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.
Chester · 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.
Next night: Tue 17 Nov. Kick-off 20:00, sign-up from 19:30. 12-minute slots. Free entry.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
At a glance
Checked 28 Oct 202620:00
Kick-off
Tuesdays
sign-up from 19:30Tuesdays
| Night | Every Tuesday |
| Sign-up | 19:30 walk-in |
| Slot | 12 min |
| Entry | Free · 18+ |
| Backline | PA provided |
01 — Inside the room
4 photosPhotos: Google
131
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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
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| Capacity | c. 120 standing |
| Performer types | Musicians · Poets |
| Website | alexanderschester.co.uk |
The check
| Status | Verified running |
| Last checked | 28 Oct 2026 |
| Checked against | Venue website |
03 — The night
Every TuesdayHow the night runs
20:00
Kick-off
TuesdaysRunning order
19:30 Sign-up· Walk-in
20:00 Kick-off· 12-minute slots
23:00 Last songs
00:00 Venue closes
04 — Find Alexander's
City CentreGetting there
Rufus Court,
City Centre, Chester CH1 2JW
City Centre, Chester CH1 2JW
The nearest station is Chester (rail station), about 20 minutes' walk away.
05 — What's on stage
3 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 | Provided |
06 — About
City Centre, ChesterAbout 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.
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.
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City Centre · Every Tuesday
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.
- Tuesday
- Open mic night
- Apr 2026
- Listed since
- 28 Oct
- Last verified
- Free
- Entry
- 12 min
- Slot length
- Verified
- Listing status
Run a Chester open mic? List it free — reviewed before it goes live
Last updated: 13 November 2026
Alexander's Open Mic — Quick Facts
Alexander's Open Mic runs on Tuesdays at Alexander's in Chester, 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 verified 28 Oct 2026
How sure we are
Verified active
Checked against the venue’s own listing See Alexander's’s venue page →
Music starts around 20:00, finishing about 23:00. It's walk-in sign-up, with the list opening at 19:30 - arrive early to get a slot. Slots run about 12 minutes - room for roughly 15 acts. There is a PA listed - ask what else is on stage before you load in.
Next nightTue 17 Nov · 20:00Starts in 4d 12h 23m
Age18+
Sign-upWalk-in on the night
Capacityc. 120 standing
Who playsMusicians · Poets
BacklinePA provided
Sound engineerIn-house, included
Directory statusVerified active
Member votes0 to get the venue on GigXchange
Websitealexanderschester.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.
NightTuesdayEvery TuesdayNext: Tue 17 Nov
Starts20:00until 23:00
Sign-up19:30Walk-in
Slots12minutes eachRoom for about 15 acts
What’s on in Chester this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
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 systemProvided
Drum kitBring your own
Guitar ampBring your own
Bass ampBring your own
Keys / keyboardBring your own
2 vocal micsProvided
In-house engineerProvided
The Night at a Glance
How Alexander's’s Tuesday night runs.
Next nightTue 17 Nov · 20:00Starts in 4d 12h 23m
Sign-up opens19:30Walk-in on the night
Kick-off20:00Every Tuesday
Music ends23:00Last act finishes
Venue closes00:00The listed closing time
Slots12minutes eachroom for about 15 acts
How often
Every Tuesday
Coming up
Tue 17 Nov · Tue 24 Nov · Tue 1 Dec
Kit
Alexander's provides a PA system, 2 vocal mics and an in-house sound engineer; bring your own drum kit, guitar amp, bass amp and keys.
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 Alexander's
Rufus Court, City Centre, Chester CH1 2JW
AddressRufus Court
AreaCity Centre, Chester
PostcodeCH1 2JW
DirectionsOpen in Google Maps →
Getting there
The nearest station is Chester (rail station), about 20 minutes' walk away. You'll find Alexander's in City Centre, Chester; CH1 2JW is the postcode for sat-nav and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station.
Open mics nearby
Telford's Warehouse, Jax, Chichester Arms and Alexander's Live
Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport (Open Government Licence).
Planning Your Tuesday Night
Get there by 19:30 to sign up for a slot. The open mic runs until about 23:00. Alexander's provides a PA system, 2 vocal mics and an in-house sound engineer; bring your own drum kit, guitar amp, bass amp and keys.
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How much should paid gigs pay you? 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 Chester live music scene.
Common Questions
9 questions people ask before going to 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.
Alexander's provides a PA system, 2 vocal mics and an in-house sound engineer; bring your own drum kit, guitar amp, bass amp and keys.
12 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo.
Yes, entry to Alexander's's open mic was free at our last check, but check with the venue before you go. Browse Chester open mics.
Ask the host before bringing a full band — solo and duo acts are the usual open-mic format.
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.
The nearest station is Chester (rail station), about 20 minutes' walk away. For sat-nav and taxis, the postcode is CH1 2JW. (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 Chester open mics.
What’s On at Alexander's
The gigs coming up at Alexander's besides the open mic, from the GigXchange directory — each one links its listing.
JAN
7
Swansea Sound
Chester
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreIndie Rock, Pop, Blues
View details›
JAN
7
Swansea Sound
Chester
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreIndie Rock, Pop, Blues
View details›
JAN
7
Swansea Sound
Chester
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreIndie Rock, Pop, Blues
View details›
JAN
7
Swansea Sound
Chester
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreIndie Rock, Pop, Blues
View details›
JAN
7
Swansea Sound
Chester
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreIndie Rock, Pop, Blues
View details›
JAN
7
Swansea Sound
Chester
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreIndie Rock, Pop, Blues
View details›
JAN
7
Swansea Sound
Chester
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreIndie Rock, Pop, Blues
View details›
JAN
7
Swansea Sound
Chester
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreIndie Rock, Pop, Blues
View details›
08 — Keep up with Chester
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Alexander's open mic in brief. The Alexander's open mic runs every Tuesday from 20:00 (free entry); sign-up opens 19:30 and slots run about 12 minutes. Alexander's’ venue page lists its kit and capacity if you want to come back with a full band. The open mics near Chester are listed by day, for another night this week.
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.
09 — More Chester open mics
All ›Looking for paid gigs, not open mics? See Chester gigs or check the going rate.
10 — What's on at Alexander's
All ›Rooms near Alexander's: Telford's Warehouse, Bethesda Rugby Club, Carriage Shed, Chichester Arms, Civic Hall Connah's Quay, Holly Bush Inn, Jax, Llangollen Pavilion, Llangollen Town Hall, Magic Dragon Brewery Tap, Nags Head and Neuadd Ogwen.
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