Portsmouth traders object to Victorious Festival

Local traders have raised concerns over the impact of Victorious Festival, with Clarence Pier claiming it has lost nearly £1m in revenue over the past decade.

Portsmouth City Council heard from local businesses during a meeting considering whether to agree new contracts with Victorious Festival and the Great South Run.

Speaking to councillors, Jimmy Norman, director of Clarence Pier, said: “We are not asking the Victorious festival to leave Portsmouth” but instead wanted the council to address the impact on local businesses before new contracts are procured.

He added that over the last ten years the pier has “lost over £900,000 in revenue”, partly due to the closure of Clarence Esplanade.

He said the pier being open and “being realistically accessible are not the same thing”.

Mr Norman suggested moving the festival to another weekend and, if that was not possible, considering an alternative layout “to keep the entire seafront open”.

The owners of the Big Blue Ticket Company, which runs the arcades at Clarence Pier, said their business is being “seriously affected” by the music festival, which takes place over the August bank holiday weekend.

They said parking impacts, road closures and other restrictions had “deterred” customers.

The business recommended a full assessment of the festival’s economic impact on local businesses, public information regarding “Southsea open as usual” and reconsideration of transport restrictions.

Adam Parsons, from the Coffee Cup, said having the festival over the bank holiday weekend has a “huge negative effect on our business numbers” and suggested moving the event to a quieter weekend.

A Blue Reef Aquarium spokesperson said the business has experienced “severe issues” due to road closures.

“Customers have turned away, we can’t get anyone in to our site without having to argue with security constantly to get customers who have already pre-booked tickets to visit us.”

James Ralls, managing director and co-founder of Victorious Festival, said: “We try to work with every business but some business won’t work with us.

“They don’t, they just want us to pay the money, they don’t want to be be a part of anything, they just want us to make their business better.”

Lucy Branson, of Coastal Kitchen, which includes The Briny, The Canteen, The A Bar and the Tenth Hole, said: “An event of this scale will inevitably create some challenges, there will always be differing views.

“But after everything our industry has faced in recent years, particularly since Covid I don’t believe blame is a productive strategy. Agility is.

“The businesses that succeed are often the ones that adapt, collaborate and look for opportunities, and Victoria has created many of those opportunities.”

“There’s a saying which I think captures it well: a rising tide lifts all boats.”

Officers noted that, due to police recommendations and anti-terrorism legislation, road closures have to be put in place “which may not otherwise be palatable”.

Following specialist legal advice, it was recommended that the council aim to produce new contracts running until 2036 rather than extend the existing ones.

Cllr Steve Pitt, leader of the council, said the Victorious team are “intrinsic” to why the festival is a success.

He said he “hears” the issues and concerns, but encouraged “embracing” and “adapting” to change.

He added that council and festival staff “remains very willing to work proactively in a way that benefits your businesses”, but said this needs to happen “with an open mind”.

Since moving to Southsea seafront in 2014, the festival has generated a £159m economic boost for the city, while donating £926,370 to charities and good causes.

It has also provided £83,500 to local sports clubs, £78,000 in free and discounted pitches for traders and £250,000 in Tickets for Troops since 2021.

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