What to do in Portsmouth and Southsea this July
With summer officially in full swing, Portsmouth and Southsea’s event calendar is kicking off big-time, with continuing events like Live at the Bandstand, the Love Southsea Markets, and Southsea Castle’s Champagne Bar, plus exciting one-offs like the fabulous Southsea Food Festival, exclusive remastered screenings of Yellow Submarine at No. 6 Cinema, and the Pretty Muddy Race for Life on Southsea Common!
‘Yellow Submarine’ at No. 6 Cinema
📍 No. 6 Cinema, Historic Dockyard
⏳ Sunday 8th July, 11am or 6pm
No. 6 Cinema, Portsmouth’s only independent filmhouse, screen 1968 animated musical fantasy comedy film Yellow Submarine twice on Sunday 8th July: once from 11:00am and once from 6:00pm. An icon of psychedelic pop culture, Yellow Submarine is a colourful musical spectacle and an exhilaratingly joyful cinematic experience for all ages!
Southsea Food Festival 2018 with Love Southsea
📍 Palmerston Road, Southsea
⏳ Saturday 14th/Sunday 15th July
Running on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th July from 10:00am through 5:00pm, Southsea Food Festival will bring together the most vibrant collection of culinary traders and street market food stalls in Portsmouth and wider Hampshire. An urban family-oriented event, Southsea Food Festival features around 100 stalls, providing a fun day out with an eclectic curation of cuisines at its heart! We’re 100% ready to eat at least 20 burritos.
Morrissey at Portsmouth Guildhall
📍 Portsmouth Guildhall
⏳ Tuesday 10th July, 7:00pm
Morrissey has announced additional UK dates for the summer, including intimate shows in Edinburgh, Portsmouth, and Reading. These new shows follow the most successful UK Tour of his career from earlier this year, which included four sold-out shows in London alone! Catch the Smiths frontman at Portsmouth Guildhall from from 7:00pm on Tuesday 10th July.
Sunset Sundays at Spinnaker Tower
📍 Spinnaker Tower, Gunwharf Quays
⏳ All throughout July
Raise a glass 100 metres above sea level while enjoying a panoramic view of the sunset over Portsmouth Harbour, from the top of the Spinnaker Tower! Their ‘Sunset Sundays’ events offer live music and a sky-high pop-up bar serving wines, beers, and spirits, including locally-sourced favourites such as Upham Ale and Isle of Wight Gin.
Southsea Bandstand on the seafront
📍 West Battery Gardens
⏳ All throughout July
The free Southsea Bandstand performances continue throughout the entirety of July, with hip-hop fusion on the 1st, surf-punk from Emptifish on the 7th, beatboxing/looping on the 8th, tributes on the 14th, dub/ska/reggae on the 15th, bands on the 21st and 22nd, more local bands on the 28th, and big-band sounds on the 29th. All shows run from 1pm ‘til 4pm, and if the weather is bad, check the Facebook page for substitute venues.
Champagne Bar at Southsea Castle
📍 Southsea Castle
⏳ All throughout July
The hugely popular Friday night event returns! Champagne Bar is typically free, with music from Elliott Gregg on the 6th, Gentle Bren on the 13th, and Wax Equities on the 20th, followed by the big £10-ticketed mid-summer party on the 27th, featuring Funk You and Gentle Bren. Good music in a stunning historic location.
Roller Disco at Southsea Skatepark
📍 Southsea Skatepark
⏳ Saturday 7th July
Whether you’re already a keen skater or the only thing you’ve ridden with wheels is a taxi, wheel into Southsea Skatepark on July 7th to let loose at the monthly Roller Disco, with Monkeylove Stunt Team spinning the music for the night. Also pay the skatepark a visit any other day, too, learning from the best and supporting this iconic Southsea landmark.
Love Southsea Street Markets
📍 Palmerston Road
⏳ Saturday 7th/Sunday 8th July
The Love Southsea Markets have been an established monthly staple of shopping in Palmerston Road for five years, and they continue in 2018, on the first weekend of every month. 50+ local independent traders and food stalls will be setting up shop in the high street precinct. In July, the markets take place on Saturday 7th (9am — 5pm) and Sunday 8th (10am — 4pm).
Pretty Muddy for Cancer Research UK
📍 Southsea Common
⏳ Saturday 7th July
Pretty Muddy returns to Southsea Common — an annual staple of Portsmouth’s fundraising calendar! Women of any ability are challenged to take on a muddy obstacle course to raise vital funds for Cancer Research UK. This year, there’s an additional course especially for children! This Race for Life event is a 5K. Different waves set off from different times.