July 2020 Update: Comedy Virgins at the Cavendish Arms in Stockwell is now running live open mic nights again, limited to 20 people in the venue at any one time. Full details for how it all works are on the Facebook Page.
If you know of any other nights running live gigs, let me know and I’ll add them to this page.
June 2020 Update: coronavirus has put a stop to all live comedy this year. None of the shows listed on this page are currently running, and it’s unknown when, or even if, they’ll be running again. A lot of the venues and promoters are fighting to keep their heads above water, many of them are running fundraising efforts to cover the bills until they can open again. Once people can start running nights again, I’ll try to update this page and let you know which gigs are still going.
This is a current list of stand-up comedy open-mic nights in London where you might be able to get a spot. Nights marked “bringer” in the notes require you to bring a guest who will stay for the entire show.
If there’s any out of date information here, or you want to add a night, leave a comment below. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see all these gigs shown on map.
| Name | Venue | Nights | Link | Notes |
| We Are Funny Project | The Jago, 440 Kingsland Rd, Dalston, London E8 4AA – Map | Monday | WAFP Facebook Group | Long running and popular weekly open mic night which usually features one professional headliner to close the night. Sign up details on the FB page. |
| Sam Rhodes Comedy Explosion | Cornershop Bar, 123 Shoreditch High St, Hackney, London E1 6JE – MapThe Rocksteady, 574 – 576 Kingsland Rd, Dalston, London E8 4AR – Map | Monday
Wednesday |
Comedy Explosion FB Page | These gigs are run in the main bars, rather than private rooms, so the audience is always an interesting mix of comedy fans and random drinkers. Bookings once a month via the FB page. |
| Vauxhall Comedy Club | Vauxhall Street Food Garden, 6 South Lambeth Place, Vauxhall, London SW8 1SP – Map | Monday
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Sunday |
Vauxhall Comedy Club Facebook Page | Different shows run throughout the week by different promoters. Bringer. For spots check out the FB page or apply on the website. |
| Not Another Comedy Night | The Grafton, 20 Prince of Wales Road,London, NW5 3LG – Map
Roadtrip, 243 Old St, Old Street, London EC1V 9EY – Map |
Wednesday
2nd/4th Thursday of the month at the Roadtrip |
Not Another Comedy Night Facebook Page | Sign up for spots on the FB page.
Bringer. |
| Lion’s Den Comedy Car Crash | Bar Rumba 36 Shaftesbury Avenue London W1D 7EP – Map |
Tuesday | Lions Den Web Page | £5 admission for audience members but it’s free for acts, register on the door, 18 spots each night allocated on a first come first served basis. Recommended for complete beginners.
If you bring 3 guests you can call ahead to reserve a spot. |
| Comedy Virgins | Cavendish Arms 128 Hartington Road Stockwell SW8 2HJ – Map |
Monday Tuesday Wednesday |
Comedy Virgins FB Page | One of the most popular open mic nights in London, and with good reason. Monthly bookings via the FB group OR you can get there really early (5pm) and try to grab one of 5 walk in spots every night. Bringer. Recommended for complete beginners. |
| Rising Stars | Monday & Tuesday at the Old Crown, 33 New Oxford St, WC1A 1BH – MapThursday and Sunday at the King and Queen, 1 Foley St, Fitzrovia, W1W 6DL – Map |
Monday
Tuesday Thursday Sunday |
Rising Stars FB Page | Book on FB page. Bringer. You can be your own bringer, which means attend one full night as an audience member, then you don’t need a bringer on your own night.Recommended for complete beginners. |
| South Kensington Comedy Club | 34a Thurloe Place,South Kensington
SW7 2HQ |
Monday
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday |
South Kensington Comedy Club Facebook Group Website | The club runs different shows throughout the week, all organised by different promoters. Check out the FB page for more details. Some nights are bringers. |
| Funny Feckers | The Dean Swift, 10 Gainsford St, London SE1 2NE – MapThe Constitution, 42 St Pancras Way, London, NW1 0QT – Map |
Monday
Thursday Every other Saturday |
Funny Feckers FB Page | Popular night, always good fun. Mondays at the Dean Swift, Thursdays and Saturdays at The Constitution.Open bookings once a month via the FB page. Bringer. |
| Birdies Comedy | Savoy Tap, 2 Savoy St, London WC2R 0BA – Map |
Friday | Birdies Comedy FB Page | Email the organiser. Bringer. |
| Downstairs at the King’s Head | 2 Crouch End Hill N8 8AA London – Map |
Thursday | King’s Head Web Page | 14 spots each night, you need to call the organiser – number on the website |
| The Blackout | Up The Creek, 302 Creek Rd, Greenwich, London SE10 9SW – Map |
