Spend a Weekend in Southsea

D-Day Museum

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Attraction | "Lest We Forget"

D-Day Museum, Southsea Photo - D-Day Museum, Southsea, England

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Southsea's D-Day Museum is dedicated to the events leading to the invasion of Normandy by the Allied Forces on 6th June 1944 and the invasion itself. The museum is appropriately situated close to the sea front, next to the somewhat older Southsea Castle. Opposite the museum stands a statue of Lord Montgomery, and just outside are two examples of tanks used during World War II, a statue of a dejected soldier, and a 3.7 inch anti-aircraft gun.Entrance to the museum is through automatic sliding glass doors; just inside is the reception desk where tickets are sold. I visited in January 2010, at which time local residents were granted free admission on production of a library card. I presume th...Read More

Southsea's D-Day Museum is dedicated to the events leading to the invasion of Normandy by the Allied Forces on 6th June 1944 and the invasion itself. The museum is appropriately situated close to the sea front, next to the somewhat older Southsea Castle. Opposite the museum stands a statue of Lord Montgomery, and just outside are two examples of tanks used during World War II, a statue of a dejected soldier, and a 3.7 inch anti-aircraft gun.

Entrance to the museum is through automatic sliding glass doors; just inside is the reception desk where tickets are sold. I visited in January 2010, at which time local residents were granted free admission on production of a library card. I presume this was to encourage visitors during the low season, although we did in fact notice a fair number of people buying tickets that Saturday afternoon.

Turning left, you enter a circular hall where the impressive Overlord Embroidery is displayed. An audio guide to the embroidery is available in either English, French or German, or you can content yourself with the information written beneath each panel in the same three languages. The embroidery was designed by Sandra Lawrence and was made at the Royal College of Needlework, taking twenty people five years to complete. Each panel measures 2.4 by 0.9 metres, and the entire creation is even longer than the Bayeux Tapestry. It is a combination of applique and embroidery in which actual materials from uniforms of the armed forces have been used. The embroidery tells the story of Operation Overlord, covering a period from 1940 through to 1944. It is a unique representation of the battles, the bombing, the meetings of the leaders of the Allied Forces, the landings on the Normandy beaches. Aircraft, ships, soldiers and the occasional civilian (even a woman with curlers and a hair net) feature in this wonderful piece of artwork that in itself warrants a visit to the museum.

In the centre of the Overlord Embroidery hall is a small theatre where a thirteen-minute film centring on World War II and including archive footage is shown at intervals. Beside the door a clock shows how long it will be until the next showing, and announcements are made shortly before the film is to be shown too. Personally I enjoyed the fact that the embroidery area was quiet while the film was being shown and it was a delight to be able to walk around and have an unobstructed view of each panel.

On leaving the Overlord Embroidery gallery, you can then enter the area of the museum devoted to Britain at War. Photographs, maps, posters and explanatory information are admirably displayed alongside showcases with items ranging from uniforms, weapons, the contents of a soldier's kit bag and supplies carried by nurses to treat the wounded. The experience is brought to life through a number of dioramas that show, for example, a soldier in a forest camp at night, a woman working in a factory, or Churchill, Eisenhower and Roosevelt pouring over their plans. Every so often the air raid siren sounds, but the atmosphere becomes more relaxed as 'Music while you work' is played in the factory. As you near the end of this area of the museum, you find a tank emerging from the carcass of a crashed aircraft, with wounded soldiers lying on the ground. Children are likely to be fascinated by the vehicles in the final hall, which include an LCVP landing craft and a Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicle tank.

One small section of the museum focuses on 'Portsmouth Memories'. A huge number of ships were assembled in Portsmouth Harbour and the Solent in the build-up to D-Day, and many local residents have contributed their recollections from the period to this display.

Within the main area of the museum is a small room dedicated to Holocaust Memorial Day. Seats are provided here.

There is of course a gift shop as you emerge from the exhibition area. Quality appears to have been maintained here and tacky souvenirs are thankfully absent. An extensive collection of books could be of interest, and framed prints are also available.

