The Red Lion is a premium pub, bar and restaurant with its own garden at 14 Gloucester Street, right by Gloucester Green in the centre of Oxford. On Thursday nights it runs Jamo's Open Mic (JAMO Music agency, host James Morgan) from 7:30pm to about 10pm, free to play and free to watch. It's an unusually well-equipped open mic for a pub: a top PA plus a house guitar and house keyboard are provided, so you can travel light — sign-up to play opens at 7:30pm on the night. The format welcomes a broad spread of acoustic, songwriter and band-ish acts; bring any pedals or your own instrument if you prefer. The Red Lion sits a minute from Gloucester Green's coach station and market, with a kitchen and garden, so it's an easy spot to eat and drink around the music. Call 01865 726255 to confirm the night is running.
Oxford · Every Thursday · No fee listed
Gloucester Green's thursday-night free open mic at Red Lion — PA + vocal mic, walk-in sign-up from 7:30pm, 15-minute slots, all ages.
Next night: Thu 19 Nov. Kick-off 20:00, sign-up from 19:30. 15-minute slots. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
Thursdays
| Night | Every Thursday |
| Sign-up | 19:30 walk-in |
| Slot | 15 min |
| Entry | No fee listed · all ages |
| Backline | PA provided |
| Capacity | – |
| Performer types | Musicians |
| Status | Verified running |
| Last checked | 29 Sept 2026 |
| Checked against | Music directory |
Gloucester Green, Oxford OX1 2BN
The nearest station is Oxford (rail station), about 10 minutes' walk away.
| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | TBC |
| Guitar amp | Provided |
| Bass amp | TBC |
| Keys / keyboard | Provided |
| Vocal mics | TBC |
| In-house engineer | TBC |
Jamo's Open Mic Night takes over The Red Lion on Gloucester Street every Thursday — a relaxed, all-ages, all-abilities night in the centre of Oxford. There's a house guitar provided (and keys can be sorted too), so beginners and players without their own gear are genuinely catered for. Free, friendly and unpretentious — turn up, put your name down and play.
The Red Lion is a premium pub, bar and restaurant with its own garden at 14 Gloucester Street, right by Gloucester Green in the centre of Oxford. On Thursday nights it runs Jamo's Open Mic (JAMO Music agency, host James Morgan) from 7:30pm to about 10pm, free to play and free to watch. It's an unusually well-equipped open mic for a pub: a top PA plus a house guitar and house keyboard are provided, so you can travel light — sign-up to play opens at 7:30pm on the night. The format welcomes a broad spread of acoustic, songwriter and band-ish acts; bring any pedals or your own instrument if you prefer. The Red Lion sits a minute from Gloucester Green's coach station and market, with a kitchen and garden, so it's an easy spot to eat and drink around the music. Call 01865 726255 to confirm the night is running.
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Red Lion Open Mic
Gloucester Green's thursday-night free open mic at Red Lion — PA + vocal mic, walk-in sign-up from 7:30pm, 15-minute slots, all ages.
- Thursday
- Open mic night
- Apr 2026
- Listed since
- 29 Sept
- Last verified
- No fee
- Entry
- 15 min
- Slot length
- Verified
- Listing status
Last updated: 13 November 2026
Red Lion Open Mic — Quick Facts
Red Lion Open Mic runs on Thursdays at Red Lion in Oxford, 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.
The night starts at 20:00. Sign-up is on the night from 19:30 - get there early to get a slot. Each act gets about 15 minutes. There is a PA listed - ask what else is on stage before you load in.
What’s on in Oxford this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
Jamo's Open Mic Night takes over The Red Lion on Gloucester Street every Thursday — a relaxed, all-ages, all-abilities night in the centre of Oxford. There's a house guitar provided (and keys can be sorted too), so beginners and players without their own gear are genuinely catered for. Free, friendly and unpretentious — turn up, put your name down and play.
Equipment and backline at this venue — what's on stage, verified regularly.
The Night at a Glance
How Red Lion’s Thursday night runs.
Every Thursday
Thu 19 Nov · Thu 26 Nov · Thu 3 Dec
Red Lion provides a PA system, a guitar amp and keys — check the rest with the venue.
Arrive for 19:30 to get your name on the list, tune up before you go on, and plan a set that fits 15 minutes.
Find Red Lion
14 Gloucester Street, Gloucester Green, Oxford OX1 2BN
The nearest station is Oxford (rail station), about 10 minutes' walk away. Red Lion is in Gloucester Green, Oxford — use OX1 2BN for sat-nav, taxis and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station before you set off.
James St. Tavern, The Eagle Tavern, The Royal Blenheim and The Harcourt Arms
Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport (Open Government Licence).
Planning Your Thursday Night
Arrive by 19:30 to sign up for a slot. Red Lion provides a PA system, a guitar amp and keys — check the rest with the venue.
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. In the wider Oxford live music scene.
Common Questions
9 questions people ask before going to Oxford's Red Lion open mic.
Venues Near Red Lion
No other gigs are listed at Red Lion in the GigXchange directory yet — these are the rooms around it, their size, kit and live nights.
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Red Lion open mic in brief. The Red Lion open mic runs every Thursday from 20:00 (no fee listed); sign-up opens 19:30 and slots run about 15 minutes. Coming back with a full band? Red Lion’s venue page has its kit and capacity listed. The open mics near Oxford are listed by day, for another night this week.
Booking or playing in Oxford? 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.
Want paid gigs instead of open mics? See Oxford gigs or check the going rate.
More rooms near Red Lion: Isis Farmhouse, James St. Tavern, Joe's Bar & Grill, JoJo's, Jude The Obscure, Kazbar, O'neill's Oxford, Sandy's Piano Bar, St Aldates Tavern, Studio Se7en and Tap Social Movement.
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