How to make friends in Portsmouth around shared interests
Explore Portsmouth social gaming, music conversation and a Cosham reading group. Practical ways for locals and newcomers to meet, plus online friendship.
By KF.Social·4 min read
Editorial illustration inspired by Portsmouth. Not a photograph of members or an event.
A favourite album, a surprising book or a board game can do some of the work of starting a conversation. Portsmouth has social options built around those interests, from an evening gaming table in Southsea to a daytime library group in Cosham. They give you a reason to take part before you know anyone there.
You may be new to the city, or simply ready to add something to a familiar week. This guide compares three different formats and the practical step for joining each one. The aim is to find a plan you would enjoy repeating, not to fill every spare evening or pretend one visit creates instant close friendships.
01Join a social gaming evening at DICE
DICE's Portsmouth events page advertises Tableside Social Gaming on Wednesdays from 6pm. The invitation includes people attending individually, as a couple or with a group. That makes it a different proposition from booking an ordinary table solely for friends you already know.
Use the event's sign-up link and check the current Portsmouth calendar. Ask the venue about space, the cost and any minimum spend before going; the social event listing does not publish a fee. The venue is a café/bar, so choose it with that setting in mind. You can start by asking which game is being played or telling the team you have come for the social session.
02Talk music at Backstage Pass
Portsmouth City Council lists Backstage Pass as a Thursday music-discussion group at 2:30pm in the Bold Forester pub on Albert Road. It covers bands, gigs and music across decades. The council says there is no group fee and visitors can turn up and ask for the group; check current arrangements using its contact details.
This is a pub-based afternoon conversation, so it may suit somebody who enjoys that environment and has the time free. You do not need an elaborate introduction: the last concert you enjoyed, an album you return to or a song somebody mentions can provide a starting point. If a pub is not your preferred setting, the library option below offers a different one.
03Explore Reading Friends at Cosham Library
The council's Reading Friends information describes an intercultural group for adults aged 18 and over, meeting on Tuesdays from 10:30am to 12:30pm at Cosham Library. Contact the library service through the listing to check attendance arrangements, any cost and what the group is reading before your first visit.
A reading-based group can be appealing if you like having something to consider before a conversation. You can be curious about somebody else's interpretation without needing to give a polished opinion yourself. Ask the organiser how a typical session works so you know what to expect.
04Match your plan to your week
These options are spread across different times and settings. A Wednesday game might work after a working day; Thursday music discussion or Tuesday reading may suit a free daytime slot. Start by looking at your actual diary, not the version of your week in which you somehow have unlimited time.
For long-term residents, a new group can sit alongside existing friendships. You may want a companion for a hobby your friends do not share, or a regular plan when their schedules are busy. For newcomers, it can help to choose an activity with an explicit joining route rather than hoping a busy venue will create introductions by itself.
Check the journey to the specific venue and the way home after it finishes. Southsea and Cosham call for different plans, especially if you are travelling from outside Portsmouth. A convenient first visit is useful; a convenient repeat visit is even better. If you liked the activity, give yourself another chance to learn a few names.
Local programmes change. Check the organiser links above for current dates, booking and access details. Spotted something out of date? Send us a correction.
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