The Tenth Hole, Southsea

Billy's breakfast burger, The Tenth Hole, Southsea, Eastney, hummus, houlumi, chocolate fudge cake, fruit cake, Cockleshell Heroes, The Rose Garden, coffee, roasted vegetables
Inside the main part of The Tenth Hole

UPDATE: see bottom of post.

Everyone who lives in Portsmouth knows of The Tenth Hole tearooms in Eastney and has more than likely been there at least once. For years I used to visit at least twice a week in it’s heyday and would have the same thing each time. Tuna & mayonnaise sandwiches on white bread, with tortilla chips, cream cheese dip and a mug of excellent coffee with cream. Oh, and more than likely a slice of cake. My husband used to play pitch & putt there before it was even a tearoom. Back then the owners, Brian and Ann introduced tea and cake and it went from there, gradually expanding. I think we stopped going towards the end because it was getting increasingly difficult to get a table (and there was nowhere else nearby at the time) and if you did, you’d usually end up having to share it with others, plus we felt that as soon as we finished eating they wanted us gone in order to free up the table for the many people queuing, so we got a bit fed up. We did pay a visit once or twice after it had been taken over but it wasn’t quite the same. However…

Billy's breakfast burger, The Tenth Hole, Southsea, Eastney, hummus, houlumi, chocolate fudge cake, fruit cake, Cockleshell Heroes, The Rose Garden, coffee, roasted vegetables
The menu for after 12 noon

The Tenth Hole had a bit of a makeover at the beginning of the year I believe, so we thought we should return and see what it was like now. It has changed slightly, there are more tables and even a lovely large, light conservatory. As you enter the main entrance room – this contains the counter and cakes – the doorway is now wider and is divided with a roped barrier so that on one side you enter/exit to find a table and then on the other you queue up to order. Years ago it was just one normal-sized doorway and people would be coming and going all the time squeezing past with trays whilst others jostled to look at the cakes.

Billy's breakfast burger, The Tenth Hole, Southsea, Eastney, hummus, houlumi, chocolate fudge cake, fruit cake, Cockleshell Heroes, The Rose Garden, coffee, roasted vegetables
Hummus, haloumi & roasted veg

Off this central room there are three areas in which to eat. The small original room which has no windows, only a glass-less ‘window’ looking into the old ‘new’ extension (this was the first extension Brian and Ann added) and now the large conservatory. Outside there are lots of tables and chairs with rugs supplied for cooler days. We arrived around 2pm and found a table easily but there weren’t many free. The menu isn’t extensive, but there are a few things on there that I liked the sound of. On this occasion I chose the toasted sourdough with hummus, pesto, haloumi, roasted peppers topped with a bunch of fresh rocket.

Billy's breakfast burger, The Tenth Hole, Southsea, Eastney, hummus, houlumi, chocolate fudge cake, fruit cake, Cockleshell Heroes, The Rose Garden, coffee, roasted vegetables
Very tasty indeed

It was lovely. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Everything was fresh and I would certainly recommend it. There’s not much else on the menu I fancy from the ‘something else’ section but I can see several things on the ‘brioche rolls and sandwiches’ and the ‘brunch’ section. I suppose keeping it to a smaller selection means that everything’s fresh and there’s less wastage and keeps it easier for the kitchen staff.

Billy's breakfast burger, The Tenth Hole, Southsea, Eastney, hummus, houlumi, chocolate fudge cake, fruit cake, Cockleshell Heroes, The Rose Garden, coffee, roasted vegetables
Excellent coffee

The coffee was as good as it always used to be. We ordered a large pot between us and we had several cups each. Geoff was happy as there were newspapers to read.

Billy's breakfast burger, The Tenth Hole, Southsea, Eastney, hummus, houlumi, chocolate fudge cake, fruit cake, Cockleshell Heroes, The Rose Garden, coffee, roasted vegetables
Billy’s Geoff’s breakfast burger

Geoff enjoyed his breakfast burger made with sausagemeat, with bacon and fried egg on a muffin.

