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Reading · Small

The Castle Tap

Small Reading craft-beer pub with monthly open mic, folk and sea-shanty nights.

Venue at a glance The Castle Tap · Reading
~40
Capacity
standingsmall
1 night
Live music
Monper week
Start time
doorsnightly
PA
Backline
PA + micsgear
Folk
Books
originals+2 more
Verified
Directory status
openGX directory

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Last updated: 4 June 2026

The Castle Tap — Quick Facts

Small Reading craft-beer pub with monthly open mic, folk and sea-shanty nights.

✓ Verified openLast verified Source: google.com
The Details

Everything you need before you book

Capacity~40 standing
Live nightsMon
Curfew
Sound limiter
Outdoor stageNo
OriginalsYes

Where

The Castle Tap 120 Castle St
Reading
Reading RG1 7RJ

Genres

Folk Acoustic Sea shanty

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Booking Information

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What's on Stage

Equipment and backline available at this venue. We verify and update this section regularly.

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

About The Castle Tap

The Castle Tap is a grassroots music venue in Reading, Reading with a standing capacity of approximately 40. PA system and vocal mics are provided; bring your own instruments and amps.

The Castle Tap books Folk, Acoustic, Sea shanty acts. Both original music and covers are welcome. This listing is part of the Reading venue directory.

The Castle Tap is a small, well-regarded craft-beer pub at 120 Castle Street, a short walk from Reading town centre (RG1 7RJ). It punches above its size on live music, hosting a broad variety of acts most weekends. Each month brings a recurring rhythm of grassroots sessions: an open mic (every 4th Monday — musicians, poets, comedians and storytellers welcome in a laid-back, friendly room), a sea-shanty evening and a folk night, plus community events and social clubs. Opening hours run Mon–Thu 16:00–23:00, Fri 14:00–24:00, Sat 12:00–24:00 and Sun 12:00–22:30. The intimate, acoustic-leaning setting suits singer-songwriters and traditional players over loud full bands.

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Find The Castle Tap

120 Castle St, Reading, Reading, RG1 7RJ

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Common Questions

Seven things people ask about booking The Castle Tap.

PA system and vocal mics provided. BYO instruments and amps. Need a venue with full backline? Filter Reading venues by backline.
The Castle Tap books Folk, Acoustic, Sea shanty. Both original music and covers are welcome. Browse artist profiles by genre on GigXchange.
Sign up free on GigXchange to view The Castle Tap’s booking contact, fee range, and submission process. Most grassroots venues accept email submissions with a link to your music or EPK. Check current UK fee benchmarks before quoting.
The Castle Tap has a standing capacity of approximately 40, classed as a small venue. See all Reading venues for size comparisons.
Yes — The Castle Tap hosts open mic nights. Check the listing for day, time, and signup details on the Reading Open Mic Finder.
120 Castle St, Reading, Reading, RG1 7RJ. See the map below for directions. Browse more Reading venues nearby.
Fee ranges are available to signed-up artists on GigXchange. Grassroots venue fees in Reading vary by event type, band size, and whether the deal is a flat fee or door split. The GigXchange Rate Calculator shows current UK percentiles.

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