Every hotel '˜booked out up to Guildford'

Councillor Linda Symes says the fact no rooms are available shows how Portsmouth has become a prime visitor destination.

And she says there needs to be a focus on creating more hotels to ensure the city can continue staging major spectacles.

Cllr Symes said: ‘There is no hotel between here and Guildford with a room available.

‘Stephen Baily (the council’s director of culture and city development) has been trying to get a room for some Americans, but can’t get anywhere closer than Guildford.

‘It definitely means if we are going to hold big international events, then we need more hotels.

‘The whole thing has reversed itself. In the 1970s, people were going on holidays and hotels here were being turned into flats. Now it’s the other way round and people want to stay here in hotels. It says a lot about how Portsmouth has developed.’

Portsmouth Lady Mayoress Leza Tremorin said she was thrilled.

She said: ‘It’s a wonderful thing for Portsmouth and I think it’s fantastic that the common is open this year.

‘I’ve been going around Portsmouth and everybody is talking about it. There’s a lot of excitement in the city.’