SouthseaScene

Luna Park 2021, an eagerly anticipated new public artwork for Portsmouth designed by internationally renowned artists Ivan Morison and Heather Peak of Studio Morison will be launched on 2 October 2021 on a celebratory day in Southsea Common.  The 1.4 metres bronze sculpture is a tribute to the original 53-foot high 2010 artwork Luna Park, which tragically burned down on Southsea Common. The artists will unveil a new sculpture that responds to ten years of public demand to ‘bring back the Southsea Dinosaur’.  The new public artwork will be located within a direct sightline to the position of the original Luna Park sculpture. It will sit on top of a fossil Portland stone plinth with a QR code which when scanned with a smartphone will connect to an Augmented Reality experience. People will be transported to a digital rendering of the original artwork, seemingly standing life-size in front of them on Southsea Common. Viewers will also be able to use their mobile devices to visit a...

The Southsea Rose Garden is really a beautiful oasis to sit and smell the roses. This spring has been particularly beautiful and so we went for a visit to take some photographs of the roses for your viewing pleasure. When you get the chance, do give it a visit.

Tomorrow is Father's Day. How will you celebrate? Bring him some beer from The Hole in the Wall . You can pick up a good selection from Jon on Great Southsea Street and drop it off in person outside his house and wish him a happy day, or join him for a pint in his garden. You can buy him a meal from the Duke of Buckingham pub on the High Street and he can something to look forward to for his Sunday lunch. Otherwise, buy him a coffee, or better, grab a coffee together from places like Southsea Coffee Now that the independent bookshop Pigeon Books  has opened, you can pick up a book for dad and at the same time celebrate Independent Bookshop Week that starts today, until 27th June. If your father lives far away, invite him to Zoom, Skype, or Facetime and have a good chat. The most important thing, and the perfect gift for Father's Day, is to show him that you care. Many of us have sadly lost a loved one recently and if your dad is no longer on this earth this Father's Day, ...

There's an eerie quietness as I walked to work this morning. The streets which are normally crowded with kids going to school, parents pushing younger siblings in prams and gossiping in groups, were empty. It's as if Southsea is in a lockdown already. In some sense it has. Restaurants and bars, which a week ago were sending messages of taking good care about cleanliness, now are saying they are closing their doors. The Guildhall is closed, museums such as the Mary Rose are closed, libraries and the council offices are closed. All day at work we were preparing to close the office and work from home. My colleague brought home the 21 pots of plants from the office to look after. We practiced using Google Hangout and put a daily meeting online for the weeks to come. For how long, we don't know. While we rant against those who swiped the supermarket shelves clean of loo rolls and pasta, I secretly worry that there will be no supply in the weeks to come. Friends nervously l...

Get ready with your folding chairs, rugs, air beds, and picnic for a superb outdoor cinema experience this summer with Portsmouth Film Society. This year’s season of summer films launches on Friday 7th June with a free family show voted for by the public for the D-Day 75 celebration. Screening starts at 7.00 pm. The following evening, Saturday 8th June, the D-Day film Darkest Hour (2017), with an Oscar-winning performance by Gary Oldman, will be shown at Canoe Lake. Directed by Joe Wright, who made Atonement, another film with a wartime setting, it also stars Kristin Scott Thomas as Churchill’s wife Clemmie. Local MP, Stephen Morgan, will give the opening talk. Chairman of the Society, Cecelia Young, says: “We are very proud to show outdoor cinema in Portsmouth. Last year our events were very popular because the weather was kind to us. We hope it will be the same again. We are also giving free tickets to seafront residents for Darkest Hour (8th June at Canoe Lake) and The Gre...

Half term is upon us, and with the weather set to be dry and bright where better to spend the week than in Southsea? Whether you are looking to brush up on your history and culture at one of the city's museums, or to spend a fun-filled day at the arcades at Clarence Pier there is something for the whole family. Clarence Pier Southsea is one of the largest amusement parks on the south coast and hosts arcades, rides and activities for the whole family. If the weather turns there is always the option to head into Pirate Pete's; one of the largest indoor children's playgrounds on the south coast, catering for children and toddlers with a variety of fun, soft play areas. For those looking for somewhere to rest their feet and grab some food, there is also a great selection of food and drink outlets along the seafront and around Clarence Pier. Southsea is alive with history and there are many museums and cultural landmarks to visit including Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, ...

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.

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. 

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 ...

Saturday is chores day, but I cannot miss the Created in Portsmouth arts and crafts trail, which saw local artists and crafters opening their studios to the public. I had very little time so briskly made my way to Darlington Road, where bookmaker and paper artist Adrian Munday was opening his front room to showcase some of the fabulous books he has made. The photographs of the books were enticing enough, but to actually feel the books yourself was quite something. I know I have a thing about stationary, but these books were exquisite! Adrian's mother Shirley also had her crafts on display and she was an amazing woman who has a passion of beading and embroidery. You cannot miss her enthusiasm for the crafts and she couldn't avoid infecting me with her delight in crafting. Safe to say that I could not walk away without purchasing one of her beautifully crafted beaded bracelet. Having had such an inspiring visit with these two I thought it would be churlish to skip the st...

