Rough Guide -2016-17

The Real Rough Guide to
Portsmouth
Written by Gemma Potts (local girl) and Dipesh Patel & Sumeet Oberai
(Dental students 2013-14)
Past Editors; Pavni Lakhani & Jonathan Worton

Contents
Getting to know the City ................................................. 3
Top Places to Visit in Portsmouth .................................. 5
If you’re into clubs and bars ............................................ 5
If you’re into cafes and restaurants ............................... 6
If you’re into the great outdoors and sports; .............. 7
If you’re into art and culture; .......................................... 7
Out and About; .................................................................. 9
Stay Safe in the City ........................................................ 10
About the Dental Academy ............................................ 11
Accommodation at Rees Hall ........................................ 13
Food at the Academy ...................................................... 14
Getting To Portsmouth .................................................... 14
Travel within Portsmouth ............................................... 14
Students' Union .................................................................. 15
Libraries ............................................................................... 15
Sports .................................................................................... 16
Useful Websites .................................................................. 16
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Getting to know the City
This guide is not written by the tourist
board, KCL or UoP and is intended to
represent the real Portsmouth for
students. Portsmouth people have
great pride and passion for their city
and have enjoyed experiencing its
regeneration from a working class
naval city to a bustling, cosmopolitan
student city of social innovation. The
city’s historical, environment and
cultural landscape make Portsmouth a
rather intriguing city in total, not just
a waterfront destination; Portsmouth
is the UK’s only island city. A flat and
compact city, that’s easy to get around
on foot. There’s always plenty going
on.
Alternatively you could start your night in the city
centre or check out Albert Road in Southsea for a
more local feel.
When you’re not studying or on clinic, there is
plenty to do in your spare time. For
entertainment head down to Gunwharf Quays;
spend an early evening wandering around the
factory outlet shops hunting for a bargain, stop
off for a coffee break, then catch a movie at the
multiplex cinema or try your hand at a spot of
ten-pin bowling (previous groups have loved
this). Settle down for some dinner at one of the
many restaurants in the complex or walk to
nearby Old Portsmouth with its traditional pubs
and little cafes, then as the sun sets head to the
bars or nightclubs in Gunwharf, many running
special discounted student nights.
Portsmouth has several shopping areas and many
stores offer student discounts. Whether popping
out for some milk or heading out in search of your
next fancy dress outfit, you’re sure to find what
you’re looking for, with well-known names on the
high street, along with smaller independent stores
in Southsea and the outlet stores at Gunwharf.
There are also several supermarkets, offering you
lots of choice.
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Seafront
Southsea Castle
Hovercraft to Isle of Wight
Blue Reef Aquarian
Early morning dip beyond Southsea
Pier
Southsea
Shopping area
Bars and restaurants
Southsea Model Village
Siva Relaxation Centre – Spa
Southsea Common
Summer evening events, fairs and festivals
Perfect for BBQ’s, picnics and Frisbee
- sports equipment from Gemma
Gun Wharf Quays
Spinnaker Tower
Factory Outlet Stores
Bars and restaurants
Multiplex cinema
Historic Dockyard
HMS Victory and HMS Warrior
Mary Rose Museum
Royal Naval Museum
Guildhall Square
The Guildhall (music venue)
Guildhall walk – bars and theatre
Shopping – Commercial Road
New Theatre Royal
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Top Places to Visit in Portsmouth
(Get together with HTS/DN’s & DS within your team)
If you’re into clubs and bars
Portsmouth has a vast variety of fantastic restaurants with a wide range of cuisines to suits
everyone’s palette- most students head west of the city. Gun Wharf Quays has a large selection of
chain restaurants and bars such as La Tasca, Nando’s, Slug and Lettuce, Bar 38, Strada, Yo Sushi
including a Jamie Oliver Restaurant and Raymond Blanc’s ‘Blanc Brassiere’. If you fancy going off the
beaten track, head for Southsea’s Palmerston Road area, Old Portsmouth or Albert Road. There are
some really good quality independent restaurants and bars there, but slightly more pricey.
Tiger Tiger (Gun Wharf)– Monday nights at Tiger Tiger are the place to be!
Astoria club (Guildhall Walk) - Tuesday Night club ‘Hot Spot’
Students Union (behind the Dental Academy) – Wednesday night ‘Purple Wednesday’s’
followed by Guildhall Walk. Wednesday is the day most of the sports teams and societies go
out so the whole City is usually busy and loud!
Liquid – (Nr Guildhall Walk) Club, great music for all tastes and drinks at student prices.
Liquid is a great Thursday night out.
