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.
Foodbanks accept referrals from a wide range of local community organisations, including schools and support workers. If you’re a city council tenant your local housing office can refer you. If you don’t know who can refer you, contact Advice Portsmouth (open Monday to Friday) – call 023 9279 4340, text 07789 550593 or email advice.portsmouth@theyoutrust.org.uk
You can also 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 |
| Thursday 1pm - 3pm. | Caring Hands Foodbank . Collection only service | For families with dependent children (under 18) living in the PO1, PO2 and PO3 areas. Caring Hands food bank voucher or email referral required. Information about how to get a referral can be found in the 'Foodbanks' section at the top of this page |
Thursday 11am-12pm | Harbour Church, St. George's Square, PO1 3AT | This food bank will be moving to All Saints Church from Tuesday 10 October. Opening hours will be from 11am to 12pm every Tuesday Food bank voucher or e-referral required 3-day food parcel |
| Thursday 12-2pm | Paulsgrove Baptist Church, Woofferton Rd, PO6 4DW | Collection point for e-referrals only. |
| 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 | Harbour Church at All Saints Church, 334 Commercial Road, PO1 4BT | Eat in or takeaway |
| Tuesday, 10.30am-1pm (arrive by 11am) | InSight, Discovery Centre at St John's Cathedral, entrance via the car park, Bishop Crispian Way, PO1 3QA | Community group with two-course hot meal. (Take-away only for August) |
| Wednesday, 9am | LifeHouse, Harold Road, PO4 0JW (just off Albert Road) | Free hot breakfast Food parcels and other essentials are also available |
| Wednesday, 6pm | FoodCycle, John Pounds Centre, 23 Queen Street, PO1 3HN | Sit-down meal - tasty food and good company |
| Wednesday, 5-7pm | Buckland soup kitchen, 174 Kingston Road, PO2 7LP (Queens Road entrance) | Hot drinks served 5-7pm Hot takeaway meals served 6-7pm |
| Thursday, 6pm | LifeHouse, Harold Road, PO4 0JW (just off Albert Road) | Hot dinner (eat in) Food parcels and other essentials are also available |
| 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
Baffins Community Pantry – open to residents of PO3 or PO4
If you live in the Baffins Ward (all PO3 or PO4 post codes) and you’re worried about the cost of living and need to reduce your food bills, join Baffins Community Pantry.
Membership is free. Request a membership form by email baffinspantry@gmail.com or by phone 07557 339467. Or drop in during opening times to join. Proof of address will be needed on your first visit.
£5 per visit, maximum of one visit per week.
Opening times at 24 Tangier Road, Baffins, PO3 6JL:
- Monday, 10am – 12pm
- Friday, 4pm – 6pm
Cosham Community Larder – open to residents of PO6 1**, PO6 2** or PO6 3**
Pay £1 per year to become a member, then just £3.50 for a bag of groceries when you shop.
Join Cosham Community Larder online, then complete your membership and provide proof of address the first time you visit the shop.
Opening times at Cosham community larder, Cosham Park (next to the bowling club), PO6 2SH:
- Tuesday, 10am-2pm
- Wednesday, 10am-2pm
- Thursday, 10am-2pm
Landport Larder – open to PO1 residents (but all are welcome if in need)
The Larder is open at Landport Community Centre every Tuesday from 9am-12pm, offering a range of tinned, boxed, fresh, chilled and frozen foods which vary weekly.
Local residents can join the scheme for just £1 and buy 10 items for £3.50 (an equivalent basket at the supermarket would be about £15). Please bring your own carrier bags to take your shopping home.
North End Pantry – open to residents of all PO2 and PO3 postcodes
The pantry is here to help residents in the North End area to top up their weekly shop, with fresh fruit and vegetables, store cupboard favourites, bread, and chilled and frozen foods.
For a weekly cost of £5, members will be able to choose a selection of food with a value of about £20 each week.
Opening times at North End Baptist Church, 195 Powerscourt Road, PO2 7JH:
- Monday 4.30pm – 5.30pm
- Tuesday 4pm – 6pm
- Thursday 1pm – 3pm
- Friday 10am -12pm
To join, drop in to the Pantry during opening hours, or sign up online.
For more details email pantry@northendbaptistchurch.com.
Oasis Pantry – open to residents of P01 1**, P01 4**, P01 5**, P05 4** postcodes.
For a small membership fee of £4.50, each week that you shop, members of the Portsmouth Oasis Pantry in Landport can do a weekly food shop for fresh fruit and vegetables and family favourites to stock up the cupboard and fridge. Find more information and contact details for Oasis Pantry.
Opening times at Oasis Pantry, Oasis the Venue, 1a Arundel Street, PO1 1NP:
- Friday, 11am-1.30pm
Paulsgrove Food Pantry – Open to residents of Paulsgrove and Wymering, with a PO6 postcode
Sign up to become a member of the Paulsgrove Food Pantry by dropping in or emailing paulsgrovefoodpantry@gmail.com. For £4 members can get a variety of goods. One shop per week, 10 items per shop. Membership is £1 and proof of address is needed to join.
Follow the Paulsgrove Pantry Facebook page for updates and offers.
Opening times at Paulsgrove Community Centre, Marsden Rd, PO6 4JB:
- Monday 4.00pm – 6.00pm
- Thursday 11.00am – 1.00pm
Portsea Pantry – open to residents of PO1 3** post codes only
Portsea Pantry, based in the John Pounds Centre, Portsea, is offering groceries 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.
Opening times at John Pounds Centre, 23 Queen St, PO1 3HN:
- Tuesday 10.00am – 12.00pm
- Thursday 4.00pm – 6.00pm
Proof of address is needed on your first visit.
To join, sign up online. If you can’t get online, sign up in person instead. Call 07393 590 078 for more information.
St Mag’s Pantry – open to residents of all PO4 and PO5 postcodes
For £5 per week, members can choose a selection of fresh, chilled, frozen and store cupboard food with a supermarket value of about £15-£20.
The Pantry helps residents of all PO4 and PO5 postcodes, towards a full weekly shop. We hope to deliver fruit and vegetable items for free.
Opening times at St Margaret’s Community Church, Highland Road, PO4 9DD:
- Monday 3pm-4.30pm
- Tuesday 4pm-5.30pm
- Wednesday 10am-11.30am
Sign up online. If you have any questions, contact Pantry@stmagscc.uk or call 023 9435 1995.
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 all PO postcodes (excluding Isle of Wight) on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, or collection from Buckland Community Centre (by appointment) on Wednesdays. Follow the Trash Cafe Facebook page for updates and details of special offers.
Reducing food waste
Find information and tips to help you get more from the food you buy and to help you reduce food waste
Olio surplus food app
OLIO connects neighbours with each other and with local businesses so surplus food can be shared, not thrown away. This could be food nearing its sell-by date in local stores, spare home-grown vegetables, bread from your baker, or the groceries in your fridge when you go away. For your convenience, OLIO can also be used for non-food household items, too.
To find out more, download the free app to your smartphone using Google Play or Apple Store.