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The Pompey Foodie By James Donougher
Picture this, walking through Southsea Common after a long day at the beach, with the trees in full bloom. You move further inland towards Castle Road, and the streets begin to fill with people sitting outside. Perhaps you meet friends or end up chatting to strangers at the same table as you.
Left: The completed pedestrianisation of Castle Road, Southsea / Right: The Garden – This year’s Seafood Tacos now features chipotle shrimp, creamy guacamole, crisp iceberg lettuce and mango & pineapple salsa, served with skin on fries. Pictured here is last year’s version with garlic avocado cream and mango salsa.
Why not start your evening at Delaneys, a relaxed bistro that is taking full advantage of the new pedestrianisation works, with a handful of outdoor tables catching the last of the evening light. Delaneys now offers a gorgeous evening menu, open until late from Wednesday to Saturday, making it an easy place to stop and stay for a while.
From here, Elm Grove and Albert Road have more pubs, and the narrower pavements on Albert Road don’t stop the outdoor dining culture. Places such as The Panormus Pizzeria offer something a little more special. Tucked away at the back of the restaurant is a beautiful garden, perfect for a summer’s evening.
The Garden – The Greek Lamb Burger has now replaced the Greek Inspired Lamb Koftas pictured here in 2025. The upgrade brings together lamb, tzatziki, feta, cucumber
and black olives for a Mediterranean twist.
Not too far from Albert Road, The Garden on Florence Road is back open for the summer season. It offers something a little different, with sharing plates outside in the shaded garden, perfectly suited to a slower pace on a summer evening. For something with a bit more character, Sant Yago on Clarendon Road remains a strong favourite of mine, and the cocktail bar downstairs is a great space on evenings that are a little cooler. This venue offers a more intimate setting, where you can share tapas with a loved one.
So why not follow one of my suggested routes and find a place that feels right for you? The beauty of Southsea is that everything is within easy reach. But if you’re looking for the ultimate feeling of relaxation and escapism this summer, why not pop across to the Isle of Wight for the day?
A family visit to The Garden, Florence Road, Southsea
We are spoilt for choice in Southsea, but rather than settling in one place for the whole evening, try stopping at a couple of places, even if it’s just for a drink. Take in the atmosphere, speak to the staff, check out the menu for a future occasion, and get a real feel for each place. You don’t always need a full meal to enjoy what somewhere has to offer.
With so many cruise passengers arriving in Portsmouth this summer, there is a real opportunity to bring people together from across the world, as tourists flock to our great waterfront city. And in this year when Portsmouth marks 100 years as an island city, I ask you to take a moment to sit outside a Southsea venue and reflect on what makes this place so special. Is it the seafront, the green spaces, our communities, the terraced streets, or the people? Perhaps it’s the food and drink scene, which continues to evolve and become part of Portsmouth’s identity.
To finish, the Southsea Food Festival returns on 4th and 5th July 2026, with your very own ‘Pompey Foodie’ launching new guided taster tours over the weekend, in partnership with the organisers. The tours will take visitors around the festival to sample dishes from independent traders and our most-loved Palmerston Road venues. See you there!
Posted in: Food & Drink
