SouthseaScene

King Henry VIII invites you to experience Christmas traditions from his Royal Tudor Court. There will be dancing, merrymaking, magic and music. Throughout the museum you will meet characters from Henry’s court – jesters, courtiers, musicians and ladies in waiting.  Learn to dance like a Tudor lord and lady, learn to curtsy and bow, discover what Tudor music sounded like, find out what food the king would eat at Christmas and how the king’s jester made the court laugh.  Who know, you may even meet the King himself! Make Christmas Memories at The Mary Rose on these dates: Saturday 8th - Sunday 9th December Saturday 15th - Sunday 16th December Saturday 29th - Sunday 30th December This event is FREE with a valid Mary Rose ticket.

Members of the Southsea Coastal Scheme team, who are designing new sea defences for 4.5km of Portsmouth's seafront have gone that extra mile to raise money for The LifeHouse , a resource and support centre for those in need, located in Albert Road, Southsea. To raise funds, employees from Portsmouth City Council , Eastern Solent Coastal Partnership and Balfour Beatty came together to take part in the Great South Run in October this year. The more experienced runners covered the 10 mile course, with the rest running in the 5K race meaning that runners of all levels could get involved. They have now smashed their fundraising target of £450, with the current total reaching over £600. Lesley Wenden, Manager at the LifeHouse said: "Not only did this team of people complete the Great South Run for us but they also raised over £600 in doing so! Thanks to this wonderful achievement and people's kindness through donations, we will be able to put the monies raised towards some l...

Isn't wonderful to hear that the city's two bathing beaches have kept their top ratings for water cleanliness?  Southsea East and Eastney beaches will have the classification 'excellent' – the highest available – for next year's season, the government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced. This is the third year running that Southsea East has had an excellent rating, while Eastney has had the top classification for some time.  Cllr Steve Pitt, Portsmouth City Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport, said: "It's great to see that our wonderful local beaches have retained their excellent ratings for another year. It's brilliant news for tourism and for local people."  Let's help our beaches stay clean by making sure that we bag and bin litter in the right places.

This evening we craved something wholesome and bought a couple of good looking rib steak. Usually 150 grm is about the right amount per person. We thought we would try a new sauce and mushroom sounds just the ingredient for an autumn evening. Ingredients: 1 shallot thinly sliced 150 g mushrooms 2 cloves of garlic chopped finely 25 g butter 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 500 ml stock 150 ml Marsala wine We fried some shallots, garlic and sliced Chestnut mushrooms in some butter and olive oil. Once it has been frying for about 5 minutes, add a tablespoon of plain flour and mix well. Next pour 500 ml of stock slowly into the pan, making sure everything is blended well. Continue stirring and then add the 150 ml Marsala wine into the mixture. Simmer and stir until the sauce is reduced to 1/3 of the original quantity. This should take about 20 minutes. Serve with the steak which has been grilled for 5 minutes on each side. A jacket potato and some steamed carrots are good com...

To commemorate 100 years since the 11 November 1918 Armistice and the end of WW1 people of Portsmouth are honouring the fallen from WW1 on the streets in the city where they once lived. Council Leader Cllr Gerald Vernon Jackson who put up the first board in Reginald Road on 31 October said: " This is a poignant way of remembering our fallen first world one heroes and enabling residents to connect with their local history and community."        Nearly 6,000 residents gave their lives during the conflict from 846 streets in the city. From 5 November their names will be displayed on boards to be erected in the streets where they lived to honour them and thank them for their sacrifice. All boards will be in place for the commemorations on 11 th  November. Greatest losses were sustained by Newcome Road which lost 24 residents and King Street and Reginald Road which each lost 23 residents. The names of those that we don’t have addresses for will be...

