The Portland Arms on Chesterton Road in Cambridge (CB4 3BA) is one of the city's premier grassroots live music pubs, and for decades it has been an essential part of the Cambridge scene, welcoming local, national and international acts of every genre. In 2012 the original 100-capacity room was enlarged into a modern, high-tech 200-capacity dedicated gig room, and the venue now hosts gigs up to six nights a week. With a full backline and an in-house sound engineer it is a properly equipped step up from a back-room pub stage, comfortable for both originals and covers, touring bands and first-timers alike. Open midday to late (later on Fridays and Saturdays), it pairs a busy gig calendar with a genuine pub atmosphere.
Cambridge · Every Tuesday · No fee listed
The Portland Arms Open Mic
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.
Next night: Tue 17 Nov. Kick-off 20:00. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
At a glance
Checked 12 Sept 202620:00
Kick-off
Tuesdays
sign-up on the nightTuesdays
| Night | Every Tuesday |
| Sign-up | Ask the host |
| Slot | Ask the host |
| Entry | No fee listed · 18+ |
| Backline | Full backline |
01 — Inside the room
4 photosPhotos: Google
257
page views on GigXchange. Is it your night?
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. 150 standing |
| Performer types | Musicians |
| Website | theportlandarms.co.uk |
The check
| Status | Being verified |
Help keep this trueOne tap
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No sign-up. We review corrections within 7 days.
03 — The night
Every TuesdayHow the night runs
20:00
Kick-off
TuesdaysRunning order
20:00 Kick-off
23:00 Last songs
04 — Find The Portland Arms
ChestertonGetting there
129 Chesterton Road,
Cambridge CB4 3BA
Cambridge CB4 3BA
The nearest station is Cambridge North (rail station), about 1.5 miles away - a taxi or bus is the easier last leg.
05 — What's on stage
6 provided| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | Provided |
| Guitar amp | Provided |
| Bass amp | Provided |
| Keys / keyboard | Bring your own |
| 3 vocal mics | Provided |
| In-house engineer | Provided |
06 — About
Chesterton, CambridgeAbout the night
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 c. 150.
The Portland Arms on Chesterton Road in Cambridge (CB4 3BA) is one of the city's premier grassroots live music pubs, and for decades it has been an essential part of the Cambridge scene, welcoming local, national and international acts of every genre. In 2012 the original 100-capacity room was enlarged into a modern, high-tech 200-capacity dedicated gig room, and the venue now hosts gigs up to six nights a week. With a full backline and an in-house sound engineer it is a properly equipped step up from a back-room pub stage, comfortable for both originals and covers, touring bands and first-timers alike. Open midday to late (later on Fridays and Saturdays), it pairs a busy gig calendar with a genuine pub atmosphere.
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| 04 | Update backline and capacity |
Chesterton · Every Tuesday
The Portland Arms Open Mic
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.
- Tuesday
- Open mic night
- Apr 2026
- Listed since
- 12 Sept
- Last checked
- No fee
- Entry
- —
- Sign-up time
- Community
- Listing status
Run a Cambridge open mic? List it free — reviewed before it goes live
Last updated: 13 November 2026
The Portland Arms Open Mic — Quick Facts
The Portland Arms Open Mic runs on Tuesdays at The Portland Arms in Cambridge, starting at 20:00. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Open mic status Last checked 12 Sept 2026
How sure we are
Partly verified
The night starts at 20:00 and runs to about 23:00. With full backline listed, you need little more than your instrument and pedals.
Next nightTue 17 Nov · 20:00Starts in 4d 12h 20m
Age18+
Capacityc. 150 standing
BacklineFull backline
Sound engineerIn-house, included
Directory statusBeing verified
Member votes0 to get the venue on GigXchange
Websitetheportlandarms.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.
NightTuesdayEvery TuesdayNext: Tue 17 Nov
Starts20:00until 23:00
Sign-upTBCsign-upNot confirmed yet
SlotsTBCslot lengthNot confirmed yet
What’s on in Cambridge this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
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 c. 150.
The kit on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA systemProvided
Drum kitProvided
Guitar ampProvided
Bass ampProvided
Keys / keyboardBring your own
3 vocal micsProvided
In-house engineerProvided
The Night at a Glance
How The Portland Arms’s Tuesday night runs.
Next nightTue 17 Nov · 20:00Starts in 4d 12h 20m
Kick-off20:00Every Tuesday
Music ends · Venue closes23:00Last act finishes
How often
Every Tuesday
Coming up
Tue 17 Nov · Tue 24 Nov · Tue 1 Dec
Kit
The Portland Arms provides a PA system, 3 vocal mics, a drum kit, a guitar amp, a bass amp and an in-house sound engineer; bring your own keys.