Thursday | Up the Creek Web Page | A gong show where the aim is to last a full five minutes without the audience kicking you off the stage. Email/Call for a spot. |
| King Gong Show | The Comedy Store, Oxenden Street, London SW1Y 4EE – Map |
Last Monday of every month | Comedy Store Web Page | Call or email ahead of time – they also ask for volunteers on the night. You try to last 5 mins without getting gonged off. Massive, rowdy crowd – not for the faint-hearted. |
| Freedom Fridge | The Rose & Crown 71-73 Torriano Avenue Kentish Town London NW5 2SG – Map |
Thursday | Freedom Fridge Web Page | Email to reserve a spot. Bringer. |
| Jesters: Raconteur Night | (Mon) Betsey Trotwood, 56 Farringdon Road, EC1R 3BL – Map(Weds) The Oak & Pastor 86 Junction Road N19 5QZ – Map |
Monday
Wednesday |
Raconteur FB PageWeb Page | Reserve a spot online via FB page, or turn up on the night and you might get an empty spot if you’re lucky. |
| Instant Laughs | Tues/Thurs: The Grove, 83 Hammersmith Grove, London, W6 0NQ
Check with organisers for Weds venue |
Tuesday Thursday Sunday |
Instant Laughs FB Page | Book in advance (info on FB page) – there are also a limited number of walk-in spots. |
| Jollies at the George | The George Tavern, 373 Commercial Road London, E1 0LA – Map |
First Monday of the month | Jollies at the George FB Page | Book via FB page. |
| Comedy Gobbledegook | The Gregorian, Bermondsey, 96 Jamaica Rd, London SE16 4SQ – Map |
Second Tuesday of the month | Comedy Gobbledygook FB Page | Book via FB page |
| TNT Comedy | The Vine 86 Highgate Rd, Highgate, London NW5 1PB
|
Tuesday | TNT Comedy FB Page | Book via FB page |
| Heavenly Comedy | The Princess Victoria, 217 Uxbridge Rd, White City, London W12 9DH
|
Wednesday | Heavenly Comedy FB Page | Friendly night. Book by email on FB page. Not a bringer, but you get 10 minutes instead of 5 if you bring an audience member. |
| Healing Comedy Club | The Grange Pub, Warwick Rd, Ealing, London W5 3XH
|
Monday
Saturday |
Healing Comedy Club Facebook Group | Join the FB group to get details for spots. 5 min spots, but you can get a 10 be being voted best act of the night.Saturday nights at the South Kensington Comedy Club. |
| G&B Comedy | Tuesday at the Royal George, 133 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0EA
Wednesday at Arch One, West Ham Arches, Cranberry Lane, E16 4BJ |
Tuesday
Wednesday |
G&B Comedy Facebook Page | Bookings via email only – but join the FB page to get details. Bringer, but you can BYOB with permission from Kyle the promoters. |
| Comedy Cabin | Hoxton Cabin, 132 Kingsland Road, London, E2 8DP
|
Wednesday
Saturday |
Comedy Cabin Act Bookings Facebook Page | New act, new material night on Wednesdays, best upcoming acts on Saturdays. |
| Comedy-by-Bow | Galvanisers Union, Bromley-by-Bow, 2 Devas St E3 3LL
|
Monday | Comedy by Bow Facebook Page | Follow the email instructions on the Facebook page. |
| Comedy at the Flo | The Florence, 131-133 Dulwich Road. Herne Hill, SE24 0NG
|
Last Thursday of the Month | Comedy at the Flo Facebook Page | Bringer. For spots, join the FB page and email the organiser. |
| Brewery Bantz | The Small Beer Brewery, 70-72 Verney Road, South Bermondsey, SE16 3DH
|
Last Wednesday of the month | Brewery Bantz Website | For spots fill out the form on the website. Bringer. |
| Big Nose Comedy | Boogaloo, 312 Archway Rd, Highgate, London N6 5AT – MapThe Old Dairy, 1-3 Crouch Hill, Stroud Green, London N4 4AP – Map | Monday
Tuesday Thursday Sunday |
Big Nose Comedy Facebook Page | To get a spot email the organiser – details on the FB page. Bringer. |
| Pegasus Comedy | The Rose & Crown, 71-73 Torriano Ave, Kentish Town, London NW5 2SG – Map | Monday | Pegasus Comedy Facebook Page | New material night where acts are encouraged to try something ‘different and silly’. Book via the email address in the FB page. |
| Lewis Schaffer’s Comedy Open Mic | King’s Arms, 65 Newcomen St London SE1 1YT – Map | Monday | Lewis Schaffer’s Comedy Open Mic Facebook Page | For spots text Blanche 07731 304 966 – details on the FB page. No character or musical acts. |
I just found an open mic night on Facebook in a pub called Bohemia in North Finchley called BoHeeHee: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boheehee/
Also, the Lost comedy open night is still on the google map under the table. Could you remove it? Thanks
Just seen that Lost Comedy closed as of 27th August last year:
“Hey people. It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing that we are shutting shop at Lost. It was a fun mess and I hope everyone enjoyed it while it was there. Unfortunately opportunities and circumstances have arisen making Lost unworkable. Thanks to everyone who made it fun and I will see you around at other shows. Cheers”
Thanks, removed it.