Portsmouth City Council's annual bonfire and fireworks display, will take place at King George V playing fields, in Cosham, on Wednesday 7 November. The free event will open at 4pm where there will be a children's funfair (under 12's only) as well as a variety of catering units. The bonfire will be lit at 7pm, followed by a spectacular firework display at 7.30pm which will begin after a countdown led by the Deputy Lord Mayor of Portsmouth. The display, funded by Portsmouth City Council always draws the crowds so please avoid driving if possible although parking is available at Lakeside. Cllr Steve Pitt, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport, said: "Our free annual fireworks display is always really popular and attracts lots of people from across the city. Arrive early, bring your friends and family and enjoy the evening and the display." Please follow the advice from marshals and use the underpass from Lakeside to the event site to avoid crossing Wester...

This November we commemorate 100 years since the end of the WW1 as part of or annual remembrance services and events: Monday 29 October - Monday 12 November - Royal British Legion knitted poppies project will be on display on the pillars of the Guildhall and around the balustrades of the WWI memorial. ‘Standing in Silence' - photography exhibition by University of Portsmouth student John Farnhill at St Thomas’s Cathedral, Old Portsmouth from 30 October - 11 November and at St Mary’s Church, Portchester Castle 20 – 25 November 10am – 4pm. Thursday 8 November at 11:00am - Gardens of Remembrance service at the WWI memorial, Guildhall Square. Saturday 10 November - Pompey Pals 24 Hour Vigil to Honour The Fallen of WW1 at the Cenotaph from 10am until 10am on Sunday 11 November. Sunday 11 November at 6:00am - Lone Piper plays in Guildhall Square to signify the moment the Armistice agreement was signed 100 years ago. Sunday 11 November from 9:30am-10:00am - Royal Naval Remembrance Servic...

Award-winning pianist Steven Osborne will be in concert at Portsmouth Guildhall on Monday 5 November. Steven is one of the most highly regarded pianists in the world. His numerous awards include The Royal Philharmonic Society Instrumentalist of the Year (2013) and two Gramophone Awards. You can learn more about Steven from his blog where he has reflected on why people go to concerts and reminisced about attending a concert that his wife, who is also a musician, took part in. The responses to his blog post offered different motivations to why people attend concerts: One audience member said, “It’s about the experience and emotion connected to music. You lose yourself, it's overwhelming & uplifting.” A mother brought her 7 and 12 year-old boys to a concert to show them that there is a new world where beautiful music exists. In Portsmouth, one person goes regularly because the music takes her mind away from her anxiety and depression. Whatever your motivation might be, ...

Black History Month (BHM) is held every October with the aim of promoting knowledge of black history, culture and heritage, and positive black contributions to British society. In support of BHM the University of Portsmouth, in conjunction with the Multicultural Staff Network and Student Union and Portsmouth Film Society, is supporting various activities throughout the Month. Events also mark the The Windrush 70th anniversary, celebrating and honouring the pioneering, Windrush generation that came to Britain who have helped to shape British social, cultural and political life. On 31 October, a day of events will be held at the University starting with the launch of the Race Equality Charter. The launch event will give staff an opportunity to learn more about the charter and will be opened by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Graham Galbraith. Dr Deborah Gabriel, Founder and Director of Black British Academics and Co-Chair of Bournemouth University’s Race Equality Charter Steering ...

As we walked around Southsea this afternoon we were basking in bright sunshine, but the air was crisp and cold. The evenings are darker and longer now. This Sunday, the clock will move back an hour.  It's time to wear a thicker coat and turn on the heating. I was quite attracted to the thicker jumpers and coats on display in the shops on Palmerston Road. My cooking has also moved into the thicker and warmer stews. Last night we had the rather moreish Lamb with Apricot Sauce.  The change of season is a reminder to take the slow road after the activities of the summer months. Especially this year with the good weather over the summer when we were able to take full advantage of the great outdoors and picnicking in the sunshine without fear of the English rain. It's time to grab yourself a good book and snuggle up in a comfortable blanket. Take time to slow down and savour the joys autumn has to offer. 

