Parade Tea Rooms in Portsmouth

This may be a little harsh, but I was really looking forward to this visit as I had heard good things and it came well recommended. Staff were polite and functional, but not particularly welcoming. The food was ok, although a little on the pricey side. Cakes were definitely the highlight, great choice, and portion size. My first impression of the coffee was that it was very weak, but on reflection, it may just have been a less intense blend.

Needs menu update as no eggs benedict available when we ordered. Menu for breakfast should separate from lunch and main courses as breakfast only available until 10am.

We used to love this place and would visit very very frequently. This was when the staff were lovely, the food was great as well as big portions and there was a big menu. As the time has gone on the menu has got smaller and smaller and to be quite honest I do not want a toastie for my tea. Nor do my kids want a beans and cheese jacket or chicken nuggets from the only 2 things on the kids menu. The staff that are new there are also rude,don’t smile and look bored out their brains! We arrived at 4pm the other evening even though they shut at 5 but we definitely were not welcome at all. If anything we were an inconvenience with our 2 and 4 year old. We didn’t end up staying as said above I wasn’t paying £6 for some nuggets or a jacket potato for them. We also felt on edge from staff. Won’t be visiting there again now. Cheesecakes 10/10 so will probably pop in for take away- hopefully that will not inconvenience the staff too much!!!!

Food is good quality - we had the mac and cheese (with both bacon and mushrooms) to share with two lattes. It is a shame but the prices have sky rocketed (certainly at the Gunwharf) and I am not sure that £14 for a baked potato or a baguette is worth that price tag. I always thought the prices were on the high side but wonder if they have just priced themselves a bit too excessively. Coffees were also £3.95 each. A cafe, not far too away with great sea views is literally half the price for sandwiches/baked potatoes, etc and the coffees a £1 less. We will be trying that one next time, sorry Parade.

Unfortunately for me there was not enough vegetarian options. I really wanted a toasted sandwich but there was nothing I could have. I chose macaroni cheese which was very nice though. Have never paid £3.75 for a coffee before! Probably won't go back.

Very disappointed. We selected this place because we had been there in the past and enjoyed it - it is also dog-friendly. BUT. The menu has become very limited and conventional. There used to be imaginative dishes - their roast veg medley was especially good. Also there was a much wider range of allergy-sensitive options. This time there was only one (modified) dish I dared eat. (Jacket potato with baked beans - minus the cheese and the butter.) And when I asked for olive oil instead of butter, they said they did not have olive oil in the place!!!!! In THIS day and age!! Incredible. Now they are no better - and probably worse - than a dozen other places. The staff are friendly and helpful, and offered me both a price reduction and extra salad. However I shall think twice before going there again!

We popped in for the first time this week, the staff were friendly, the service was fast and the food was fresh, we definitely will be back

Popped in for a little snack…..no start that again… popped in for a huge slice of cake and a tea plus hot choc. We went for a slice of banoffee pie with two forks. The slices are far too big for one. Drinks and fab plus it’s a nice setting. Perhaps better on a not so busy Gunwharf day like today.

Lovely little tearooms in Gunwharf quays which is always busy. I only popped in for a coffee and a quick bite to eat and received a friendly warm welcome. The atmosphere was very relaxing, had nice music playing in the background and the staff were very attentive. I think the 2 young ladies who served me were called Lucy and Rebecca. Thank you for the amazing hospitality and great service.

Beautiful coffee and cake marred only by the older Hispanic lady bullying the bonnie young cashier. The young lady asked for help dealing with cash at the register. Seemingly knowing the young girl might not be able to do the maths the older lady humiliated her by trying to get her to cslculate the change before she showed her how to key in money rather than card transactions. Then when the girl did not know the answer she shouted that it was not good enough. Not sure what planet the older Hispanic lady lives on but this is not how you treat a colleague. It is not how you perform in front of customers and basically it is not acceptable full stop. Shortfalls in maths are a legacy of underfunded schools. Phobias re numbers follow and not helped by know it alls trying to put you down. May I suggest training for all transactions on the register. Better team work and support for younger workers and some education in acceptable behaviour, respect and humility for the older hispanic lady. I was in around 1615 Fri 25 Aug. The young girl will remember me. I had to stop myself tearing a strip off the older lady. It costs nothing to be nice, especially when you work in hospitality and especially to your colleagues. It was not busy and there was no rational reason for the older woman to be mean. Just be nice.

