Mad Squirrel Tap St Albans is a craft-beer and artisan-pizza taproom overlooking St Albans Abbey, spread over two floors with a private function room for hire. It runs free live music, open-mic nights and socials throughout the week, from solo guitar acts to covers bands working through everything from 70s bangers to 90s Britpop. A relaxed, free-entry spot for live music in the heart of the city.
St Albans · Every other Tuesday · No fee listed
Mad Squirrel Open Mic
St Albans' Tuesday-night free open mic at Mad Squirrel.
Kick-off 19:00, sign-up from 19:30. 12-minute slots. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
At a glance
Checked 29 Sept 202619:00
Kick-off
Tuesdays
sign-up from 19:30Tuesdays
| Night | Every other Tuesday |
| Sign-up | 19:30 walk-in |
| Slot | 12 min |
| Entry | No fee listed · 18+ |
| Backline | PA provided |
01 — Inside the room
4 photosPhotos: Google
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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. 60 standing |
| Performer types | Musicians |
| Host | Lizzy Hardingham |
The check
| Status | Verified running |
| Last checked | 29 Sept 2026 |
| Checked against | Venue website |
03 — The night
Every other TuesdayHow the night runs
Every other Tuesday
Check the date before you goRunning order
19:00 Kick-off· 12-minute slots
21:00 Last songs
04 — Find Mad Squirrel
City CentreGetting there
34 High Street,
City Centre, St Albans AL3 4EL
City Centre, St Albans AL3 4EL
The nearest station is St Albans City (rail station), about 15 minutes' walk away.
05 — What's on stage
2 provided| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | Bring your own |
| Guitar amp | Bring your own |
| Bass amp | Bring your own |
| Keys / keyboard | Bring your own |
| 2 vocal mics | Provided |
| In-house engineer | None |
06 — About
City Centre, St AlbansAbout the night
Craft-brewery tap on St Albans High Street. Open Mic with Lizzy runs fortnightly on a Tuesday, 7pm to 9pm — Lizzy Hardingham presents multiple artists across the evening for a night of fresh music talent.
Sign-up process
Walk-in — let Lizzy know on the day to take part, or just sit back and enjoy the music. Free entry.
Getting there
34 High Street, AL3 4EL. 12 minutes from St Albans City Rail.
The venue
Mad Squirrel's taproom: craft beer and pizza, 18+, capacity c. 60.
Mad Squirrel Tap St Albans is a craft-beer and artisan-pizza taproom overlooking St Albans Abbey, spread over two floors with a private function room for hire. It runs free live music, open-mic nights and socials throughout the week, from solo guitar acts to covers bands working through everything from 70s bangers to 90s Britpop. A relaxed, free-entry spot for live music in the heart of the city.
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| 04 | Update backline and capacity |
City Centre · Every other Tuesday
Mad Squirrel Open Mic
St Albans' Tuesday-night free open mic at Mad Squirrel. Starts at 19:00.
- Tuesday
- Open mic night
- May 2026
- Listed since
- 29 Sept
- Last verified
- No fee
- Entry
- 12 min
- Slot length
- Verified
- Listing status
Run a St Albans open mic? List it free — reviewed before it goes live
Last updated: 13 November 2026
Mad Squirrel Open Mic — Quick Facts
Mad Squirrel Open Mic runs on Tuesdays (fortnightly) at Mad Squirrel in St Albans, starting at 19:00 with sign-up from 19:30. St Albans' Tuesday-night free open mic at Mad Squirrel. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Open mic status Last verified 29 Sept 2026
How sure we are
Verified active
Checked against the venue’s own listing See Mad Squirrel’s venue page →
The night starts at 19:00 and runs to about 21:00. It's walk-in sign-up, with the list opening at 19:30 - arrive early to get a slot. Each act gets about 12 minutes, so the night holds around 10 acts. There is a PA listed - ask what else is on stage before you load in. Lizzy Hardingham hosts the night.
Age18+
Sign-upWalk-in on the night
Capacityc. 60 standing
BacklinePA provided
Sound engineerNone in-house
HostLizzy Hardingham
Directory statusVerified active
Member votes0 to get the venue on GigXchange
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.