From April to September the museum is open from 10am until 5.30pm, and from October to March opening times are from 10am until 5pm. (The museum is closed completely on 24th, 25th and 26th December). Last entry is thirty minutes before closing time.

There is a car park with toilets just beside the museum, to the east. The museum is fully accessible for the disabled in wheelchairs. Toilets, including two for the disabled, are situated to the side of the gift shop. Coats may be left on hangers near the entrance to the museum, and bags can be deposited safely behind a screen by staff if you wish. Photography is prohibited inside the museum, but visitors are free to photograph the tanks and statues outside.

Admission is free for children under thirteen who are accompanied by an adult paying full price, which is currently £6. There are concessions as well as discounts for groups.

This is an excellent example of a specialist museum, and it is in fact the only one in the United Kingdom devoted solely to D-Day and Operation Overlord. It is well worth visiting if you are in the area; those holidaying in Southsea and blighted by poor weather could easily enjoy a couple of hours here. For children studying World War II at school, the exhibits will bring it alive for them. I thoroughly recommend a visit.
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on January 23, 2010

D-Day Museum
Clarence Esplanade
Southsea, Portsmouth PO5 3NT
44 2392 827261

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Soprano's

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Restaurant | "Sing for Your Supper at Soprano's"

Soprano's Restaurant, Southsea Photo - Soprano's, Southsea, England

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I don't usually go to restaurants as part of a large group of people, but my visit to Soprano's in Palmerston Road, Southsea, was an exception to this rule. A colleague of ten years (mine of eight of those) was leaving to go and live with a Welsh farmer, so we had to give her a fitting send off. Soprano's was recommended to us by one of our younger colleagues, and knowing that it had won an award for best restaurant in the Portsmouth area in 2006, we were happy to go along with her choice; she made a booking several weeks in advance for thirteen of us (all women) for 7pm one Saturday evening. The superstitious among us were perhaps a little relieved that on the day only eleven attended.Sop...Read More

I don't usually go to restaurants as part of a large group of people, but my visit to Soprano's in Palmerston Road, Southsea, was an exception to this rule. A colleague of ten years (mine of eight of those) was leaving to go and live with a Welsh farmer, so we had to give her a fitting send off. Soprano's was recommended to us by one of our younger colleagues, and knowing that it had won an award for best restaurant in the Portsmouth area in 2006, we were happy to go along with her choice; she made a booking several weeks in advance for thirteen of us (all women) for 7pm one Saturday evening. The superstitious among us were perhaps a little relieved that on the day only eleven attended.

Soprano's is essentially an Italian restaurant offering an extensive menu of salads, risottos, pasta and pizza, as well as filled panini and focaccia. Specials on that particular evening were steak (at a fairly hefty £16.75), salmon fillet (a more modest £9.95) and courgette soup. After ordering drinks, with four of us including myself deciding to share a bottle of Merlot, we studied the menu in detail. None of us ordered a starter; we all went straight for the main courses which are mostly priced between £7 and £9. Two opted for the steak, four for canelloni with a side salad, two chose different vegetarian varieties of tagliatelle, and three of us went for the salmon fillet. It was quite a lengthy wait for the food, but we had plenty to talk about especially as one of our company had just returned from a five-week stay in her native Canada. Even so early in the evening, however, the tiny restaurant was extremely busy and noisy with the general buzz of conversation and background music. It was difficult to talk to anyone seated more than two places away, which is disadvantageous when you are part of a large group.

I noticed that it was gone 8pm when our main courses were began to arrive. The tagliatelle was served in huge bowls with the other dishes being on square plates. The canelloni came in individual ovendishes with the salad by the side on the larger plate. The steak was piled high with onions and sauce, and it became apparent why the price of this special was so much higher than any of the other main courses. Our salmon fillets arrived last of all and were accompanied by baby roast potatoes and a generous helping of salad. I had been very impressed a few weeks previously by the salmon at Rosie's Vineyard, but this was just as good, very tender and cooked to perfection, as well as being slightly cheaper. Everyone enjoyed their pasta dishes too, but for some reason they only discovered the little bowls of grated parmesan when they had almost finished eating. Eleven of us, and not one complaint was there over our main courses.

