The Blue Boar is a historic pub at 5 Castlegate in the heart of York — once voted VisitYork's best pub — with a quaint, atmospheric basement room of comfy sofas that hosts most of its live music and events, plus acts playing upstairs and music piped through from the cellar. Live performance is a near-nightly fixture across the weekend: live acoustic music every Friday, live bands every Saturday evening from 8pm, and an open mic night from 4pm every Sunday, with a free pint thrown in for every performer. Alongside the music it has pool, darts and live sport, and runs regular poetry nights. With its in-house PA, the leaning is towards acoustic, folk and singer-songwriter sets in an intimate, characterful setting. In July 2026 the pub applied to City of York Council to rebrand as the Castlegate Tavern, and it keeps trading as normal while that goes through planning. As always, it's worth checking ahead, as listings can change.
York · Every Tuesday · No fee listed
Weekly open mic night at Blue Boar in York, featuring a full PA system and free entry every Tuesday from 8pm.
Next night: Tue 17 Nov. Kick-off 20:00, sign-up from 19:30. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
Tuesdays
| Night | Every Tuesday |
| Sign-up | 19:30 walk-in |
| Slot | Ask the host |
| Entry | No fee listed · 18+ |
| Backline | PA provided |
| Capacity | – |
| Performer types | Musicians |
| Website | sites.google.com |
| Status | Being verified |
No sign-up. We review corrections within 7 days.
York YO1 9RN
The nearest station is York (rail station), about 15 minutes' walk away.
| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | TBC |
| Guitar amp | TBC |
| Bass amp | TBC |
| Keys / keyboard | TBC |
| 2 vocal mics | Provided |
| In-house engineer | TBC |
Blue Boar in York hosts a weekly open mic on Tuesday evenings. This traditional pub offers a welcoming atmosphere for performers and audience alike.
Sign-up process
Performers can sign up in person from 7:30 PM on the night.
Getting there
5 Castlegate, YO1 9RN.
The venue
A traditional pub. The event is 18+. Features a full PA system for performers. Food is served until 9 PM.
The Blue Boar is a historic pub at 5 Castlegate in the heart of York — once voted VisitYork's best pub — with a quaint, atmospheric basement room of comfy sofas that hosts most of its live music and events, plus acts playing upstairs and music piped through from the cellar. Live performance is a near-nightly fixture across the weekend: live acoustic music every Friday, live bands every Saturday evening from 8pm, and an open mic night from 4pm every Sunday, with a free pint thrown in for every performer. Alongside the music it has pool, darts and live sport, and runs regular poetry nights. With its in-house PA, the leaning is towards acoustic, folk and singer-songwriter sets in an intimate, characterful setting. In July 2026 the pub applied to City of York Council to rebrand as the Castlegate Tavern, and it keeps trading as normal while that goes through planning. As always, it's worth checking ahead, as listings can change.
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 |
Blue Boar Open Mic
Weekly open mic night at Blue Boar in York, featuring a full PA system and free entry every Tuesday from 8pm.
- Tuesday
- Open mic night
- May 2026
- Listed since
- 12 Oct
- Last checked
- No fee
- Entry
- 19:30
- Sign-up time
- Community
- Listing status
Last updated: 13 November 2026
Blue Boar Open Mic — Quick Facts
Blue Boar Open Mic runs on Tuesdays at Blue Boar in York, 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.
Music starts around 20:00. It's walk-in sign-up, with the list opening at 19:30 - arrive early to get a slot. There is a PA listed - ask what else is on stage before you load in.
What’s on in York this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
Blue Boar in York hosts a weekly open mic on Tuesday evenings. This traditional pub offers a welcoming atmosphere for performers and audience alike.
Sign-up process
Performers can sign up in person from 7:30 PM on the night.
Getting there
5 Castlegate, YO1 9RN.
The venue
A traditional pub. The event is 18+. Features a full PA system for performers. Food is served until 9 PM.
The kit on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
The Night at a Glance
How Blue Boar’s Tuesday night runs.
Every Tuesday
Tue 17 Nov · Tue 24 Nov · Tue 1 Dec
Blue Boar provides a PA system and 2 vocal mics — check the rest with the venue.
Arrive for 19:30 to get your name on the list, tune up before you go on.
Find Blue Boar
5 Castlegate, York YO1 9RN
The nearest station is York (rail station), about 15 minutes' walk away. Blue Boar is in York — use YO1 9RN for sat-nav, taxis and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station before you set off.
The Milton Rooms (Studio Bar), The Hop York, Dusk and Golden Ball
Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport (Open Government Licence).
Planning Your Tuesday Night
Arrive by 19:30 to sign up for a slot. Blue Boar provides a PA system and 2 vocal mics — 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. A night in the York live music scene.
Common Questions
9 things people ask before turning up at York's Blue Boar open mic.
Venues Near Blue Boar
No other gigs are listed at Blue Boar in the GigXchange directory yet — these are the rooms around it, their size, kit and live nights.
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Blue Boar open mic in brief. The Blue Boar open mic runs every Tuesday from 20:00 (no fee listed); sign-up opens 19:30. Coming back with a full band? Blue Boar’s venue page has its kit and capacity listed. For another night this week, the open mics near York are listed by day.
Booking or playing in York? 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.
Looking for paid gigs, not open mics? See York gigs or check the going rate.
More rooms near Blue Boar: FortyFive Vinyl Cafe, Fulford Arms, Hole In The Wall, Katie O'Brien's Irish Tavern, Kennedy's Bar & Restaurant, Lendal Cellars, Micklegate Social, Museum Street Tavern, Nola, Polymath Bar and Roman Bath.
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