The Retreat is Reading's favourite backstreet pub for real-ale and live-music lovers — an unspoilt terraced Victorian former beer-house at 8 St John's Street (RG1 4EH), trading since 1875 and one of only two Reading pubs on CAMRA's Historic Pub Interiors heritage list. It's a cask-ale specialist and the city's home of jazz, blues and live music, with regular gig nights and jazz typically on the last Sunday of the month. Intimate (around 50 capacity) and community-spirited, it's open Mon-Thu 4.30-11pm and weekends from noon.
Reading · Every Thursday · No fee listed
The Retreat Open Mic
Reading's Thursday-night free folk open mic at 8 St John's Street, RG1 4EH — real-ale pub, PA + guitar amp, 15-minute slots.
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
At a glance
Checked 18 Sept 202620:00
Kick-off
Thursdays
sign-up from 19:30Thursdays
| Night | Every Thursday |
| Sign-up | 19:30 walk-in |
| Slot | 15 min |
| Entry | No fee listed · all ages |
| Backline | PA provided |
01 — Inside the room
4 photosPhotos: Google
217
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 | c. 50 standing |
| Performer types | Musicians |
| Website | theretreatreading.co.uk |
The check
| Status | Being verified |
Help keep this trueOne tap
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No sign-up. We review corrections within 7 days.
03 — The night
Every ThursdayHow the night runs
20:00
Kick-off
ThursdaysRunning order
19:30 Sign-up· Walk-in
20:00 Kick-off· 15-minute slots
23:00 Last songs
04 — Find The Retreat
City CentreGetting there
8 St John's Street,
City Centre, Reading RG1 4EH
City Centre, Reading RG1 4EH
The nearest station is Reading (rail station), about 15 minutes' walk away.
05 — What's on stage
3 provided| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | Bring your own |
| Guitar amp | Provided |
| Bass amp | Bring your own |
| Keys / keyboard | Bring your own |
| 2 vocal mics | Provided |
| In-house engineer | None |
06 — About
City Centre, ReadingAbout the night
The Retreat is a small Reading real-ale pub with a Thursday folk-leaning open mic. Solo songwriters and duos dominate.
180 minutes, 12 acts at 15 minutes.
Sign-up process
Sheet at the bar at 7:30pm. Walk-in.
Getting there
8 St John's Street, RG1 4EH. 12 minutes from Reading Rail.
The venue
Single small room. All ages until 9pm. Capacity c. 50.
The Retreat is Reading's favourite backstreet pub for real-ale and live-music lovers — an unspoilt terraced Victorian former beer-house at 8 St John's Street (RG1 4EH), trading since 1875 and one of only two Reading pubs on CAMRA's Historic Pub Interiors heritage list. It's a cask-ale specialist and the city's home of jazz, blues and live music, with regular gig nights and jazz typically on the last Sunday of the month. Intimate (around 50 capacity) and community-spirited, it's open Mon-Thu 4.30-11pm and weekends from noon.
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| 04 | Update backline and capacity |
City Centre · Every Thursday
The Retreat Open Mic
Reading's Thursday-night free folk open mic at 8 St John's Street, RG1 4EH — real-ale pub, PA + guitar amp, 15-minute slots.
- Thursday
- Open mic night
- Apr 2026
- Listed since
- 18 Sept
- Last checked
- No fee
- Entry
- 15 min
- Slot length
- Community
- Listing status
Run a Reading open mic? List it free — reviewed before it goes live
Last updated: 13 November 2026
The Retreat Open Mic — Quick Facts
The Retreat Open Mic runs on Thursdays at The Retreat in Reading, 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.
Open mic status Last checked 18 Sept 2026
How sure we are
Partly verified
Music starts around 20:00, finishing about 23:00. Sign-up is on the night from 19:30 - get there early to get a slot. Each act gets about 15 minutes, so the night holds around 12 acts. A PA is listed; check what else is on stage before you bring a band.
