Flares was a fixture of the city's nightlife in the early 00s - and you could famously get a pint for £1.50! It was replaced first by Babylon and then eventually Popworld. Can you remember nights at Flares?placeholder image
Flares was a fixture of the city's nightlife in the early 00s - and you could famously get a pint for £1.50! It was replaced first by Babylon and then eventually Popworld. Can you remember nights at Flares?

Retro pictures of Portsmouth nightclubs where you had fun nights

By Steve Deeks
Published 8th Sep 2025, 11:16 BST

Portsmouth has boasted some great clubbing venues over the years.

From Joanna’s to Ritzy to Granny’s, plenty of iconic venues have now closed down.

However fortunately our memories of them – and photos captured inside them – live on.

MORE RETRO: This is what a night out in Southsea looked like in the 00s | What a night at Route 66 looked like in the 00s

We decided to celebrate some of the city’s lost nightspots by diving into The News archives.

Have a look through our gallery below and see how many you can remember!

Tiger Tiger was a fixture of the night scene at Gunwharf Quays for many years, it has been replaced by Eden. Picture: Ian Hargreaves (102559-9)

9. Tiger Tiger

Tiger Tiger was a fixture of the night scene at Gunwharf Quays for many years, it has been replaced by Eden. Picture: Ian Hargreaves (102559-9) Photo: Ian Hargreaves

Photo Sales
Walkabout used to call Guildhall Walk home and was a popular spot for nights out - as well as to watch sports. Picture: Michael Scaddan (083087-0054)

10. Walkabout

Walkabout used to call Guildhall Walk home and was a popular spot for nights out - as well as to watch sports. Picture: Michael Scaddan (083087-0054) Photo: Michael Scaddan

Photo Sales
During the 1950s the Savoy's ballroom was a popular place to dance the night away. It later became a nightclub. Sadly the building has since been knocked down.

11. The Savoy

During the 1950s the Savoy's ballroom was a popular place to dance the night away. It later became a nightclub. Sadly the building has since been knocked down. Photo: Will Caddy

Photo Sales
Known as Route 66 and then Pure, this is one of the venues our readers want to make a comeback. One reader wrote: 'A well managed party atmosphere that defined its own era'.

12. Route 66

Known as Route 66 and then Pure, this is one of the venues our readers want to make a comeback. One reader wrote: 'A well managed party atmosphere that defined its own era'. Photo: Sarah Standing

Photo Sales
Previous
3 / 5
Next Page
Related topics:Southsea
News you can trust since 1877
Follow us
© 2026 Iconic Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice