The Artisan Tap is an independent bar and grassroots music venue at 552 Hartshill Road, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 6AF. Described as resembling an American dive bar crossed with an Alice-in-Wonderland tea shop, it pairs craft and cask beers, a gin bar and cocktails with a genuine commitment to live local music. The main stage room holds roughly a hundred and is fitted with an impressive lighting and sound rig, while a rear room offers a second, smaller stage, handy for double bills and intimate sets. The booking policy is broad and proudly grassroots, running everything from folk to punk, rock, metal and acoustic nights; it has hosted anniversary tours by local bands such as Cillirion, and November 2026 brings touring singer-songwriters including Scott Lavene (20 November), Ed Cosens (22 November, doors 7.30pm, £15) and John Adams (25 November). Many shows are promoted by Say Something Music and ticketed through See Tickets. It's a cornerstone of the Hartshill / Newcastle-under-Lyme corner of the Potteries music scene.
Stoke · Every 1st Sunday of the month · No fee listed
Stoke-on-Trent's sunday-night free open mic at Artisan Tap — PA + vocal mic, walk-in sign-up from 7pm, 15-minute slots, all ages.
Next night: Sun 6 Dec. Kick-off 19:30, sign-up from 19:00. 15-minute slots. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
Sundays
| Night | Every 1st Sunday of the month |
| Sign-up | 19:00 walk-in |
| Slot | 15 min |
| Entry | No fee listed · all ages |
| Backline | PA provided |
| Capacity | – |
| Performer types | Electronic artists |
| Host | Lo-Tide Collective |
| Website | artisantap.com |
| Status | Verified running |
| Last checked | 28 Sept 2026 |
| Checked against | Music directory |
Stoke ST4 6AF
The nearest station is Stoke-on-Trent (rail station), about 1.5 miles away - a taxi or bus is the easier last leg.
| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | TBC |
| Guitar amp | TBC |
| Bass amp | TBC |
| Keys / keyboard | TBC |
| Vocal mics | TBC |
| In-house engineer | None |
Artisan Tap runs an open mic every Sunday in Stoke-on-Trent, Stoke, starting at 7:30pm with free entry for performers and audience. It's one of Stoke's regular weekly open-mic slots — listed across [public open-mic guides](https://openmicfinder.com/UK/Search).
Sign-up opens at 7pm on a walk-in basis (no advance booking). Slots run 15-15 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo or 4 for a band. PA and at least one vocal mic provided. Bring your own instrument, amp and any pedals.
Sign-up process
The sign-up sheet goes out at 7pm at the venue. Popular sundays fill within 30-60 minutes — arrive early if you want a guaranteed slot. There is no advance booking, no online sign-up, no email list — strictly walk-in.
What to expect
Stoke open-mic crowds tend to be a mix of working musicians, friends and locals. Solo songwriters, duos and acoustic acts work best given the gear set-up; full bands should ask the host before turning up.
The Artisan Tap is an independent bar and grassroots music venue at 552 Hartshill Road, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 6AF. Described as resembling an American dive bar crossed with an Alice-in-Wonderland tea shop, it pairs craft and cask beers, a gin bar and cocktails with a genuine commitment to live local music. The main stage room holds roughly a hundred and is fitted with an impressive lighting and sound rig, while a rear room offers a second, smaller stage, handy for double bills and intimate sets. The booking policy is broad and proudly grassroots, running everything from folk to punk, rock, metal and acoustic nights; it has hosted anniversary tours by local bands such as Cillirion, and November 2026 brings touring singer-songwriters including Scott Lavene (20 November), Ed Cosens (22 November, doors 7.30pm, £15) and John Adams (25 November). Many shows are promoted by Say Something Music and ticketed through See Tickets. It's a cornerstone of the Hartshill / Newcastle-under-Lyme corner of the Potteries music scene.
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 |
Artisan Tap Open Mic
Stoke-on-Trent's sunday-night free open mic at Artisan Tap — PA + vocal mic, walk-in sign-up from 7pm, 15-minute slots, all ages.
- Sunday
- Open mic night
- Apr 2026
- Listed since
- 28 Sept
- Last verified
- No fee
- Entry
- 15 min
- Slot length
- Verified
- Listing status
Last updated: 13 November 2026
Artisan Tap Open Mic — Quick Facts
Artisan Tap Open Mic runs on the 1st Sunday of the month at Artisan Tap in Stoke, starting at 19:30 with sign-up from 19:00. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
The night starts at 19:30. Sign-up is on the night from 19:00 - get there early to get a slot. Each act gets about 15 minutes. There is a PA listed - ask what else is on stage before you load in. Lo-Tide Collective hosts the night.
What’s on in Stoke this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
Artisan Tap runs an open mic every Sunday in Stoke-on-Trent, Stoke, starting at 7:30pm with free entry for performers and audience. It's one of Stoke's regular weekly open-mic slots — listed across [public open-mic guides](https://openmicfinder.com/UK/Search).
Sign-up opens at 7pm on a walk-in basis (no advance booking). Slots run 15-15 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo or 4 for a band. PA and at least one vocal mic provided. Bring your own instrument, amp and any pedals.
Sign-up process
The sign-up sheet goes out at 7pm at the venue. Popular sundays fill within 30-60 minutes — arrive early if you want a guaranteed slot. There is no advance booking, no online sign-up, no email list — strictly walk-in.
What to expect
Stoke open-mic crowds tend to be a mix of working musicians, friends and locals. Solo songwriters, duos and acoustic acts work best given the gear set-up; full bands should ask the host before turning up.
The kit on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
The Night at a Glance
How Artisan Tap’s Sunday night runs.
Every 1st Sunday of the month
Sun 6 Dec · Sun 3 Jan · Sun 7 Feb
Artisan Tap provides a PA system; no in-house sound engineer — check the rest with the venue.
Arrive for 19:00 to get your name on the list, tune up before you go on, and plan a set that fits 15 minutes.
Find Artisan Tap
552 Hartshill Road, Stoke ST4 6AF
The nearest station is Stoke-on-Trent (rail station), about 1.5 miles away - a taxi or bus is the easier last leg. Artisan Tap is in Hartshill, Stoke — use ST4 6AF for sat-nav, taxis and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station before you set off.
Sanctuary Ale House, The Woodman, The Boulevard and Granville's
Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport (Open Government Licence).
Planning Your Sunday Night
Arrive by 19:00 to sign up for a slot. Artisan Tap 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. Part of the Stoke live music scene.
Common Questions
9 questions people ask before going to Stoke's Artisan Tap open mic.
What’s On at Artisan Tap
The gigs coming up at Artisan Tap besides the open mic, from the GigXchange directory — each one links its listing.
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Artisan Tap open mic in brief. The Artisan Tap open mic runs every 1st Sunday of the month from 19:30 (no fee listed); sign-up opens 19:00 and slots run about 15 minutes. Artisan 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 Stoke are listed by day.
Booking or playing in Stoke? 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.
After paid gigs rather than open mics? See Stoke gigs or check the going rate.
Rooms near Artisan Tap: Sanctuary Ale House, bod Alsager, Bolton Gate Arts, Charlie Bassett's, Coppenhall Social Club, Eleven Music Venue, Foxlowe Arts Centre, Granville's, Keele Students Union, London Road Ale House, Nantwich Civic Hall and Riff Factory.
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