So excited to be able to blog from my mobile phone! We hope this means that you will see more blogs about events and life around Southsea from this page. If you have any news or events you want to share, please email the details to southseascene@yahoo.co.uk

I'm not one of those for making any new year resolutions. I did a lot as a teenager only to suffer the anxiety of not quite measuring up to my own idea of perfection. This new year there will be no 'new me'. It will be the same old me, still trying to work on some of my 'weakness' but also trying to feel more comfortable in my own skin. Yes, of course I could do with some exercise. Who doesn't? It is a good idea to want to be healthier, but like anything it takes time. Resolutions for improvement should be given a full year to develop and not just the next 30 days. So cast your eyes a little bit further to next Christmas and make yourself some goals, some of which perhaps should be more accessible than others. Here's my list: 1. Go to at least 6 Parkrun sessions 2. Eat my lunch away from my desk 3. Talk to my sister on the telephone rather than texting 4. Write 2 blog posts a month 5. Draw 1 picture a week, any size 6. Have cake with Haley 3 ti...

The silhouette of Sherlock Holmes, with his deerstalker hat, pipe and magnifying glass, is instantly recognisable. The stories have been translated into many languages, and new stories are always being written. All over the world actors have made their name by playing the famous – and infinitely malleable – detective, and groups meet to discuss and dress as characters from the stories. But what is behind this extraordinary attraction to the character of Holmes?  Go along to the Spring Arts and Heritage Centre, to listen to Michael Gunton, Senior Archivist at Portsmouth City Library,  who will explore some of the reasons for our enduring fascination with Sherlock Holmes. Perhaps due to the hugely popular television series starting Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, Holmes is often mistaken for a historical figure, rather than a fictional creation. An extensive collection of items relating to Conan Doyle is housed in the Library’s second floor history suite, and M...

This article appears in the Portsmouth View published 12 August 2016.  Portsmouth has become a real foodie paradise and no one is more pleased about it than me. I love food, not only in eating it, but also in creating meals. So living here is such a delight for me. The monthly farmers market on Palmerston Road is a must and the next one is on 21 August. It is the best place to find fresh local produce and stock up on delicious cakes, preserves or wines. Summer also means food festivals of which there are many you can find in this bustling city. We have just witnessed a Gin Festival in Portsmouth Guildhall, home also to beer festivals. In fact, make a note in your diary for the Octoberfest celebration there on 21 October. This weekend the Thai Food Festival in Castle Field, a regular feature on the summer calendar, will complement the Kite Festival nicely offering favourites such as pad-thai and fishcakes. Of course we also have the annual Southsea F...

Southsea has a monthly farmers market which I really love because Palmerston precinct where it's held becomes even more alive and buzzing. It is also a perfect opportunity to find some fresh or unusual local produce, that's not available in the local supermarkets. I also love meeting the vendors and chatting with them online, anticipating the next market. So I decided that I should really feature some of them on this page. Before the last market, I received a sweet tweet from @BubbleandMarita which prompted a conversation about bubble and squeaks, suitable toppings and the idea of this posting. So let me introduce you... Bubble& is a local street food phenomenon that has redefined bubble and squeak as we know it. They have created gourmet, gluten-free bubble and squeak cakes in a range of flavours that you can eat hot on their market stall with a soft poached egg, bacon and hollandaise sauce. They are so good, you may also want to take them home. So they have designe...

Article as it appears in the April 2015 edition of Portsmouth View: April showers bring May flowers so the saying goes. The next two months are the best time of the year for gardeners. Have you tried gardening? It is a good activity for any age. It can be rigorous or gentle, depending on what you want to do and it gives much pleasure, especially when all the plants are blooming or bearing fruits. It is a relaxing activity that is probably good for your health. I recently attended a mental health networking meeting at the Central Library. Those who were there agreed that it is important to maintain good mental health much as we maintain our physical health. Hobbies such as gardening, cooking or singing, may help you relax and give the mind a rest from thinking of stressful things. The long Easter weekend was also a good chance to rest and refresh. At the university we also have an Easter break for three weeks. While the students are away, members of s...

Southsea is a lovely part of the big city of Portsmouth. It sits on the southern tip of the island and that’s where you should come down for a lovely day on the coast. There are lovely shops along Palmerston and Albert Roads and a nice walk along the pebble beach from historic Old Portsmouth to Eastney.  It’s also wheelchair and pushchair accessible, so the whole family can enjoy a walk on the seafront. And once you’ve done that, what else to do but to sample some of the delightful cafes Southsea has to offer. The Tenth Hole (023 9283 0009)  Eastern Parade, Southsea PO4 9RF If you start in Eastney, you will see a well-known establishment in Southsea, whose name is synonymous with cake. It’s cakes galore! The portions are large and the prices economical. The only problem is choosing one! Find out what Southsea has been talking about all these years. Casa de Castro (023 9281 1883)  96a Albert Road, Southsea PO5 2SN I was wondering why a friend kep...