First time here?
Get there early for a slot, have your instrument tuned before your turn.
Find The Portland Arms
129 Chesterton Road, Cambridge CB4 3BA
Address129 Chesterton Road
AreaChesterton, Cambridge
PostcodeCB4 3BA
DirectionsOpen in Google Maps →
Getting there
The nearest station is Cambridge North (rail station), about 1.5 miles away - a taxi or bus is the easier last leg. The Portland Arms is in Chesterton, Cambridge — use CB4 3BA 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
Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport (Open Government Licence).
Planning Your Tuesday Night
Get there early to sign up for a slot. The open mic runs until about 23:00. Full backline is provided — just bring your instrument and pedals.
The scene Live music in Cambridgethe venues, the gigs and where it happensGet gigs How to get gigs in Cambridgepay, venues that book, how to pitchBands Find a band in Cambridgeacts to book or play alongsideGigs Upcoming gigs in Cambridgeevery listing, sorted by dateArtists Browse artist profilesfind acts to play or collaborate withOpen mics UK Open Mic Finderfree stage time, night by night
How much should paid gigs pay you? Most open mic musicians are ready sooner than they think — try the Rate Calculator for live UK rates by role, city and venue size. Part of the Cambridge live music scene.
Common Questions
9 things people ask before turning up at Cambridge's The Portland Arms open mic.
Sign-up via the venue. See all Cambridge open mic nights.
Full backline: drum kit, guitar amp, bass amp, PA and vocal mics, plus an in-house sound engineer. Bring your own instrument and pedals.
Slot length varies — check with the host.
No entry fee is listed for The Portland Arms's open mic - most open mics are free to play and to watch, but check with the venue before you go. Browse Cambridge open mics.
Yes — full bands welcome and the backline is set up for it.
129 Chesterton Road, Cambridge CB4 3BA.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Cambridge regulars across the Cambridge open mic scene. Cambridge open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
The nearest station is Cambridge North (rail station), about 1.5 miles away - a taxi or bus is the easier last leg. For sat-nav and taxis, the postcode is CB4 3BA. (Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport, Open Government Licence.)
GigXchange doesn't publish venue phone numbers or emails - the venue's own website is linked on this page. Browse other Cambridge open mics.
What’s On at The Portland Arms
The gigs coming up at The Portland Arms besides the open mic, from the GigXchange directory — each one links its listing.
DEC
18
GREEN 182 Presents 'Take off your Pants and Dookie Tour 26'
Cambridge
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenrePunk Rock, Pop, Tribute Act
View details›
APR
23
Eminem by Michael Mathers in Cambridge!
Cambridge
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreTribute Act
View details›
DEC
18
GREEN 182 Presents 'Take off your Pants and Dookie Tour 26'
Cambridge
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenrePunk Rock, Pop, Tribute Act
View details›
APR
23
Eminem by Michael Mathers in Cambridge!
Cambridge
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreTribute Act
View details›
DEC
18
GREEN 182 Presents 'Take off your Pants and Dookie Tour 26'
Cambridge
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenrePunk Rock, Pop, Tribute Act
View details›
APR
23
Eminem by Michael Mathers in Cambridge!
Cambridge
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreTribute Act
View details›
DEC
18
GREEN 182 Presents 'Take off your Pants and Dookie Tour 26'
Cambridge
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenrePunk Rock, Pop, Tribute Act
View details›
APR
23
Eminem by Michael Mathers in Cambridge!
Cambridge
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreTribute Act
View details›
08 — Keep up with Cambridge
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See what’s on in Cambridge over the next four weeks →
The Portland Arms open mic in brief. The Portland Arms open mic runs every Tuesday from 20:00 (no fee listed). The Portland Arms’ venue page lists its kit and capacity if you want to come back with a full band. The open mics near Cambridge are listed by day, for another night this week.
Booking or playing in Cambridge? 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 Cambridge open mics
All ›Want paid gigs instead of open mics? See Cambridge gigs or check the going rate.
10 — What's on at The Portland Arms
All ›
GREEN 182 Presents 'Take off your Pants and Dookie Tour 26'Friday, 18 December 2026
Eminem by Michael Mathers in Cambridge!Friday, 23 April 2027Rooms near The Portland Arms: Audley End, Bar -OH, Boathouse, Cambridge Corn Exchange, d'Arry's Restaurant, Bar & Cheesemonger, Earls of Beaconsfield, Golden Hind, Hidden Rooms, High Lodge, Thetford Forest, Hot Numbers Coffee, Kiki and La Raza.
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