The Castle Tap is a small, well-regarded craft-beer pub at 120 Castle Street, a short walk from Reading town centre (RG1 7RJ). It punches above its size on live music, hosting a broad variety of acts most weekends. Each month brings a recurring rhythm of grassroots sessions: an open mic (every 4th Monday — musicians, poets, comedians and storytellers welcome in a laid-back, friendly room), a sea-shanty evening and a folk night, plus community events and social clubs. Opening hours run Mon–Thu 16:00–23:00, Fri 14:00–24:00, Sat 12:00–24:00 and Sun 12:00–22:30. The intimate, acoustic-leaning setting suits singer-songwriters and traditional players over loud full bands.
Reading · Monthly on Mondays · No fee listed
The Castle Tap Open Mic
Reading open mic at The Castle Tap — listed on Google Places. Schedule below pending venue confirmation; check the venue's own listings before turning up.
Kick-off 19:30, sign-up from 19:30. 10-minute slots. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
At a glance
Checked 1 Sept 202619:30
Kick-off
Mondays
sign-up from 19:30Mondays
| Night | Monthly on Mondays |
| Sign-up | 19:30 |
| Slot | 10 min |
| Entry | No fee listed · 18+ |
| Backline | PA provided |
01 — Inside the room
4 photosPhotos: Google
153
page views on GigXchange. Is it your night?
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 | – |
| Performer types | Musicians · Poets · Comedians |
| Website | thecastletap.co.uk |
The check
| Status | Verified running |
| Last checked | 1 Sept 2026 |
| Checked against | Web listing |
03 — The night
Monthly on MondaysHow the night runs
Once a month · Mondays
Check the date before you goRunning order
19:30 Kick-off· 10-minute slots
22:30 Last songs
23:00 Venue closes
04 — Find The Castle Tap
ReadingGetting there
120 Castle St,
Reading RG1 7RJ
Reading RG1 7RJ
The nearest station is Reading West (rail station), about 15 minutes' walk away.
05 — What's on stage
1 provided · 6 TBC| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | TBC |
| Guitar amp | TBC |
| Bass amp | TBC |
| Keys / keyboard | TBC |
| Vocal mics | TBC |
| In-house engineer | TBC |
06 — About
ReadingAbout the night
The Castle Tap is a cosy real-ale pub on Castle Street in Reading, a CAMRA favourite that runs live music most weekends plus a monthly folk and sea-shanty night. Its open mic lands on the 4th Monday of each month, 7:30pm to 10:30pm, and it's a warm, broad-church evening — musicians, poets, comedians and storytellers all welcome. Slots are 10 minutes and pre-bookable (with room for spontaneous turns too), admission is free, a PA is provided, and it's an 18+ room. Friendly and relaxed, with the chance to sell a bit of merch or artwork on the side.
The Castle Tap is a small, well-regarded craft-beer pub at 120 Castle Street, a short walk from Reading town centre (RG1 7RJ). It punches above its size on live music, hosting a broad variety of acts most weekends. Each month brings a recurring rhythm of grassroots sessions: an open mic (every 4th Monday — musicians, poets, comedians and storytellers welcome in a laid-back, friendly room), a sea-shanty evening and a folk night, plus community events and social clubs. Opening hours run Mon–Thu 16:00–23:00, Fri 14:00–24:00, Sat 12:00–24:00 and Sun 12:00–22:30. The intimate, acoustic-leaning setting suits singer-songwriters and traditional players over loud full bands.
Played here before?One tap
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Run this room?
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What you get | 01 | Correct the day, time and sign-up |
| 02 | Edit your profile and photos |
| 03 | Receive artist enquiries |
| 04 | Update backline and capacity |
Reading · Monthly on Mondays
The Castle Tap Open Mic
Reading open mic at The Castle Tap — listed on Google Places. Schedule below pending venue confirmation; check the venue's own listings before turning up.
- Monday
- Open mic night
- Apr 2026
- Listed since
- 1 Sept
- Last verified
- No fee
- Entry
- 10 min
- Slot length
- Verified
- Listing status
Run a Reading open mic? List it free — reviewed before it goes live
Last updated: 13 November 2026
The Castle Tap Open Mic — Quick Facts
The Castle Tap Open Mic runs on Mondays (monthly) at The Castle Tap in Reading, starting at 19:30 with sign-up from 19:30. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Open mic status Last verified 1 Sept 2026
How sure we are
Verified active
Checked against the venue’s own listing See The Castle Tap’s venue page →
The night starts at 19:30 and runs to about 22:30. Sign-up is online, in advance, from 19:30. Slots run about 10 minutes - room for roughly 18 acts. A PA is listed; check what else is on stage before you bring a band.
