The Minerva Inn is Plymouth's oldest pub, dating to around 1540, tucked away on Looe Street in the Barbican — a timber-framed building reputedly built with wood from the Spanish Armada fleet, complete with a ship's mast at its centre and tales of press gangs and secret tunnels. Today it's one of the city's most reliable grassroots music rooms, holding live music three nights a week: a free acoustic jam every Thursday from 7pm for budding musicians, running from shanties to modern covers around the pub's on-site piano, and live-music sessions on Fridays and Saturdays. With a full backline (drums, guitar and bass amps and a PA), a roughly 70-capacity space and a warm, history-soaked atmosphere, it welcomes both originals and covers across mixed genres.
Plymouth · Every Thursday · No fee listed
Barbican's thursday open mic. Full backline.
Next night: Thu 19 Nov. Kick-off 19:00. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
Thursdays
| Night | Every Thursday |
| Sign-up | Walk-in |
| Slot | Ask the host |
| Entry | No fee listed · all ages |
| Backline | Full backline |
| Capacity | – |
| Performer types | Musicians |
| Status | Verified running |
| Last checked | 15 Oct 2026 |
| Checked against | Web listing |
| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | Provided |
| Guitar amp | Provided |
| Bass amp | Provided |
| Keys / keyboard | TBC |
| Vocal mics | Provided |
| In-house engineer | TBC |
The Minerva Inn on Looe Street in the Barbican, reckoned to be Plymouth's oldest pub (dating to around 1540), runs its Acoustic Open Mic and Jam Night every Thursday from 7pm. The session is built around the pub's own piano: bring a guitar, accordion, mandolin, violin or whatever you play, or just come and sing along, and any budding musician is welcome to get up and join in. It's an intimate, characterful room with live music three nights a week, so the Thursday session draws a friendly, appreciative crowd of locals, and it's free. (There's also a Monday quiz if you fancy a quieter night.) 31 Looe Street, The Barbican, Plymouth, PL4 0EA.
The Minerva Inn is Plymouth's oldest pub, dating to around 1540, tucked away on Looe Street in the Barbican — a timber-framed building reputedly built with wood from the Spanish Armada fleet, complete with a ship's mast at its centre and tales of press gangs and secret tunnels. Today it's one of the city's most reliable grassroots music rooms, holding live music three nights a week: a free acoustic jam every Thursday from 7pm for budding musicians, running from shanties to modern covers around the pub's on-site piano, and live-music sessions on Fridays and Saturdays. With a full backline (drums, guitar and bass amps and a PA), a roughly 70-capacity space and a warm, history-soaked atmosphere, it welcomes both originals and covers across mixed genres.
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 |
Minerva Inn Open Mic
Barbican's thursday open mic. Full backline. Starts at 19:00.
- Thursday
- Open mic night
- May 2026
- Listed since
- 15 Oct
- Last verified
- No fee
- Entry
- —
- Sign-up time
- Verified
- Listing status
Last updated: 13 November 2026
Minerva Inn Open Mic — Quick Facts
Minerva Inn Open Mic runs on Thursdays at Minerva Inn in Plymouth, starting at 19:00. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
The night starts at 19:00. Sign-up is on the night - get there early to get a slot. Full backline is listed, so you can travel light - bring your instrument, pedals and breakables.
What’s on in Plymouth this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
The Minerva Inn on Looe Street in the Barbican, reckoned to be Plymouth's oldest pub (dating to around 1540), runs its Acoustic Open Mic and Jam Night every Thursday from 7pm. The session is built around the pub's own piano: bring a guitar, accordion, mandolin, violin or whatever you play, or just come and sing along, and any budding musician is welcome to get up and join in. It's an intimate, characterful room with live music three nights a week, so the Thursday session draws a friendly, appreciative crowd of locals, and it's free. (There's also a Monday quiz if you fancy a quieter night.) 31 Looe Street, The Barbican, Plymouth, PL4 0EA.
What's on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
The Night at a Glance
How Minerva Inn’s Thursday night runs.
Every Thursday
Thu 19 Nov · Thu 26 Nov · Thu 3 Dec
Minerva Inn provides a PA system, vocal mics, a drum kit, a guitar amp and a bass amp — check the rest with the venue.
Arrive early to get your name on the list, tune up before you go on.
Find Minerva Inn
Barbican, Plymouth
Minerva Inn is in Barbican, Plymouth. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station before you set off.
Bar Rakuda, The Ford Inn, The Junction and The Bread and Roses Free House
Planning Your Thursday Night
Get there early to sign up for a slot. Full backline is provided — just bring your instrument and pedals.
How much should paid gigs pay you? Most open mic musicians are ready sooner than they think — try the Rate Calculator for live UK rates by role, city and venue size. Part of the Plymouth live music scene.
Common Questions
8 things people ask before turning up at Plymouth's Minerva Inn open mic.
Venues Near Minerva Inn
No other gigs are listed at Minerva Inn in the GigXchange directory yet — these are the rooms around it, their size, kit and live nights.
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Minerva Inn open mic in brief. The Minerva Inn open mic runs every Thursday from 19:00 (no fee listed). Minerva Inn’s venue page lists its kit and capacity if you want to come back with a full band. The open mics near Plymouth are listed by day, for another night this week.
Booking or playing in Plymouth? 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 Plymouth gigs or check the going rate.
More rooms near Minerva Inn: Calstock Arts, Central Park Plymouth, Firebrand Brewing Co, Kitty O'Hanlons, Launceston Town Hall, Marina Bar, Market Hall, Millbridge Inn, North Street No.7 Cafe and Bar, PAFC Fanzone, Homepark and Patchwork Studios & Garrison Gallery.
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