The Bold Forester is a large, historic corner pub at 177 Albert Road in central Southsea, dating from the 1870s and now part of the Greene King estate. It's one of the more active grassroots music rooms in Portsmouth: live bands belt out indie, jazz, funk and rock, there are intimate acoustic nights, and an open mic runs from 7pm to 10:30pm every Thursday where new performers can get their shot — the pub has even hosted heats of a grassroots music competition with a career-launching prize. Dog- and family-friendly, with a large secluded patio garden to the rear and an in-house PA, it's a welcoming spot for covers, originals and first-timers alike.
Portsmouth · Every Thursday · No fee listed
Bold Forester Open Mic
Southsea's thursday open mic.
Next night: Thu 19 Nov. Kick-off 19:00. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
At a glance
Checked 13 Oct 202619:00
Kick-off
Thursdays
sign-up on the nightThursdays
| Night | Every Thursday |
| Sign-up | Walk-in |
| Slot | Ask the host |
| Entry | No fee listed · all ages |
| Backline | PA provided |
01 — Inside the room
4 photosPhotos: Google
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0 members voted to bring the venue onto GigXchange02 — The details
Before you goEverything you need to know
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| Capacity | – |
| Performer types | Musicians |
The check
| Status | Being verified |
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03 — The night
Every ThursdayHow the night runs
19:00
Kick-off
ThursdaysRunning order
19:00 Kick-off
22:30 Last songs
23:00 Venue closes
04 — Find Bold Forester
SouthseaGetting there
Southsea, Portsmouth
05 — What's on stage
1 provided · 6 TBC| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | TBC |
| Guitar amp | TBC |
| Bass amp | TBC |
| Keys / keyboard | TBC |
| Vocal mics | TBC |
| In-house engineer | TBC |
06 — About
Southsea, PortsmouthAbout the night
The Bold Forester on Albert Road in Southsea runs an open mic every Thursday from 7pm to 10:30pm. It's a friendly, family-welcoming neighbourhood pub on the corner of Albert Road and Fawcett Road, with a loyal crowd who turn out for the weekly session. No booking needed — just come down and play, and there's a house guitar available if you travel light. Entry is free and there's a PA on hand.
The Bold Forester is a large, historic corner pub at 177 Albert Road in central Southsea, dating from the 1870s and now part of the Greene King estate. It's one of the more active grassroots music rooms in Portsmouth: live bands belt out indie, jazz, funk and rock, there are intimate acoustic nights, and an open mic runs from 7pm to 10:30pm every Thursday where new performers can get their shot — the pub has even hosted heats of a grassroots music competition with a career-launching prize. Dog- and family-friendly, with a large secluded patio garden to the rear and an in-house PA, it's a welcoming spot for covers, originals and first-timers alike.
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Southsea · Every Thursday
Bold Forester Open Mic
Southsea's thursday open mic. Starts at 19:00.
- Thursday
- Open mic night
- May 2026
- Listed since
- 13 Oct
- Last checked
- No fee
- Entry
- —
- Sign-up time
- Community
- Listing status
Run a Portsmouth open mic? List it free — reviewed before it goes live
Last updated: 13 November 2026
Bold Forester Open Mic — Quick Facts
Bold Forester Open Mic runs on Thursdays at Bold Forester in Portsmouth, starting at 19:00. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Open mic status Last checked 13 Oct 2026
How sure we are
Partly verified
The night starts at 19:00 and runs to about 22:30. It's walk-in sign-up - arrive early to get a slot. There is a PA listed - ask what else is on stage before you load in.
Next nightThu 19 Nov · 19:00Starts in 6d 11h 22m
AgeAll ages
Sign-upWalk-in on the night
BacklinePA provided
Sound engineerAsk the venue
Directory statusBeing verified
Member votes0 to get the venue on GigXchange
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.