Billy's breakfast burger, The Tenth Hole, Southsea, Eastney, hummus, houlumi, chocolate fudge cake, fruit cake, Cockleshell Heroes, The Rose Garden, coffee, roasted vegetables
Decisions, decisions…

Of course, there was a huge selection of cakes. It was quite difficult to choose as they all looked so good.

Billy's breakfast burger, The Tenth Hole, Southsea, Eastney, hummus, houlumi, chocolate fudge cake, fruit cake, Cockleshell Heroes, The Rose Garden, coffee, roasted vegetables
My chocolate fudge cake

I finally settled upon chocolate fudge cake. It was a huge slice with gooey chocolate fudge in the centre, on the sides and top, with a piece of Cadbury Flake, mini marshmallows and white chocolate buttons with hundreds & thousands on.

Billy's breakfast burger, The Tenth Hole, Southsea, Eastney, hummus, houlumi, chocolate fudge cake, fruit cake, Cockleshell Heroes, The Rose Garden, coffee, roasted vegetables
With cream

I had cream to pour over (which was also for my coffee) and although the cake was fresh and really good, I couldn’t quite manage the whole lot…by only one bite mind…

Billy's breakfast burger, The Tenth Hole, Southsea, Eastney, hummus, houlumi, chocolate fudge cake, fruit cake, Cockleshell Heroes, The Rose Garden, coffee, roasted vegetables
Geoff’s fruit cake

Geoff didn’t need to look at the cakes, he always goes for fruit cake. He said it was very nice. He’s a man of many words is Geoff.

Billy's breakfast burger, The Tenth Hole, Southsea, Eastney, hummus, houlumi, chocolate fudge cake, fruit cake, Cockleshell Heroes, The Rose Garden, coffee, roasted vegetables
Outside seating

Shown above is one area of outdoor seating leading towards the entrance halfway down. At the far end is the putting green.

So, after returning and remembering all those lovely times way back in the past did we enjoy it and would we return? The answer is most definitely…yes.

Take a look at our website for reviews of tearooms, restaurants, chocolates etc., and Helen’s backpacking adventures around Asia.

 

Living life, loving cake

A x

UPDATE: I’m writing this over a year later since my last visit. We were very disappointed. As you arrive there is a sign asking you to wait to be seated, there were lots of seats inside but we were seated at a small table for two away from the window (we moved ourselves to a table for four by the window when no one was looking as it wasn’t busy). Billy’s breakfast burger wasn’t very nice and repeated on us all day long (sorry if that’s too much information 🙂 ), looking back at the photos above, the burger on this occasion was half the width. The coffees weren’t great either and I left mine. Needless to say, we haven’t returned. Perhaps we just caught them on a bad day? It’s a place which generally is very busy (like The Parade) and I can’t be a***d to queue.

6 Comment

  1. […] me to return, especially as there are already a number of good places for lunch in the area such as The Tenth Hole Tea Rooms, plus more on their way like the Coffee Cup who are currently busy building their own […]

  2. […] the area, in fact one just around the corner which has been there for years overlooking the lake. The Tenth Hole is a bit further along with Southsea Beach Cafe and The Coffee Cup on the seafront itself. If […]

  3. […] It’s situated on a bend on Cromwell Road, Southsea close to the seafront and not far from the Tenth Hole and Southsea Beach […]

  4. […] the table number and then go up to the counter to order and pay, like their sister place the Tenth Hole in Eastney. A bit of a pain when there’s a big queue and you decide to have a cake after […]

  5. […] (I write notes when I visit places). The owner, Mark said that several dishes would be the same as The Tenth Holes’ from years back when he worked there, before they were taken over. I was so hoping they […]

  6. […] Briny, on Southsea Esplanade is part of the Tenth Hole family/dynasty. They also have The Canteen and Abarbistro. Although I’ve been to all of the […]

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