Every Sunday in Southsea, Portsmouth
Kicks off at 18:45, sign-up from 19:00
Free entry for performers and audience
15-minute slots
PA provided — BYO instrument
Part of the Portsmouth open mic directory
Southsea · Every Sunday · Free
The Barley Mow Open Mic
Southsea's sunday-night free open mic at **The Barley Mow** — PA + vocal mic, walk-in sign-up from 7pm, 15-minute slots, all ages.
Open mic at a glance The Barley Mow · Portsmouth
Sunday
Open mic night
Apr 2026
Listed since
03 Jun
Last verified
Free
Entry
15 min
Slot length
Verified
Listing status
Last updated: 15 Jun 2026
The Barley Mow Open Mic — Quick Facts
Southsea's sunday-night free open mic at **The Barley Mow** — PA + vocal mic, walk-in sign-up from 7pm, 15-minute slots, all ages.
The Details
Everything you need before you turn up
DaySunday
Start18:45
Sign-up19:00 walk-in
Slot length15 min
EntryFree · all ages
Capacity–
Performer typesMusic · Poetry
Sound engineerBYO / hire on the night
Where
The Barley MowSouthsea
Portsmouth PO5 3DE
Southsea, Portsmouth — check venue website for parking and nearest station.
Contact
Walk-in sign-up only
No advance booking
Host: in-house team
Highlights
Free entry for all
PA system provided
Walk-in sign-up
Music, Poetry welcome
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 and we'll re-verify within 48 hours.
What's on Stage
Equipment and backline available at this venue. We verify and update this section regularly.
PA + monitors
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer
About This Open Mic
The Night
Alleycats Open Mic at The Barley Mow on Castle Road has been a Southsea institution since 1997, running on the first and third Sunday of each month, 6:45pm til 11pm. It's a warm, properly run community night for musicians, singers, poets and spoken-word performers — three songs per act (occasionally more, never less). There's a fully featured PA with leads and a house acoustic guitar if you need it; no pre-booking, just turn up early enough to get on the list. Free entry, all welcome.
About The Barley Mow
The Barley Mow is a cosy backstreet local at 39 Castle Road, Southsea (Portsmouth), and a perennial favourite for first-time performers. It hosts the Alleycats Open Mic on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month, starting at 6:45pm. Like its sister Alleycats night at the Admiral Drake, the format has run since 1997: a fully featured PA with leads, a house acoustic guitar if you need one, three songs per act (occasionally more, never less), and no pre-booking — just arrive early to get on the list. Musicians, singers, poets and spoken-word performers are all welcome, and the supportive crowd makes it a great spot to play your first gig. It's a busy, fun night of local music in a proper pub. Check the Barley Mow's Facebook page to confirm the next Alleycats Sunday before heading over.
Planning Your Sunday Night
Arrive by 19:00 to sign up for a slot. Entry is free and the open mic typically runs until 23:00. A PA is provided — bring your own instrument and amp.
Part of the Portsmouth live music scene.
What should you charge for paid gigs?Most open mic musicians are ready for paid work sooner than they think. Check live UK rates by role, city, and venue size.
Try the Rate CalculatorFind The Barley Mow
Southsea, Portsmouth PO5 3DE
Common Questions
Seven things people ask before turning up at Portsmouth's The Barley Mow open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 19:00. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Portsmouth open mic nights for alternatives.
PA + vocal mic provided. BYO instrument and amp.
15 minutes per act — typically 4 songs solo.
Yes — free entry for performers and audience. Most Portsmouth mics are free; browse the list.
Solo and duo acts work best given the gear available; ask the host before bringing a full band.
Southsea, Portsmouth PO5 3DE.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Portsmouth regulars across the Portsmouth open mic scene. Portsmouth open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
Run an open mic in Portsmouth?
Add yours to the directory free. 2-minute submission, verified within 48 hours. Reach 1,000+ Portsmouth musicians.
Looking for paid gigs, not open mics?
