Southsea Food Festival 2026: Light shines on city's food and drink businesses at launch of the Eat the Island event

The light is being shone on Portsmouth’s food and drink businesses thanks to the launch of the city’s Eat the Island event,

Southsea Food Festival 2026 launched the event this morning (Thursday, June 4) at Meat and Barrel, marking the start of another year of opportunities for local food and drink businesses to grow, collaborate and reach new audiences.

Over the past year, the two initiatives have helped spark several successful collaborations. Vegan street food businesses Stones Throw Kitchen and Shroom have secured pop-up opportunities with local venues, while Baked By Sweet Tooth and Pauline Macarons have expanded their businesses through pop up opportunities at Gunwharf Quays.

Pauline Genvert, owner of Pauline Macarons said: “Taking part in Eat the Island and Southsea Food Festival has been a real turning point for our business. It’s helped us build relationships with local venues such as Gunwharf Quays, reach new customers and grow our brand. The support and visibility we’ve gained has opened new opportunities that have allowed us to expand and take the next steps as a business.”

Eat the Island is delivered by Portsmouth City Council in partnership with Hampshire Fare and is part of the build up to the now-annual food festival.

Last year’s Southsea Food Festival brought with it a significant economic boost to the area, generating £1.52 million for the local economy, attracting over 60,000 visitors.

Paul Hendy, Chief Executive at Hendy Group, a key partner of the event, said: “As a business rooted in the communities we serve, we’re proud to support Southsea Food Festival and the opportunities it creates for local people and businesses.

“We know how events like this help drive footfall, connect independent traders with new customers, and strengthen the local economy. As a major car dealership in the local area, we are delighted to be part of this great event which brings people together and showcases Portsmouth at its best.”

The 2026 festival will take place on July 4 and 5, from 10am to 5pm, transforming Southsea into a vibrant showcase of the region’s food and drink offer. Visitors can expect 100 stalls featuring some of the best local producers, alongside street food, live music and family entertainment.

The popular Kitchen Stage sponsored by Waitrose on Avenue De Caen will return, with live demonstrations and tips from local chefs and restaurateurs. A new Tasting Trail led by Portsmouth Foodguide will give visitors the chance to sample smaller portions from a range of traders, encouraging discovery and supporting more businesses during the event.

Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council with responsibilities for economic development said: “Southsea Food Festival is more than just a great day out. It's a proven driver of growth for Portsmouth. Through events like Eat the Island and the festival itself, we are creating real opportunities for businesses to connect, collaborate and grow within Portsmouth."

For more information about Southsea Food Festival visit rediscoverportsmouth.co.uk/southsea-food-festival