Portsmouth · 30 venues · 15 with a PA

Grassroots Venues in Portsmouth

Every grassroots room in Portsmouth - capacity, backline, who books it.

By size: 7 small (under 150), 4 mid-size (150 to 499), 4 large (500+), 15 with no size listed. 26 of the 30 open rooms are verified. 0 with full backline, 0 with a sound engineer.

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What's on List your venue

Updated 12 November 2026

At a glance

Portsmouth

Grassroots
venues

in Portsmouth

In detail

House PA	15 venues
Full backline	0 venues
In-house engineer	0 venues
Venue Score	56 /100

01 — Find a venue

30 rooms

Pick your room

Size

Kit

Hire

City

Sort

Photo: Google 80 cap Bold ForesterSouthseaHouse PANo gigs listed yet

Fareham LiveFarehamKit not listedWed 18 Nov The Yacht Rock Experience Cap tbc

KOLASouthseaKit not listedFri 13 Nov Earthtone9 80Cap

Lord John RussellSouthseaKit not listedNo gigs listed yet Cap tbc

O'Neill's SouthseaSouthseaKit not listedNo gigs listed yet Cap tbc

Pitt St SkateparkPortsmouthKit not listedNo gigs listed yet 6,000Cap

Portsmouth GuildhallPortsmouthHouse PANo gigs listed yet 2,200Cap

Portsmouth Irish ClubSouthseaKit not listedNo gigs listed yet Cap tbc

Portsmouth Rail Social ClubFratton · PortsmouthKit not listedNo gigs listed yet 120Cap

Rapscallions Port SolentPort Solent · PortsmouthHouse PANo gigs listed yet Cap tbc

02 — The scene

Venue Score

Out of
100

Solid — healthy coverage, building on genres. A dependable circuit for touring acts.

How it adds up (0-100)

Choice	75
Coverage	100
Backline	0
PA	50
Engineer	0
Genres	100

03 — Rooms + kit

Live data

What Portsmouth has

By size

Small under 150	7 47%
Medium 150-499	4 27%
Large 500+	4 27%
Size not listed	15

Rooms with no size listed show under every size in 01.

Kit

Bring your own	15 50%
PA only	15 50%
Full backline	0 0%

This month

Added	3
Removed	0
Verified	3
Re-verified	4

04 — More of Portsmouth

Beyond the rooms

Gigs, mics + hire

Go next

Featured venueBold ForesterSouthsea · 80 cap
Portsmouth gigsWhat's on at these rooms, by date
What's on this weekEvery gig over the next seven days
Portsmouth open micsWeekly stage time, re-checked on a rolling cycle
Portsmouth music sceneVenues, rates, guides and gigs

Private hire

6 Portsmouth venues say on their own websites that they take private hire - parties, weddings and work events. Each card opens the venue’s rooms, capacities and how to enquire.

Fareham LivePrivate hire

Rapscallions SouthseaPrivate hire

Strings Bar & VenuePrivate hire

The Golden EaglePrivate hire

The LoftPrivate hire

Fareham LivePrivate hire

Rapscallions SouthseaPrivate hire

Strings Bar & VenuePrivate hire

The Golden EaglePrivate hire

The LoftPrivate hire

05 — Other cities

90 cities

Venues elsewhere

London Glasgow Manchester

All cities, A–ZVenues

Aberdeen27 Aberystwyth10 Accrington12 Aldershot16

Basildon21 Bath36 Bedford14 Belfast77 Billericay6 Birmingham80 Blackburn11 Blackpool47 Boston12 Bournemouth30 Bradford42 Brighton94 Bristol86 Broxbourne12

Cambridge31 Cardiff63 Carlisle19 Chelmsford13 Cheltenham27 Cirencester8 Coventry46 Crawley14