SU Heroes will be out and about on Purple Wednesdays to help you on your nights out.
You can spot an SU Hero in their hero uniform, so ask them for help if you need it!
For more tips and information, please visit www.port.ac.uk/saferstudents.
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If you’re into cafes and restaurants
Le Cafe Parisien (Lord Montgomery Way) - Cafe with a homely feel and great variety of food
for lunch times; very close to the Dental Academy
Belle Isle (Osborne Road) – A relaxed café/bar/restaurant. Great food from around the world
plus an extensive range of wines and premium beers. Menu includes Steaks, Asian Beef Salad,
Fajitas, Nachos, Jerk Chicken Curry and much more. Offers freebies and loyalty schemes
Shorties (Bellevue Terrace) – Traditional American food, next to Rees hall - good value
and quality especially Steak/Fish and chips
Koh (Elm Grove) - Thai tapas. Must definitely visit - best Thai food south of Port Creek
Relentless (Elm Grove) - food is cooked in an open kitchen in front of your eyes, you can pick
your own lobster out of the tank. Wednesday's - 2-4-1 on all mains including lobster - Very
good food.
Touraeg (Elm Grove) – serves exquisite Moroccan authentic cuisine. Sensational home cooked
food such as Tagines, delicious Couscous and kebseh... along with others appetizing dishes.
The Barley Mow (Round the corner from Halls)– Local pub feel, real ales, good food, quiz
nights and really close to Rees Hall, a favourite with Dental students.
Brew House & Kitchen AKA The White Swan (Guildhall Walk) - Recently refurbished, the
whole place is gleaming yet still cosy and inviting. From sumptuous sofas for casual dining and
drinking, large tables for great get-togethers to intimate tables for two. Great place for
wholesome and a good value lunch.
Chambers (opposite Dental Academy on Hampshire Terrace) – Relaxing surroundings, friendly
staff, great for a Christmas Party!!
Scoops (Elm Grove) – The student central area has been lit up by the eye catching pink and
red sign reflecting something that would feature in a New York street. Around the corner from
Rees Hall, great for dessert.

If you’re into the great outdoors and sports;
- Southsea Common & seafront
- The Rose Garden (created in Portsmouth to support unemployed service men after WW2)
- Southsea Skatepark
- Gunwharf Bowling
Just a short walk from the city centre, you can enjoy a breath of fresh air and fantastic sea views
on Southsea seafront. Four miles of beach are backed by the green spaces of Southsea Common,
great for meeting friends, picnics in the summer as well as running, cycling, frisbee and football.
Your location in Rees Hall means you can just fall out of bed and have a really bracing jog along
the seafront with a sea view! For the hardened runners why not try doing it in the winter in a
force 8 gale! For the experienced sea swimmers you need to head east towards Southsea Pier and
further on to the Royal Marine old barracks for wild sea swimming – but please be careful as
there are many underwater obstructions. The Common also hosts a range of activities throughout
the year including a kite festival, heavy horse, running events and live music. Follow the seafront
along to historic Old Portsmouth and you can wander amongst the city’s old fortifications and
meander down its cobbled streets, exploring the original site of the city centre, we’ve heard it is
very romantic on summer evenings.
If you’re into art and culture;
- Aspex Art Gallery - Aspex Gallery has made its mark with a series of inspirational exhibitions at
its new home in Gunwharf Quays.
- The Kings Theatre – in Albert Road provides the very best in live entertainment all year round,
including top notch musicals, international opera, ballet, rock music legends, comedians, plenty
for the kids and amazing pantomimes.
- The New Theatre Royal – Situated in Portsmouth’s city centre, Guildhall walk. A beautiful
grade 2 listed Victorian theatre and one of the remaining few Phipps/Matcham theatres in the
world. Rescued from demolition twice, the theatre has resiliently survived and has a diverse
programme of event s to engage and reflect the vitality of the developing city.
- UoP ‘SPACE’ Gallery – The SPACE gallery is the University gallery and exhibition area. SPACE
is based in Eldon Building and showcases a year round programme of work by visiting artists,
students and alumni.
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If you’re into Attractions;
- The Historic Dockyard - Explore three of the most important warships ever built - HMS Victory,
HMS Warrior and the Mary Rose - and visit the fantastic Actions Stations and Royal Naval
Museum. Take a harbour tour to see today's naval dockyard and bustling harbour in action.
- Southsea Castle - Built in 1544 for Henry VIII, the castle was an active military base for over
400 years, defending Portsmouth from invaders. The D-Day Museum next door is Portsmouth's
moving tribute to the efforts and sacrifices of the Allies in defeating Nazi Germany.