NightTuesdayEvery other Tuesday
Starts19:00until 21:00
Sign-up19:30Walk-in
Slots12minutes eachRoom for about 10 acts
What’s on in St Albans this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
Craft-brewery tap on St Albans High Street. Open Mic with Lizzy runs fortnightly on a Tuesday, 7pm to 9pm — Lizzy Hardingham presents multiple artists across the evening for a night of fresh music talent.
Sign-up process
Walk-in — let Lizzy know on the day to take part, or just sit back and enjoy the music. Free entry.
Getting there
34 High Street, AL3 4EL. 12 minutes from St Albans City Rail.
The venue
Mad Squirrel's taproom: craft beer and pizza, 18+, capacity c. 60.
Equipment and backline at this venue — what's on stage, verified regularly.
PA systemProvided
Drum kitBring your own
Guitar ampBring your own
Bass ampBring your own
Keys / keyboardBring your own
2 vocal micsProvided
In-house engineerNone
The Night at a Glance
How Mad Squirrel’s Tuesday night runs.
Kick-off19:00Every other Tuesday
Sign-up opens19:30Walk-in on the night
Music ends · Venue closes21:00Last act finishes
Slots12minutes eachroom for about 10 acts
How often
Every other Tuesday
Getting there
City Centre, St Albans, AL3 4EL - the map is below.
Kit
Mad Squirrel provides a PA system and 2 vocal mics; bring your own drum kit, guitar amp, 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 12 minutes.
Find Mad Squirrel
34 High Street, City Centre, St Albans AL3 4EL
Address34 High Street
AreaCity Centre, St Albans
PostcodeAL3 4EL
DirectionsOpen in Google Maps →
Getting there
The nearest station is St Albans City (rail station), about 15 minutes' walk away. You'll find Mad Squirrel in City Centre, St Albans; AL3 4EL is the postcode for sat-nav and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station.
Open mics nearby
Johnny's Bar, The Horn, The Oddfellows Arms and The Pump House
Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport (Open Government Licence).
Planning Your Tuesday Night
Arrive by 19:30 to sign up for a slot. The open mic runs until about 21:00. Mad Squirrel provides a PA system and 2 vocal mics; bring your own drum kit, guitar amp, 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. A night in the St Albans live music scene.
Common Questions
9 things people want to know before St Albans' Mad Squirrel open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 19:30. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other St Albans open mic nights for alternatives.
Mad Squirrel provides a PA system and 2 vocal mics; bring your own drum kit, guitar amp, bass amp and keys; no in-house sound engineer.
12 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo.
No entry fee is listed for Mad Squirrel's open mic - most open mics are free to play and to watch, but check with the venue before you go. Browse St Albans open mics.
Ask the host before bringing a full band — solo and duo acts are the usual open-mic format.
34 High Street, City Centre, St Albans AL3 4EL.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and St Albans regulars across the St Albans open mic scene. St Albans open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
The nearest station is St Albans City (rail station), about 15 minutes' walk away. For sat-nav and taxis, the postcode is AL3 4EL. (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. Browse other St Albans open mics.
Venues Near Mad Squirrel
No other gigs are listed at Mad Squirrel in the GigXchange directory yet — these are the rooms around it, their size, kit and live nights.
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Mad Squirrel open mic in brief. The Mad Squirrel open mic runs every other Tuesday from 19:00 (no fee listed); sign-up opens 19:30 and slots run about 12 minutes. Mad Squirrel’s venue page lists its kit and capacity if you want to come back with a full band. For a different night this week, the open mics near St Albans are listed by day.
Booking or playing in St Albans? 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 St Albans open mics
All ›Looking for paid gigs, not open mics? See St Albans gigs or check the going rate.
10 — Venues near Mad Squirrel
All ›More rooms near Mad Squirrel: Johnny's Bar, Oneforty, The Boxmoor Playhouse, The Crown, The Crown & Anchor, The Farmer's Boy, The Horn, The Horns, The Hub on Verulam, The Oddfellows Arms and The Pioneer Club.
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