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Portsmouth Christmas Light Switch-On is On!
PLUS: QA Christmas Gift Drive, Boxing Fight Night, Live Music, Comedy Nights & This Week in Pompey
Pompey Scoop
November 13, 2025
Good morning, Pompey. It’s Thursday!
As some of you know, earlier this summer, my wife and I welcomed our son at QA Hospital. We were fortunate that we were able to bring him home healthy and safe, a blessing not every family gets. This Christmas, we want to give back. Through Pompey Scoop’s JustGiving campaign, we’re supporting the Christmas Gift Drive at QA Hospital’s Paediatrics Unit to bring comfort and joy to children spending their holidays in the ward. The target is to raise £200 and contribute these directly to a fund that buys Christmas gifts for the little ones, and your contributions will help make that possible.
Please support us and consider giving here. Every little helps.
In today’s scoop:
Southsea start-up, JAWNS, pops up in City Centre
Portsmouth Christmas Light Switch-On Dates
Veteran Support Centre Announcements Welcome
New Restaurant Opening
Boxing night, live music, comedy & lots to do
Right, let’s get into it!
In the news this week:
Southsea streetwear startup, JAWNS has moved into the Portsmouth Pop Up shop in Cascades. They are a streetwear brand dealing primarily in clothing and sneakers. For founders Jack and Jesse, this is the first step they are taking into high-street retail and it comes through the council’s pop-up scheme, which removes long-term risk and puts local creators directly in front of shoppers. The Pop Up scheme is meant to help local businesses grow, so try pop down to Cascades and support these local lads. They are open 10-5pm every day. Read more here
The City Council’s yearly Christmas Light Switch-on is here. It will run from Nov 20 to 22 in Southsea, Cosham, and Commercial Road. As part of the 3 day events, there will be the main Switch On Parties, Cosham Carols, the opening of the Portsmouth Christmas market and Portsmouth on Ice. The Christmas Market will run form Nov 22 to Dec 30, while Portsmouth on Ice will run from Nov 22 to Jan 4. Get the full Christmas in Portsmouth programme details here and plan well ahead. We hope to still bring you details of all these events week to week and the year wraps up.
Earlier this week, the Government announced that new Veterans Support Centres will be created across the country, with much-needed extra housing funding also made available. The City Council has now welcomed this announcement and intends to bid for our own local support hub “through the Armed Forces Solent Partnership, to increase the support offered to ex-servicemen and women right across Hampshire and the Solent,” according to Steve Pitt, leader of the Council. Read more about the support currently available locally for our veterans through the Veterans Outreach Support
🗓️Things To Do
Friday, 14th
Standing with Giants - For Your Tomorrow | Fort Nelson | Multiple dates - Time TBC | More info here
Conspiracy LIVE | Cosham High Street | Multiple dates - 7:00pm & 9:00pm | More here
Titchfield Boxing - An Evening of Boxing | Portsmouth Guildhall | 8:00pm | More info here
Bad Manners + Support | The Gaiety Southsea | 7:00pm | More info here
Saturday, 15th
Imperial Classical Ballet - The Nutcracker | New Theatre Royal | 7:30pm | More info here
Watt Works Hackathon | UOP Future Tech Centre | 9:00am | More info here
Walk with Us - Emsworth | North Street | 10:30am | More here
30 Years of Funktifino | The Gaiety Southsea | 5:00pm | More here
Sunday, 16th
Rest. Restore. Re-Balance | CourtX Bar | 5:00pm | More info here
Monday, 17th
Domination - The Fall and Rise of an Empire with Alice Roberts | Guildhall Square | 7:00pm | More info here
Gentle, Beginners Yoga | Eastney Community Centre | 9:00am | More here