Derby38 Derry14 Doncaster19 Dublin3 Dundee35 Durham17

Edinburgh118 Egham17 Epsom18 Exeter48

Farnborough6

Glasgow168 Gloucester21 Grimsby11

Hastings24 Hereford23 High Wycombe14 Horley4 Hull32

Inverness29 Ipswich35

Leeds92 Leicester40 Lincoln22 Liverpool130 London302 Luton16

Maidstone22 Manchester164 Margate32 Middlesbrough27 Milton Keynes18

Newcastle75 Newquay20 Newry8 Northampton26 Norwich38 Nottingham79

Oxford35

Peterborough22 Plymouth34 Preston28

Rawtenstall25 Reading32

Scarborough17 Sheffield94 Southampton47 Stockton-on-Tees16 Stoke-on-Trent32 Sunderland23 Sutton14 Swansea34 Swindon19

Telford21 Tunbridge Wells10

Waterlooville12 Watford24 Welshpool4 Weymouth18 Woking16 Wolverhampton49 Worthing1 Wrexham31

York48

Live music on stage: a band under the lights

Portsmouth Venues

Grassroots Venues in Portsmouth

Q: How many grassroots music venues are in Portsmouth?

GigXchange lists 30 grassroots music venues in Portsmouth, from small pub back rooms to mid-size standing rooms. Each listing includes capacity, backline provision, genres booked, and verification status. Browse the full national directory at UK Venue Directory.

Q: Which Portsmouth venues provide full backline?

0 of 30 Portsmouth venues offer full backline (drums, guitar amp, bass amp, PA). 15 provide at least a PA system. Most expect artists to bring their own gear. Use the filters above to show only venues with backline.

Q: Which Portsmouth venues can you hire for a private event?

6 Portsmouth venues state on their own websites that they take private hire for parties, weddings and work events, among them Fareham Live, Rapscallions Southsea and Strings Bar & Venue. Each venue page has a Private hire tab with its rooms, capacities and a link to enquire with the venue directly. Use the Private hire filter above to list them all.

Q: What size are Portsmouth's grassroots venues?

Of the 15 Portsmouth venues with known capacity: 7 are small (under 150), 4 are medium (150–499), and 4 are large (500+). The majority of Portsmouth’s grassroots scene is intimate, small-room spaces.

Q: How do I book a gig at a Portsmouth venue?

Sign up free on GigXchange to view booking contacts, fee ranges, and submission processes for every Portsmouth venue. Most grassroots venues accept email submissions with a link to your music, EPK, or social profiles. Check current UK fee benchmarks before quoting.

Q: Are there open mics in Portsmouth?

Yes. GigXchange also runs the UK Open Mic Finder for Portsmouth, which lists weekly open mic nights with backline, day, and fee filters. Open mics are the main pathway from bedroom to stage for most grassroots artists. See also our guide on getting gigs in the UK.

Q: What's on at Portsmouth venues this month?

The What’s On in Portsmouth page lists every gig we hold across these 30 venues over the next four weeks — dates, times, entry and ticket links, refreshed daily. For everything beyond that window, browse the Portsmouth gig directory.

Q: What genres do Portsmouth venues book?

The most commonly booked genres across Portsmouth’s 30 grassroots venues are rock, Indie, pop, acoustic, metal. Many venues accept both original music and covers. Browse artist profiles by genre to find acts for your venue.

Q: What are typical fees at Portsmouth venues?

Fees vary by venue size and event type. The GigXchange Rate Calculator shows current percentiles for Portsmouth by band size and venue type. Door splits are common at smaller venues; flat fees are more typical at mid-size rooms. The Musicians’ Union publishes recommended minimums.

Q: Can I list my Portsmouth venue for free?

Yes. Listing is free. If your venue is already in the directory, open its page and press Claim this venue (or create a free venue account) to self-edit your profile and manage bookings; if it is missing, email support@gigxchange.app and we will take a look. Venues with TheMusicLicence from PPL PRS can also list their music policy.

30 grassroots music venues across Portsmouth. Capacity, backline, genres, booking info. Re-verified on a rolling cycle.

56/ 100

Portsmouth Venue Score

SolidHealthy coverage, building on genres. A dependable circuit for touring acts.