Desserts were not included on the printed menus but detailed on a small blackboard that was brought to the table. Choices ranged from profiteroles or sticky toffee pudding through Neopolitana ice-cream or tiramisu to lemon brulee, a combination of lemon sorbet and vanilla ice-cream with a crisp brulee topping. All were priced at £3.50. Several of the company picked the Neopolitana ice-cream, one went for the profiteroles, another for the sticky toffee pudding and one for the lemon brulee. I decided to resist temptation and just ordered a decaffeinated coffee, whilst one other in the party asked for an ordinary coffee. The ice-creams were brought fairly quickly and consumed quite quickly too, with one exception as the generous helping of fresh cream on top was not appreciated. The sticky toffee pudding and the coffees followed, and I must say it was the best-tasting decaffeinated coffee I have ever had. It was some while before the profiteroles and lemon brulee appeared, so much so that we began to wonder if these had been forgotten. Soon after they arrived, however, one of the waitresses abruptly plonked our bill down in front of us and announced that our tables were in fact rebooked that evening, evidenced by three young women standing waiting. It seemed unbelievable that this was happening whilst two of our company had not even had the chance to finish their desserts.

It was by then about 9.10pm, and I remembered that we had not started our main courses until after 8pm. Had we chosen to order starters, I wonder what time we would have finished eating. It seemed outrageous that we were being asked to leave so early. In the end we reached a compromise: we offered to relinquish one of our three tables by squashing ourselves up closer and making do with two tables! The three women were thus able to be seated, and it seemed in fact that our other tables had not been booked again. We ended up staying until around 11pm, by which time a bucket and mop could be seen back in the kitchen, and the smell of disinfectant was giving us a powerful hint that it was time to go.

I did visit the ladies while I was there; there is just the one and it was perfectly clean, with tissues rather than a hand-dryer. I can't comment on the gents I'm afraid!

Before leaving we were handed a stack of promotional cards with vouchers that were valid for another two weeks. One voucher was for two-for-the-price-of-one at lunchtime, Mondays to Thursdays, which I am offering to one of my sons and his partner as they are both having a few days off work and live just round the corner from the restaurant. The second voucher was for a free bottle of house wine to accompany an evening meal for two to four people, again from Monday to Thursday. My other son lives even closer and loves Italian food, so I might propose a weekday dinner one day soon.

As far as food and prices are concerned, I would not hesitate in giving Soprano's top marks. The issue, however, of asking us to leave about two hours after arriving is quite a serious one. I know the restaurant is extremely popular and it was Saturday, but it obviously took them a long time to prepare our main courses and we would have been too rushed. As it was we stayed considerably longer, but only because we squeezed together! It wasn't that easy as we all had wet coats, bags and umbrellas draped round our chairs or on the floor. I suppose the answer would be for Soprano's to move to a bigger premises, but I don't know how feasible that would be.

One other small point: I found it very difficult to get to sleep that night and I began to wonder if they had got the coffees mixed up. I certainly have never tasted such strong decaffeinated coffee before. That doesn't really matter though; I took two Kalms and spent half an hour on the internet before finally drifting off. I shall definitely return to Soprano's to try their risotto or pasta, and I noticed on their menu that you can have a two-course lunch there for under £7. Definitely worth a visit, and it's only a few minutes' walk from the seafront.

