Eat the Island fuels business opportunities for local producers
Portsmouth’s thriving food and drink community came together in record numbers on Wednesday 11 June for Eat the Island, a dynamic networking event hosted at the Portsmouth Distillery.
Over 60 local and regional businesses gathered to launch Southsea Food Festival 2025 and connect, collaborate, and celebrate the city’s vibrant hospitality sector.
Organised by Lib Dem-led Portsmouth City Council and council leader Steve Pitt, Eat the Island marked the official launch of the Southsea Food Festival. The event offered a unique platform for producers, retailers, and hospitality venues to explore new partnerships and strengthen the local supply chain.
Eat the Island is creating real momentum for Portsmouth’s food and drink businesses. We’re seeing more venues sourcing locally and producers expanding their reach both within the city and beyond. Events like this are key to building a resilient, connected local economy.
Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council
With its focus on connection, innovation, and sustainability, Eat the Island continues to play a vital role in shaping the future of Portsmouth’s food and drink economy.
It was inspiring to speak to so many thriving local businesses at the event, and also encourage them to think of any products they might want to produce next year to mark Portsmouth's 100-year anniversary as a city in 2026.
Cllr Steve Pitt