Author Archives: Amy Young

Treat yourself – and your family – to a day filled with festive fun at our brilliant Festival of Christmas!

Our popular Christmas event, on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th December, will offer seasonal street entertainment and festive music, winter-warming food and drink – and more than 120 market stalls, all conveniently under cover, to help you do your Christmas shopping in style.

The Christmas market will offer an inspiring and uniquely handcrafted range of goods and gifts for you to find the perfect present for loved ones. There will be plenty of opportunities to make memorable moments on both days – and free parking all day too!

On Saturday 7th December, from 10am to 5pm, there will be performances from the Igloo Band and Choir, The Salvation Army Band, The Hill Brothers and Theatre Arts UK plus street entertainment from Small talk comedy elves, balloon modeller and the tallest Fairy on a Christmas tree!

On Sunday 8th December, from 10am to 4pm, don’t miss the fun with Hodman and Sally, along with musical entertainment from Sign 4 fun, Spinnaker chorus, The Pitch Pipers, Pompey Pluckers, The Fine Voice Choir and The Brass Holes.

Port Solent’s Lisa Fowler said: “Get into the Christmas spirit for our wonderful event. The Festival of Christmas is the perfect day out for families and friends to enjoy some festive entertainment and seasonal shopping.

“We’ve got more market stalls than ever this year making us the largest Christmas market in Portsmouth, all under cover so that visitors can relax and browse whatever the weather, situated along the Boardwalk, inside the Trading Post, and many more in our under-cinema car park.

“There’s so much to see and do at Port Solent – and when you get hungry or need a break, visit our fantastic restaurants and cafes.”

Plan your visit, more information on our Find Us page.

Little ghouls and boys are invited to dress up in their spookiest costumes and prepare to scare at our Halloween Kid’s Club this half term.

Do the monster mash at the Halloween disco sessions on Tuesday 29th October – at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. Everyone is welcome at the fiendishly free party for fun and games!

Silly Scott will be conjuring up thrills and chills – and lots of laughs too – at his Spooktacular Magic Shows on Thursday 31st October at 11am, 12.30pm and 2pm.

Youngsters can also enjoy the Creation Station’s Horribly Scary craft activities at Thursday’s Kid’s Club, from 11am to 4pm.

Port Solent’s Lisa Fowler said: “We’ve got lots of hair-raising Halloween fun for young visitors to Port Solent this October half term. Dress up in your Halloween fancy dress and dare to scare!

“Our brilliant Kids Clubs are totally free and there’s no need to book, just come along and have a wizard time!

“There’s so much to see and do at Port Solent for all the family – and don’t forget our fantastic restaurants and cafes. Please support them where possible during your visit by purchasing your food and drink on site – doing so helps us continue to put on these events for you free of charge.”

Port Solent is buzzing this summer with an exciting line-up of free events, including artisan markets, kids clubs, car meets and music event Totally Tributes.

Regular favourites include weekly car meets and a monthly artisan market located on the waterside. Adding extra fun this summer, on Saturday 27th July, we are hosting an afternoon of live music, paying tribute to some of the biggest legends across musical genres. Enjoy performances from top local tribute acts, including Forever Queen, Doing Elton and Supersonics.

Little visitors can join in the fun too. Throughout July and August, we are bringing back our popular Kids Clubs events, featuring magic shows, discos, craft sessions and birds of prey sessions as part of the fun activities planned.

Lisa Fowler, Events and Marketing Manager, said: “With our biggest line-up of free events, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at Port Solent this summer.”

“Alongside our popular car meets and markets, we’ve got live music events and a fun activities for children, and it’s all free! We’re excited to welcome lots of new visitors over the summer to enjoy our unique waterside location.”

For more details and to see the summer events line-up, sign up to our newsletter below and follow our social media channels.

We’re thrilled to announce that this year’s Port Solent Comic Con on June 8th, 2024, was a massive hit, with over 13,000 fans joining us for a day of unforgettable fun!

From 10 am to 5 pm, Port Solent transformed into a haven for pop culture enthusiasts, offering an array of attractions that delighted attendees of all ages. Highlights included the thrilling Jurassic Park Zone, where visitors came face-to-face with prehistoric giants, and the chance to meet Jedi Masters showcasing their lightsaber skills.

The Joker Squad added a touch of chaos to the event, while fans were thrilled to step inside the iconic DeLorean and see the Ecto-1s in action. And let’s not forget the ever-vigilant Ghostbusters, who not only safeguarded the convention from otherworldly dangers but also raised over £2,000 for Cancer Research UK!

What’s more, with free parking available, getting to the event was a breeze for everyone, making it even easier to join in the excitement.

Thank you to everyone who attended and made this year’s Comic Con the best one yet! Stay tuned for updates on future events—we can’t wait to see you all again next year for another incredible celebration of all things geeky and fantastic at Port Solent!

May the force be with you until then!

Klass, the popular women’s fashion retailer, opened a new store at Unit 26 The Boardwalk, Port Solent on June 1st 2024. This new location offers stylish and affordable clothing, enhancing the shopping experience for local residents.

The store operates Monday to Saturday from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM, and Sunday from 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Shoppers can explore a diverse range of trendy outfits and accessories, making Klass a must-visit destination for fashion enthusiasts.

For more information, visit https://www.klass.co.uk.

Rapscallions, the vibrant pirate-themed bar, has launched its latest venue at Port Solent. Located at The Boardwalk, this new bar promises a unique and lively atmosphere, complete with nautical decor and an extensive drink menu.

The bar is now open daily, offering a perfect spot for locals and visitors to unwind and enjoy a range of cocktails, beers, and spirits as well as brunch, lunch and dinner in a distinctive setting.