Choice75

Coverage100

Backline0

PA50

Engineer0

Genres100

Capacity, backline and booking info for every Portsmouth venue

30 venues, from back rooms to big stages
15 provide a PA in-house
0 offer full backline
0 include a sound engineer
Booking contact for signed-up artists
Re-verified on a rolling cycle

Find out more Join free

Portsmouth's upcoming grass-roots gigs, sorted by date

One-off gigs at indie venues and community stages
Sorted by date, refreshed continuously
Free and ticketed shows
Every gig links its venue

Find out more Join free

Weekly open mic nights across Portsmouth — verified and mapped

Filter by night of the week
Sign-up times, slot lengths and fees
Most are free entry
Re-verified on a rolling cycle

Find out more Join free

Everything the Portsmouth scene has beyond the venue list

City guide: venues, promoters and bookers
Local rate benchmarks before you quote
How to get gigs in the city
Members near you on GigXchange

Find out more Join free

Reach artists actively looking for Portsmouth stages

Free listing — no fee
Claim an existing page to keep it current
Backline and capacity specs searchable
Booking contact shown to members

Find out more List your venue

Run a Portsmouth venue? Claim your page free — keep specs current

Last updated: 12 November 2026

30 Venues in Portsmouth

Portsmouth has 30 grassroots music venues listed on GigXchange, from a 60-capacity room to 6,000. Listings show the capacity, backline and PA where we hold them, plus opening times, so artists, agents and bookers can shortlist the right room before getting in touch.

Of the 30 Portsmouth venues, 15 provide a PA system; none lists full backline or an in-house engineer yet. See what these rooms have on over the next four weeks. Sign up free to view booking contacts and fee ranges.

grassroots venues hosting live music in Portsmouth

15 provide a PA system · 0 offer full backline
0 have an in-house sound engineer included
Booking contact, fee range and submission process available to signed-up artists

30
Venues: 15
With PA: 0
Full backline: 0
In-house engineer: 12 Nov
Last updated

What’s on in Portsmouth this week — or see what’s on across the UK.

Browse Portsmouth Venues

Search all 30 Portsmouth music venues by area, capacity, backline, PA, sound engineer or private hire. Every card shows the room size, what is on stage and the opening times we hold, and opens the venue’s own page with its booking information.

Showing 24 of 30 venues

Historic Southsea corner pub with a Thursday open mic and live bands.No gigs listed yet

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

Mon12:00–23:00
Tue12:00–23:00
Wed12:00–23:00
Thu12:00–23:00
Fri12:00–00:00
Sat12:00–00:00
Sun12:00–22:30

Fareham's 800-seat council-owned theatre and concert hall, run by Trafalgar TheatresWed 18 Nov The Yacht Rock Experience

Private hire

BacklineTBC

PA system (TBC)
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

Mon10:00–16:00
Tue10:00–16:00
Wed10:00–16:00
Thu10:00–16:00
Fri10:00–16:00
Sat10:00–16:00
SunClosed

Southsea's new basement music venue and nightclub on Granada Road, by the team behind Heartbreakers and Papillon.Fri 13 Nov Earthtone9

BacklineTBC

PA system (TBC)
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

Mon09:00–18:00
Tue09:00–18:00
Wed09:00–18:00
Thu09:00–18:00
Fri09:00–18:00
Sat09:00–16:00
SunClosed

Southsea community pub with live music.No gigs listed yet

BacklineTBC

PA system (TBC)
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

Mon12:00–00:00
Tue12:00–00:00
Wed12:00–00:00
Thu12:00–01:00
Fri12:00–02:00
Sat10:00–02:00
Sun12:00–00:00

Albert Road Irish pub with Thursday Festival Sessions and weekend live musicNo gigs listed yet

BacklineTBC

PA system (TBC)
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

Mon10:00–23:00
Tue10:00–23:00
Wed10:00–00:00
Thu10:00–00:00
Fri10:00–01:00
Sat10:00–01:00
Sun10:00–23:00

Portsmouth indoor skatepark and warehouse events space for gigs and club nightsNo gigs listed yet

