CHRISTMAS 2025
Start prepping for Christmas now. Get in touch with our team on 023 9282 2466 today.
Slim Jim Phantom and Jennie Vee stayed with us last night, bringing a cool rock ‘n’ roll vibe with them.
The legendary drummer and his wife were in town for a concert at the Moonshine Club as part of Jim’s UK tour. They were both happy to chat to us about their associations with Southsea.
Jim has fond memories of gigs at the Wedgewood Rooms, while Jennie used to live in Southsea. She was actually a regular to the bar at The Queens Hotel.
As musicians who spend a great deal of time on the road, we asked Slim and Jennie what they look for in a hotel.
Quick as a flash Jennie said: “It’s great to have a room with a bathtub so you can have a long soak after the gig.”
And Jim added: “Nice towels and a comfy mattress are important to me.”
Slim Jim Phantom and Jennie Vee are both musicians. Slim Jim is the drummer for Stray Cats. Jennie has played with Courtney Love and Echo and the Bunnymen. She is also a touring member of the Eagles of Death Metal.
To read more about Slim Jim Phantom, click here.
To read more about Jennie Vee, click here.
We are so excited that the Queens Hotel has been working with talented artist, Pete Codling.
Pete has been responsible for some amazing sculpture and public artwork in the city. He designed the Treadgold Fish which is on the seafront, but his latest project Crowd is a truly epic undertaking.
Pete is painstakingly creating a portrait of the city on a set of sails. The sails are the same size as those from HMS Victory and the Mary Rose.
When our Managing Director, Farid Yeganeh saw this project, he was keen for the Queens Hotel to show its support.
Pete explained: “The idea is to make a set of life size sail drawings, the same size as those from the HMS Victory or Mary Rose. I will cover them in portraits of people with a connection to the Dockyard, be it naval, military, dockyard worker or community connection to the city and its history. It is a massive and ambitious project. There is as much art in getting it funded and made as there is creating the drawings.”
Farid sat for Pete as he drew his portrait. The pair put the world to rights over several hours of conversation and drawing!
“I really admire what Pete is doing. This is a fantastic undertaking that Pete has embarked upon and I really can’t wait to see the finished artwork.
“The Queens Hotel is such an important part of the city of Portsmouth. I am proud to be one of the custodians who is ensuring she can remain a place where people love to gather to dine, celebrate, do business and enjoy the company of friends and family,” he said.
You can follow the progress of Pete Codling’s artwork here and visits can be arranged by calling 07503105655.
We are proud to announce that we are now the official hotel of Portsmouth Pride. Following the bonding of this new partnership, we celebrated with the face of Portsmouth Pride, drag queen Cherry Liquor.
With Portsmouth Pride due to take place on Saturday June 11, the Queens Hotel General Manager, Paul Playford, was delighted to welcome members of the event’s management team and their giant flag too.
“We are really excited about our partnership and to announce that we are the official hotel of Portsmouth Pride. We see the Queens Hotel as being a place that offers a warm welcome to everyone.
“Our team will take part in the parade ahead of the main Portsmouth Pride event. Plus, we look forward to welcoming attendees as we will be opening our newly designed garden on the day.
“This is just the start of our partnership with Portsmouth Pride. We look forward to working closely together during the coming year,” he said.
Anyone attending Portsmouth Pride will be welcome to keep the party vibe going by joining us in the Queens Hotel garden.
Commenting on the partnership with the Queens Hotel, chairperson, Tally Aslam, said: “We are so looking forward to building a close working relationship with the Queens Hotel. It is great that they will be joining the parade and supporting our Portsmouth Pride main day event too.
“We are a charity and rely on support from businesses and organisations like the Queens to carry on the good work we do. As a result of this partnership, we also secured a partnership with Hovertravel who work closely with the hotel too.”
Portsmouth Pride is set to make a triumphant return in 2022. This is after two years of not being able to run its iconic event for the LGBTQ+ community in Portsmouth.
It is a completely free and open event for the whole community, including allies to the LGBTQ+ community. It brings together people from across the south coast to enjoy a full day of celebrations on Southsea Common.
The emotive and inspirational day starts with their highlight parade. This includes representatives from local community groups, youth groups, trade unions, activist groups, religious organisations, local businesses, and many more. It is also open to individual community members to join on the day.
The parade takes in Southsea Seafront before entering the main Pride area. Here, visitors get to experience entertainment all the way through into the evening. Entertainment will be spread across two different stages and will include their 2022 Headliner, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World winner, Blu Hydrangea.
Related articles: Portsmouth Pride photographs, Portsmouth Pride was an amazing event,
Families enjoying live music and sunshine in the garden of the Queens Hotel, Portsmouth have helped to raise thousands of pounds for good causes.
For many years the hotel has supported the Rowans Hospice charity and recently presented CEO Ruth White and Chairman of Trustees John Watkins with a cheque for £2,500.
General Manager Catherine Austen commented: “The money has been collected as a result of our Summer Garden Parties. In total £5,000 was raised and the Southsea Skate Park has also received a donation.
“We see ourselves as the hotel at the heart of Southsea and very much a part of the community. Having come through the recent lockdowns and restrictions, we are delighted to have been able to support a charity that is so close to our hearts.”
Ruth White said she felt ‘humbled’ to see the transformation that had taken place at the Queens Hotel during the last lockdown and the amount of money that had been raised.
“Healthcare has had a difficult time through the pandemic but hospitality has really been hit badly.
“It is very humbling to see what you have achieved at the Queens through the lockdown. The garden parties have brought joy to people at a time when it was in short supply for most of us,” she said.
And John Watkins added: “We have been truly overwhelmed with the generosity of the public and touched that they remember us when so many other things have been occupying our time.”
Photo caption: Left to right Catherine Austen, General Manager; John Watkins Chair of Trustees and CEO Ruth White
Start prepping for Christmas now. Get in touch with our team on 023 9282 2466 today.