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 open jam every Thursday for budding musicians 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.
Barbican · Every Thursday · Free
Minerva Inn Open Mic
Barbican's thursday open mic. Full backline.
Open mic at a glance Minerva Inn · Plymouth
Thursday
Open mic night
May 2026
Listed since
26 Jul
Last verified
Free
Entry
—
Sign-up time
Verified
Listing status
Run a Plymouth open mic? List it free — verified within 48 hours
Last updated: 26 July 2026
Minerva Inn Open Mic — Quick Facts
✓ Verified activeLast verified
The Details
Everything you need before you turn up
DayThursday
Start20:00
Sign-up walk-in
Slot length–
EntryFree · all ages
Capacity–
Performer typesMusic
Sound engineerBYO / hire on the night
View on map
Where
Minerva InnBarbican
Plymouth
Barbican, Plymouth — check venue website for parking and nearest station.
Contact
Walk-in sign-up only
No advance booking
Host: in-house team
Highlights
Free entry for all
Full backline on stage
Walk-in sign-up
Music welcome
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 and we'll re-verify within 48 hours.
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About Minerva Inn
About This Open Mic
Every Thursday in Barbican, Plymouth
Kicks off at 20:00
Free entry for performers and audience
Slot length — we’re on it, no info yet
Full backline on stage
Part of the Plymouth open mic directory
The Night
The Minerva Inn — reckoned to be Plymouth's oldest pub, dating to around 1540 — holds a free jam night every Thursday in its snug Barbican setting on Looe Street, where any budding musician is welcome to get up and play. It's an intimate, characterful room with live music three nights a week, so the Thursday jam draws a friendly, appreciative crowd of locals. Turn up, no entry fee, and there's a PA for performers. (There's also a Monday quiz if you fancy a quieter night.)
What's on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA + monitors
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer
The Night at a Glance
How Minerva Inn’s Thursday night runs.
20:00Kick-off
00:00Venue closes
Every Thursday Free entry
Find Minerva Inn
Barbican, Plymouth
Planning Your Thursday Night
Arrive early to sign up for a slot. Entry is free and the open mic typically runs until late. Full backline is provided — just bring your instrument and pedals.
Part of the Plymouth live music scene.
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Try the Rate CalculatorCommon Questions
Seven things people ask before turning up at Plymouth's Minerva Inn open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at . Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Plymouth open mic nights for alternatives.
Full backline: drum kit, guitar amp, bass amp, vocal mics. Bring your own instrument and pedals.
Slot length varies — check with the host.
Yes — free entry for performers and audience. Most Plymouth mics are free; browse the list.
Yes — full bands welcome and the backline is set up for it.
Barbican, Plymouth.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Plymouth regulars across the Plymouth open mic scene. Plymouth open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
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