If you are struggling with the cost of food, or would like a hot meal, there are services in Portsmouth that are here to help.
Help with food
Food banks
Food banks provide around 3 days food for your whole household if you can’t afford to buy food. Some food banks need a referral, and some can help you without being referred.
If you need a referral, your support worker or school may be able to refer you, but if not, you can contact Advice Portsmouth – call 023 9279 4340, text 07789 550593 or email advice.portsmouth@theyoutrust.org.uk or contact your local housing office if you are a city council tenant. Or you can drop in to Salvation Army Southsea at 84 Albert Road, PO5 2SN, on Monday, Wednesday or Friday.
| Day/Time | Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 11am-1pm | Kings Church Hall, Fraser Road, PO5 4QA | Food bank voucher or e-referral required 3-day food parcel |
| Tuesday 1-3pm | Haven Community Centre, Lake Road, PO1 4HA | One-off emergency food parcel To receive a food parcel, you must show proof of ID including name and address |
| Wednesday 11am-1pm | Kings Church Hall, Fraser Road, PO5 4QA | Food bank voucher or e-referral required 3-day food parcel |
| Deliveries completed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays | Caring Hands Foodbank is not open to visitors, all food parcels are home delivered | For families with children and people who are housebound Caring Hands food bank voucher or email referral required 3-day food parcel Home delivery |
Thursday 11am- 12pm Please note - Portsea Foodbank will be closed during August, so visitors will need to go to King's Church to redeem their voucher | Harbour Church, St. George's Square, PO1 3AT | Food bank voucher or e-referral required 3-day food parcel |
| Thursday 12-2pm | Paulsgrove Baptist Church, Woofferton Road, PO6 4DW | Food bank voucher required 3-day food parcel |
| Friday 10am-12pm | Haven Community Centre, Lake Road, PO1 4HA | One-off emergency food parcel To receive a food parcel, you must show proof of ID including name and address |
| Friday 11am-1pm | Kings Church Hall, Fraser Road, PO5 4QA | Food bank voucher or e-referral required 3-day food parcel |
Free hot meals and prepared food for people in need
Anyone who needs a hot meal can visit any of the services listed below. No referral needed.
| Day/Time | Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, 5.30-7pm | St. Simon's Church, Waverley Road, PO5 2PW | Sit-down meal, hot drinks, cakes, small food parcel. Arrive by 6pm |
| Sunday, 12-1pm | St. Swithun's, Waverley Road, PO5 2PL (entrance via car park) | Takeaway lunch and hot drink |
| Monday, 5.30-6.30pm PLEASE NOTE, the Monday night meal at Harbour Church is closed during August and will re-open on Monday 5 September. | Harbour Church at All Saints Church, 334 Commercial Road, PO1 4BT | Sit-down meal or takeaway |
| Tuesday, 10.30am-1pm (arrive by 11am) | InSight, Discovery Centre @ St John's Cathedral, entrance via the car park, Bishop Crispian Way, PO1 3QA | Community group with two-course hot meal |
| Wednesday, 9am | LifeHouse, Harold Road, PO4 0JW (just off Albert Road) | Hot breakfast (eat in) |
| Wednesday, 6pm | FoodCycle, John Pounds Centre, 23 Queen Street, PO1 3HN | Sit-down meal - tasty food and good company |
| Wednesday, 6.30-8pm | Buckland soup kitchen, 174 Kingston Road, PO2 7LP (Queens Road entrance) | Takeaway hot food and sandwiches |
| Thursday, 6pm | LifeHouse, Harold Road, PO4 0JW (just off Albert Road) | Hot dinner (eat in) |
| Friday, 8-10pm | Friday Fridge @ St Jude's Church, Kent Road, PO5 3EL (by Palmerston Road precinct) | Hot sandwiches and hot drink (eat in) |
The Portsmouth Rough Sleeping Hub is open 7 days a week from 8am-4pm. Anyone sleeping rough, or at risk of becoming homeless, can access practical support. You can book an appointment in person, or by telephone.
- Address: Kingsway House, 130 Elm Grove, Portsmouth PO5 1LR
- Email: portsmouth.dayservices@ssj.org.uk
- Phone: 023 9288 2689
Other food options
Cosham Community Larder
Pay £1 per year to become a member, then pay just £3 for a bag of groceries when you shop. Open to anyone living in the Cosham, Paulsgrove or Wymering area.
Join Cosham Community Larder online, then complete your membership the first time you visit the shop, which is open to members on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10am-2pm.
Landport Larder
The Larder is open at Landport Community Centre every Tuesday from 9:00am-12:00 noon, offering a range of tinned, boxed, fresh, chilled and frozen foods which vary weekly based on the supply from Fare Share.
Local residents can join the scheme for just £1 and buy 10 items for £3.50 (where the equivalent basket at the supermarket would be approximately £15). We ask customers to bring their own carry bags to take their purchases away.
North End Pantry
For a weekly cost of £4, members of The North End Pantry in Portsmouth will be able to choose a selection of food with a value of £15 – £20 each week.
The pantry is here to help residents in the North End area to top up your weekly shop, and the variety of food available includes fresh fruit and veg, store cupboard favourites, bread and dairy products.
Open to members at North End Baptist Church, 195 Powerscourt Road, PO2 7JH on
- Monday 4.30pm – 5.30pm
- Tuesday 4pm – 6pm
- Thursday 1pm – 3pm
- Friday 10am -12pm
Membership is open to anyone living in PO1, PO2, PO3 or PO5. If you live in PO4, you can join St Mags Pantry.
To join, drop in to the Pantry during opening hours, or sign up online.
Portsea Pantry
Portsea Pantry, based in the John Pounds Centre, Portsea, is offering groceries for a nominal fee to local families.
For a weekly subscription of £4, members can buy a weekly food shop including fresh fruit and vegetables, tasty treats, and frozen, chilled and tinned goods.
Portsea Pantry is open to any residents with a PO1 – 3 postcode. Proof of address is needed on your first visit.
To join, sign up online.
If you can’t get online, you can sign up in person. Please call 07393 590 078 to check opening times.
St Mag’s Pantry
For a weekly cost of £4.50, St Mag’s Pantry members can choose a selection of fresh, chilled, frozen and ambient food with a supermarket value of approximately £15-£20.
The Pantry is here to help residents of Southsea, primarily postcode PO4, toward a full weekly shop. We hope to deliver fruit and vegetable items for free.
Open to members to shop with us at St Margaret’s Community Church, Highland Road, PO4 9DD, on the following days:
- Monday 3pm-4.30pm
- Tuesday 4pm-5.30pm
- Wednesday 10am-11.30am
Applicants for membership are welcome to sign up using this link. If you have any questions, contact Pantry@stmagscc.uk or call 02394 351995.
We look forward to welcoming new members to St Mag’s Pantry soon.
Trash Café
The Trash Café Network works with food businesses to stop food waste. They put together fantastic food hampers at amazing value. Order before 8pm for collection or delivery the following day.
Trash Café offer delivery of hampers to PO postcodes (excluding Isle of Wight) on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, or collection from Buckland Community Centre (by appointment) on Wednesdays.
Find information and tips to help you get more from the food you buy.