NightThursdayEvery ThursdayNext: Thu 19 Nov
Starts19:00until 22:30
Sign-upWalk-insign-up
SlotsTBCslot lengthNot confirmed yet
What’s on in Portsmouth this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
The Bold Forester on Albert Road in Southsea runs an open mic every Thursday from 7pm to 10:30pm. It's a friendly, family-welcoming neighbourhood pub on the corner of Albert Road and Fawcett Road, with a loyal crowd who turn out for the weekly session. No booking needed — just come down and play, and there's a house guitar available if you travel light. Entry is free and there's a PA on hand.
What's on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA systemProvided
Drum kitTBC
Guitar ampTBC
Bass ampTBC
Keys / keyboardTBC
Vocal micsTBC
In-house engineerTBC
The Night at a Glance
How Bold Forester’s Thursday night runs.
Next nightThu 19 Nov · 19:00Starts in 6d 11h 22m
Kick-off19:00Every Thursday
Music ends22:30Last act finishes
Venue closes23:00The listed closing time
How often
Every Thursday
Coming up
Thu 19 Nov · Thu 26 Nov · Thu 3 Dec
Kit
Bold Forester provides a PA system — check the rest with the venue.
First time here?
Arrive early to get your name on the list, tune up before you go on.
Find Bold Forester
Southsea, Portsmouth
AreaSouthsea, Portsmouth
DirectionsOpen in Google Maps →
Getting there
Bold Forester is in Southsea, Portsmouth. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station before you set off.
Open mics nearby
The Three Tuns, The Jolly Sailor Southsea, The Admiral Drake and The Barley Mow
Planning Your Thursday Night
Arrive early to get your name down. The open mic runs until about 22:30. Bold Forester provides a PA system — check the rest with the venue.
The scene Live music in Portsmouththe venues, the gigs and where it happensGet gigs How to get gigs in Portsmouthpay, venues that book, how to pitchBands Find a band in Portsmouthacts to book or play alongsideGigs Upcoming gigs in Portsmouthevery listing, sorted by dateArtists Browse artist profilesfind acts to play or collaborate withOpen mics UK Open Mic Finderfree stage time, night by night
What should you charge for paid gigs? Most open mic musicians are ready sooner than they think — try the Rate Calculator for live UK rates by role, city and venue size. A night in the Portsmouth live music scene.
Common Questions
8 things people want to know before Portsmouth's Bold Forester open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Portsmouth open mic nights for alternatives.
Bold Forester provides a PA system — check the rest with the venue.
Slot length varies — check with the host.
No entry fee is listed for Bold Forester's open mic - most open mics are free to play and to watch, but check with the venue before you go. Browse Portsmouth open mics.
Ask the host before bringing a full band — solo and duo acts are the usual open-mic format.
Bold Forester is in Southsea, Portsmouth. Get directions, or see the other Portsmouth open mics.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Portsmouth regulars across the Portsmouth open mic scene. Portsmouth open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
Sign-up is walk-in on the night, so you do not need to book ahead. GigXchange doesn't publish venue phone numbers or emails. Browse other Portsmouth open mics.
Venues Near Bold Forester
No other gigs are listed at Bold Forester in the GigXchange directory yet — these are the rooms around it, their size, kit and live nights.
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See what’s on in Portsmouth over the next four weeks →
Bold Forester open mic in brief. The Bold Forester open mic runs every Thursday from 19:00 (no fee listed). Bold Forester’s venue page has its kit and capacity if you want to come back with a full band. For another night this week, the open mics near Portsmouth are listed by day.
Booking or playing in Portsmouth? 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 Portsmouth open mics
All ›After paid gigs rather than open mics? See Portsmouth gigs or check the going rate.
10 — Venues near Bold Forester
All ›More rooms near Bold Forester: The Barley Mow, The Deco, The Fifth Hants Volunteer Arms, The Gaiety, The Jolly Sailor Southsea, The Loft, Wedgewood Rooms, Fareham Live, O'Neill's Southsea, Pitt St Skatepark and Portsmouth Guildhall.
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