The Story of the PORTSMOUTH FOODGUIDE
James has lived in Portsmouth all his life and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else! He currently works in the charity sector as a Project Leader, organising events for local children and adults with disabilities. Since 2017, he has also run a local food blog which has gained quite a following, giving tips and advice on where to eat and drink in Portsmouth.
Qualified at degree level in Leisure Management & Marketing, he began his professional career as an Events Co-ordinator in 2007 at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Since then, his varied experience has included working as a Local Guide at the Spinnaker Tower; taking audiences around the streets of Old Portsmouth on theatrical ghost tours, delivering activity-based days out for a Finnish language school; as well as delivering science shows and workshops for schools in South East England region and in the United Arab Emirates.
James is also a Portsmouth Ambassador and supports the Shaping Portsmouth initiative, particularly enjoying giving local advice to cruise passengers visiting our great waterfront city.
Join the Movement
This isn’t just a subscription.
It’s a Movement.
In this section, we cover:
- Becoming a Supporter
- Becoming a Business Partner
- How you could book a cruise with us
- Booking an event with us
These are four simple ways you could really help us make a huge difference.
We are on an ambitious quest to reclaim the bright future Portsmouth deserves, one street at a time! No more empty shop fronts, no more beloved pubs and community venues closing. Enough is enough! So this summer, we’re launching a new kind of city tour for a new kind of visitor.
At Portsmouth Foodguide, we believe cruise passengers shouldn’t just pass through our city. They should experience our streets, our stories, our small businesses and a full culinary journey through our love of food and drink.
Highlights:
- Confirmation of purchasing a 100% electric Volkswagon ID Buzz people-carrier.
- A fully-integrated booking system offering small group foodie tours.
- A clear path to success that puts our independent high streets back into the heart of our community.
Our mission?
Cruise ships and continental ferries bring thousands of passengers into Portsmouth every week. Our mission is to transform this opportunity into tangible support for local businesses through the strong links we have with the cruise industry in Portsmouth. For example, on 1st June 2025, 2,300 potential customers docked in Portsmouth, yet over 40% of those passengers bypassed the city altogether.
Now imagine; Albert Road, Elm Grove or Palmerston Road being full of cruise passengers on a random weekday from the morning into the afternoon. If even a fraction of these cruise passengers stayed local by grabbing a coffee, bought some gifts, explored a little; the impact would be huge! This is our vision, this is your subscription.
We’ve already gained support from Portsmouth City Council, Shaping Portsmouth, Portsmouth International Port, Hovertravel, Gosport Ferry, SEE Southampton and a private investor.
This is no longer a dream.
It’s a blueprint.
With the zero-emission tour vehicle arriving this month, we’re directly supporting Portsmouth’s independent shops, cafés and creatives; a new income model for our city, rooted in local trade.
We’re proud of our city, are you? On a personal note, James is currently working full-time in the charity sector, a role he deeply cares about. However, if enough people support the movement through monthly subscriptions, we can start getting a team together to start dedicating more time to grow this initiative and serving the community in new and creative ways.
Join us in our movement to drive change! But this can’t be achieved without you, we need everyone to get in the driving seat. Whether you’re a business, a foodie or someone who simply loves this city.
Become a Supporter
A £10/month subscription includes:
- Collection for you and a guest from one location within PO1–PO6 postcodes, return journey not included.
- Choose a preferred timeslot during the first full week of every month, starting July 2025.
- Destination chosen by us, at least 1 mile away from your collection point, but not off Portsea Island.
- Enjoy a recommended experience, including a treat or discount on arrival.
- Option to unsubscribe at any time.
Extra passengers: £5 each (agreed before collection)
To arrange your first experience after subscribing, please email: james@portsmouthfoodguide.co.uk
Where possible, we aim to accommodate everyone’s preferred timeslot, rides may be shared with others to accommodate everyone. The choice of venue will be picked at random by the Portsmouth Foodguide. Once we receive an email from you, we will respond within 48 hours with a confirmation email. Remember, where we take you is based on our monthly recommendations, therefore we ask for an open-mind but be expecting something special. To ensure you are getting value for money, the location will be at least one mile away from your pick-up location but will not go beyond the bridges of Portsea Island.
What’s next? After clicking the link below and subscribing, please email the Portsmouth Foodguide directly to arrange the final arrangements. Your preferred timeslot when registering will be provisionally booked every month pending confirmation from you. 48 hours notice required.
With your support, we can:
- Expand the number of foodie tours.
- Deliver more consistent, higher quality content.
- Engage with more businesses and travellers.
- Fuel the energy behind the mission to bring footfall, flavour and funding back into Portsmouth.
Link to subscribe:
https://portsmouthfoodguide.co.uk/jointhemovement
Portsmouth Foodguide has the right to terminate your subscription at any time. Equally, you can cancel anytime too.
Partner with Us
Thousands of cruise and ferry passengers visit Portsmouth and Southampton every week — but most never make it to our high streets. We’re changing that.
Now’s your chance to be part of this next chapter.
Choose a monthly plan that works for your business. Gain visibility with locals, tourists and our 14,000+ engaged followers across multiple social media platforms. We can guarantee you at least 10,000 views per post and full transparency with our insights.
£30/month — Local Supporter
Perfect for venues wanting a solid presence.
