Strong Island

Final Death of the Savoy

Wednesday, August 10th, 2011. Published in Seafront & The Coastline, Vintage & Historical Portsmouth by

The Savoy Building has been a key part of the Southsea seafront for over 80 years. Built in 1929 with it’s location opposite South Parade Pier The Savoy started out as a popular ballroom (and aquarium!) and through the years became a key live music venue in the 60s, including playing host to The Beatles on 7th April 1963. In more recent times the building became split up in to separate clubs and venues that went under many names through the 90s and 00s before closing and slowly becoming derelict. The left half of the building that once was home to the infamous 5th Avenue was demolished a couple of years ago and the remaining part of the building was sadly destroyed by fire yesterday.

The building was for many years the hub of Southsea when it came to people going out in the evening and will for many hold some fond memories (for me it was the hip hop night downstairs in 5th and the weekly rock night downstairs next door). If you have any memories of the place, be it queueing up for a late night burger at the corner shop, waiting for ages for a taxi, a particularly rawkus night out…anything, please add them as a comment, we would love to hear them. Also if you have any photos or video of the building from before, during or after the fire please send them over: contact@strong-island.co.uk.

The following photos were sent to us by Strong Islanders:









Photos by Pete Thorne



View from Portchester by Brad Goddard

Photo by Matt Maber

Photo by Sarah Dobinson

Photo by Charlie’s Dad

View more photos from yesterday’s post HERE.

Video by Pete Thorne

Video by iamthegtard

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2 Comments to Final Death of the Savoy

  1. I met my former husband at Joanna’s nite club on September 15th 1979 when I was 21.

    Another nite, before I met my ex,I ended up in hospital due to someone spiking my drink in Joanna’s. I vomited on the floor of the club, after just one drink, and I was a regular drinker in those days so I wasn’t drunk,and was promptly escorted off the premises. Unfortunately I was so out of my face I lay down on the pavement, to sleep, outside the club and then an ambulance arrived. I spent the rest of the night in the plaster room of The Royal hospital, sadly another building that no longer exists.

    I loved living in Southsea, my dad moved us there when I was 8 years old, because he couldn’t find work in Yorkshire, where we came from. My parents moved back to Yorkshire and I stayed in Southsea but my circumstances changed and I had to return to Yorkshire.

    Sandi on November 18th, 2011

  2. Hi Sandi,

    Thanks for getting in touch, amazing story! The building remains haven’t been cleaned up and are causing a bit of a stir locally. It still lives on in local eyes…just.

    Paul Gonella on November 18th, 2011

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Features

The 2nd Strong Island Ale – Dry Dock No. 1

Tuesday, May 8th, 2012. Published in Features, Food & Drink, Strong Island by

As you may know each year we run a home brew competition in February where the winning brew has the opportunity to be brewed by Irving & Co Brewing Co. and sold around the city in the summer. Last year’s brew, the Strong Island Hopper Ale, was hugely successful being one of Inving’s best selling ales and selling out so quickly it went through a second brew run. This year’s winning ale is Dry Dock No. 1, originally brewed by Lee Immins, went on sale in some of Portsmouth and Southsea’s pubs over the weekend.

We spoke to The Hole in The Wall in Southsea who said the new ale went down a storm with it being their best seller on Sunday and with almost two barrels empty by the end of the Bank Holiday weekend. Those guys at the Hole in The Wall and their regular ale drinkers know their stuff so for us this was amazing early news with the ale.

To officially launch Dry Dock No. 1 we are having a launch party with the lovely souls at The Belle Isle on Thursday evening. The ale will be on full flow, come down and try a pint or two. As well as being on sale all around the city the ale will also be available in Chichester’s Belle Isle too, so you can drink it away from home for the first time too.






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The Isle Of Wight Randonnee 2012 – Team Strong Island

Monday, May 7th, 2012. Published in Bikes & Cycling, Features by

Just over a year ago, a group of Strong Islanders were sat on the Isle of Wight ferry on our way to the yearly Randonnee cycling event; 60 miles around the island spread across 5 checkpoints. Whilst on the crossing we couldn’t help but admire various enthusiasts and their custom team jerseys. Fast forward a year and it is my great pleasure to unveil the Strong Island cycling jersey. Made as a one off for the event, the jersey is our way of representing this city and all the values that come with it. Thanks to the combined designing efforts of Chris Ballingall and Tristan Savage, we were able to produce this clean, retro looking jersey that 11 of Southsea’s finest could wear to conquer the island’s endless hills. Well done chaps.

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