Portsmouth Chamber Music - Death & the Maiden | Portsmouth Guildhall | 7:30pm | More here
Tuesday, 18th
Black Ball - 40th Anniversary | Guildhall Square | 7:00pm | More info here
Fuego Salsa Class - learn to dance, have fun and socialise | The Gaiety Southsea | 7:30pm | More info here
Motionhouse: Hidden | New Theatre Royal | 7:30pm | More info here
Repair Cafe at the University of Portsmouth | Portland Building | 12:00pm | More here
Wicked Paint & Pinot | Old Customs House, Gunwharf | 6:45pm | More info here
PALL X PureGym Event | PureGym North Harbour | 4:45pm | More here
Wednesday, 19th
A Christmas Carol | Portsmouth Cathderal, High Street | 7:30pm | More info here
Big Movie Quiz Night - Harry Potter | The Gaiety Southsea | 7:00pm | More here
Thursday, 20th
Cocktail Masterclass | Portsmouth Distillery | 7:00pm | More info here
YeeHaw Line Dancing | The Gaiety Southsea | 6:45pm | More here
👨👩👧👦Things To Do - with Kids
Friday, 14th
Christmas Lights Theatre Show (ages 1-4) | Gosport High Street | 10:30am | More here
Home Ed Skate & Social | Pitt St. Skatepark | 11:00am | More here
Roller Fitness Class | Temple of Wheels | 5:30pm | More info here
Roller Disco | Temple of Wheels | 7:00pm | More info here
Saturday, 15th
Love Southsea Market | Palmerston Road, Southsea | 9:00am | More info here
Model Railway Exhibition | Admiral Lord Nelson School | 10:30am | More info here
Family Session | Pitt St. Skatepark | 10:00am | More info here
Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson | Fort Nelson, Fareham | Multiple dates - 10:00am | More info here
Sunday, 16th
VW Campervan & Bus Meet | Port Solent | 10:00am | More info here
Hampshire Farmer’s Market | Palmerston Road, Southsea | 10:00am | More info here
Sunday Lunch & Stadium Tour | Fratton Park | 12:00pm & 3:00pm | More info here
Early Bird Beginners | Pitt St. Skatepark | 8:00am | More info here
Lost in a Supermarket Skateboard Comp | Pitt St. Skatepark | 12:00pm | More here
October Sunday Service | Deeper Life Bible Church, Buckland | 10:00am | More info here
Monday, 17th
Santa’s Toy Maker Workshop | Spinnaker Tower, Gunwharf | Multiple dates - 10:00am | More here
🎭Live Events
🎙Give me the Night - George Benson Tribute | King’s Theatre | Fri 17th, 7:30pm | More here
😂Jen Brister: Reactive | New Theatre Royal | Fri 14th, 7:30pm | More info here
😂Blingo Bing | Staggeringly Good Brewery | Fri 14th, 7:00pm | More info here
🎙Jazz at the Fort | The Portsmouth Distillery | Sat 15th, 6:30pm | More info here
🎙The Australian Pink Floyd Show | Guildhall Square | Sat 15th, 7:00pm | More info here
🎙The Best of Queen | Kings Theatre | Sat 15th, 7:30pm | More info here
😂Comedy Night | The Southsea Village | Sat 15th, 6:00pm | More info here
🎙Emmanuel Sonubi: Life After Death | The Wedgewood Rooms | Sun 16th, 7:00pm | More info here
Opening Soon!
Miller & Carter Steakhouse is opening a Portsmouth Branch next week! Formally known as Miller & Carter Great Salterns, they are due to open on Saturday, November 28th, and are already taking bookings for their rehearsal event and opening date and onwards. Book here. They are located on Eastern Road where the old Harvesters used to be. If you fancy your steak, give them a visit, and come drop us a review!
Weather
Today 🌧16°/14°
Friday 🌧16°/13°
Saturday ☁15°/11°
Sunday ☁11°/6°
Thank you for reading Pompey Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone: a friend, a colleague, or a fellow parent. Someone, anyone local to or visiting our lovely Pompey!
Let’s do this again next week!
P.S: We’ve tried to verify every link here, but if a link is broken or you’re having difficulty accessing any of the links, please reply to this email, and we’ll sort it for you.
Thumbnail Photo by Beamy Drone on Unsplash
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