Portland House is a small, characterful micro-bar at 286 Ecclesall Road in Sheffield, known for a tightly-curated craft-beer range, spirits and a warm, community feel in a compact space. It punches well above its size for live music: the owner built what may be Sheffield's first sofa that folds out into a stage, and it hosts an acoustic open mic most Sundays, hosted by Nate Kennedy — a relaxed, supportive, music-first night where new and seasoned songwriters are equally welcome. The bar also runs live entertainment on Tuesdays, and is a fixture of the local 'Eccyfest' street-music weekends. A vocal PA is provided; this is a singer-songwriter / acoustic room rather than a full-band backline venue, so solo acts and duos suit it best. Confirmed open and actively programming in 2026 (CAMRA Sheffield, Jan 2026).
Sheffield · Every Sunday · No fee listed
City Centre's sunday-night free open mic at Portland House — PA + vocal mic, walk-in sign-up from 6:30pm, 15-minute slots, all ages.
Next night: Sun 15 Nov. Kick-off 19:00, sign-up from 18:30. 15-minute slots. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
Sundays
| Night | Every Sunday |
| Sign-up | 18:30 walk-in |
| Slot | 15 min |
| Entry | No fee listed · all ages |
| Backline | PA provided |
| Capacity | – |
| Performer types | Musicians |
| Status | Verified running |
| Last checked | 26 Sept 2026 |
| Checked against | Venue website |
Sheffield S11 8PE
The nearest station is Netherthorpe Road Subway to Trams (tram stop), about 25 minutes' walk away.
| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | Bring your own |
| Guitar amp | Bring your own |
| Bass amp | Bring your own |
| Keys / keyboard | Bring your own |
| 2 vocal mics | Provided |
| In-house engineer | None |
Portland House is a friendly micro-bar on Ecclesall Road hosting a weekly acoustic open mic every Sunday, run by host Nate Kennedy. The mood is relaxed, supportive and informal — whatever your style or experience, there's a spot to share a few songs. The bar provides a Bose PA, two SE V7 mics, a house guitar and a house cajon plus hand percussion, all on a newly built raised stage, so you can travel light. It's an acoustic, singer-songwriter-leaning room rather than a full-band setup.
Portland House is a small, characterful micro-bar at 286 Ecclesall Road in Sheffield, known for a tightly-curated craft-beer range, spirits and a warm, community feel in a compact space. It punches well above its size for live music: the owner built what may be Sheffield's first sofa that folds out into a stage, and it hosts an acoustic open mic most Sundays, hosted by Nate Kennedy — a relaxed, supportive, music-first night where new and seasoned songwriters are equally welcome. The bar also runs live entertainment on Tuesdays, and is a fixture of the local 'Eccyfest' street-music weekends. A vocal PA is provided; this is a singer-songwriter / acoustic room rather than a full-band backline venue, so solo acts and duos suit it best. Confirmed open and actively programming in 2026 (CAMRA Sheffield, Jan 2026).
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Portland House Open Mic
City Centre's sunday-night free open mic at Portland House — PA + vocal mic, walk-in sign-up from 6:30pm, 15-minute slots, all ages.
- Sunday
- Open mic night
- Apr 2026
- Listed since
- 26 Sept
- Last verified
- No fee
- Entry
- 15 min
- Slot length
- Verified
- Listing status
Last updated: 13 November 2026
Portland House Open Mic — Quick Facts
Portland House Open Mic runs on Sundays at Portland House in Sheffield, starting at 19:00 with sign-up from 18:30. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Music starts around 19:00. Sign-up is on the night from 18:30 - get there early to get a slot. Slots run about 15 minutes. There is a PA listed - ask what else is on stage before you load in.
What’s on in Sheffield this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
Portland House is a friendly micro-bar on Ecclesall Road hosting a weekly acoustic open mic every Sunday, run by host Nate Kennedy. The mood is relaxed, supportive and informal — whatever your style or experience, there's a spot to share a few songs. The bar provides a Bose PA, two SE V7 mics, a house guitar and a house cajon plus hand percussion, all on a newly built raised stage, so you can travel light. It's an acoustic, singer-songwriter-leaning room rather than a full-band setup.
What's on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
The Night at a Glance
How Portland House’s Sunday night runs.
Every Sunday
Sun 15 Nov · Sun 22 Nov · Sun 29 Nov
Portland House provides a PA system and 2 vocal mics; bring your own drum kit, guitar amp, bass amp and keys; no in-house sound engineer.
Get there by 18:30 for a slot, have your instrument tuned before your turn and keep to about 15 minutes.
Find Portland House
286 Ecclesall Road, Sheffield S11 8PE
The nearest station is Netherthorpe Road Subway to Trams (tram stop), about 25 minutes' walk away. Portland House is in Ecclesall Road, Sheffield — use S11 8PE for sat-nav, taxis and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station before you set off.
The Victoria Inn, Cawthorne Club, Neptune Beer Emporium and The Greystones
Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport (Open Government Licence).
Planning Your Sunday Night
Be there by 18:30 to put your name down. Portland House provides a PA system and 2 vocal mics; bring your own drum kit, guitar amp, bass amp and keys; no in-house sound engineer.
What should you charge for a paid gig? 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 Sheffield live music scene.
Common Questions
9 questions people ask before going to Sheffield's Portland House open mic.
Venues Near Portland House
No other gigs are listed at Portland House in the GigXchange directory yet — these are the rooms around it, their size, kit and live nights.
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Portland House open mic in brief. The Portland House open mic runs every Sunday from 19:00 (no fee listed); sign-up opens 18:30 and slots run about 15 minutes. Coming back with a full band? Portland House’s venue page has its kit and capacity listed. The open mics near Sheffield are listed by day, for another night this week.
Booking or playing in Sheffield? 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.
After paid gigs rather than open mics? See Sheffield gigs or check the going rate.
More rooms near Portland House: Buxton Opera House, Cafe#9, Cawthorne Club, Chantry Brewery Tap n Venue, Corporation, Crookes Social Club, Crown Inn, Cubana Tapas Bar, Delicious Clam, Denby Dale Pie Hall and Don Valley Bowl.
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