Opening hours: 10am to 10pm, Monday to Saturday Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on July 28, 2009

Soprano's
108 Palmerston Road
Southsea, England PO5 3PT
023 9281 1139

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Esk Vale Guest House

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Hotel | "B&B Near the Sea"

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In July 2007 I stayed in two guest houses in Southsea during the period between moving out of a house and moving into a flat. The first was the Esk Vale Guest House on Granada Road, just a stone's throw from the sea front, South Parade Pier and the Canoe Lake. I booked a single room, and was told that the only one available shared a shower room and toilet with another room, but I accepted as it was both holiday time and graduation week at Portsmouth University. The room was on the first floor overlooking the street - not a busy road, but there was quite loud music emanating from Southsea Anglers' Club (directly opposite) on the Saturday evening.The room was very small but had obviously been refu...Read More

In July 2007 I stayed in two guest houses in Southsea during the period between moving out of a house and moving into a flat. The first was the Esk Vale Guest House on Granada Road, just a stone's throw from the sea front, South Parade Pier and the Canoe Lake. I booked a single room, and was told that the only one available shared a shower room and toilet with another room, but I accepted as it was both holiday time and graduation week at Portsmouth University. The room was on the first floor overlooking the street - not a busy road, but there was quite loud music emanating from Southsea Anglers' Club (directly opposite) on the Saturday evening.
The room was very small but had obviously been refurbished quite recently. There was just room for the bed, bedside cabinet, wardrobe and chest of drawers, on top of which was a tray with kettle and the usual supply of teabags, milk, sachets of coffee and sugar. The television was fixed to a bracket high up on the wall, and I did find myself getting a crick in my neck as I sat on the bed watching it. Unfortunately I'm a technophobe, and the two remote controls were lost on me - there were obviously plenty of channels available, but it was all I could do to find the usual terrestrials! Standards of cleanliness were high in both the bedroom and shower room.

I was lucky in that, on the first night, nobody was staying in the room that I shared the bathroom with. There was someone on the second night, but we managed not to clash with each other. The shower was certainly a good one.

There were two sittings for breakfast: I was there at the weekend, when the choice was between 8am or 8.45am. The breakfast room was in the basement; I went for the first sitting and the room was not crowded on either morning. There was the usual selection of cereals and the cooked breakfast was excellent: fried egg, sausage, bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms and beans. My only criticism would be that only white toast and butter were offered. Orange juice was served, and there was a choice of tea or coffee.

The charge for the single room was £30 per night, which I found a little high considering that it was not an ensuite room. As of August 2009, the charge is £32 per night in the high season. Some visitors, however, will appreciate the proximity to the seafront as well as the availability of parking in the forecourt. There were, I think, two rooms on the ground floor, but the guest house is not suitable for disabled visitors as there are steps up to the front door and the breakfast room, as I mentioned, is in the basement. An access statement is provided on Esk Vale's website. I was a little surprised that payment had to be made by cheque or cash only. Credit cards are not accepted.

www.eskvaleguesthouse.co.uk
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Member Rating 3 out of 5 on August 2, 2009

Esk Vale Guest House
39 Granada Road
Southsea, England PO4 0RD
023 9286 2639

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Everley Guest House

Best Of IgoUgo

Hotel | "The 39 Steps to My Room"

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In July 2007 I stayed in two guest houses in Southsea in a period between selling my house and moving into a flat. After spending the weekend at Esk Vale Guest House, from the Monday to the Thursday morning I was at the Everley Guest House on Festing Road, about half a mile from the seafront. I was asked to make a deposit of £10 when I rang to make the booking, but this would have been refunded had I cancelled at least twenty-four hours in advance. I asked for a single room but was told that I would in fact be given a twin ensuite room for the price of a single, which was £26. There were, however, thirty-nine steps to climb! I managed them and was surprised at how spacious the room was in comparison t...Read More

In July 2007 I stayed in two guest houses in Southsea in a period between selling my house and moving into a flat. After spending the weekend at Esk Vale Guest House, from the Monday to the Thursday morning I was at the Everley Guest House on Festing Road, about half a mile from the seafront. I was asked to make a deposit of £10 when I rang to make the booking, but this would have been refunded had I cancelled at least twenty-four hours in advance. I asked for a single room but was told that I would in fact be given a twin ensuite room for the price of a single, which was £26. There were, however, thirty-nine steps to climb! I managed them and was surprised at how spacious the room was in comparison to Esk Vale. It was a little old-fashioned, but I appreciated the space and the privacy.
This was an attic room and was actually very hot on the first evening, but that was the only day that the weather was anything like summer during my stay. The shower was in a cubicle in one corner, with the toilet in a lockable area at the opposite end of the room. The beds were placed end to end with a chest of drawers in between; on top of this were the television set as well as the tray with kettle and all the usual tea and coffee-making supplies. Each bed had a bedside cabinet, and there were a rather old-fashioned wardrobe and two easy chairs. The television had certainly been around a while and just offered the basic terrestrial channels. Cleanliness was of a very high standard and the bed I chose to sleep in was certainly comfortable.

