The Habit is a cafe bar at 40 Goodramgate on York's oldest residential street (YO1 7LF) — the name nods to the building's history as a home for local monks, with the structure dating to at least the 16th century. Bands and singers take the mic five nights a week: an open mic on Wednesday (8pm to midnight), a regular country/Americana night on Thursday, and rotating guest artists on Friday and Saturday from 9pm. It has built a strong reputation for live music and actively supports local artists, both musicians and painters. Around 150 capacity with a house PA and guitar amp, welcoming originals and covers across acoustic, country, Americana and singer-songwriter sets.
York · Every Wednesday · No fee listed
The Habit Open Mic
York's Thursday-night free open mic at 4 Goodramgate, YO1 7LQ — historic-quarter bar, PA + guitar amp, 12-minute slots.
Next night: Wed 18 Nov. Kick-off 20:30, sign-up from 19:30. 12-minute slots. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
At a glance
Checked 4 Sept 202620:30
Kick-off
Wednesdays
sign-up from 19:30Wednesdays
| Night | Every Wednesday |
| Sign-up | 19:30 walk-in |
| Slot | 12 min |
| Entry | No fee listed · 18+ |
| Backline | PA provided |
01 — Inside the room
6 photosPhotos: Google
181
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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. 70 standing |
| Performer types | Musicians · Poets |
| Website | thehabityork.co.uk |
The check
| Status | Verified running |
| Last checked | 4 Sept 2026 |
| Checked against | Venue website |
03 — The night
Every WednesdayHow the night runs
20:30
Kick-off
WednesdaysRunning order
19:30 Sign-up· Walk-in
20:30 Kick-off· 12-minute slots
23:00 Last songs
00:00 Venue closes
04 — Find The Habit
GoodramgateGetting there
4 Goodramgate,
York YO1 7LF
York YO1 7LF
The nearest station is York (rail station), about 15 minutes' walk away.
05 — What's on stage
3 provided| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | Bring your own |
| Guitar amp | Provided |
| Bass amp | Bring your own |
| Keys / keyboard | Bring your own |
| 2 vocal mics | Provided |
| In-house engineer | None |
06 — About
Goodramgate, YorkAbout the night
The Habit is a small, much-loved cafe-bar in the historic core of York on Goodramgate. Its open mic runs every Wednesday at 8:30pm, hosted by Simon Snaize — an intimate, welcoming room that suits singer-songwriters and acoustic acts. (Thursday evenings are Simon's own country/Americana live set rather than an open mic, so Wednesday is the night to bring your guitar.) Free to play.
The Habit is a cafe bar at 40 Goodramgate on York's oldest residential street (YO1 7LF) — the name nods to the building's history as a home for local monks, with the structure dating to at least the 16th century. Bands and singers take the mic five nights a week: an open mic on Wednesday (8pm to midnight), a regular country/Americana night on Thursday, and rotating guest artists on Friday and Saturday from 9pm. It has built a strong reputation for live music and actively supports local artists, both musicians and painters. Around 150 capacity with a house PA and guitar amp, welcoming originals and covers across acoustic, country, Americana and singer-songwriter sets.
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Goodramgate · Every Wednesday
The Habit Open Mic
York's Thursday-night free open mic at 4 Goodramgate, YO1 7LQ — historic-quarter bar, PA + guitar amp, 12-minute slots.
- Wednesday
- Open mic night
- Apr 2026
- Listed since
- 4 Sept
- Last verified
- No fee
- Entry
- 12 min
- Slot length
- Verified
- Listing status
Run a York open mic? List it free — reviewed before it goes live
Last updated: 13 November 2026
The Habit Open Mic — Quick Facts
The Habit Open Mic runs on Wednesdays at The Habit in York, starting at 20:30 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 4 Sept 2026
How sure we are
Verified active
Checked against the venue’s own listing See The Habit’s venue page →
Music starts around 20:30, finishing about 23:00. Sign-up is on the night from 19:30 - get there early to get a slot. Slots run about 12 minutes - room for roughly 12 acts. A PA is listed; check what else is on stage before you bring a band.
