Jon Brown, resident movie critic at Portsmouth radio station Express FM, sat down with three-time Olivier award-winning British stage and screen legend Roger Allam and wonderful film director John Jenks to talk about their latest project: a film adaptation of comedy icon Stephen Fry’s brilliantly funny novel, The Hippopotamus.
Express FM review: Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge
Film & CinemaCommentPortsmouth’s very own radio station, Express FM, offer up an honest review of the latest addition to the blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean series, Salazar’s Revenge, courtesy of movie critic Jon Brown!
Express FM review: ‘Alien Covenant’
Film & CinemaCommentPortsmouth’s very own radio station, Express FM, offer up a spoiler-free review of new sci-fi horror blockbuster Alien Covenant, courtesy of movie critic Jon Brown!
Beauty tips: keep your spray tan on for longer, with The Beauty Retreat
Friends of Love SouthseaCommentExpress FM presents a spoiler-free extended preview of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Friends of Love SouthseaCommentBeauty tips: raising my eyebrows with ‘brow tattoos’ at Changes Clinic
Friends of Love Southsea1 CommentI’ve tried a whole load of methods and techniques for getting my brows looking fantastic — ‘eyebrows on fleek’ is what the kids say nowadays, right? — and I ended up seeking the help and advice of an expert right here in Portsmouth. As you know, there’s nothing I love more than keeping things local!
#GirlBoss: Builder and Interior Designer Steph Marshall
#GirlBossCommentMeet Steph Marshall, #GirlBoss and entrepreneur to the full. Steph is the founder and director of Sea Salt Studio, established in 2015. Here’s her story.
Express FM present: a preview of ‘Beauty and the Beast’
Comment#GirlBoss Amba Tremain talks Urban Vocal Group, Boy George, and Eva Cassidy
#GirlBossCommentThe first time I saw Amba was at a gig at The Wedgewood Rooms. She was on stage, I was in the crowd, in awe of her and her sister, thinking, ‘wow, these girls can sing!’ This was circa 2006. 10 years on, I’m great friends with Amba, and on a sunny but chilly day last month, I met up with her for a cake and a cuppa to dig deeper, to share this remarkable lady’s story. Amba’s life has had more ups and downs than the Skyways rollercoaster at Clarence Pier! So grab yourself a cuppa and let me take you into Amba's world for a while.
Mayville Reports: heritage and history of The Kings Theatre Southsea
Mayville ReportsCommentLove Southsea have teamed up with Lulu’s old school — Mayville High School Southsea — to visit local tourist attractions, museums, and art spaces, giving pupils the opportunity to meet and interview Portsmouth influencers.
Interview: Southsea tattooist and Play Dead Studio’s Samo White
Friends of Love Southsea1 Comment#GirlBoss: Nina Burras, the signmaker behind Missing Chopper
#GirlBossCommentI’ve got a concession in South Coast Emporium on the corner of Elm Grove, where there’s an eclectic group of different traders all selling beautiful gifts. One of these traders is Missing Chopper — their stand is incredible.
Missing Chopper make large circus-esque lights, ranging from words through to symbols like anchors and hearts. I needed to know more about the brand, so I got in touch with founder Nina Burras, a #GirlBoss beaut living on Hayling Island. Grab a coffee and read her remarkable story here.
Southsea jeweler Charlotte Cornelius crafts beautiful custom rings
1 CommentWhen my first daughter was born, my husband bought me an aquamarine ring, as her eyes were blue, so when daughter number two came along, named Ruby, she kept nagging me to get a ruby ring!
So with all this in mind — and with Ruby now aged 12! — I commissioned Charlotte Cornelius to make me the impossible: a ring designed by my three children which I can wear every day.
Diet Diary with Changes Clinic: Final Day!
Life StoriesCommentMayville High School report at Shaping Portsmouth Conference 2017
1 CommentOn 27th January, we (Daisy, Katelan, Tabitha, and Izzy) were asked by Love Southsea to go to the Shaping Portsmouth conference, to interview a few people about their work and jobs within Portsmouth. We were also lucky enough to stay for the presentations, which were very inspiring. We took notes, asked questions, and became journalists for the day.
