St Aldate's Tavern is a traditional Young's pub in the heart of Oxford city centre, moments from the High Street, and it runs a well-established open mic every Thursday in its Blue Room, hosted by Lee Bo, from 7:30pm. The night is genuinely all-comers: the venue welcomes numerous genres including acoustic, rock, blues, folk, jazz, comedy and more, and provides a top in-house PA plus a house guitar, so you can show up and plug in. It's a free, sign-up-on-the-night format that suits solo and duo acts especially well. Around the music the tavern serves a proper pub menu, classic Sunday roasts and a popular weekly quiz, making it an easy central spot to perform or just watch. The Instagram (@staldatestavern) posts the open mic each week; call 01865 241185 to confirm.
Oxford · Every Thursday · No fee listed
City Centre's thursday-night free open mic at St Aldates Tavern — 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 |
| Website | staldatestavernoxford.co.uk |
| Status | Verified running |
| Last checked | 26 Sept 2026 |
| Checked against |
City Centre, Oxford OX1 1BU
The nearest station is Oxford (rail station), about 15 minutes' walk away.
| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | TBC |
| Guitar amp | TBC |
| Bass amp | TBC |
| Keys / keyboard | TBC |
| Vocal mics | TBC |
| In-house engineer | None |
St Aldates Tavern hosts a weekly Thursday open mic right in the heart of Oxford city centre, moments from the High Street. The venue runs a quality in-house PA and keeps a house guitar on hand, so you can travel light. A welcoming mix of working musicians, friends and locals — free to play. Solo and acoustic acts thrive here; check with the host before bringing a full band.
St Aldate's Tavern is a traditional Young's pub in the heart of Oxford city centre, moments from the High Street, and it runs a well-established open mic every Thursday in its Blue Room, hosted by Lee Bo, from 7:30pm. The night is genuinely all-comers: the venue welcomes numerous genres including acoustic, rock, blues, folk, jazz, comedy and more, and provides a top in-house PA plus a house guitar, so you can show up and plug in. It's a free, sign-up-on-the-night format that suits solo and duo acts especially well. Around the music the tavern serves a proper pub menu, classic Sunday roasts and a popular weekly quiz, making it an easy central spot to perform or just watch. The Instagram (@staldatestavern) posts the open mic each week; call 01865 241185 to confirm.
One tap. It tells the next act what to expect.
| 01 | Correct the day, time and sign-up |
| 02 | Edit your profile and photos |
| 03 | Receive artist enquiries |
| 04 | Update backline and capacity |
St Aldates Tavern Open Mic
City Centre's thursday-night free open mic at St Aldates Tavern — PA + vocal mic, walk-in sign-up from 7:30pm, 15-minute slots, all ages.
- Thursday
- Open mic night
- Apr 2026
- Listed since
- 26 Sept
- Last verified
- No fee
- Entry
- 15 min
- Slot length
- Verified
- Listing status
Last updated: 13 November 2026
St Aldates Tavern Open Mic — Quick Facts
St Aldates Tavern Open Mic runs on Thursdays at St Aldates Tavern 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.
Music starts around 20:00. Sign-up is on the night from 19:30 - get there early to get a slot. Slots run about 15 minutes. A PA is listed; check what else is on stage before you bring a band.
What’s on in Oxford this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
St Aldates Tavern hosts a weekly Thursday open mic right in the heart of Oxford city centre, moments from the High Street. The venue runs a quality in-house PA and keeps a house guitar on hand, so you can travel light. A welcoming mix of working musicians, friends and locals — free to play. Solo and acoustic acts thrive here; check with the host before bringing a full band.
The kit on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
The Night at a Glance
How St Aldates Tavern’s Thursday night runs.
Every Thursday
Thu 19 Nov · Thu 26 Nov · Thu 3 Dec
St Aldates Tavern provides a PA system; no in-house sound engineer — check the rest with the venue.
Get there by 19:30 for a slot, have your instrument tuned before your turn and keep to about 15 minutes.
Find St Aldates Tavern
108 Saint Aldate's, City Centre, Oxford OX1 1BU
The nearest station is Oxford (rail station), about 15 minutes' walk away. You'll find St Aldates Tavern in City Centre, Oxford; OX1 1BU is the postcode for sat-nav and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station.
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
Get there by 19:30 to sign up for a slot. St Aldates Tavern provides a PA system; no in-house sound engineer — 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 things people want to know before Oxford's St Aldates Tavern open mic.
Venues Near St Aldates Tavern
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St Aldates Tavern open mic in brief. The St Aldates Tavern open mic runs every Thursday from 20:00 (no fee listed); sign-up opens 19:30 and slots run about 15 minutes. St Aldates Tavern’s venue page has its kit and capacity if you want to come back with a full band. For a different night this week, the open mics near Oxford are listed by day.
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.
Looking for paid gigs, not open mics? See Oxford gigs or check the going rate.
More rooms near St Aldates Tavern: Cornbury Park, Cowley Road Studios, Cowley Workers Social Club, Hanks Bar, Isis Farmhouse, James St. Tavern, Joe's Bar & Grill, JoJo's, Jude The Obscure, O'neill's Oxford and Red Lion.
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