Next nightThu 19 Nov · 20:00Starts in 6d 12h 23m
AgeAll ages
Sign-upWalk-in on the night
Capacityc. 50 standing
BacklinePA provided
Sound engineerNone in-house
Directory statusBeing verified
Member votes0 to get the venue on GigXchange
Websitetheretreatreading.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.
NightThursdayEvery ThursdayNext: Thu 19 Nov
Starts20:00until 23:00
Sign-up19:30Walk-in
Slots15minutes eachRoom for about 12 acts
What’s on in Reading this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
The Retreat is a small Reading real-ale pub with a Thursday folk-leaning open mic. Solo songwriters and duos dominate.
180 minutes, 12 acts at 15 minutes.
Sign-up process
Sheet at the bar at 7:30pm. Walk-in.
Getting there
8 St John's Street, RG1 4EH. 12 minutes from Reading Rail.
The venue
Single small room. All ages until 9pm. Capacity c. 50.
The kit on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA systemProvided
Drum kitBring your own
Guitar ampProvided
Bass ampBring your own
Keys / keyboardBring your own
2 vocal micsProvided
In-house engineerNone
The Night at a Glance
How The Retreat’s Thursday night runs.
Next nightThu 19 Nov · 20:00Starts in 6d 12h 23m
Sign-up opens19:30Walk-in on the night
Kick-off20:00Every Thursday
Music ends · Venue closes23:00Last act finishes
Slots15minutes eachroom for about 12 acts
How often
Every Thursday
Coming up
Thu 19 Nov · Thu 26 Nov · Thu 3 Dec
Kit
The Retreat provides a PA system, 2 vocal mics and a guitar amp; bring your own drum kit, bass amp and keys; no in-house sound engineer.
First time here?
Get there by 19:30 for a slot, have your instrument tuned before your turn and keep to about 15 minutes.
Find The Retreat
8 St John's Street, City Centre, Reading RG1 4EH
Address8 St John's Street
AreaCity Centre, Reading
PostcodeRG1 4EH
DirectionsOpen in Google Maps →
Getting there
The nearest station is Reading (rail station), about 15 minutes' walk away. The Retreat is in City Centre, Reading — use RG1 4EH for sat-nav, taxis and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station before you set off.
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 Thursday Night
Be there by 19:30 to put your name down. The open mic runs until about 23:00. The Retreat provides a PA system, 2 vocal mics and a guitar amp; bring your own drum kit, bass amp and keys; no in-house sound engineer.
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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 Reading live music scene.
Common Questions
9 things people want to know before Reading's The Retreat open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 19:30. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Reading open mic nights for alternatives.
The Retreat provides a PA system, 2 vocal mics and a guitar amp; bring your own drum kit, bass amp and keys; no in-house sound engineer.
15 minutes per act — typically 4 songs solo.
No entry fee is listed for The Retreat'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.
8 St John's Street, City Centre, Reading RG1 4EH.
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 (rail station), about 15 minutes' walk away. For sat-nav and taxis, the postcode is RG1 4EH. (Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport, Open Government Licence.)
Sign-up is walk-in on the night, from 19:30, so you do not need to book ahead. 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 Retreat
No other gigs are listed at The Retreat in the GigXchange directory yet — these are the rooms around it, their size, kit and live nights.
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See what’s on in Reading over the next four weeks →
The Retreat open mic in brief. The Retreat open mic runs every Thursday from 20:00 (no fee listed); sign-up opens 19:30 and slots run about 15 minutes. The Retreat’s venue page has its kit and capacity if you want to come back with a full band. For another 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 Retreat
All ›More rooms near The Retreat: Corn Exchange, London Road Campus, Mates Rates Comedy Club, McCafferty's Bar, Palmer Tavern, Pangbourne Working Mens Club, Playlist Live, Prospect Park Reading, Richfield Avenue, Shaw House and South Street Arts Centre.
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