It must nearly be Summertime as The Yellow Kite cafe at Southsea Castle has just re-opened, if you are a new to the cafe then hello and if you are a returning customer welcome back we missed you!
There is a lot planned in the Castle for this season, kids fishing lessons, a secret pudding club and even more great British food on offer, open everyday except Monday 10am – 4.30pm and their special evening supper-times will start in May and they will keep you posted! www.yellowkite.org.uk or 02392 839080.
It’s hard to believe that it was only June 2010 when The Belle Isle surfaced on Osborne Road and knocked all the local competition of it’s seats to stand up and take notice. The boys took advantage of something that wasn’t really being done, and did it exceptionally well.
Well the Belle Isle Chichester is no exception. The new bar is at least 3 times the size of it’s little brother in Southsea, and boasts some incredible hand crafted work. Every detail has been well considered and the passion that has gone in to creating this unique venue is visibly apparent. From the centre table, which is a show piece in itself, to the wall of suitcases that towers the Southsea version, the hand made tables and mismatched chairs, wood flooring that flows in to tiled flooring in the gallery and seated eating area, the attention to signage, which is all hand painted, the awesome lighting and simply epic bar area, this is a true labour of love and deserves everything it will rightly receive.
Of course it goes without saying that the food and drink remains as exceptional as Southsea. The selection of drinks is huge and the food we all sampled at the preopening party was as you would expect. Delicious. To say the least.
This is no mass produced cookie cut venue. It’s a unique, one off testament to what can be done with the right the people, and the desire and willingness to take a risk on something different. Good work boys and to everyone that helped, we know you’ve been putting the hours in. Have a beer, or 10…
The Belle Isle Chichester opens this 31st March 2012 and I for one look forward to a few summer bike rides there.
Opening on Castle Road is Pie & Vinyl. This will be the first independent music outlet selling new releases since Reflex Records moved to Fareham a few years ago, and Southsea has been crying out for something like this ever since.
Steve & Rob, the guys behind Pie & Vinyl, are committed to bringing something fresh to the the community;
“Both being from Southsea and now in our thirties, we felt that there was call for an independent record shop in Southsea. Somewhere that we could go to, listen to and buy the music we liked in a relaxed environment. The idea had been rattling around our collective brains for a while; however things really started to become reality when we realized that we were bored of waiting for someone else to do it, we may as well do it ourselves.
Things snowballed from then and we thought about introducing pie and mash to our operation. Combining the two things we love the most. Music and food.”
Along with these two staples of life, they will be offering a drinks menu, poster art for sale, instore signings and showcasing local bands and artists.
The grand opening is now set for Friday the 6th of April. Below are some pictures of the nearly completed shop.
For more information, check their website here and their facebook page here
Hilbourne’s is located at 223 Albert Road, Southsea, PO4 0JP
It’s always good to see new Local business’ opening and Saturday saw the opening of Hilbourne’s Pounds and Ounces on Albert road, a traditional sweet shop with a gigantic selection of all those sweets we spent our childhood munching and crunching as well as some exciting new varieties. Kev and Kim Hilbourne have really gone for it with over 300 different sweets, slushies and Jersey cream whippy ice cream to work your way through as well as offering wedding favours, party bags and quarter sized jars of your favourites to take away. I even spotted a massive tennis ball sized gob stopper that supposedly takes a week to eat!!! Be it sherbert lemons, chocolate limes, mint humbugs, rhubarb and custard, aniseed balls or a dab of your favourite sherbet, they’ve got it sorted and if they havent got it in, let them know and they’ll do their best to hunt it down for you.
EU regulations say all shops must sell in grams but Hilbournes gets round that by selling sweets at 100g (in paper bags of course!) but giving you a little extra free to make it up to the old style quarter.
You can find out more on their website – www.hilbornespoundsandounces.co.uk
Sunday 18th March is Mothering Sunday this year and The Belle Isle are offering a FREE glass of house wine to every Mum that day. You can choose from a small glass of house red, white or rose wine. Bookings are now being taken and it is advised that you make a table reservation. You can call The Belle Isle Southsea on 02392 820515.
Many of you have have been keeping your eye on the covered windows of the old Allen Bros Tyre & Van Hire property on the corner or Albert Road and Victoria Grove in anticipation of the Garage Lounge, Southseas latest coffee joint.
Now let me set the record straight, it’s no coffee shop that’s for sure. If anything it’s a coffee lounge as name suggests. Taking it’s name from the purpose of the previous establishment is the only thing in common it bears. With a very considered decor including vintage furniture, well chosen antiques, fantastic lighting and hand laid original parquet flooring the Garage Lounge has much more to offer than coffee. In fact if it’s non alcoholic they seem to have it. If the simply insane coffee machine isn’t blending away the smoothies and juices are literally flowing.
I was fortunate enough to get an invite (thanks Callum) on their opening night and was amazed by the shear effort that has gone in to creating this unique new venue on Albert Road.
It may not be to everyones taste as a ‘hang out’, but for myself I’m stoked to see someone going the extra mile and once again adding to the the whole buzz of Albert Road. It also means me and Paul may have the odd meeting that’s not in a pub…..
Edit: You can find The Garage Lounge over on Facebook HERE.
Ever since Dave Millard and Punk Paul introduced me to Caroles Cafe, it’s been the only place in Southsea I will ever go to for my traditional english breakfasts.
The walls of the cafe are covered with images of Portsmouth Football Club from the past twenty or so years. It brought back memories of when my uncle Keith used to take me to matches as a boy. On the wall you’ll see old faces including the likes Darryl Powell, Robbie Pethick, Paul Hall and the legendary Guy Whittingham.
The food is reasonably priced with generous portions. They don’t just serve breakfasts, they serve a range of snacks and dinners. You can even get a roast dinner on a sunday. Pop in for a tea, coffee or a bite to eat and I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Caroles Cafe is located at 247 Albert Road, Southsea, PO4 0JR.
Openning Times
Monday > Friday 0600-1400
Saturday 0630-1430 (perfect place to get something to get before a trip to Fratton Park)
Sunday 0700-1430
Interesting! Not often that you hear about what is going on in your own backyard via the illustrious FACT Mag. But it seems like Southsea is set to welcome the UK’s first ever pie selling vinyl store! What a brilliant idea. Check out the full article here and be sure to follow them on their twitter. Am all over this.
Jamie’s Italian Portsmouth are offering Portsmouth Shoppers, Residents and Staff the chance to come in and enjoy the best of their fabulous menu for 50% off food for a limited time in February and March.
To take advantage of this great offer you will need to book online at www.jamiesitalian.com/portsmouth using the code ‘SOFTOPEN50’. Bookings of up to 6 guests and offer only valid Monday through Friday from 12.00 until 17.00 February 20th until March 2nd 2012. You may also book by contacting the restaurant directly on 02392 000595 between the hours of 9-5 Monday through Friday or via email to meghan.thomasson@jamiesitalian.com. Spaces are limited so book early to avoid disappointment! Pukka….
Photos courtesy of the delicious Southsea Food Social.
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