For more information, visit https://portsolent.rapscallionsbars.co.uk/.

The end of May Bank Holiday Music event held on Sunday, May 26, 2024, at Port Solent was a tremendous success, attracting hundreds of attendees who enjoyed a day filled with live music, good food, and great vibes.

The festivities kicked off at noon with an impressive lineup of performances. The Voltaires started the day with an energetic set from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM, followed by Cadency from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM, and Kojaks Revenge closing out the event from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM.

The event offered free parking, making it convenient for our visitors to partake in the lively atmosphere and enjoy the excellent food options available.

The Port Solent management is already looking forward to the next celebration, as this year’s Bank Holiday event set a high bar for future festivities.

Car enthusiasts are in for a treat at Port Solent this year with regular Sunday car meets as well as VW camper and bus meets.

The car meets will be held on the second and last Sunday of each month in the Port Solent car park from 10am to 12 noon – perfect for viewing the line-up of classic, sports and specialist cars, before stopping for refreshments or leisure time in Port Solent.

They will take place on 14 and 28 January; 11 and 25 February; 10 and 31 March; 14 and 28 April; 12 and 26 May; 9 and 30 June; 14 and 28 July; 11 and 25 August; 8 and 29 September; 13 and 27 October; 10 and 24 November; Boxing Day meet on 26 December.

In addition, fans of VW campervans and buses can get together on the third Sunday of each month, 10am to 12.30pm, to share their enthusiasm and view the vehicles on show.

The VW meets are on: 21 January; 18 February; 17 March; 21 April; 19 May; 16 June; 21 July; 18 August; 15 September; 20 October; 17 November and 15 December.

Port Solent’s Lisa Fowler said: “We’re delighted to announce a full year of our brilliant Sunday car meets and the popular VW van and bus meets – the perfect way for enthusiasts and their families to enjoy the weekends.

Port Solent is a great place to get together for these and all our other events lined up for 2024, so make a date in your diary to join us. There’s a wide choice of bars, cafes and restaurants to relax in and plenty of other attractions to make a visit fun for all.

PORT SOLENT CELEBRATED A SPECTACULAR WEEKEND AT ITS ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF CHRISTMAS, HELD ON 9TH AND 10TH DECEMBER.

The event drew an impressive total of nearly 30,000 visitors over the weekend, with 17,000 attendees on Saturday and 13,000 on Sunday, making it record-breaking with 2,000 more visitors compared to the previous year.

The Festival of Christmas, known for its enchanting atmosphere and festive offerings, showcased seasonal street entertainment, heartwarming music, and over 100 market stalls – all conveniently under cover, providing a delightful shopping experience.

The Christmas market featured a diverse array of handcrafted goods and gifts, ensuring visitors found the perfect presents for their loved ones.

The weekend not only delighted attendees, but also made a positive impact on the bands and artists who performed, for many charitable causes from generous donations from the public.

Port Solent’s Lisa Fowler expressed her enthusiasm for the record-breaking weekend: “The Festival of Christmas was the perfect day out for families and friends to enjoy some festive entertainment and seasonal shopping. We had more market stalls than ever this year, and as we’re the only market that’s entirely under cover, the visitors could relax and browse, whatever the weather!”

The weekend featured a diverse line-up of performers, including The Igloo Band, Salvation Army Band, Warsash Band, Theatre Arts Kids and entertainment from the Two Wise Men, the Christmas Pudding and a Festive Fairy. The Creation Station also offered lots of fun for little ones, with face glitter, reindeer food and decoration making.

Sunday’s entertainment included The Pitch Pipers, The Fine Voice Choir, Pompey Pluckers, The Squirrels, The Wish Elf and Sign for Fun.

The festivities don’t end there at Port Solent. There’s plenty of fun to be had throughout December including its Christmas Carols on the Boardwalk fundraising event with the Portsmouth Salvation Army Band and Portsmouth Baroque Choir. This event will take place from 6:30pm on Wednesday 20th December and a collection will take place on behalf of the Salvation Army.

TREAT YOURSELF – AND YOUR FAMILY – TO A DAY FILLED WITH FESTIVE FUN AT PORT SOLENT’S BRILLIANT FESTIVAL OF CHRISTMAS. 

The popular Christmas event, on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 December, will offer seasonal street entertainment and festive music, winter-warming food and drink – and more than 100 market stalls, all conveniently under cover, to help you do your Christmas shopping in style.

The Christmas market will offer an inspiring and uniquely handcrafted range of goods and gifts for visitors to find the perfect present for loved ones.

There will be plenty of opportunities for visitors to make memorable moments on both days – and free parking all day at Port Solent too.

On Saturday, from 10am to 5pm, there will be performances from Theatre Arts Kids, the Igloo Band and Choir, the Salvation Army Band and Warsash Band, plus entertainment from Two Wise Men, Christmas Pudding and a festive Fairy!

On Sunday, from 10am to 4pm, don’t miss the fun with The Squirrels and The Wish Elf, along with musical entertainment from The Pitch Pipers; Pompey Pluckers and The Fine Voice Choir.

Port Solent’s Lisa Fowler said: “Get into the Christmas spirit for our wonderful event. The Festival of Christmas is the perfect day out for families and friends to enjoy some festive entertainment and seasonal shopping.

“We’ve got more market stalls than ever this year, under cover so that visitors can relax and browse whatever the weather, situated along the Boardwalk, inside the Trading Post, and many more in our under-cinema car park.

“There’s so much to see and do at Port Solent – and when you get hungry or need a break, visit our fantastic restaurants and cafes.”