The Bodega is one of Nottingham's most important grassroots music venues, at 23 Pelham Street in the city centre (NG1 2EG). Running since its first gig on 30 November 1999 — over 25 years — the roughly 150-capacity room has launched countless new bands and was crowned Grassroots Champion at the 2025 UK LIVE Awards and won Spirit of the Scene at the 2025 Music Week Awards. It hosts touring and emerging indie, alternative and pop acts, plus DJ nights and festival showcases such as Dot To Dot. With a professional PA, in-house engineer and full backline, it's a key rung on the UK live-music ladder for rising artists.
City Centre · Every Tuesday · Free
The Bodega Open Mic
Nottingham's Tuesday-night free open mic at 23 Pelham Street, NG1 2EG — long-running indie venue, full backline, in-house engineer, 12-minute slots.
Open mic at a glance The Bodega · Nottingham
Tuesday
Open mic night
Apr 2026
Listed since
03 Jun
Last verified
Free
Entry
12 min
Slot length
Community
Listing status
Run a Nottingham open mic? List it free — verified within 48 hours
Last updated: 3 June 2026
The Bodega Open Mic — Quick Facts
Nottingham's Tuesday-night free open mic at 23 Pelham Street, NG1 2EG — long-running indie venue, full backline, in-house engineer, 12-minute slots.
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The Details
Everything you need before you turn up
DayTuesday
Start20:00
Sign-up19:30 walk-in
Slot length12 min
EntryFree · 18+
Capacityc. 150 standing
Performer typesMusic
Sound engineerIn-house, included
View on map
Where
The Bodega23 Pelham Street
City Centre
Nottingham NG1 2ED
City Centre, Nottingham — check venue website for parking and nearest station.
Highlights
Free entry for all
Full backline on stage
In-house sound engineer
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 Bodega
About This Open Mic
Every Tuesday in City Centre, Nottingham
Kicks off at 20:00, sign-up from 19:30
Free entry for performers and audience
12-minute slots
Full backline on stage
Part of the Nottingham open mic directory
The Night
The Bodega is one of Nottingham's flagship independent music venues. Tuesday open mic uses the upstairs gig room.
180 minutes, 15 acts at 12 minutes.
Sign-up process
Sheet upstairs at 7:30pm. Walk-in.
Getting there
23 Pelham Street, NG1 2EG. 10 minutes from Nottingham Rail.
The venue
Ground-floor bar, upstairs gig room. 18+. Capacity upstairs c. 150.
What's on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA + monitors
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
3 vocal mics
In-house engineer
The Night at a Glance
How The Bodega’s Tuesday night runs.
19:30Sign-up
20:00Kick-off
23:00Last songs
Every Tuesday 12-min slots Free entry
Find The Bodega
23 Pelham Street, City Centre, Nottingham NG1 2ED
Planning Your Tuesday Night
Arrive by 19:30 to sign up for a slot. Entry is free and the open mic typically runs until 23:00. Full backline is provided — just bring your instrument and pedals.
Part of the Nottingham 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 Nottingham's The Bodega open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 19:30. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Nottingham open mic nights for alternatives.
Full backline: drum kit, guitar amp, bass amp, vocal mics, plus an in-house sound engineer. Bring your own instrument and pedals.
12 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo.
Yes — free entry for performers and audience. Most Nottingham mics are free; browse the list.
Yes — full bands welcome and the backline is set up for it.
23 Pelham Street, City Centre, Nottingham NG1 2ED.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Nottingham regulars across the Nottingham open mic scene. Nottingham open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
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