- Directory listing on our website
- 1x Instagram post per quarter (with a guaranteed 10,000 views across multiple platforms)
£65/month — Featured Partner
More visibility, more reach.
- Directory listing on our website
- 1x Instagram post per month (with a guaranteed 10,000 views across multiple platforms)
£100/month — Premium Growth Partner
Our full package for businesses ready to grow.
- Directory listing on our website
- 1x Instagram reel per quarter
- 1x annual radio shoutout with a recommendation
- 1x annual Portsmouth Foodguide event hosted at your venue
- 1x annual video podcast, professionally recorded. Feature in ‘The Honest Plate’ — our new unscripted, video podcast where local influencers taste and review your hero dish on-site. ‘The Honest Plate’ is about real reactions — no scripts, no PR fluff. Just authentic storytelling and trust-building. The final edit is reviewed by you before it goes live for everyone to see.
- Free invites to local events & cruise days
- Press release coverage (when relevant)
- Priority in our Cruise Partnership Programme and ‘Become a Supporter’ subscription service (foodie tours)
Further info: Our goal is to shine a light on independent venues through real stories and authentic reactions, not flashy ads or PR fluff. It’s your chance to showcase your hero dish to a genuinely engaged audience, including the growing number of cruise passengers we’re working to redirect into Portsmouth’s high streets. This is not a paid advert, it’s authentic, influencer-driven storytelling designed to create a buzz and trust. As a Premium Growth Partner, you’ll be first in line to feature your venue and signature dish in an upcoming episode. Spaces are limited, don’t miss the chance to bring your menu to life.
Some elements of the Premium Growth Partner Package requires significant time dedicated towards the project (valued at over £600). To access these features, we ask for a minimum six-month subscription commitment.
Why This Matters – we’re not just selling listings, we’re building a network of independent businesses that can collectively attract high-spending cruise passengers, local foodies and experience-seekers. The more of us involved, the stronger the impact. Plus, with an eco-friendly ID Buzz vehicle arriving this month, we’re ready to roll.
Please only select the options you genuinely wish to activate and align with your business. Portsmouth Foodguide has the right to terminate your subscription at any time. Equally, you can cancel anytime too. Premium Growth Partners contracted to a minimum term of six months.
With your support, we can:
- Expand the number of foodie tours.
- Deliver more consistent, higher quality content.
- Engage with more businesses and travellers.
- Fuel the energy behind the mission to bring footfall, flavour and funding back into Portsmouth.
Link to subscribe –
https://portsmouthfoodguide.co.uk/partner
Book a cruise with Virgin Voyages
At Portsmouth Foodguide, we’re proud to be affiliated with Virgin Voyages, not just for their strong ties to Portsmouth, but for their incredible culinary experiences onboard, all included in the price.
We’ve completed our official training and are now able to confidently help you access exclusive cruise offers. From balcony upgrades to 70% off second sailors, these deals are ready to book today through the official Virgin Voyages site.
Each cruise comes packed with included dining from world-renowned chefs, premium entertainment, and an adults-only atmosphere. Booking through our links helps support the Foodguide movement — and might just get you a cheeky onboard perk or two.
Simply click on the cruise that interests you the most and start the booking process (all prices/offers are accurate at the time of editing this webpage).
Link:
Portsmouth to Ireland, Scotland & More
Ship: Scarlet Lady
Port From: Portsmouth, United Kingdom
Departure Date: Sun, Aug 17, 2025, 6:00 PM
Port To: Portsmouth, United Kingdom
End Date: Sat, Aug 30, 2025, 6:30 AM
Price per cabin (based on two sailors): GBP £ 3,736
Link:
Virgin Voyages Comedy Fest from the UK
Ship: Scarlet Lady
Port From: Portsmouth, United Kingdom
Departure Date: Sat, Aug 30, 2025, 6:00 PM
Port To: Portsmouth, United Kingdom
End Date: Fri, Sep 05, 2025, 7:30 AM
Price per cabin (based on two sailors): GBP £ 2,320
Link:
Portsmouth to Amsterdam & Bordeaux
Ship: Scarlet Lady
Port From: Portsmouth, United Kingdom
Departure Date: Fri, Sep 05, 2025, 6:00 PM
Port To: Portsmouth, United Kingdom
End Date: Fri, Sep 12, 2025, 7:30 AM
Price per cabin (based on two sailors): GBP £ 2,302
Link:
Eclipse in the Land of Fire and Ice
Ship: Valiant Lady
Port From: Portsmouth, United Kingdom
Departure Date: Wed, Aug 05, 2026, 5:00 PM
Port To: Portsmouth, United Kingdom
End Date: Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 6:30 AM
Price per cabin (based on two sailors): GBP £ 6,856
Link:
Bruges, Amsterdam, Hamburg & More
Ship: Valiant Lady
Port From: Portsmouth, United Kingdom
Departure Date: Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 5:00 PM
Port To: Portsmouth, United Kingdom
End Date: Thu, Aug 27, 2026, 6:30 AM
Price per cabin (based on two sailors): GBP £ 2,036
Book an event with us
Check out our latest events on our events page, link here.
The ID Buzz is here. The passengers are arriving. Now’s the time to show them what Portsmouth is really about. Let’s make our streets vibrant again. Let’s welcome the world into Portsmouth, not wave them goodbye.