BacklineTBC

PA system (TBC)
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

MonClosed
Tue16:00–22:00
Wed16:00–22:00
Thu13:00–22:00
Fri13:00–22:00
Sat10:00–19:00
Sun08:00–18:00

Portsmouth's 2,200-capacity Guildhall — the South of England's primary live-music and events centre.No gigs listed yet

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

Mon09:00–17:00
Tue09:00–17:00
Wed09:00–17:00
Thu09:00–17:00
Fri09:00–17:00
SatClosed
SunClosed

View venue›

Photo: Google

Claim this venue

Portsmouth Irish Club

Southsea★★★★★ (—)

Southsea Irish members club with live music every Friday from 9pmNo gigs listed yet

BacklineTBC

PA system (TBC)
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

Mon18:00–23:30
Tue19:00–23:30
Wed19:00–23:30
Thu19:00–23:30
Fri19:00–01:00
Sat16:00–00:30
Sun12:00–00:00

Portsmouth Rail Social Club

Portsmouth › Fratton★★★★★ (—)

Railway social club with live entertainment.No gigs listed yet

BacklineTBC

PA system (TBC)
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

Mon12:00–16:00
TueClosed
Wed19:00–23:20
ThuClosed
Fri12:00–23:00
Sat12:00–22:00
Sun12:00–23:00

View venue›

Photo: Google

Claim this venue

Rapscallions Port Solent

Portsmouth › Port Solent★★★★★ (—)

Port Solent bar with live entertainment.No gigs listed yet

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

Mon12:00–23:00
Tue12:00–23:00
Wed12:00–23:00
Thu12:00–23:00
Fri12:00–01:00
Sat12:00–01:00
Sun12:00–23:00

View venue›

Photo: Google

Claim this venue

Rapscallions Southsea

Portsmouth › Southsea★★★★★ (—)

Southsea bar with live music.No gigs listed yet

Private hire

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

Mon16:00–01:00
Tue16:00–01:00
Wed16:00–01:00
Thu16:00–01:00
Fri16:00–02:00
Sat12:00–02:00
Sun12:00–00:00

View venue›

Photo: Google

Claim this venue

Robin Hill Country Park

Newport › Newport, Isle of Wight★★★★★ (—)

Isle of Wight country park with DJ events.No gigs listed yet

BacklineTBC

PA system (TBC)
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

Mon10:00–17:00
Tue10:00–17:00
Wed10:00–17:00
Thu10:00–17:00
Fri10:00–17:00
Sat10:00–17:00
Sun10:00–17:00

View venue›

Photo: Google

Claim this venue

Royal British Legion Hayling

Hayling Island★★★★★ (—)

Grassroots Hayling Island venue with a regular open mic nightNo gigs listed yet

Backline2 of 7

PA system
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

Southsea pier venue with live events.No gigs listed yet

BacklineTBC

PA system (TBC)
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

Mon11:30–20:00
Tue11:30–20:00
Wed11:30–20:00
Thu11:30–20:00
Fri11:30–21:00
Sat11:30–21:00
Sun11:30–21:00

Staggeringly Good Brewery

Southsea★★★★★ (—)

Southsea's dino-themed craft brewery and taproom with live music, DJ sets and festivals.Sat 5 Dec What the funk is disco?

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

MonClosed
TueClosed
WedClosed
Thu17:00–23:00
Fri15:00–23:00
Sat12:00–23:00
Sun12:00–20:00

Award-winning 300-capacity venue at the heart of the Isle of WightWed 18 Nov Chopsuey, Slip-NOT, A7Xperience

Private hire

BacklineTBC

PA system (TBC)
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

MonClosed
Tue19:00–22:00
Wed19:30–22:30
Thu19:30–23:00
Fri19:30–00:00
Sat19:30–00:00
SunClosed

Portsmouth › North End★★★★★ (—)

Portsmouth community pub with events.No gigs listed yet

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

Mon10:00–12:30
Tue10:00–23:00
Wed10:00–23:00
Thu10:00–23:00
Fri10:00–00:00
Sat10:00–00:00
Sun11:30–23:00

Portsmouth › North End★★★★★ (—)

