Eat the Island is Portsmouth City Council economic development team’s initiative to support Portsmouth’s food and drink businesses to grow.
Our priority is to strengthen Portsmouth’s economy. Portsmouth is home to Southsea Food Festival, one of the South’s biggest food events and a thriving and diverse food scene of independent producers, restaurants, retailers, and communities.
Portsmouth’s great food businesses
We are proud to promote and shout about our businesses. Here are a sample of what we can offer:
Buckwells of Southsea – butchers and winner of the UK’s best sausage
Natty’s Jerk – Jamaican restaurant and Uber Eats Restaurant of the Year
Pauline Macarons – handmade macarons. Read more – Pauline Macarons boost for sweet success
Portsmouthfoodguide.co.uk – Local people offering bespoke food and drink tours, walking tours, events and local advice
Powder Monkey Brewing Co – pale ales, IPA’s and porters.
Southsea Brewing Co Ltd – craft beer made in Milton
Spice Island Chilli – producers of premium chilli condiments. Read more – How Spice Island Chilli found its fire
Staggeringly Good – brewing quality beer (and dinosaur puns)
Smoke and Mirrors – fine dining restaurant with multi award winning chef Jordan Thompson
Tea Mountain – supplier of Portsmouth Tea. Read more – Tea Mountain brews up success in Portsmouth
The Briny – excellent seafood restaurant on Southsea beach
The Portsmouth Distillery – award winning producer of Portsmouth gin and rum. Read more- Portsmouth Distillery wins
The Road to Karachi – Indian and Pakistani cookery book and spice mixes.
The Southsea Deli – classic delicatessen and cookery school. Read more – Why being small and independent is the secret
Queens Hotel Restaurant 1865 – casual dining experience in Southsea
Yarty – producer of award winning premium cordials and vinegars
Networking
Food and Drink show at NEC Birmingham
For the first time, three of Portsmouth’s burgeoning businesses, along with Portsmouth City Council’s Eat the Island team showcased their exceptional products at the prestigious national 2025 UK Food & Drink show.
The Portsmouth Distillery, Road from Karachi, and Tea Mountain presented their unique offerings: gin and 5-year-aged rum, Indian & Pakistani spice mixes, and Portsmouth Tea. This event marks a significant milestone for these local businesses as they step onto the national stage.
Read more – Portsmouth businesses set to shine
Eat the Island networking
The next Eat the Island networking opportunity will be on Thursday 4 June 2026 at Meat & Barrel. The programme of talks will be issued very soon.
Book here – Eat the Island – Supporting local business to grow
Read more – Eat the Island fuels business opportunities for local producers
Southsea Food Festival
Southsea Food Festival 2026, Portsmouth’s ultimate family foodie event returns on the 4 and 5 July 2026.
Now in its 18th year, the festival continues to champion Portsmouth’s vibrant food and drink scene. This year’s event will be extra special as it joins the Portsmouth 100 programme – a city-wide celebration marking 100 years since Portsmouth was granted city status.
The two-day festival will transform Southsea’s town centre into a bustling hub of activity, with food and drink stalls, live music, family entertainment, and the return of the Kitchen Stage, featuring live demonstrations from local chefs and producers.
Southsea Food Festival is part of a programme of activities to support small businesses in Portsmouth. The event is also an excellent opportunity for new businesses to showcase their products.