A frequent visitor to this and the one near Southsea common . Always lovely food, lovely service and you didn’t mind paying a bit extra as the food was mostly home made and tasty I’ve not had the opportunity to visit here for a fair few months but I used to come t least twice a month. But after todays experience I’m wondering if it’s changed hands, or management possibly ? Would be very interested to know . Visited today with my husband for lunch and the food was awful . I had quiche of the day , which was cheese and ‘bacon’ quiche served with fries and coleslaw and a pot of English breakfast tea . The Quiche was horrible, I actually left most of it . There were minute pieces of square ham in it like the ones you get in the frozen ‘basic’ branded supermarket frozen quiches , the chips were standard thin fries , and the coleslaw, which I’m sure used to be home made was bought in and not even a good quality one . My tea had no flavour at all , pretty sure it wasn’t English breakfast . My husband had the macaroni cheese, which he said was ok , but he’s had better, lots of greasy fat around the edges and on the top . I didn’t bother with getting a cake to take home so can’t comment as to if they are as nice as they used to be . What a real shame, we used to live coming here , and I’d also visit with friends when they were down visiting . It wasn’t as if it was cooked badly just very poor quality . Service was ok, a young waitress just doing her job of bringing the food and clearing the tables as you order at the counter . I must admit, I was surprised when we arrived at lunchtime on a packed Sunday Gunwharf that there were tables still free when we got there . Sorry for the long review, but just a real shame as this was always my go to when I came here for shopping , won’t be returning.

Along with another couple we called at the Tearoom for lunch. It was excellent, all at a fair price and with big servings. Well done and thumbs up to parade Tearooms.

Stopped off here in the off chance we may have been able to get a late breakfast. What a great find and what a great surprise as the cafe didn't initially look that big. Great full English breakfast and didn't wait that long either. Probably paid a quid or two more than your average greasy spoon prices but this was not a greasy spoon. Nice and clean place to eat, friendly staff. If you go to Gunwharf Quays to shop this is a great place to eat. Will definitely come back.

I was meeting up with a friend for a coffee and chat and this little cafe just tucked in to a corner of Gunwharf Quays near the main gates ticked all the boxes, it was only early morning and there were lots of customers choosing the breakfast, it certainly looked a good choice however we opted for the cakes, there was a big selection. It’s not cheap but worth the money, £14 for two slices of cake and two drinks. The building was clean and staff very nicely presented and polite. The place got busy very quickly so if you are planning a day shopping in Gunwharf I think it might be worth booking a table.

Fed up of the 'chain' eateries at Gunwharf, we tried Parade Tearooms on 21st August. This is a well-run and efficient place. Clean, friendly with fast service. We sat inside one of their two dining rooms, but there's seating outside too. My Wife had a club sandwich and I had strawberry cheesecake. Far too much and almost half was returned. We noticed other patrons struggled with thier portions too. The loo is opposite on the other side of Vernon Gate and is a disabled / changing / unisex facility. Nestled just inside Gunwharf and away from all the hubbub, we'll come back, but will be sharing our food!

I had baked potato and tuna, my friend coronation chicken. The service is excellent, the prices are reasonable and the food very good. A great place to go for a quick lunch where you can rely on the quality.

My first visit ever to Parade Tea Rooms, had high expectations as everyone has always said how great it is, was sat down to our table, told to go to the till when ready to order. Was quite shocked when 1 there was a hair in my baguette, i paid £13 for the chicken tikka baguette, the baguette wasnt cooked all the way through and was really hard to eat, there was about 4 tiny slices of chicken and a tiny portion of chips. Throughout eating we had no one come to the table and asked how everything was so there was no opportunity for me to raise the issue with my food. When walking out no one said thankyou or anything. Id expect it when its busy. But it really wasnt busy there at all. Just wasnt welcoming or anything. Ridiculous prices for the amount served. See picture attached.

Great late breakfast and they were more than happy to alter the menu to suit. Friendly service…………………………………………………...