Southsea's sunday-night free open mic at The Admiral Drake — PA + vocal mic, walk-in sign-up from 7pm, 15-minute slots, all ages.No gigs listed yet

Backline2 of 7

PA system
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

Mon15:00–23:00
Tue12:00–23:00
Wed12:00–23:00
Thu12:00–23:00
Fri12:00–01:00
Sat12:00–01:00
Sun12:00–22:30

Southsea's sunday-night free open mic at The Barley Mow — PA + vocal mic, walk-in sign-up from 7pm, 15-minute slots, all ages.No gigs listed yet

Backline2 of 7

PA system
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

Mon12:00–23:00
Tue12:00–23:00
Wed12:00–23:00
Thu12:00–23:00
Fri12:00–23:00
Sat12:00–23:00
Sun12:00–23:00

Art deco bar and restaurant.Thu 28 Jan neu waves presents #159 The Roebucks plus supports

BacklineTBC

PA system (TBC)
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

Mon17:00–01:00
Tue17:00–01:00
Wed17:00–01:00
Thu17:00–01:00
Fri17:00–03:00
Sat17:00–03:00
Sun17:00–01:00

The Fifth Hants Volunteer Arms

Southsea★★★★★ (—)

Portsmouth pub with live music.No gigs listed yet

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

Mon12:00–01:00
Tue12:00–01:00
Wed12:00–01:00
Thu12:00–01:00
Fri12:00–02:00
Sat12:00–02:00
Sun12:00–02:00

600-cap rock, indie and punk venue on the pier.Fri 13 Nov The Big Indie Fest

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

Mon12:00–20:00
Tue12:00–17:00
Wed12:00–17:00
Thu12:00–17:00
Fri12:00–00:00
Sat12:00–00:00
Sun12:00–19:00

Southsea › Southsea, Portsmouth★★★★★ (—)

Portsmouth pub with live music.No gigs listed yet

Private hire

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

Mon12:00–23:00
Tue12:00–23:00
Wed12:00–23:00
Thu12:00–23:00
Fri12:00–23:00
Sat12:00–23:00
Sun12:00–23:00

The Jolly Sailor Southsea

Southsea★★★★★ (—)

Southsea family pub with live music.No gigs listed yet

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

MonClosed
TueClosed
Wed17:00–23:00
Thu17:00–23:00
Fri12:00–00:00
Sat12:00–00:00
Sun12:00–22:30

View venue›

Venues You Can Hire in Portsmouth

6 Portsmouth venues say on their own websites that they take private hire - parties, weddings and work events. Each card opens the venue’s rooms, capacities and how to enquire.

Portsmouth Venue Scene in Numbers

Portsmouth’s 30 grassroots venues in one picture: how big the rooms are, what kit is on stage and how many take private hire. Use it to judge whether to bring your own backline and which size of room suits your draw before you start booking.

Grassroots venues · Portsmouth

From the
GigXchange venue directory

Room sizeof the 15 with a known capacity

7Small · under 150

4Medium · 150–499

4Large · 500+

What's on stageall 30 venues

15PA only

15Bring your own gear

15provide a PA

0have an in-house engineer

6take private hire

Rock · Indiemost-booked genres

How many grassroots music venues are in Portsmouth? GigXchange lists 30 grassroots music venues across Portsmouth. 50% provide a PA system.

Do Portsmouth venues provide equipment? The majority of Portsmouth venues are small (<150 capacity). Data from GigXchange’s verified Portsmouth venue directory.

Portsmouth Venue FAQs

10 answers about grassroots venues in Portsmouth, from how many there are and how big the rooms are to the kit they provide, booking a gig and listing your venue free - each answered from the venues listed here.

How many grassroots music venues are in Portsmouth?

GigXchange lists 30 grassroots music venues in Portsmouth, from small pub back rooms to mid-size standing rooms. Each listing includes capacity, backline provision, genres booked, and verification status. Browse the full national directory at UK Venue Directory.

Which Portsmouth venues provide full backline?

