So You Want To Start A Business?

Portsmouth's civic concert hall and conference venue, right across the square from Portsmouth & Southsea station, with a main auditorium, studio and a run of meeting and banqueting rooms. It hosts business events such as the Cocktails & Connect networking evening (15 Sep 2026), and the Shaping Portsmouth business partnership is based on its upper second floor.

The way in

Main entrance off Guildhall Square, with a gentle ramp into the main foyers; stewards direct anyone with access needs to the accessible entrance. Box Office (with hearing loop and lowered counter) is open 9am-5pm Mon-Fri and from at least an hour before shows; ask there or front-of-house staff for help. Check your event's own joining instructions for the room.

Access

Step-free access. Gentle ramp into the main foyers; Stalls, Lens Studio and Square Kitchen Café are step-free; lifts on both sides of the ground floor reach all other areas; hearing loops in the Box Office and auditorium; assistance dogs welcome. Access team: [email protected], 023 9387 0200.

Parking

Parking nearby. No car park at the building and no accessible parking directly at the Guildhall; a very small number of on-street spaces on King Henry 1st Street. Nearest is Isambard Brunel multi-storey (Alec Rose Lane, about 200m; Portsmouth City Council; 1.9m height limit; Blue Badge exemption does NOT apply here). Blue Badge holders can park free in the Isambard Brunel pay-and-display surface car park and other council-owned pay-and-display car parks (not NCP).

Getting there

Portsmouth & Southsea station is just across the square (about 2 minutes on foot). Local and regional buses stop at Commercial Road City Centre (about 5 minutes); Guildhall Civic Offices stops are on Isambard Brunel Road. National coaches use The Hard Interchange, about 15 minutes' walk.

By train

Portsmouth & Southsea, 2 minutes on foot; Portsmouth Harbour, 18 minutes on foot.

By bus

Guildhall Civic Offices (Stop K), 3 minutes on foot.

Food and drink

On-site catering for conferences with bespoke menus and all dietary requirements; Square Kitchen Café in the foyer area; Stalls Bar (lowered counter)

Toilets

Basement (lift access), including accessible toilets with left and right transfer and an adult changing bed with hoist; also accessible toilets on the 1st floor

Has

Paid parking, Step-free access, Accessible toilets, Hearing loop, Near a station.

Round the venue

• Drop-off Drop-off on King Henry 1st Street. 0 minutes on foot. Dropped kerb outside the venue for car and taxi drop-off.
• Station Portsmouth & Southsea. 2 minutes on foot. Just across the square; services to London Waterloo, Southampton and Brighton (per the Guildhall).
• Bus stop Guildhall Civic Offices (Stop K). 3 minutes on foot. 1, 2, 7, 700, PR4. Isambard Brunel Road. 1, 2, 7 and PR4 are First Portsmouth, Fareham & Gosport, 700 is Stagecoach South.
• Bus stop Guildhall Civic Offices (Stop M). 3 minutes on foot. 1, 2, 7, 700, H1, PR4. Opposite direction to Stop K.
• Car park Isambard Brunel surface car park. 3 minutes on foot. £1.70 up to 1h, £2.90 up to 2h, £3.90 up to 3h, £5.00 up to 4h, £8.70 up to 5h, £13.00 over 5h; charges apply 24/7 incl. bank holidays. Alec Rose Lane. Portsmouth City Council pay and display; RingGo location 1382. Blue Badge holders park free. Max stay not stated by the council.
• Bus stop City Centre Station Street (Stands H/J). 4 minutes on foot. 13, 14, 21.
• Car park Isambard Brunel multi-storey car park. 4 minutes on foot. £1.70 up to 1h, £2.90 up to 2h, £3.90 up to 3h, £5.00 up to 4h, £8.70 up to 5h, £13.00 over 5h; charges apply 24/7 incl. bank holidays. Alec Rose Lane, PO1 2BX. Portsmouth City Council. 5 Blue Badge bays (but Blue Badge exemption does not apply here); 1.9m height limit; Park-It cards accepted. The Guildhall sells car-park 'exit tickets' to show-goers. Guildhall puts it about 200m away. Max stay not stated by the council.
• Station Portsmouth Harbour. 18 minutes on foot. Next to The Hard Interchange (national coaches, Gosport Ferry, Isle of Wight ferries).
• Drop-off Taxi rank on Guildhall Walk. Metered taxi rank outside the venue.

Contact the venue 023 9387 0182[email protected]portsmouthguildhall.org.uk

Arrival details checked on 16 October.