Portsmouth restaurants: Here are 13 new places to eat and drink which opened this summer in Hampshire

Joe Buncle
·4-min read
Restaurants which opened this summer.
Restaurants which opened this summer.

While recent years have proved difficult for business owners across the hospitality sector, some intrepid entrepeneurs have realised their dreams by opening new restaurants and bars in and around the city.

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We’ve put together a list of some of the food and drink establishments which opened in the Portsmouth area this summer – and were previously featured in The News.

Here are 13 places to eat and drink which are new to Hampshire – or have re-opened following rennovation – for summer 2023:

Florio’s D’Italia, a pizzeria and deli, opened its doors for the first time today on Tuesday, August 1 after moving from a smaller unit in a Copnor industrial estate. The new premises was formerly the Duke of Buckingham pub, which closed last year. Florio’s now occupies the lower floor of the historic building while the top remains The Duke of Buckingham Hotel.Pictured: Owner Alex Florio with his son Max and daughter Izzy at Florios Old Portsmouth on Thursday 27th July 2023.Picture: Habibur Rahman
Florio’s D’Italia, a pizzeria and deli, opened its doors for the first time today on Tuesday, August 1 after moving from a smaller unit in a Copnor industrial estate. The new premises was formerly the Duke of Buckingham pub, which closed last year. Florio’s now occupies the lower floor of the historic building while the top remains The Duke of Buckingham Hotel.Pictured: Owner Alex Florio with his son Max and daughter Izzy at Florios Old Portsmouth on Thursday 27th July 2023.Picture: Habibur Rahman
The Spinnaker Tower’s Sky Bar opened for business in June, with guests invited to drink cocktails against a stunning panoramic backdrop above Portsmouth. (Photo: The Spinnaker Tower's Sky Bar)
The Spinnaker Tower’s Sky Bar opened for business in June, with guests invited to drink cocktails against a stunning panoramic backdrop above Portsmouth. (Photo: The Spinnaker Tower's Sky Bar)
Chicken Mania opened on Saturday, June 17 after the owners of Carioca Bar and Kitchen decided to completely revamp the premises. The new eatery serves chicken based dishes with a ‘Brazilian touch’ to eat in or takeaway.Pictured is owner Monica Souza pictured at Chicken Mania on Clarendon Road.Picture: Stuart Martin
Chicken Mania opened on Saturday, June 17 after the owners of Carioca Bar and Kitchen decided to completely revamp the premises. The new eatery serves chicken based dishes with a ‘Brazilian touch’ to eat in or takeaway.Pictured is owner Monica Souza pictured at Chicken Mania on Clarendon Road.Picture: Stuart Martin
Kumo officially opened on Sunday, July 2 – following a “soft launch” in June - and is situated at 10 West Street, Fareham - formerly the site of Ask Italian restaurant. It is owned and operated by Tao Peng and his wife Mao Mao.Pictured: Staff of Kumo, Manager Mao Mao with waitresses, Daisy Chapman and Natasha Hirst on Wednesday 12th July 2023.Picture: Habibur Rahman
Kumo officially opened on Sunday, July 2 – following a “soft launch” in June - and is situated at 10 West Street, Fareham - formerly the site of Ask Italian restaurant. It is owned and operated by Tao Peng and his wife Mao Mao.Pictured: Staff of Kumo, Manager Mao Mao with waitresses, Daisy Chapman and Natasha Hirst on Wednesday 12th July 2023.Picture: Habibur Rahman
The Panormus Pizzeria found a new permanent Southsea home in June, having served customers from the Outside-in food court in Middle Street for four years.Pictured is owner Vince Capasso at Panormus Pizzeria .Picture: Habibur Rahman
The Panormus Pizzeria found a new permanent Southsea home in June, having served customers from the Outside-in food court in Middle Street for four years.Pictured is owner Vince Capasso at Panormus Pizzeria .Picture: Habibur Rahman
