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.
Nottingham · Every Thursday · No fee listed
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.
Next night: Thu 19 Nov. Kick-off 20:00. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
At a glance
Checked 1 Sept 202620:00
Kick-off
Thursdays
sign-up on the nightThursdays
| Night | Every Thursday |
| Sign-up | Ask the host |
| Slot | Ask the host |
| Entry | No fee listed · all ages |
| Backline | PA provided |
01 — Inside the room
6 photosPhotos: Google
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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. 120 standing |
| Performer types | Musicians |
| Website | thecanalhouse.co.uk |
The check
| Status | Being verified |
Help keep this trueOne tap
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03 — The night
Every ThursdayHow the night runs
20:00
Kick-off
ThursdaysRunning order
20:00 Kick-off
23:00 Last songs
04 — Find The Canalhouse
City CentreGetting there
48-52 Canal Street,
City Centre, Nottingham NG1 7EH
City Centre, Nottingham NG1 7EH
The nearest station is Lace Market (tram stop), about 5 minutes' walk away.
05 — What's on stage
3 provided| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | Bring your own |
| Guitar amp | Provided |
| Bass amp | Bring your own |
| Keys / keyboard | Bring your own |
| 2 vocal mics | Provided |
| In-house engineer | None |
06 — About
City Centre, NottinghamAbout 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.
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.
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City Centre · Every Thursday
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.
- Thursday
- Open mic night
- Apr 2026
- Listed since
- 1 Sept
- Last checked
- No fee
- Entry
- —
- Sign-up time
- Community
- Listing status
Run a Nottingham open mic? List it free — reviewed before it goes live
Last updated: 13 November 2026
The Canalhouse Open Mic — Quick Facts
The Canalhouse Open Mic runs on Thursdays at The Canalhouse in Nottingham, starting at 20:00. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Open mic status Last checked 1 Sept 2026
How sure we are
Partly verified
Music starts around 20:00, finishing about 23:00. A PA is listed; check what else is on stage before you bring a band.
Next nightThu 19 Nov · 20:00Starts in 6d 12h 00m
AgeAll ages
Capacityc. 120 standing
BacklinePA provided
Sound engineerNone in-house
Directory statusBeing verified
Member votes0 to get the venue on GigXchange
Websitethecanalhouse.co.uk
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-upTBCsign-upNot confirmed yet
SlotsTBCslot lengthNot confirmed yet
What’s on in Nottingham this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
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.
Equipment and backline at this venue — what's on stage, verified regularly.
PA systemProvided
Drum kitBring your own
Guitar ampProvided
Bass ampBring your own
Keys / keyboardBring your own
2 vocal micsProvided
In-house engineerNone
The Night at a Glance
How The Canalhouse’s Thursday night runs.
Next nightThu 19 Nov · 20:00Starts in 6d 12h 00m
Kick-off20:00Every Thursday
Music ends · Venue closes23:00Last act finishes
How often
Every Thursday
Coming up
Thu 19 Nov · Thu 26 Nov · Thu 3 Dec
Kit
The Canalhouse provides a PA system, 2 vocal mics and a guitar amp; bring your own drum kit, bass amp and keys; no in-house sound engineer.
First time here?
Get there early for a slot, have your instrument tuned before your turn.
Find The Canalhouse
48-52 Canal Street, City Centre, Nottingham NG1 7EH
Address48-52 Canal Street
AreaCity Centre, Nottingham
PostcodeNG1 7EH
DirectionsOpen in Google Maps →
Getting there
The nearest station is Lace Market (tram stop), about 5 minutes' walk away. You'll find The Canalhouse in City Centre, Nottingham; NG1 7EH is the postcode for sat-nav and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station.
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 23:00. The Canalhouse provides a PA system, 2 vocal mics and a guitar amp; bring your own drum kit, bass amp and keys; no in-house sound engineer.
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Common Questions
9 things people ask before turning up at Nottingham's The Canalhouse open mic.
Sign-up via the venue. See all Nottingham open mic nights.
The Canalhouse provides a PA system, 2 vocal mics and a guitar amp; bring your own drum kit, bass amp and keys; no in-house sound engineer.
Slot length varies — check with the host.
No entry fee is listed for The Canalhouse's open mic - most open mics are free to play and to watch, but check with the venue before you go. Browse Nottingham open mics.
Ask the host before bringing a full band — solo and duo acts are the usual open-mic format.
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.
The nearest station is Lace Market (tram stop), about 5 minutes' walk away. For sat-nav and taxis, the postcode is NG1 7EH. (Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport, Open Government Licence.)
GigXchange doesn't publish venue phone numbers or emails - the venue's own website is linked on this page. Browse other Nottingham open mics.
Venues Near The Canalhouse
No other gigs are listed at The Canalhouse in the GigXchange directory yet — these are the rooms around it, their size, kit and live nights.
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See what’s on in Nottingham over the next four weeks →
The Canalhouse open mic in brief. The Canalhouse open mic runs every Thursday from 20:00 (no fee listed). The Canalhouse’s venue page lists its kit and capacity if you want to come back with a full band. The open mics near Nottingham are listed by day, for another night this week.
Booking or playing in Nottingham? 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 Nottingham open mics
All ›Looking for paid gigs, not open mics? See Nottingham gigs or check the going rate.
10 — Venues near The Canalhouse
All ›More rooms near The Canalhouse: The Bodega, The Palais, The Tap & Tumbler, Barley Twist, Billy Bootleggers Bar, Binks Yard, Bunkers Hill, Canvas Mansfield, Colwick Country Park, Colwick Park and Cross Keys - Nottingham.
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