Age18+
Sign-upOnline, in advance
Who playsMusicians · Poets · Comedians
BacklinePA provided
Sound engineerAsk the venue
Directory statusVerified active
Member votes0 to get the venue on GigXchange
Websitethecastletap.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.
NightMondayMonthly on Mondays
Starts19:30until 22:30
Sign-up19:30Online
Slots10minutes eachRoom for about 18 acts
What’s on in Reading this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
The Castle Tap is a cosy real-ale pub on Castle Street in Reading, a CAMRA favourite that runs live music most weekends plus a monthly folk and sea-shanty night. Its open mic lands on the 4th Monday of each month, 7:30pm to 10:30pm, and it's a warm, broad-church evening — musicians, poets, comedians and storytellers all welcome. Slots are 10 minutes and pre-bookable (with room for spontaneous turns too), admission is free, a PA is provided, and it's an 18+ room. Friendly and relaxed, with the chance to sell a bit of merch or artwork on the side.
Equipment and backline at this venue — what's on stage, verified regularly.
PA systemProvided
Drum kitTBC
Guitar ampTBC
Bass ampTBC
Keys / keyboardTBC
Vocal micsTBC
In-house engineerTBC
The Night at a Glance
How The Castle Tap’s Monday night runs.
Sign-up opens · Kick-off19:30Online, in advance
Music ends22:30Last act finishes
Venue closes23:00The listed closing time
Slots10minutes eachroom for about 18 acts
How often
Monthly on Mondays
Getting there
Reading, RG1 7RJ - the map is below.
Kit
The Castle Tap provides a PA system — check the rest with the venue.
First time here?
Book your slot online, in advance, then arrive in time for 19:30 with a set that fits 10 minutes.
Find The Castle Tap
120 Castle St, Reading RG1 7RJ
Address120 Castle St
AreaReading
PostcodeRG1 7RJ
DirectionsOpen in Google Maps →
Getting there
The nearest station is Reading West (rail station), about 15 minutes' walk away. You'll find The Castle Tap in Reading; RG1 7RJ is the postcode for sat-nav and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station.
Open mics nearby
Corn Exchange, The Rising Sun Arts Centre, The Plough and The New Inn
Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport (Open Government Licence).
Planning Your Monday Night
Book your slot online, in advance, then arrive in time for 19:30. The open mic runs until about 22:30. The Castle Tap provides a PA system — check the rest with the venue.
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Common Questions
9 questions people ask before going to Reading's The Castle Tap open mic.
Sign-up via online. See all Reading open mic nights.
The Castle Tap provides a PA system — check the rest with the venue.
10 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo.
No entry fee is listed for The Castle Tap's open mic - most open mics are free to play and to watch, but check with the venue before you go. Browse Reading open mics.
Ask the host before bringing a full band — solo and duo acts are the usual open-mic format.
120 Castle St, Reading RG1 7RJ.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Reading regulars across the Reading open mic scene. Reading open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
The nearest station is Reading West (rail station), about 15 minutes' walk away. For sat-nav and taxis, the postcode is RG1 7RJ. (Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport, Open Government Licence.)
Sign-up is online, in advance. GigXchange doesn't publish venue phone numbers or emails - the venue's own website is linked on this page. Browse other Reading open mics.
Venues Near The Castle Tap
No other gigs are listed at The Castle Tap in the GigXchange directory yet — these are the rooms around it, their size, kit and live nights.
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The Castle Tap open mic in brief. The Castle Tap open mic runs monthly on Mondays from 19:30 (no fee listed); sign-up opens 19:30 and slots run about 10 minutes. The Castle Tap’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 Reading are listed by day.
Booking or playing in Reading? 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 Reading open mics
All ›Want paid gigs instead of open mics? See Reading gigs or check the going rate.
10 — Venues near The Castle Tap
All ›More rooms near The Castle Tap: The Club Bar and Lounge, The Fisherman's Cottage, The Lyndhurst, The Old London Apprentice, The Rising Sun Arts Centre, ACE Space Newbury, Bier Keller, London Road Campus, McCafferty's Bar, Oakford Social Club and Pangbourne Working Mens Club.
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