Portsmouth City Council

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Eat the Island fuels business opportunities for local producers

Portsmouth’s thriving food and drink community came together in record numbers on Wednesday 11 June for Eat the Island, a dynamic networking event hosted at the Portsmouth Distillery.

Over 60 local and regional businesses gathered to launch Southsea Food Festival 2025 and connect, collaborate, and celebrate the city’s vibrant hospitality sector.

Organised by Portsmouth City Council in partnership with Hampshire Fare, the Queens Hotel, and Portsmouth Distillery, Eat the Island marked the official launch of the Southsea Food Festival. The event offered a unique platform for producers, retailers, and hospitality venues to explore new partnerships and strengthen the local supply chain.

Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council with responsibilities for economic development, said:

“Eat the Island is creating real momentum for Portsmouth’s food and drink businesses. We’re seeing more venues sourcing locally and producers expanding their reach both within the city and beyond. Events like this are key to building a resilient, connected local economy.

”It was inspiring to speak to so many thriving local businesses at the event, and also encourage them to think of any products they might want to produce next year to mark Portsmouth’s 100-year anniversary as a city in 2026.”

Attendees enjoyed product showcases from local producers, alongside opportunities to network and share ideas. The event also featured short talks highlighting success stories and practical insights into sourcing local.

From L-R: Daniel Nowland, Southsea Deli; Alexis Rendell, Tea Mountain and Jordan Thompson, Smoke and Mirrors.

Vince Noyce, Co-Founder and Operations Director at Portsmouth Distillery, added:

“Collaboration is at the heart of what we do. Hosting Eat the Island allows us to support the wider food and drink community while celebrating Portsmouth’s distilling heritage.”

Natasha Dochniak, Commercial Manager at Hampshire Fare said:

“Eat the Island is a fantastic example of what happens when passionate people come together with a shared vision. Hampshire Fare is proud to champion the producers and hospitality venues who are putting our region on the culinary map, and we’re delighted to work in partnership with Portsmouth City Council to support the city’s growing food and drink scene. Events like this don’t just spark new opportunities, they strengthen the sense of community that’s so essential to a thriving local food economy.”

Paul Playford, General Manager of the Queens Hotel, said:

“We’re proud to support Eat the Island. There’s so much talent and creativity in Portsmouth’s food scene, and we’re committed to championing local producers wherever we can.”

stalls at eat the island

With its focus on connection, innovation, and sustainability, Eat the Island continues to play a vital role in shaping the future of Portsmouth’s food and drink economy.

For more information and future event updates, visit: investportsmouth.co.uk/eat-the-island