- The Spinnaker Tower – A great way to appreciate the city is to experience the view from the
Spinnaker Tower in the harbour-side complex Gunwharf Quays. Rising 170 metres tall, the
tower offers amazing panoramic views over the city, harbour, the south coast and Isle of Wight.
- Blue Reef Aquarium - Visit Blue Reef Aquarium on the seafront and come face to face with
sharks, rays and the delightful otters in tropical waters, (particularly good if the weather
doesn't live up to your expectations!).
- The City Museum - the museum of and for the people of Portsmouth. There are temporary
exhibition galleries, which have a frequently changing parade of fascinating shows on a wide
range of subjects. Just over the road from the Dental Academy.
- Southsea Funfair - Clarence Pier Southsea is one of the largest amusement parks on the south
coast and boasts all manner of amusements, rides and activities for everyone. The Arcades and
Pirate Pete's Indoor Adventure Playground are open all year. They also have plenty of food
and drink outlets including our 100 seat Wimpy Express fast food restaurant.
- Playzone – Really popular with our past cohorts. Fantastic indoor play centre for all ages.
- FlipOut – A huge arena of integrated interconnected trampolines, where you can spring, trick
or flip off the walls on the largest trampolines!
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Out and About;
Portsmouth Dental Academy
Rees Halls
Gunwharf Shopping Outlets
Cinema Complex – Odeon
Bowling Lanes
Tiger Tiger
City Museum
La Café Pariasien
Liquid & Envy
Portsmouth & Southsea Train
Station
Gunwharf Restaurants
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Stay Safe in the City
Portsmouth is a vibrant city with a growing night time economy. Your personal safety is really
important, whether you are out and about or in Halls. We want you to socialise and enjoy your stay
and nights out. By taking a few sensible precautions and following some simple safety tips you can
keep yourself safe.
Keep these simple steps in mind while studying, socialising and having fun over the academic year.
Plan your night out and how to get home
Watch your drinks; don’t give anyone the opportunity to spike them.
Stick with friends.
Look after bags and valuables.
Think about what you’ve had to drink - If you feel very drunk or unwell after just a small
amount of alcohol; ask a trusted friend or a member of the club or pub management for help.
Always call and book a taxi from a licensed private hire/ taxi firm.
Where possible, avoid travelling alone.
If walking home, keep to well lit, busy areas, always try to walk facing traffic so a car cannot
pull up behind you unnoticed.
Remember - enjoy your night out safely
Stay with friends.
Always charge your mobile phone.
Find a licensed taxi at a designated taxi rank.
Enjoy yourself responsibly.
Look after one and other.
Halls of residence
Student accommodation can be an attractive target for criminals.
Make sure all valuables are out of sight
Never let anyone into the building or through a controlled entry door unless you know them or
have seen their ID.
Report any suspicious activity to campus security or the police.
http://www.port.ac.uk/uopnews/2013/10/14/more-tips-for-a-safe-night-out/
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About the Dental Academy
The University of Portsmouth was created in 1992 out of Portsmouth Polytechnic, but has a history
dating back to 1869. As a Dental Student you will be based at the William Beatty Building which is a 5
minute walk from Rees Halls, where you will be staying.
The Dental Academy
William Beatty Dental Institute
William Beatty Building Dental Academy
University of Portsmouth
Hampshire Terrace
Portsmouth
PO1 2QG
The Dental Academy is a new building that King’s students started attending in 2010, there are two
clinics, one west and one east. Dental students or DS students as you will become known as, spend the
majority of their time on the East clinic, the hygiene therapy students (HTS students) spend most of
their time on the West clinic.
You will be introduced to the computer based notes system Carestream R4, it takes some getting used
to but it's good once you know how it works and is great experience for your Vocational Training post.
It also gives you a chance to compare Kodak R4 to Salud which we use at Guy’s.
The nurses, reception team and tutors are great, there is a friendly atmosphere about the Academy
and the concept of working as a team is really put into practice. It feels like you are working in a
dental practice because you have full days of patients booked in and always have nurses to support
you. The days can be varied; from treatment planning to emergencies and extractions; anything is
possible all in one day! It prepares you for working in practice whilst also helping reach your quotas. I
really enjoy my weeks at Portsmouth and always look forward to the forthcoming weeks; the weeks
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seem to go by too quickly. On Tuesday patients are booked in from 11am and clinics are all day
Wednesday, Thursday and half day on Friday with a tutorial in the afternoon allowing you to return to
London by late afternoon.
At Portsmouth you will be working alongside HTS students and training dental nurses so you will get
the opportunity to lead the team as well as it being a learning experience. At the end of the day you
always have your experienced tutors there to guide you.