The Lightship Restaurant and Bar – the first floating restaurant in the Solent - takes its name from its historic vessel structure and offers a high-end dining experience split across the decks of restored lightship the Mary Mouse 2, which acted as a floating lighthouse for other ships between the 1940s and 1990s. Cocktails and communal style dining will be served on the top deck from a chilled deli counter which includes seafood, charcuterie and cheese - while the fore deck and main mid deck restaurant offers more traditional a la carte dining in the non-traditional setting.Pictured is: Lauren Bayles, general manager of The Lightship.Picture: Sarah Standing
The Lightship Restaurant and Bar – the first floating restaurant in the Solent - takes its name from its historic vessel structure and offers a high-end dining experience split across the decks of restored lightship the Mary Mouse 2, which acted as a floating lighthouse for other ships between the 1940s and 1990s. Cocktails and communal style dining will be served on the top deck from a chilled deli counter which includes seafood, charcuterie and cheese - while the fore deck and main mid deck restaurant offers more traditional a la carte dining in the non-traditional setting.Pictured is: Lauren Bayles, general manager of The Lightship.Picture: Sarah Standing
Zaytoona Moroccan Restaurant officially opened in Marmion Road, Southsea, on June 30, 2023.Pictured is: The Arrabetou family (l-r) Eissa, Hakem, Sammy, Yuniss, Hamoody and Zainab.Picture: Sarah Standing
Zaytoona Moroccan Restaurant officially opened in Marmion Road, Southsea, on June 30, 2023.Pictured is: The Arrabetou family (l-r) Eissa, Hakem, Sammy, Yuniss, Hamoody and Zainab.Picture: Sarah Standing
The manager of Villa Romana in Fareham, located in Fareham High street, Manuel Fortuna took and renamed the old 113 Cafe in Lord Montgomery Way, Portsmouth in June this year. The 113 Cafe is now known as Fortuna’s Bar and Kitchen, and has been fully redecorated and renovated with a distinct Italian theme and decor.Pictured is Manuel Fortuna with his partner Nikolett Juhasz.Picture: Sarah Standing (160623-5416)
The manager of Villa Romana in Fareham, located in Fareham High street, Manuel Fortuna took and renamed the old 113 Cafe in Lord Montgomery Way, Portsmouth in June this year. The 113 Cafe is now known as Fortuna’s Bar and Kitchen, and has been fully redecorated and renovated with a distinct Italian theme and decor.Pictured is Manuel Fortuna with his partner Nikolett Juhasz.Picture: Sarah Standing (160623-5416)
American fast food chain Wendy's opened a location on Portsmouth's Commercial Road in August. Picture: Mike Cooter
American fast food chain Wendy's opened a location on Portsmouth's Commercial Road in August. Picture: Mike Cooter
Ripper and Co Southsea, a horror themed bar from the owers of Rapscallions, opened at the end of July. Picture: Habibur Rahman
Ripper and Co Southsea, a horror themed bar from the owers of Rapscallions, opened at the end of July. Picture: Habibur Rahman
Zen Whiskey opened on Friday, Septmeber 8 at the former site of the Vintage Eatery, where guests can join a whiskey tasting with a whiskey connoisseur.
Zen Whiskey opened on Friday, Septmeber 8 at the former site of the Vintage Eatery, where guests can join a whiskey tasting with a whiskey connoisseur.
The Gunwharf Quays branch of Chiquito – which specialises in dishes like burritos, fajitas, quesadillas - unveiled a multitude of changes to its menu and decor in July, following two months of closure. The eatery is now the brand’s ‘flagship’ location. (Photo: RICHARD BROWN)
The Gunwharf Quays branch of Chiquito – which specialises in dishes like burritos, fajitas, quesadillas - unveiled a multitude of changes to its menu and decor in July, following two months of closure. The eatery is now the brand’s ‘flagship’ location. (Photo: RICHARD BROWN)
The Lawrence Arms, Southsea, had a triumphant reopening in July following it's closure in February due to a car crashing into it. The vehicle smashed through the pub's wall in the middle of the night, and it needed entensive repairs to get up and running again.Ali and Dev Wearn - landlady and landlord. Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 080723-14)
The Lawrence Arms, Southsea, had a triumphant reopening in July following it's closure in February due to a car crashing into it. The vehicle smashed through the pub's wall in the middle of the night, and it needed entensive repairs to get up and running again.Ali and Dev Wearn - landlady and landlord. Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 080723-14)