The Shaping Portsmouth conference was held at the Pyramids Centre in Southsea, and the topic of 2017’s discussion was sustainability. When we arrived, we were originally quite intimidated! The small hall was full of people and promotional stalls, with eager entrepreneurs keen to showcase their businesses.
Some such businesses were:
- Village Hotels, who were giving away delightful goodie bags
- Gunwharf Quays, who were also giving away goodie bags, plus discounts
- University of Portsmouth, who were handing out leaflets and gave excellent advice about the courses they run
These were only a fraction of the businesses in attending — everyone showcasing their work at the conference played a hand in shaping Portsmouth into an ever-evolving and -bettering city.
We all sat down at our round table — complimentary cookies in hand! — and took notes while listening to the talks. Katelan and Tabitha took the lead on note-taking and interviewing.
Each speaker offered unique and innovative ideas, speaking about what they had been doing and what they wished to accomplish.
Walter Cha, the Chair of Shaping Portsmouth, opened the conference, and highlighted the importance of the day’s speakers and what they wished to accomplish, noting economic prosperity as a key goal.
This led to the first speaker of the day taking to the stage: Peter Gunn, the Chief Executive of BH Live. BH Live is a charitable trust founded in 2010, who aim to make people more active by going to gyms, swimming pool, and parks.
Peter said that by opening people up to the idea of having fun while exercising, he feels lifestyles in Portsmouth will improve, while strengthening tourism and, subsequently, the economy.
Other speakers on the day’s programme included Cheryl Buggy — former Chair of Shaping Portsmouth — and Portsmouth’s Poet Laureate Sam Cox.
At the end of the conference, Walter Cha and Portsmouth’s Lord Mayor, David Fuller, presented the Shaping Portsmouth Awards, congratulating local influencers for their hard work and contributions to the betterment of the city. The winners were:
- Chocablock Ltd.: Business & Enterprise Award
- Urban Vocal Group: Cultural Partnership Award
- Team Origin Events: Destination Marketing Partnership Award
- Deniz Beck of ERMC Architecture: Developers Group Award
- The Royal Navy: Education Award
- Marie Clarke School of Dance: Future Generations Award
- Recycled Assets Company: Social Enterprise Award
This post was guest-written by four pupils from Mayville High School! Find out more about the school on their website »
Diet Diary with Changes Clinic: Days 4 and 5
Life StoriesCommentDear diary — the weekend brought diet days four and five, and it’s been 120 hours since my last coffee!
I’m on the Changes Clinic week-long diet challenge — they feed me five times per day for seven days to kickstart my new healthy eating lifestyle.
I’m not going to lie — I feel dreadful. I’ve got caffeine withdrawal, my head is pounding, and it’s the weekend. I’ve just moved home, so this Saturday was full of box-emptying and sorting out where to put stuff. Luckily, I didn’t have room in my brain to think about food!
The family had a takeaway tonight, and I had a delicious bowl of chicken soup. It’s a bit like space food in small portions, but it’s blooming tasty!
On Sunday, I cheated, as I went to Brighton for a date day with my husband to see Jack Whitehall. I had a sneaky French Martini 🍸 But I did keep to salads, and my Changes Clinic snacks.
So far, so good — only two days to go ’til the big weigh-in!
Diet Diary with Changes Clinic Portsmouth: Day 3
Life StoriesCommentDiet Diary with Changes Clinic Portsmouth: Day #2
Life StoriesCommentDiet Diary with Changes Clinic Portsmouth: Day #1
Life StoriesComment#GirlBoss: Olympic swimmer and Portsmouth personal trainer Katy Sexton
Friends of Love Southsea, #GirlBoss1 CommentOn a chilly Southsea morning, I meet the legendary MBE Olympian Katy Sexton for a casual chat and pumpkin spice latte on Palmerston Road.
Katy has been my personal trainer at SWEAT Southsea for nearly two months now, but I’d yet to have a proper sit-down and chat with her, and I soon realized I knew very little about her success and what made her tick.