Your Portsmouth rotation will be one week in four so you will have partners (buddies) that you can
pass your work between; to keep the continuity of treatment for the patients especially when making
dentures. At first it may seem as though there is a lot of treatment planning however over time you
will get faster at it and realise the importance of it; this will definitely benefit you in your VT year. The
advantage of having HTS students working with you is that after treatment planning you can refer
treatment to them such as scaling and small restorations; this allows you to carry out the complex
restorative and prosthodontic work. In Portsmouth you will also get more practice at taking
radiographs (it is so quick to take radiographs because there is never much of a wait) but there will
always be HTS students around who need to take radiographs as part of their quotas so you can work
with them to help them complete their requirements too. At the beginning of each week (Tuesday)
there are practice team meetings in the morning this allows you to check your weeks diary and discuss
with your HTS buddies any patient treatment.
You will be given progression sheets to record what treatments you carry out on your patients so make
sure you update them every week. After completing a patient’s treatment you can close the treatment
plan and send off a claim; this gives you the opportunity to see how GDPs get paid for their NHS work.
You will also learn how to create care pathways which is the new direction which NHS dentistry is
taking.
My advice to you is to make the most of Portsmouth; every tutor has so much to offer and it really is
the place to become an all-rounded dentist. If you are particularly interested in a speciality ask any of
the tutors and they will always know which direction to point you in. The team environment really
gives you a taste of the reality of working in a dental practice as well as making you aware of the
different roles of each team member. Portsmouth is the perfect stepping stone from University to VT
giving you the opportunity to develop your clinical skills as well as allowing your confidence to grow
with the responsibility you are given. It is a great learning experience, I am sure you will enjoy it.
Top Tips
1 - Get to know the HTS'
2 - Be friendly to the nurses
3- Say hello to everyone
4 - Enjoy the experience - embrace the atmosphere and appreciate how you are respected and
treated very differently to London
5 - IT IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF FINAL YEAR!
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Accommodation at Rees Hall
To take a virtual tour of Rees Hall please click on the link –
http://www.port.ac.uk/studentlife/accommodation/hallsofresidence/
Rees Hall
Southsea Terrace
Southsea
Hants. PO5 3AP
On arrival the porter will give you your keys and swipe card. Rees hall is in Southsea and is one of the
catered halls; breakfast is served between 8:00 and 9:30, and dinner between 17:00 and 18:30.
Keep your green halls card with you as you will need it to get meals. The halls are accessed by swipe
card that are given to you each week you arrive and returned when you leave, try not to lose them as
the lifts require them to work and also soon access to the stairs will need swipe access. It costs £5 to
replace them if you lose them.
Rooms are all en-suite with a shower, nothing fancy but functional, duvets are thin but they do provide
blankets as well. Please report any problems politely to hall staff sooner rather than later.
There is a small kitchen on each floor by the lifts and all dental students are on floor 6. There is a TV
lounge on the first floor and some vending machines if you fancy a caries attack. Washing machines
are located on the ground floor and speak to the Halls team if you want to be shown how they work.
The hall itself is pleasant and if you get a view over the sea you are very lucky. Shops are a 5 minute
walk away to Southsea’s main shopping parade (There's a Co-Op and a Tesco Express as well other
stores) and you're also closer to Gunwharf Quays, which has bars, restaurants and designer outlet stores.
The first few times you are there the halls are operating as a hotel and you should get tea and coffee
making facilities in the room, this will disappear once September comes and the students return so
make sure you get you monies worth while they are there.
Rooms also have an iron and ironing board, you are issued with green scrubs while you are in
Portsmouth to wear on the clinic and these need to be ironed.
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Returning your keys at the end of your stay is compulsory. You will receive a fine of £25 if you go home
with your room keys, £48 if not paid within 14 days and £71 if not paid within 28 days.
Please refer to the more detailed information on Rees Hall that can be found in your Course book
along with you occupancy agreement.
Food at the Academy
There are plenty of places to get something to eat when you’re at the Dental Academy that located
close by. A stone’s throw away is the Students Union which serve hot food at very reasonable prices,
there is also the Third Space which is located on the first floor of the students union and serves
Starbucks coffee and sandwiches and snacks. Within the Union there is a Co-op and several café’s and
restaurants close by. If you don’t fancy changing out of your scrubs there is a vending machine in the
breakout room along with a microwave.
Getting To Portsmouth
Train
Take the over ground from Waterloo railway station, the journey time takes about 90 minutes
depending on which train you get. Cost is about £24.50 if you book with a student rail card which
King’s College will pay for and also reimburse you for the tickets as well, if you don't get the railcard
you still only get the £24.50 so make sure you get one.
