Newsletter | May 2025

Welcome to the Spring edition of the Portsmouth Guildhall Conference & Events Newsletter! As we embrace a season of new beginnings, we’re thrilled to share highlights from the past, present, and future of our vibrant venue.

In this edition, we’ll spotlight the success of The News Business Awards, dive into our upcoming launch of Christmas Parties for 2025, and introduce you to the culinary brilliance of our Head Chef. Plus, check out what’s coming up in corporate events this quarter. And get a sneak peek at our exciting entertainment line-up, including the best entertainment shows, from top-tier music and comedy to captivating dance and drama.

Stay tuned for all the latest news and inspiration from Portsmouth Guildhall and highlights from our Conference and Event business.

PORTSMOUTH BUSINESS AWARDS 2025

On March 27th, we were honoured to sponsor and host The News Portsmouth Business Awards 2025 at Portsmouth Guildhall.

Celebrating 25 years of recognising excellence, the event honoured the incredible achievements of local businesses and individuals across Portsmouth and beyond.

The night showcased 17 awards, including Apprentice of the Year and Large Business of the Year, with BH Live, The D-Day Story, Liquid Friday, and Mountjoy Ltd among the winners. SLR Recruitment Solutions took home the coveted Business of the Year award, and The D-Day Story received Visitor Attraction/Event of the Year for its impactful 80th anniversary events.

It was a truly inspiring evening, filled with passion, determination, and remarkable achievements. A special congratulations to Lulu Whitmore of Love Southsea, who was awarded the Outstanding Contribution to Business Award.

The Guildhall Trust is proud to support these prestigious awards and celebrate the best of Portsmouth’s business community. From initial planning through to flawless execution, our highly qualified team brings experience, professionalism and attention to detail to every event.

A huge thank you to all the sponsors, judges, and participants who made this event a success.

Cocktails & Connect

In March, we hosted our second Cocktails & Connect networking event at Portsmouth Guildhall, bringing together local professionals for an afternoon of fun and connection.

This time, the event took place on the stage in our Main Auditorium, offering attendees a unique opportunity to experience the venue from a new perspective — standing where countless legends have performed over the years!

The afternoon was filled with friendly competition, including a chair cover challenge that had everyone laughing, along with amazing cocktails, mocktails, and delicious pizza prepared by our Executive Head Chef. What made this event even more special is that all ticket proceeds went to support The BASE, Portsmouth Guildhall’s exciting new creative space which provides access for young people to a band room, production studio, multimedia suite, performance space and programme of workshops and drop-in sessions.

Thank you to Victoria & Gemma for their excellent planning, and to the entire Guildhall team for making this event a success. We can’t wait to host another Cocktails & Connect in 2025 — stay tuned for more details!

Latest News

The Guildhall Christmas Ball 2025

Meet the Team - Nick Clarke

NICK CLARKE

Executive Head Chef – The Guildhall Trust

“What I enjoy most is the creative freedom I have with our menus and being part of such a close-knit, passionate team at Portsmouth Guildhall.”

Q: What is your role within Portsmouth Guildhall, and what are your main responsibilities?
A: I’m the Executive Head Chef for The Guildhall Trust. My role includes designing tailored menus, liaising with local suppliers, and overseeing catering for all types of events held at Portsmouth Guildhall.

Q: How long have you been working at Portsmouth Guildhall?
A: I joined the team in February 2014.

Q: What initially attracted you to working in the conferences and events industry?
A: After serving in the Royal Navy for 13 years, I wanted a career that allowed me to be more present with my family. Working in events gave me that opportunity while continuing to do what I love—cooking.

Q: What do you enjoy most about being part of the team at Portsmouth Guildhall?
A: The freedom to be creative with my menus and the close-knit, supportive team I work with every day.

Q: What has been your most challenging moment at Portsmouth Guildhall?
A: We are lucky to have a large capacity at the Guildhall, which means I am often asked to cater for large numbers. One of the biggest challenges was catering for 850 guests on Remembrance Sunday, it was a huge task, but everything went smoothly and the whole venue smelled amazing!

Q: What has been your most memorable moment or achievement in your career?
A: Being flown to Sweden by the King of Sweden to teach his chefs how to prepare some of my signature dishes was definitely a career highlight.

Q: Tell us about the football project you’re involved in.
A: I approached our CEO with the idea of forming a community football team. We’ve just completed our first season with an Under 11s mixed team, who made it to the quarter-finals and were promoted. We’re now expanding with an Under 8s, Under 12s, and an Under 11s girls’ team for the upcoming season.

Q: If you could take just two companions to live on Mars, who would they be?
A: I’d take my dog, Skye.