You’ll find lots of south Asian, Chinese and Italian eateries in Portsmouth, alongside restaurants serving modern European cooking. You’re by the sea, so it’s no surprise that there’s plenty of fresh seafood on the menu. You can also enjoy lamb from the South Downs, New Forest game like wild boar and venison, and Hampshire strawberries.
Gunwharf Quays offers dozens of places to eat and drink, from wine bars and pubs to cafés and restaurants that fly the flag of many of the UK’s most popular chains. Families will find plenty of familiar favourites here, serving child-friendly dishes like pizza, pasta and burgers. Down in Southsea, you can browse stalls selling organic local produce and an array of street food like tapas and pulled pork at Southsea Farmers Market. This part of town is also home to plenty of individual eateries selling modern European- and French-influenced menus.
Sparkling white wines like Nyetimber, made from grapes grown on the sunny chalk slopes of the South Downs. If you haven’t yet sampled English wines, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Venison and wild boar from the leafy woodlands of the nearby New Forest, once the private hunting reserve of English monarchs. A visit to Portsmouth’s own craft brewery, Irving Co, where you can sample ales like Admiral stout and Invincible bitter, as well as seasonal brews.
Shopping in Portsmouth
In Portsmouth, you can browse in shopping centres where you’ll find stores selling mainstream brands and everyday necessities. There are also plenty of places where you can pick up top brands at bargain-basement prices. For something different, seek out one of many boutiques selling original clothes and accessories.
On the waterfront at Gunwharf Quays, bargain-hunters will find big-brand shops and outlet stores selling brands like Nike, Timberland, Superdry, Oakley, Boss, Hobbs and Karen Millen. There are plenty of cafés and eateries here, too. Museum shops selling gifts, souvenirs and educational toys with a maritime flavour can be found at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and other visitor attractions.
Southsea is a happy hunting ground for lovers of original arts and crafts, antiques, vintage clothes and accessories. You can browse for all these at regular street markets on Palmerston Road, Southsea’s main shopping precinct. What’s on sale depends on which day you go.
Arts, Crafts and Vintage Shopping in Portsmouth: Design outfit Love Southsea runs the regular Love Southsea Market, where you can browse for unusual crafts and vintage clothing, and also colourful and original prints, tees and sweats inspired by Portsmouth’s maritime heritage. Aspex is the artistic pivot of Gunwharf Quays, combining a centre for local artists with a gallery where you can buy their cutting-edge work. It also has a lively café-bar.
At Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Antiques Storehouse sells naval and military antiquaria, vintage toys, and other collectables like antique ceramics and glassware.
You can rummage for original arts and crafts, vintage clothing and jewellery, antiques and other treasures at Southsea Art, Design, Antiques and Vintage Market.
Culture and Nightlife in Portsmouth
Portsmouth’s main cultural venues, including art galleries and theatres that present live pop and classical music, comedy and ballet, can be found in the city centre within easy walking distance of Gunwharf Quays. Most of the city’s cinemas are also in this part of town. Portsmouth’s youthful clubbing scene is concentrated in the city centre, where clubs like Liquid, The Astoria and Popworld cluster near the University of Portsmouth campus. You’ll find posh cocktail bars with DJs and dance floors at Gunwharf Quays.
The Emirates Spinnaker Tower Comedy Club presents shows featuring some of the UK’s leading performers. Funky pub venues presenting local and visiting musicians, tribute bands and comedy performers can be found around the Southsea area. Several smaller nightclubs that cater to a mainly local crowd offer an alternative to the big city-centre clubs.
Comedy and Drama in Portsmouth: Portsmouth’s Kings Theatre presents musicals, classic ballet, drama, live comedy and burlesque acts. The New Theatre Royal is a charming Victorian venue that hosts performances of modern drama, plays written for kids, live music and comedy. Portsmouth Guildhall is an imposing exhibition space for visual arts and a venue for rock, pop, comedy and classical performances by visiting ensembles like Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
Visiting Portsmouth with a Family
Portsmouth has plenty to please mums, dads and kids of all ages. Indoor and outdoor activities abound, ranging from museums and harbour cruises to swimming pools and trampoline centres. You’ll find family-friendly cafés and souvenir shops selling educational toys at most museums and attractions.
Portsmouth Naval Dockyard offers lots of hands-on activities for young visitors. At Boatyard 4, its indoor family attraction, those who dare can climb to a masthead ‘crow’s nest’. Toddler tours using music and visual images let little visitors explore Explosion! The Museum of Naval Power at their own pace.
Gunwharf Quays is full of eateries serving familiar, child-friendly snacks and meals. Many offer child-sized portions and menus for children. Shops here will also please fashion-conscious teens looking for bargains. For a family day out, head for Southsea, where you’ll find fun things to do and see, from flumes and pools at the Pyramids Centre to dodgems, waltzers and roller-coaster rides at Clarence Pier.
On and Under the Water with a Family in Portsmouth:
Up to two adults and three kids can steer small-scale electric cruisers round a safe lagoon at MiniPort, next to Gunwharf Quays. Portsmouth Harbour Tours takes families on trips around the harbour, with views of modern Royal Navy vessels and historic sights. Families can go underwater without getting their feet wet at Blue Reef Aquarium, where a transparent underwater tunnel plunges into a vast tank of dozens of tropical marine fish.