Have regularly visited the Southsea cafe and have been here before. Prices have increased … and we felt it was now very overpriced. £11.20 for a thin panini and small side of chips… no sale etc comes with it. Cake now £4 slice. £9 for eggs royale… not the biggest portion. Have Royal a lit and usually pay £6-7 . It was ok… but a lot of money for not big portions.

Have visited a few times and the breakfast never disappoints. Really nice iced coffee too. Will always recommend. Great place to start your day before a shop in Gunwharf.

Just wanted to say we have just had another 5 star breakfast here. The staff are working very hard to keep it all very clean.

Had planned just a hot choc and a pot of tea but having looked at the cake selection chose a tiffin and banoffee pie. But the huge size of the banoffee pie changed my mind about the tiffin. Needed two forks to demolish the banoffee....

My partner had a fish finger sandwich & chips and even before she finished it she was taken violently ill - sweating & shaking. Fortunately I arrived soon after and got her into the fresh air and then to a toilet where she was physically...

What a lovely place. Nearly didn’t go in and so glad we did! Breakfast bagel was delicious. Coffee great. My daughter had a huge millionaires shortbread. Cakes are homemade and amazing. Definitely one for cheesecake lovers. I took a huge slice home and it sooooo...

Always a friendly welcome with good value food and drinks. Visited twice in 2-days for breakfast and drinks and cannot fault the quality of the food for the price.

Delicious Breakfast! I had the gluten free breakfast and it did not disappoint! Staff were so friendly also! Would definitely go back again and again. Oh and their cakes looked AMAZING!!

Visited for breakfast whilst having 2-days in Portsmouth. Good choice form the breakfast menu and great value food. Only strange thing is I used to sleep in this building on Guard Duty whilst at Vernon!

I’m a big fan of the other Parade Tea Rooms on Southsea Common and have been wanting to try this second location for a while. After visiting, I’m really happy that I did. I was able to get a table straightaway in spite of it...

Came here for a mid week lunch, plenty of seating both inside and out. Have to queue up to order and pay then food brought to table. Lots to choose from. Between us we had coronation chicken jacket potato, quiche, macaroni cheese and a child’s...

After wandering around the shops we looked for somewhere to stop and eat. It was hugely busy everywhere and we hadn’t pre booked- so were disappointed not to be able to get a table. I remembered that the parade Tearooms was tucked around the corner...

Our first visit to these tea rooms and it was a good experience. Friendly staff, good service. Very tasty bacon sandwich, toasted tea cake and a Cappacino. Fair prices and good seating arrangement. Just off the main Quays area which is better and not as...

Best club sandwich ever! Friendly and quick service and the place is lovely and clean. Definitely recommend!

I visit every time whilst in Portsmouth. Lovely, non fussy food. Great, atmosphere and ... of course the cakes. I always look forward to it. Tried the jacket potato today...as you can see it’s cheeselicious and all kinds of amazing ! Staff are always very...

Lovely setting, sat outside but inside looked really lovely. Just had coffee and cake. Cakes very very tasty but dare I say too big! They are maybe intended for sharing but sharing cake is a sin only exceeded by leaving uneaten cake so I left...

Spotted the Parade tea room on my way past Gunwharf and thought I’d pop in for a drink. Have been to the one on Southsea Common before but not this one. All socially distanced re Covid and noticed the staff regularly cleaning which was good....

I got to say I do love a good lunch visit at parade tearooms. staff are always lovely and food is always great. I prefer the one on the common due to the space and comfort though.

A rare occasion... myself and my wife had an afternoon at Gunwharf without the kids. We've been to the Parade Tea Rooms several times, but never for Afternoon Tea. When we ordered it, we chose cakes from the great selection on offer and the staff...

Called in to have lunch and wanted disappointed! Only had a sandwich but was tempted into having cakes !

Great gluten free breakfast - cooked to perfection. Great atmosphere & really friendly service. Definitely recommended.

Popped in for a light breakfast and was very pleasantly surprised. Beautiful decor and friendly staff, with the most amazing looking cakes!! Will have to come back to try. Would highly recommend

This was recommended to us by my daughter's friend and we visited for the first time today. A lovely breakfast which came with free coffee. Very well priced too.