The Canalhouse is a Castle Rock Brewery pub at 48-52 Canal Street in Nottingham city centre (NG1 7EH), opened in 2000 on the lower floors of the former Canal Museum — a Grade II listed building with an actual canal extending inside, complete with resident narrow boats. It runs canalside live-music sessions in the beer garden every Thursday from 7pm through the warmer months, an award-winning Canalhouse Comedy open-mic night, and a monthly spoken-word/open-mic night called Blackdrop on the first Monday upstairs. A characterful small-capacity room (around 120 standing) with a PA and guitar amp, welcoming covers and original acts.
City Centre · Every Thursday · Free
The Canalhouse Open Mic
Nottingham's Thursday-night free folk open mic at 48-52 Canal Street, NG1 7EH — canalside pub, PA + guitar amp, 12-minute slots.
Open mic at a glance The Canalhouse · Nottingham
Thursday
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: 8 August 2026
The Canalhouse Open Mic — Quick Facts
Nottingham's Thursday-night free folk open mic at 48-52 Canal Street, NG1 7EH — canalside pub, PA + guitar amp, 12-minute slots.
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The Details
Everything you need before you turn up
DayThursday
Start20:00
Sign-up19:30 walk-in
Slot length12 min
EntryFree · all ages
Capacityc. 120 standing
Performer typesMusic · Folk
Sound engineerBYO / hire on the night
View on map
Where
The Canalhouse48-52 Canal Street
City Centre
Nottingham NG1 7EH
City Centre, Nottingham — check venue website for parking and nearest station.
Highlights
Free entry for all
PA system provided
Walk-in sign-up
Music, Folk welcome
How do you rate this open mic?One tap, no sign-up required.
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About The Canalhouse
About This Open Mic
Every Thursday in City Centre, Nottingham
Kicks off at 20:00, sign-up from 19:30
Free entry for performers and audience
12-minute slots
PA provided — BYO instrument
Part of the Nottingham open mic directory
The Night
The Canalhouse is a Grade II-listed former canal museum on Canal Street, with a canal running through the inside of the building, resident narrowboats and a footbridge — a trailblazer of Nottingham's craft beer scene and silver Pub of the Year at the 2025 Nottinghamshire Tourism Awards. Its open-mic night is a comedy one: NCF Comedy runs every second and fourth Wednesday of the month from 7pm, where established acts try out new material alongside up-and-coming performers. The night has form, taking Best Open Mic Night at the 2016 Midlands Comedy Awards and Best Small Club in 2018 and 2021.
Getting there
48-52 Canal St, Nottingham NG1 7EH.
Photos
Four photos sourced from Google Places contributors are shown above the map.
What's on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA + monitors
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
2 vocal mics
In-house engineer
The Night at a Glance
How The Canalhouse’s Thursday night runs.
19:30Sign-up
20:00Kick-off
23:00Last songs
Every Thursday 12-min slots Free entry
Find The Canalhouse
48-52 Canal Street, City Centre, Nottingham NG1 7EH
Planning Your Thursday Night
Arrive by 19:30 to sign up for a slot. Entry is free and the open mic typically runs until 23:00. A PA is provided — bring your own instrument and amp.
Part of the Nottingham live music scene.
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Try the Rate CalculatorCommon Questions
Seven things people ask before turning up at Nottingham's The Canalhouse 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.
PA + vocal mic provided. BYO instrument and amp.
12 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo.
Yes — free entry for performers and audience. Most Nottingham mics are free; browse the list.
Solo and duo acts work best given the gear available; ask the host before bringing a full band.
48-52 Canal Street, City Centre, Nottingham NG1 7EH.
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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