The Shining Light

Here's a place to put in your travel diary for the next time you are in Southsea (if you are not Michael Winner, that is). It is the newly opened Lighthouse Cafe on Albert Road.

When we went for a family lunch yesterday it was heaving. There are more people waiting on tables than any other place like it. Some are paid, some are volunteers, they are all very pleasant.

It is the kind of place where you can easily speak to those on other tables (even if you aren't Michael Winner). We were seated next to three new students at Portsmouth Uni who had just received a telephone message to say they had succeeded in finding a house to rent. They were excited and we were excited for them while they decided who would have which rooms in their new house.

The Salvation Army person who had been involved in opening this new Cafe spoke to us about the trials and tribulations of the first few weeks but he was positive about its future.

The food was good (but I wouldn't recommend it to Michael Winner). The coffee was good.

The Lighthouse Cafe provides a service to the local community!