Centre.
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