The University of Portsmouth presents another season of films to mark Black History Month in partnership with the Portsmouth Film Society. Starting with the screening Winnie (2017) on Wednesday 3 October, the programme looks back into history from different perspectives. The Black Panthers (2015) is a documentary of the rise and fall of the Black Panther Party, 20th century’s most alluring and controversial societies. In Jemima and Johnny (1966) we encounter a white boy and a black Jamaican girl forging a friendship in a racially hostile community. A beautiful introduction to young people about race and friendship, this 30-minute screening is free and open to the public, especially families. The series closes with the screening of Themba (2010) with themes of dream, football and migration, this film is also part of the Journeys International Festival in Portsmouth, highlighting the plight of refugees. Founder and coordinator of the Portsmouth Film Society Aysegul Epengin said “We’...

The 2018-19 Portsmouth Chamber Music series gets underway on Monday 8 October with the Goldmund String Quartet from Germany performing. The programme is an exciting one, with one of Haydn's greatest quartets, the second of Beethoven's Rasumovsky quartets, and the extraordinary 3rd quartet by Shostakovich. "I heard the Goldmund Quartet at the Wigmore Hall in April and they are incredible - I've rarely heard such powerful yet musical playing," said Colin Jagger, the Director of Music at the University of Portsmouth , who sponsors the series. Now in its fifteenth season, the Portsmouth Chamber Music Series brings world-class musicians to the city. Presented in partnership with Music in the Round and the Portsmouth Cultural Trust , it showcases the finest music in informal surroundings where the audience is never more than a few metres from the performers. Tickets are £18 with £16 concessions, available in person from the Guildhall , by calling 023 9387 0200, ...

Portsmouth is building on its nationally recognised outstanding work around learning disabilities by hosting the city's first event to celebrate and teach people about the subject. Portsmouth's learning disability service is inviting people with learning disabilities, their carers and professionals who work in the region to attend a free event on Wednesday 10 October. The event will showcase the services available to people with learning disabilities in Portsmouth and will also feature a series of workshops for learning disability professionals, families and members of the public. Portsmouth's learning disabilities team, which is a joint service run by Portsmouth City Council and Solent NHS Trust, has transformed the way it works with people with learning disabilities in the city. It is one of a handful of services in the country recognised as outstanding by the Care Quality Commission, the care watchdog. Anita Godson, founder of Lily and Lime, an award-winning social enter...

Following a sold out and critically acclaimed run at the 2018 Edinburgh Fringe, Paul embarks on an extensive UK tour of his new show, "Image Conscious", which he describes as follows: 'Greetings! It’s my brand new show, baybayyy! Ever considered the unique predicament of the soft-shell crab? I have. What about the numerous problems of organising a suburban orgy? The catering, for example. It's an absolute nightmare!'  and this is what some of the critics said: ‘Absolute textbook Paul Foot comedy gold" Broadway Baby *****  ‘It’s testimonial time for Paul Foot as he returns to Edinburgh with his 10th solo show. The show itself will be a delight for his loyal fans… and will not dent his reputation as one of the most original live comedians’ One4Review ****  ‘As gloriously anarchic as ever" Fest Magazine ****  ‘'Wonderfully crafted nonsense" Three Weeks ****  Paul is a BBC New Comedy Award and D...

I love traditional recipes and someone just posted this one. Worth a try. These are said to have been made by a travelling food seller, Maggie Bridie of Glamis (in the days when the county of Angus was called Forfarshire). They were mentioned by J M Barrie (author of Peter Pan) who was born in Kirriemuir in that county. The original recipe used suet but since that is not always to everyone's taste, you can use butter or margarine. Ingredients (for six bridies): 1½ lbs (700g) boneless, lean rump steak. Lean minced beef can also be used. 2 oz (2 rounded tablespoons) suet or butter or margarine 1 (or 2) onion, chopped finely 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder Quarter cup rich beef stock Salt and pepper to taste 1½ lbs flaky pastry (home made or from a pastry mix packet) Method: Remove any fat or gristle from the meat and beat with a meat bat or rolling pin. Cut into half-inch (1cm) pieces and place in a medium bowl. Add the salt/pepper, mustard, chopped onion, suet (or butter/margarine) an...

