Portsmouth Wed night now 11.30pm and Monday 9.30pm dock

[RL17]

Wed Portsmouth Caen now leaving 11.30pm - any good places nearby whilst waiting extra 2 hours?

And Monday 4.30 to 9.30pm crossing? Have done outwards once before (as live in mid Kent) and it was over an hour through customs - is it a pain getting back in as son needs to get to SE London and I may head over to IOW and book ferry etc

[Aysedasi2]

That Monday evening is a guaranteed hour+ through Border Control in Portsmouth. Have done it many many times. Got lucky once with half an hour. Last couple of years, nearer an hour and a half.

[8-P]

RL17 said:

Wed Portsmouth Caen now leaving 11.30pm - any good places nearby whilst waiting extra 2 hours?

And Monday 4.30 to 9.30pm crossing? Have done outwards once before (as live in mid Kent) and it was over an hour through customs - is it a pain getting back in as son needs to get to SE London and I may head over to IOW and book ferry etc

I live 20 mins away but it’s still annoying. Gun Wharf will be mostly shut by that time too.

[DMN]

Having been caught out on that crossing when also needing an onward Ferry to the IOW, I always allow at least two hours.

[RL17]

Thanks, that’s a shame as can normally get one from Dover about an hour after boat starts unloading

[Lovey1]

RL17 said:

Wed Portsmouth Caen now leaving 11.30pm - any good places nearby whilst waiting extra 2 hours?

And Monday 4.30 to 9.30pm crossing? Have done outwards once before (as live in mid Kent) and it was over an hour through customs - is it a pain getting back in as son needs to get to SE London and I may head over to IOW and book ferry etc

Take a trip down to the Still and West / Bridge Tavern or Gunwharf and have a pint watching the boats . Easily kill a couple of hours, particularly if the weathers nice.

[Coops24]

We get in the Admiral Drake on the Rudmore roundabout

[LawrieC]

Coops24 said:

We get in the Admiral Drake on the Rudmore roundabout

That reminds me of the Rudmore Arms - close to the ferries, but knocked down over 10 years ago.

It had an interesting clientele in the evenings. People like us having a swift one or two, and the local scum. It could be quite scary

[ianclark1275]

I got same ferry last year

Arrived 18:30
Drove on ferry 20:30
Dinner 21:00
sailing out the harbour at 22:00

So this year it’s later departure 2300 , my question is what time will they let you drive on the ferry this year ?

I’m not that bothered it setting off later, just need to know if we are going to get food and drink on the ferry ?

[ricof]

We usually stop at the Still and West to quench our thirsts before tootling over to the ferry.

[Catweazle]

LawrieC said:

Coops24 said:

We get in the Admiral Drake on the Rudmore roundabout

That reminds me of the Rudmore Arms - close to the ferries, but knocked down over 10 years ago.

It had an interesting clientele in the evenings. People like us having a swift one or two, and the local scum. It could be quite scary

Rudmore Cellars. Ship and Castle is still going.

[RL17]

ianclark1275 said:

I got same ferry last year

Arrived 18:30
Drove on ferry 20:30
Dinner 21:00
sailing out the harbour at 22:00

So this year it’s later departure 2300 , my question is what time will they let you drive on the ferry this year ?

I’m not that bothered it setting off later, just need to know if we are going to get food and drink on the ferry ?

I remember long bar queue from my previous trip.

Have to drop someone for fast cat and pickup son from Harbour station so Still & West makes sense - thanks

[RL17]

Although Admiral Drake looks walkable after you’ve parked up for ferry queue

[ecsrobin]

Be aware that there are D-day celebrations at the common with an evening event on including a drone show so I wouldn’t venture too far into town in case there’s traffic when the event ends.

Ship & Castle would make the best sense to pop in although not sure what time they stop serving food.

[RL17]

Is the common down near hovercraft ramps? So Gunwharf area and south will be busy

[ecsrobin]

RL17 said:

Is the common down near hovercraft ramps? So Gunwharf area and south will be busy

So roads are closed off around the hovercraft area from yesterday through to Thursday I believe. There’s the day time event with heads of state and royal family and then an evening event with a drone show. I believe that finishes between 10-11pm so everyone will then make their way out the city. Potential to be busy.

Thinking about it that could be why the ferry has a delayed departure.