Yeah, you’ve done a great job- thanks so much for putting time into this to make it easier for the rest of us.
Hi there,
I’m running an open mic in Hoxton that’s starting in January. How do I go about adding it to this list?
Cheers!
Just emailed you!
Hi, Mark from Comedy-by-Bow here. Could you amend our wee listing to say “go onto the Facebook page and follow the email instructions”, please?
Done, thanks.
Hello. I am hosting a Comedy night, Wednesday evenings at 48 Bar, 48 Brixton Road. London SW9 6BT. Paid Headliner Slots available. Its a bringer night. 4/6/8/10m and paid headline slots available. Email danielbenisty@yahoo.co.uk to get a slot – submit showreel if you want longer slot or headline. Starting 26th June 2019. Many Thanks. Piano Available for variety. Daniel
Hey Mr Lance
I will be hosting a 5 minute open mic night every Tuesday starting from Tuesday 2nd July. Registration will start at 7pm for a 7:30/8pm kick off. It is a bringer event with the possibility of walk in spots. The good news is that happy hour is all night (all drinks half price) audience go free. It will be held at The Chapel Bar N1 9PX. Book via email- tcbcomedy@outlook.com
Kind regards
Ric
Hi Lance, this is a really useful and straight forward page! Thank you for doing it.
I help run Lewis Schaffer’s Comedy Open Mic in Borough, we’ve been going just under a year now and it’s good fun – a cross between and open mic and a workshop. If you would be interested in adding the details they are
Mondays, 8pm – 10pm (not Bank Holidays, pub is closed, and not August)
King’s Arms, 65 Newcomen St London SE1 1YT
All spots are 5 minutes, Lewis interrupts to ask questions, not hostile just out of curiosity and makes for an interesting night
For spots text Blanche 07731 304 966 (no character or musical acts)
Not a bringer or pay to play, £3 for audience – book here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lewis-schaffers-comedy-open-mic-tickets-49914657083
Facebook page for more info is here:
https://www.facebook.com/LewisSchaffersComedyOpenMic/
Any questions let me know, thanks again and good luck with this, it’s excellent.
Blanche
Don’t have faceybook to tell you this: Thank you. It’s simple, direct and comprehensive…refreshing! Hope to see you and thank you in person. Nice one, cheers
Hi! Here’s a new one I’m helping to run
Brewery Bantz
At The Small Beer Brewery, 70-72 Verney Road, South Bermondsey, SE16 3DH
Every Second Wednesday starting September 5th.
15 total slots including room for walk-ins, plus host and headline. Any ability/experience welcome. 8pm start.
Free entry for punters, donations encouraged, money split between comics.
Flexible bringer policy.
https://theoriginalsmallbeer.com/comedy
Thank you for this you absolute hero! if we’re ever performing in the same venue, come and speak to me and redeem your voucher for 1 free alcoholic drink of your choice*
*dont take the piss and order a double.
Comedy-by-Bow is a new open mic night I’m running in the east end. Every Monday at the Galvanisers Union in Bromley-by-Bow, 2 Devas St E3 3LL. Not a bringer, but a stayer. Facebook page is Comedy-by-Bow, book by email at comedybybow@gmail.com
Thanks Mark, I’ve added the night to the listings.
Really interesting to read of your ‘journey’. Hopefully see you around on the circuit. 🙂
This is a really helpful website. It’s organized in a way that I can easily see which nights to go different places.
I’m from the US so I’m not quite fluent in English and it’s hard to navigate these sites!
Thank you!
Really useful. Thanks. Ceciliax
Hey,
Thanks a million for this!! Super useful. Did myn first open mic last night, hitting up my second tonight, aiming for 4 next week… keep it up, you can do it!
HI , I’m thinking of doing a first time stand up , over the years many people have told me to do this but i’ve always just washed it off , I moved house a few weeks ago and an ex-comedian told me I should just give it a go . can you give me any advice . thanks Eddie
Just find a local open mic, book a spot and give it a go. There are no short cuts. Write material, perform it as often as possible, record your performances and listen to which bits are working or not, then try to improve it.