Award-winning theatre company Silent Uproar is bringing its critically acclaimed musical cabaret about depression to Hampshire after wowing crowds and critics alike at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe. As part of its first ever UK tour, Silent Uproar presents A Super Happy Story (About Feeling Super Sad) at Bedales Theatre in Petersfield on 2 October; The Spring in Havant on 3 October; West End Centre in Aldershot on 5 October; and Phoenix Theatre in Bordon on 6 October. Written by Olivier award winner Jon Brittain (Rotterdam, Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho) with music by Matthew Floyd Jones (Frisky and Mannish), prepare to laugh, cry and even get a song or two stuck in your head. Influenced by the company’s personal experiences and informed by interviews with people living with mental health problems and medical professionals, it’s a joyful, buoyant, gleeful, slightly silly, sugar coated, unrelenting and completely super happy show! Except for all the bits about depression. Th...

Friends came over and one of them was a vegetarian, so I opted to serve an Indonesia Rijtafel style meal allowing everyone to choose what and how much to have on their plate. For the vegetarian friend I made Telur Pindang or pickled eggs. The recipe serves 6 people for starter or as part of a larger meal. Telur Pindang Ingredients: 6 eggs, hard-boiled and peeled 1 small onion thinly sliced 1 garlic clove, crushed 1 red chilli, deseeded and finely sliced 2 medium ripe tomatoes, skinned and chopped 1/2 tsp ginger 1 tbsp dark brown sugar 1 tbsp white vinegar 100ml water Heat the oil in the saucepan and saute theonion, garlic and chillies until the onion is soft (about 5 minutes). add the chopped tomatoes and ginger and cook, stirring, until the tomato has pulped. Add the remaining ingredients, bring the mixture to a boil, stir well, cover, reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Half the eggs and serve on the plate covered with the sauce. Normally...

Thursday is the new Friday, right? So the weekend starts here and here are what you can look forward to this weekend: Paint and drink night sounds like a disaster waiting to happen, but apparently not. Join Paint Chill Co. for an evening of chilled painting, this Thursday, hosted by its professional local artists who will be providing step-by-step guidance and banter, to help you unleash your creativity and become your very own artist for the evening. Absolutely no experience required. All materials provided. Held at Southsea Castle where originally it was an artillery fort constructed by Henry VIII. Southsea castle is a historic landmark well know in the local area and Paint Chill Co has created a quirky spin on this iconic landmark for you to paint and offer a sense of 'place' in your home. Tickets are £25 per person, and you can take your painting home with you that evening! Please arrive 15min before at the Slug and Lettuce on Palmerston Road. Grab a drink, sign in and ...

As appeared on Portsmouth View, August 2018 Summer of Sherlock presents a variety of events throughout August, from examining scripts, discussing Conan Doyle’s relationship with the Boer War, to learning about poisons and life in Victorian England. More details from the Visit Portsmouth website. Head to the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard for a variety of events. Help the Mary Rose build a LEGO brick mosaic, one of the largest ever built in Britain. In partnership with Bright Bricks, the UK’s premier independent LEGO brick building company, the Mary Rose wants you to help recreate the famous Cowdray engraving of the Battle of the Solent, featuring the sinking of the Mary Rose. The Trafalgar Sail is also on display for a limited time in The National Museum of the Royal Navy’s Storehouse 10. Measuring the equivalent of two tennis courts when fully laid out, the sail is 80 feet at its foot, 54 feet at the head and 54 feet deep, covers an area of 3,618 feet. It is a remarkable piece ...