On weekdays breakfast at the Everley is served from 7.15am in a room on the ground floor. The cereals and cooked breakfast were similar to the fare at Esk Vale, although mushrooms were not on the menu. Drinks were also comparable. I was, however, pleased to find that I could have wholemeal toast at the Everley. The owner, Stuart Fletcher, is an extremely friendly man who enjoys chatting to his guests in between serving their breakfasts, and this makes for a very convivial atmosphere.

The Everley is not suitable for disabled guests as there are no rooms on the ground floor. There is no forecourt for parking, and whilst parking on Festing Road is allowed, it may not of course be possible to find a space. This and the lack of choice of TV channels might be a disadvantage for some, but as I said I personally appreciated having a good-sized ensuite room for four pounds less than Esk Vale. I was also glad to be able to make my payment by credit or debit card.
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Member Rating 3 out of 5 on August 6, 2009

Everley Guest House
33 Festing Rd
Southsea, England
023 92731001

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Tenth Hole Tearoom

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Restaurant | "Who Needs Golf?"

The Tenth Hole Tearoom Photo - Tenth Hole Tearoom, Southsea, England

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Every few weeks I meet up with a couple of old schoolfriends for Saturday lunch. We usually go to the Vegetarian Greenhouse Cafe, not because we are vegetarians, but because they never mind how long you sit and chat at your table. Before leaving, we always fix another date a few weeks hence. As we decided (back in June) on a mid-August Saturday, we thought it would be the height of summer and that The Tenth Hole on Eastern Parade, near Southsea sea front, would be the ideal venue.When the day came, the sky was heavy with grey clouds but at least it wasn't raining. We managed to find a free parking space very close to the tearoom. The Tenth Hole is thus named as it is right beside Southsea ...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on August 16, 2009

Tenth Hole Tearoom
Southsea Golf Links - Eastern Parade
Southsea PO4 9RF
+44 2392 830 009

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An Overview of Southsea, England

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View from Southsea seafront Photo - Southsea, England

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I was born just a stone's throw from Southsea seafront and lived there until I was nineteen, returning to visit my parents most summers and some Christmases after that. Following many years abroad I came back to live in Southsea in 1999, first in South Street and then in a flat in Festing Road, funnily enough just a few doors down from my parents' first house. I moved away again in 2002 but returned in 2007, and I feel that my link with Southsea will carry on for some time yet.   My first home in Festing Road was next door to a bed and breakfast place, and I remember that every summer they had parties of senior citizens come to stay. This was in the fifties, and I think at that time Souths...Read More

I was born just a stone's throw from Southsea seafront and lived there until I was nineteen, returning to visit my parents most summers and some Christmases after that. Following many years abroad I came back to live in Southsea in 1999, first in South Street and then in a flat in Festing Road, funnily enough just a few doors down from my parents' first house. I moved away again in 2002 but returned in 2007, and I feel that my link with Southsea will carry on for some time yet.   

My first home in Festing Road was next door to a bed and breakfast place, and I remember that every summer they had parties of senior citizens come to stay. This was in the fifties, and I think at that time Southsea did have a reputation as being a holiday destination for the older generation. It has never been a major resort, perhaps because it has a shingle beach with only a few sparse patches of sand. It does now, however, offer quite a number of activities for the younger generation.   