0 of 30 Portsmouth venues offer full backline (drums, guitar amp, bass amp, PA). 15 provide at least a PA system. Most expect artists to bring their own gear. Use the filters above to show only venues with backline.

Which Portsmouth venues can you hire for a private event?

6 Portsmouth venues state on their own websites that they take private hire for parties, weddings and work events, among them Fareham Live, Rapscallions Southsea and Strings Bar & Venue. Each venue page has a Private hire tab with its rooms, capacities and a link to enquire with the venue directly. Use the Private hire filter above to list them all.

What size are Portsmouth's grassroots venues?

Of the 15 Portsmouth venues with known capacity: 7 are small (under 150), 4 are medium (150–499), and 4 are large (500+). The majority of Portsmouth’s grassroots scene is intimate, small-room spaces.

How do I book a gig at a Portsmouth venue?

Sign up free on GigXchange to view booking contacts, fee ranges, and submission processes for every Portsmouth venue. Most grassroots venues accept email submissions with a link to your music, EPK, or social profiles. Check current UK fee benchmarks before quoting.

Are there open mics in Portsmouth?

Yes. GigXchange also runs the UK Open Mic Finder for Portsmouth, which lists weekly open mic nights with backline, day, and fee filters. Open mics are the main pathway from bedroom to stage for most grassroots artists. See also our guide on getting gigs in the UK.

What's on at Portsmouth venues this month?

The What’s On in Portsmouth page lists every gig we hold across these 30 venues over the next four weeks — dates, times, entry and ticket links, refreshed daily. For everything beyond that window, browse the Portsmouth gig directory.

What genres do Portsmouth venues book?

The most commonly booked genres across Portsmouth’s 30 grassroots venues are rock, Indie, pop, acoustic, metal. Many venues accept both original music and covers. Browse artist profiles by genre to find acts for your venue.

What are typical fees at Portsmouth venues?

Fees vary by venue size and event type. The GigXchange Rate Calculator shows current percentiles for Portsmouth by band size and venue type. Door splits are common at smaller venues; flat fees are more typical at mid-size rooms. The Musicians’ Union publishes recommended minimums.

Can I list my Portsmouth venue for free?

Yes. Listing is free. If your venue is already in the directory, open its page and press Claim this venue (or create a free venue account) to self-edit your profile and manage bookings; if it is missing, email support@gigxchange.app and we will take a look. Venues with TheMusicLicence from PPL PRS can also list their music policy.

07 — Keep up with Portsmouth

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Keep up with Portsmouth

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A UK venue stops hosting live music every 5 days — and turning up is what keeps a room open. Get a free weekly email of gigs in Portsmouth. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy.

The rooms. Across the 15 rooms that list a capacity, the middle one holds about 250 and 7 hold under 150; the largest listed is Portsmouth Guildhall at 2,200. They spread across 8 areas, led by Southsea (14), North End (3) and Fratton (2).

What they book. Rock, acoustic and indie are the genres Portsmouth venues most often say they book, out of 34 genres listed. The acts that fit pitch best with a recent clip and a clear fee. 7 of these listings were added or re-checked over the last month.

Next steps. The Portsmouth gig directory shows which of these rooms are booking now, the Portsmouth open mics are where new acts get stage time, and the GX Index sets out the going rates. Booking acts for one? See live music for pubs, clubs and hotels.

More Cities

Venue guides for every UK city we cover, each with the same filters and capacity data, biggest scenes first. Useful when you are planning a run of dates or looking for a room beyond Portsmouth.

Run a Portsmouth venue? List it free.

Listing is free. Already listed? Open your venue’s page and press Claim this venue to keep its capacity, kit and booking details up to date for the artists searching here. Missing? Email support@gigxchange.app and we will take a look.

For Artists For Venues For Agents For Promoters For Organisers For Fans

ForArtistsGet booked. Get paid. ForVenuesFill the calendar. ForAgentsRun your roster. ForPromotersBuild the bill. ForOrganisersBook acts for your event. ForFansFind tonight’s gigs.

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Venues like these feed the national Hardest Working Rooms table and every UK city's scene. Browse all UK venues.