Cut and paste the link below into your browser for walking directions from Portsmouth & Southsea
train station
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&dirflg=w&saddr=50.798480,-1.090910+(Portsmouth
and Southsea Railway Station)&daddr=50.793222,-1.096433+(William Beatty Building (Dental
Academy))
By Road
http://www.port.ac.uk/aboutus/contact/universitybuildings/buildingname,92655,en.html
Use the link above for location and directions
From east London it's about a two hour drive round the M25 over the Dartford Crossing and then
down on the A3, M3 and A27.
Parking is a premium in Portsmouth with only a few places to park for free, on street parking can be
£10 a day. Kings will reimburse fuel money but not parking.
The University does discourage students from bringing cars into the City and certainly no parking under
Rees Hall!
Travel within Portsmouth
The Students Union also runs a minibus service during the late evening, to ensure that all students have
14

the means to get home safely. Details can be found at;
http://www.port.ac.uk/departments/services/estates/campusenvironment/transportation/
Aqua Cars Taxis are the main taxi company in the City.
Students' Union
The University of Portsmouth Students' Union was voted best Union in the UK in the New Musical
Express in 2004. Formerly housed in the ex-NAAFI building Alexandra House, a new £6.5 million
purpose-built Union was opened in 2002 at the other end of Ravelin Park, to the north of Library, just
behind the Dental Academy.
The Union houses a bar and a Co-Op grocery shop, along with Blackwells bookshop, Connect up the
university's computer help store and also its own radio station, Pure FM.
http://www.upsu.net/union/
Libraries
The major library for Portsmouth Students is the university library itself. It's located in the heart of
the City on the Guildhall Campus, right next to the Student Union and the Dental Academy. The
Library is just about to spend 4.5 million on refurbishing the ground floor.
The Student Library consists of three zones: Silent, Quiet and Social. Different rules apply to each zone,
but it just means that everyone has a place to go and study, regardless of their preferred techniques.
Basic facilities are all there, including computer access, photocopying, archives and the like, but also
available are seminar rooms and the first floor cafe.
As well as the Student library there's a large central city library, along with little local libraries dotted
throughout the city. Beware though; you will be fined for books not returned on time so make sure you
check the return dates.
During exam time the library is open 24hours a day.
IT and Computing
You can log in at any of the University computers using the log in you will get given, there is also
Ethernet connection in all of the rooms in Rees hall, although WiFi is limited. You are provided with
some free printer credit and you will be given an introduction to the computers and library when you
attend for your first week.
15

Sports
There are two major sports facilities within the university: the Nuffield centre and St Paul’s centre. Both
are available for use for members. The Nuffield centre is mainly the place to play sports and go to
classes.
Sports facilities are: Tennis, squash and basketballs, badminton, netball courts. The St Paul’s centre also
has badminton courts but is more orientated towards fitness. It houses two cardio vascular suites and a
weights room.
You can pay for classes per attendance. Alternatively you can join one of the many clubs within the
university, some examples include: Dance (salsa, ballroom, street etc), karate, kung fu, cheerleading,
fencing, ski and snowboarding, sailing, swimming and many more.
Outdoor sports such as rugby and football are played on the Langstone sports site, about 10 minutes
away from the city centre. The University bus runs regularly to the Langstone campus.
With several swimming pools - including one outdoor pool, and one pool with wave simulators, flumes
and the like, a skatepark, multiple gyms and leisure centre’s you're never going to be left unfit unless
you want to be. The Common also provides space for much Frisbee, rugby and football.
If you prefer watching sport Portsmouth also has its own football stadium with league matches
regularly played there, although they went into administration in 2012.
Welfare
While in Portsmouth Dr Radford is your first point of call day hours or on email most weekends. The
University also has a Chaplaincy, the Chaplains recognize that life is more than work or study and are
available to be alongside you whatever you are facing.
The Chaplaincy suite can be found on the ground floor of the Nuffield Centre.
T: +44 (0)23 9284 3030
E: chaplains@port.ac.uk
http://www.port.ac.uk/students/chaplaincy/
Useful Websites
Visit Portsmouth
http://www.visitportsmouth.co.uk/
Restaurants - Portsmouth
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurants-g186298-Portsmouth_Hampshire_England.html
Shopping
http://www.gunwharf-quays.com/
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University Website
http://www.port.ac.uk/
Space Gallery
http://creativespace.cci.port.ac.uk/
Strong Island
http://www.strong-island.co.uk/
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