Alexander's (Alexander's Live) is an independently run live-music, arts and comedy venue in Rufus Court, Chester city centre (CH1 2JW), open since 1991. Its weekly Tuesday open mic — sign-up 7:30pm, music from 8pm, a free drink for every performer — is billed as Chester's longest-running open-mic night. Beyond that it programmes gigs, tribute acts, comedy (Bill Bailey, Jack Dee), independent theatre and summer festival days in Rufus Court and the beer garden; Ed Sheeran and Duffy played here early in their careers. A cafe-bar with a proper stage and PA.
City Centre · Every Tuesday · Free
Alexander's Open Mic
Chester's Thursday-night free open mic at Rufus Court, CH1 2JW — cafe-bar with stage, PA + guitar amp + piano, 12-minute slots.
Open mic at a glance Alexander's · Chester
Tuesday
Open mic night
Apr 2026
Listed since
05 Aug
Last verified
Free
Entry
12 min
Slot length
Verified
Listing status
Run a Chester open mic? List it free — verified within 48 hours
Last updated: 5 August 2026
Alexander's Open Mic — Quick Facts
Chester's Thursday-night free open mic at Rufus Court, CH1 2JW — cafe-bar with stage, PA + guitar amp + piano, 12-minute slots.
✓ Verified activeLast verified
The Details
Everything you need before you turn up
DayTuesday
Start20:00
Sign-up19:30 walk-in
Slot length12 min
EntryFree · 18+
Capacityc. 120 standing
Performer typesMusic · Jazz · Poetry
Sound engineerIn-house, included
View on map
Where
Alexander'sRufus Court
City Centre
Chester CH1 2JW
City Centre, Chester — check venue website for parking and nearest station.
Highlights
Free entry for all
In-house sound engineer
PA system provided
Walk-in sign-up
Music, Jazz, Poetry 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.
What’s on in Chester this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About Alexander's
About This Open Mic
Every Tuesday in City Centre, Chester
Kicks off at 20:00, sign-up from 19:30
Free entry for performers and audience
12-minute slots
PA provided — BYO instrument
Part of the Chester open mic directory
The Night
Alexander's is an independent live-music, arts and comedy venue tucked into Rufus Court in Chester city centre, and it hosts what it bills as Chester's longest-running open mic. It runs every Tuesday — sign up from 7:30pm with music kicking off at 8pm — with free entry and a free drink for every performer. A warm, well-run room with a proper PA and sound, it's a reliable midweek slot for songwriters and acoustic acts.
What's on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA + monitors
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
2 vocal mics
In-house engineer
The Night at a Glance
How Alexander's’s Tuesday night runs.
19:30Sign-up
20:00Kick-off
23:00Last songs
00:00Venue closes
Every Tuesday 12-min slots Free entry
Find Alexander's
Rufus Court, City Centre, Chester CH1 2JW
Planning Your Tuesday Night
Arrive by 19:30 to sign up for a slot. Entry is free and the open mic typically runs until 23:00. A PA is provided — bring your own instrument and amp.
Part of the Chester live music scene.
What should you charge for paid gigs?Most open mic musicians are ready for paid work sooner than they think. Check live UK rates by role, city, and venue size.
Try the Rate CalculatorCommon Questions
Seven things people ask before turning up at Chester's Alexander's open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 19:30. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Chester open mic nights for alternatives.
PA + vocal mic provided. BYO instrument and amp.
12 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo.
Yes — free entry for performers and audience. Most Chester mics are free; browse the list.
Solo and duo acts work best given the gear available; ask the host before bringing a full band.
Rufus Court, City Centre, Chester CH1 2JW.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Chester regulars across the Chester open mic scene. Chester open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
Keep up with Chester
One email a week with live music near you. Free, and it keeps grassroots rooms full.
Help keep grassroots venues open in Chester
—A UK venue stops hosting live music every 5 days — and turning up is what keeps a room open. Get a free weekly email of gigs in Chester. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy.
See what’s on in Chester over the next four weeks →
Booking or playing in Chester? 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.
Run an open mic in Chester?
Add yours to the directory free. 2-minute submission, verified within 48 hours. Reach 1,000+ Chester musicians.
Looking for paid gigs, not open mics?