Next nightWed 18 Nov · 20:30Starts in 5d 12h 43m
Age18+
Sign-upWalk-in on the night
Capacityc. 70 standing
Who playsMusicians · Poets
BacklinePA provided
Sound engineerNone in-house
Directory statusVerified active
Member votes0 to get the venue on GigXchange
Websitethehabityork.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.
NightWednesdayEvery WednesdayNext: Wed 18 Nov
Starts20:30until 23:00
Sign-up19:30Walk-in
Slots12minutes eachRoom for about 12 acts
What’s on in York this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
The Habit is a small, much-loved cafe-bar in the historic core of York on Goodramgate. Its open mic runs every Wednesday at 8:30pm, hosted by Simon Snaize — an intimate, welcoming room that suits singer-songwriters and acoustic acts. (Thursday evenings are Simon's own country/Americana live set rather than an open mic, so Wednesday is the night to bring your guitar.) Free to play.
What's on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA systemProvided
Drum kitBring your own
Guitar ampProvided
Bass ampBring your own
Keys / keyboardBring your own
2 vocal micsProvided
In-house engineerNone
The Night at a Glance
How The Habit’s Wednesday night runs.
Next nightWed 18 Nov · 20:30Starts in 5d 12h 43m
Sign-up opens19:30Walk-in on the night
Kick-off20:30Every Wednesday
Music ends23:00Last act finishes
Venue closes00:00The listed closing time
Slots12minutes eachroom for about 12 acts
How often
Every Wednesday
Coming up
Wed 18 Nov · Wed 25 Nov · Wed 2 Dec
Kit
The Habit provides a PA system, 2 vocal mics and a guitar amp; bring your own drum kit, bass amp and keys; no in-house sound engineer.
First time here?
Arrive for 19:30 to get your name on the list, tune up before you go on, and plan a set that fits 12 minutes.
Find The Habit
4 Goodramgate, York YO1 7LF
Address4 Goodramgate
AreaGoodramgate, York
PostcodeYO1 7LF
DirectionsOpen in Google Maps →
Getting there
The nearest station is York (rail station), about 15 minutes' walk away. The Habit is in Goodramgate, York — use YO1 7LF for sat-nav, taxis and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station before you set off.
Open mics nearby
The Milton Rooms (Studio Bar), The Hop York, Dusk and Golden Ball
Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport (Open Government Licence).
Planning Your Wednesday Night
Arrive by 19:30 to sign up for a slot. The open mic runs until about 23:00. The Habit provides a PA system, 2 vocal mics and a guitar amp; bring your own drum kit, bass amp and keys; no in-house sound engineer.
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Common Questions
9 questions people ask before going to York's The Habit open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 19:30. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other York open mic nights for alternatives.
The Habit provides a PA system, 2 vocal mics and a guitar amp; bring your own drum kit, bass amp and keys; no in-house sound engineer.
12 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo.
No entry fee is listed for The Habit's open mic - most open mics are free to play and to watch, but check with the venue before you go. Browse York open mics.
Ask the host before bringing a full band — solo and duo acts are the usual open-mic format.
4 Goodramgate, York YO1 7LF.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and York regulars across the York open mic scene. York open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
The nearest station is York (rail station), about 15 minutes' walk away. For sat-nav and taxis, the postcode is YO1 7LF. (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 York open mics.
Venues Near The Habit
No other gigs are listed at The Habit in the GigXchange directory yet — these are the rooms around it, their size, kit and live nights.
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See what’s on in York over the next four weeks →
The Habit open mic in brief. The Habit open mic runs every Wednesday from 20:30 (no fee listed); sign-up opens 19:30 and slots run about 12 minutes. The Habit’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 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.
09 — More York open mics
All ›Want paid gigs instead of open mics? See York gigs or check the going rate.
10 — Venues near The Habit
All ›More rooms near The Habit: Dusk, Eagle & Child, Evil Eye, FortyFive Vinyl Cafe, Fulford Arms, Fulfordgate Club And Institute, Golden Ball, Grand Opera House, York, Hole In The Wall, Katie O'Brien's Irish Tavern and Kennedy's Bar & Restaurant.
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