The Lord John Russell is a lively Craft Union community pub on busy Albert Road in Southsea, well regarded for its real ales and craft beer. It runs a packed entertainment programme — live music, quizzes, bingo, cabaret and DJs late into the night on Fridays and Saturdays. The interior has a flagstoned floor with a small raised, boarded deck used as a DJ booth, an open fire for colder nights and an expansive yet cosy garden for alfresco drinks and food. A friendly, characterful spot for live music and covers in the heart of Southsea's nightlife strip.
Portsmouth · Every Wednesday · No fee listed
Lord John Russell Open Mic
Southsea's wednesday open mic.
Next night: Wed 18 Nov. Kick-off 20:00. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
At a glance
Checked 14 Oct 202620:00
Kick-off
Wednesdays
sign-up on the nightWednesdays
| Night | Every Wednesday |
| Sign-up | Walk-in |
| Slot | Ask the host |
| Entry | No fee listed · all ages |
| Backline | Ask the host |
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 WednesdayHow the night runs
20:00
Kick-off
WednesdaysRunning order
20:00 Kick-off
00:00 Venue closes
04 — Find Lord John Russell
SouthseaGetting there
Southsea, Portsmouth
05 — What's on stage
TBC| PA system | TBC |
| 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 Lord John Russell on Albert Road is a friendly, easy-going Southsea local that runs a weekly open mic on Wednesday evenings, alongside a packed week of quiz (Monday), karaoke (Friday/Saturday) and the odd cabaret night. It's a proper community pub with HD sports screens and a dog-friendly welcome, so expect a relaxed, chatty crowd rather than a hushed listening room. Live music is free to come along to — just turn up, sign in on the night, and the in-house PA does the rest.
The Lord John Russell is a lively Craft Union community pub on busy Albert Road in Southsea, well regarded for its real ales and craft beer. It runs a packed entertainment programme — live music, quizzes, bingo, cabaret and DJs late into the night on Fridays and Saturdays. The interior has a flagstoned floor with a small raised, boarded deck used as a DJ booth, an open fire for colder nights and an expansive yet cosy garden for alfresco drinks and food. A friendly, characterful spot for live music and covers in the heart of Southsea's nightlife strip.
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Southsea · Every Wednesday
Lord John Russell Open Mic
Southsea's wednesday open mic. Starts at 20:00.
- Wednesday
- Open mic night
- May 2026
- Listed since
- 14 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
Lord John Russell Open Mic — Quick Facts
Lord John Russell Open Mic runs on Wednesdays at Lord John Russell in Portsmouth, 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 14 Oct 2026
How sure we are
Partly verified
Music starts around 20:00. It's walk-in sign-up - arrive early to get a slot.
Next nightWed 18 Nov · 20:00Starts in 5d 12h 18m
AgeAll ages
Sign-upWalk-in on the night
BacklineNot confirmed yet
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.
NightWednesdayEvery WednesdayNext: Wed 18 Nov
Starts20:00start time
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 Lord John Russell on Albert Road is a friendly, easy-going Southsea local that runs a weekly open mic on Wednesday evenings, alongside a packed week of quiz (Monday), karaoke (Friday/Saturday) and the odd cabaret night. It's a proper community pub with HD sports screens and a dog-friendly welcome, so expect a relaxed, chatty crowd rather than a hushed listening room. Live music is free to come along to — just turn up, sign in on the night, and the in-house PA does the rest.
What's on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA systemTBC
Drum kitTBC
Guitar ampTBC
Bass ampTBC
Keys / keyboardTBC
Vocal micsTBC
In-house engineerTBC
The Night at a Glance
How Lord John Russell’s Wednesday night runs.
Next nightWed 18 Nov · 20:00Starts in 5d 12h 18m
Kick-off20:00Every Wednesday
Venue closes00:00The listed closing time
How often
Every Wednesday
Coming up
Wed 18 Nov · Wed 25 Nov · Wed 2 Dec
First time here?
Get there early for a slot, have your instrument tuned before your turn.
Find Lord John Russell
Southsea, Portsmouth
AreaSouthsea, Portsmouth
DirectionsOpen in Google Maps →
Getting there
You'll find Lord John Russell in Southsea, Portsmouth. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station.
Open mics nearby
The Three Tuns, The Jolly Sailor Southsea, The Admiral Drake and The Barley Mow
Planning Your Wednesday Night
Arrive early to sign up for a slot. The kit is not listed yet — ask the host what is provided.
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 ask before turning up at Portsmouth's Lord John Russell open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Portsmouth open mic nights for alternatives.
Lord John Russell has not listed its kit yet — ask the host before you go.
Slot length varies — check with the host.
No entry fee is listed for Lord John Russell'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.
Lord John Russell 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 Lord John Russell
No other gigs are listed at Lord John Russell in the GigXchange directory yet — these are the rooms around it, their size, kit and live nights.
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Lord John Russell open mic in brief. The Lord John Russell open mic runs every Wednesday from 20:00 (no fee listed). Coming back with a full band? Lord John Russell’s venue page has its kit and capacity listed. The open mics near Portsmouth are listed by day, for another night this week.
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.
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09 — More Portsmouth open mics
All ›After paid gigs rather than open mics? See Portsmouth gigs or check the going rate.
10 — Venues near Lord John Russell
All ›More rooms near Lord John Russell: 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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