The University of Portsmouth presents public lectures by leading academics. From Rural Rajasthan to Urban Khartoum: Women’s Stories of Violence, Agency and Resilience Inaugural lecture by Tamsin Bradley, Professor of International Development Studies, University of Portsmouth In this lecture Professor Tamsin Bradley explores how women in different parts of the world experience and respond to violence. Specifically it will reflect on how, even in the most challenging of circumstances, women use agency to challenge and build what resilience they can. Violence against women and girls is a global epidemic. Resilience to the constant presence of violence in everyday life for many women comes through strong peer networks and role models. This lecture will offer stories and reflections from a number of powerful change agents whose determination to see an end to violence against women has brought greater understanding into how and why it persists. They have also demonstrated what can be ...

Come and enjoy our Summer of Sherlock events programme, from Sherlock's chemistry lab to a game of footie with Doyle, there's enough here for any budding detective! 1st August  - Portsmouth Museum - Sherlock Science - 11am - 3pm - Families A science extravaganza! Come and see some wonderful theatrical experiments in Sherlock's chemistry lab 1st August  - Brook Club, Somerstown Hub - Whodunnit - 6pm - 8pm - 11 - 16 year olds Codebreaking, chemistry and fingerprints and nothing like school! 2nd August - Portsea Youth Club, John Pounds Centre - Football with a difference - 5pm - 7pm - 11 - 16 year olds A game of footie with a different twist - find out what surfing, cricket balls and bowling have in common! 10th August  - Paulsgrove & Wymering Youth Club - Sherlock on TV - 1 - 3pm - 11 - 16 year olds Presenting the oldest of scripts using the most modern of technology! Back stage or in front of the camera - all welcome! 13th August  - Cosh...

Portsmouth Chamber Music Series announces its lineup for the 2018-2019 season in Portsmouth Guildhall, beginning on Monday October 8, 2018 at 7.30 pm. The series marks its 15th year with six concerts, featuring works by five composers new to the programme, including the young British composer Joseph Phibbs. The series welcome back Ensemble 360 and the Piatti Quartet. New to the series will be world renowned pianist Steven Osborne, Goldmund Quartet and Trio Isimsiz. The particular feature of the chamber series in Portsmouth is that the audience is seated around the musicians. It is a very intimate setting and gives everyone the feeling of shared musical experience which the audience really enjoy. Sponsored by the University of Portsmouth, the concerts are jointly promoted by Music in the Round in Sheffield, the UK’s largest promoter of chamber music outside London, as well as the Portsmouth Cultural Trust and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. “If I had a crystal ball in 2004 when ...

The National Museum of the Royal Navy at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard will be the first port of call for commemorative First World War Lamplight of Peace. The commemorative lamp is to arrive by sea on August 5 at 1100hrs at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and will be on display until 28 August 2018. On August 5 1914 the first shot at sea of the First World War was fired and exactly 104 years later a Lamplight of Peace, commemorating the work of the Great War tunnellers and the millions of soldiers, sailors and merchant seamen that lost their lives, will embark on its own 100-day journey ending on Remembrance Sunday on 11 November. Its first call is at The National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. The specially-commissioned Lamplight of Peace is an original Bonnetted Clanny (Meusler) lamp that would have been used by miners in British coalfields and subsequently in the tunnels. The event is part of Battle's Over – A Nation's Tribute being organise...

If you are looking for a great family day out this summer this event at the Mary Rose Museum might just be the answer. From Saturday 21st July – Sunday 2nd September, visitors can help the Mary Rose build a giant LEGO brick mosaic, one of the largest ever built in Britain.  In partnership with Bright Bricks, the UK’s premier independent LEGO brick building company, the Mary Rose want you to help recreate the famous Cowdray engraving of the Battle of the Solent, featuring the sinking of the Mary Rose. ©The Mary Rose Trust. Measuring 12 by 3 metres, this particular LEGO brick mosaic will be based on The Encampment of the English forces near Portsmouth Cowdray engraving which offers an aerial view of Tudor Portsmouth. The fleet of French King, Francis I, can be seen battling King Henry VIII’s ships on 19 July 1545, the fateful day the Mary Rose sank. As the battle wages on in Solent waters, Henry VIII watches from nearby Southsea Cas...