The Portland Arms Open Mic

Name: Open Mic at The Portland Arms
Location: The Portland Arms

The Portland Arms Open Mic — Quick Facts

Cambridge's Tuesday-night free open mic at 129 Chesterton Road, CB4 3BA — long-running music pub, full backline, in-house engineer, 12-minute slots.

✓ Verified active Last verified 28 Apr 2026 Source: theportlandarms.co.uk + venue confirmation

The Details

Everything you need before you turn up

DayTuesday

Start8pm

Sign-up7:30pm walk-in

Slot length12 min

EntryFree · 18+

Capacity~150 standing

Performer typesMusic

Sound engineerIn-house, included

Where

The Portland Arms 129 Chesterton Road
Chesterton
Cambridge CB4 3BA

Contact

Walk-in sign-up only
No advance booking
Host: in-house team

Highlights

Free entry

Full backlineIn-house engineer

Music18+Walk-in

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What's on Stage

PA + monitors

Drum kit

Guitar amp

Bass amp

Keys / keyboard

3 vocal mics

In-house engineer

The Portland Arms is Cambridge's primary independent music venue. Tuesday open mic uses the back gig room with full backline.

180 minutes, 15 acts at 12 minutes.

Sign-up process

Sheet at the bar at 7:30pm. Walk-in.

Getting there

129 Chesterton Road, CB4 3BA. 15 minutes' walk from Cambridge Rail. Buses 1, 3, 7 stop on Chesterton Road.

The venue

Pub with dedicated back gig room. 18+. Capacity ~150.

Common Questions

Seven things people ask before turning up at Cambridge's The Portland Arms open mic.

How do I sign up to play at The Portland Arms open mic?

Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 7:30pm. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. Backup options if you don't get on: other Cambridge open mics the same week.

What backline does The Portland Arms provide?

Full backline: drum kit, guitar amp, bass amp, vocal mics, plus an in-house sound engineer. Bring your own instrument and pedals. Want a similar setup elsewhere? Filter the open mic directory by “Full backline”.

How long is a slot at The Portland Arms open mic?

12 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo or 4 for a band.

Is The Portland Arms open mic free?

Yes — free entry for performers and audience. Most Cambridge mics are free; browse the list.

Can I bring a band to The Portland Arms open mic?

Yes — full bands welcome and the backline is set up for it. Once you've played a few of these, see our guide on how to get paid gigs in Cambridge.

Where is The Portland Arms?

129 Chesterton Road, Chesterton, Cambridge CB4 3BA.

What's the audience like on a Tuesday night?

Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Cambridge regulars who turn up across the Cambridge live music scene. Cambridge open mic crowds tend to listen attentively — this isn't a chatter-over-the-music kind of night.