Walking down to the end of Festing Road we come to Cumberland House, which houses a small natural history museum and a butterfly enclosure. The highlight of the museum is a model dinosaur; I can't comment on the butterflies as one of my sons had a phobia of flying insects and we had to steer well clear of them! On leaving the museum you can walk through Cumberland gardens with its lawns and flower beds and find the Canoe Lake just outside. It is quite small, but in summer you can take pedal boats out on the lake. There is a cafeteria where you can sit and enjoy refreshments indoors or out, or just stop and buy an ice cream before going slightly further east to the rose gardens. I have heard that recently this is not such a peaceful place as it used to be; it must be ten years since I last took my mother there in a wheelchair. If you have young children, don't miss the model village which is just next door. My sons insisted on going there every summer, mainly to see the model railway.

  Going further east would take you to Eastney and the Royal Marines Museum, and eventually to the ferry to Hayling Island where there is another popular beach. The ferry is a small one as the journey only lasts a few minutes.   Going west from the Canoe Lake brings you to South Parade Pier with its amusement arcade. The Victory Bar on the pier has been one of Southsea's main venues for live music but is apparently threatened with closure. Continuing west, you have the choice of walking along the promenade or through the rock gardens which lead to the Pyramid Centre. On a wet or cold day families can enjoy the indoor swimming pool here instead of the beach.   

About another hundred metres west are the D-Day Museum and Southsea Castle. The castle was built by Henry VIII in 1544. I used to take my sons there when they were young and I thought they enjoyed the cannon on the flat roof, but they confessed to me later that they found the whole place quite spooky. They must have preferred the D-Day Museum, easily spotted by the tanks just outside. Here you can see the wonderful Overlord Embroidery that tells the D-Day story. Made over a period of several years at the Royal College of Needlework, it is actually longer than the Bayeux Tapestry.

 The next port of call for families would be the Blue Reef Aquarium, which I often visited when it was the Sea Life Centre.  It is relatively expensive but a great place for children in wet weather. You might be lucky enough to see the fish being fed in the open-top tank. There is a cafeteria as well as a gift shop.   If you continue along the promenade past Southsea Common you will reach Clarence Pier, where there is a funfair in the summer. From here you could take a hovercraft over to Ryde on the Isle of Wight, but the car ferry leaves from Portsmouth.   Crossing the common, the imposing Queen's Hotel stands before you on the corner of Osborne Road with its small shops and restaurants. Walking down here will lead you to Palmerston Road, Southsea's main shopping precinct. Apart from W H Smith, Boots, Dyas, Costa Coffee, Heidi's, Laura Ashley, Monsoon and Past Times, there are branches of Lloyd's, Halifax, Natwest and Barclay's (Barclay's is on Osborne Road). The two department stores, Debenham's and Knight and Lee (a branch of John Lewis), may not be there much longer. Debenham's has opened a store in Portsmouth, and following the demolition of Portsmouth's ugly Tricorn, John Lewis are planning to build a store on that site. I believe there are plans to keep the Palmerston Road area alive with perhaps a leisure centre. Just round the corner from Knight and Lee is Waitrose, Southsea's main supermarket, next to which is a multi-storey car park. Don't miss the fascinating little shops on nearby Marmion Road, where you can stop for a drink or lunch at the Greenhouse Kitchen, a vegetarian cafe. I can recommend their smoothies, coffee and sandwiches.

  Some of Southsea's residential areas are quite affuent, but many large old houses have recently been bought up for renting out to students at Portsmouth University, particularly in the area surrounding Albert Road. Albert Road is a series of small shops, cafes and pubs, and is the location of the Wedgewood Rooms, a live music venue, as well as the King's Theatre. There are branches of Tesco and Somerfield alongside new age shops, hairdressers, Indian restaurants and florists.   Southsea is of course very close to Portsmouth's Gunwharf Quays and the Spinnaker Tower, as well as Commercial Road shopping precinct and Portsmouth Guildhall. There are plenty of bus services: number 6 every ten minutes to Gunwharf and the Harbour Station, or the 17/18 bus to Commercial Road and Portsmouth & Southsea railway station, also a ten-minute service.

Although not a major resort as I have said, Southsea obviously has its attractions for all the family and is worth a visit at least for a weekend. Read Less

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