After working at Wetherspoons for more than two decades, Alan always dreamt of owning his own restaurant so when the opportunity arose, he took the plunge.
Tipsy Turtle opened in last August and it has made a splash with locals. The bar and restaurant prides itself on its innovative cocktail menu which features the tiki turtle cocktail and the surfrider punch.
Alan said: “I’ve been in the trade since I was 18 and I worked for Wetherspoons for well over 20 years and anyone who’s worked in the trade, that’s the dream - to have your own venue - so the opportunity came up so I just went for it - took the plunge.
“It’s been really good. The people of Lee-on-the-Solent are lovely, they’ve been really supportive especially through the winter when it’s a bit tougher. It’s been really really good - well received.”
The charming venue serves up a range of sublime dishes including hunter’s chicken, carbonara, sweet chilli prawns, pizza and much more. Customers can tuck into breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the week as well as a Sunday roast which has been a firm favourite since opening.
As a small business owner himself, Alan explained that he uses a number of traders in the local area to ensure Tipsy Turtle supports others in the industry.
He said: “I’m really proud that we are a small local business and we try and support other small local businesses. For example the butchers over the road, we use their meats for food on the menu and everything on our menu is fresh, we don’t buy stuff in and microwave it.
“I think we do good food but I think the special part is the cocktail range. It’s been really popular in the local area. We make them all fresh, nothing out of the can.
“I would probably say the pizzas are the most popular - our pizzas are made fresh, the dough is made on site, completely fresh and they have been well received. We do a pizza buy one-get-one free deal on Wednesday nights so that’s been really popular.”
Take a look inside the trendy Tipsy Turtle:
1. Tipsy Turtle, Lee-on-the-Solent
Alan Shorthouse (45) from Fareham, opened his own bar and restaurant called Tipsy Turtle in High Street, Lee-on-the-Solent, in August 2024 after spending over 25 years in the hospitality industry. Picture: Sarah Standing (230125-8639) | Sarah Standing
2. Tipsy Turtle, Lee-on-the-Solent
Tipsy Turtle opened its doors in 2024 and it has quickly become a popular fixture in Lee-on-the-Solent. Picture: Sarah Standing (230125-8628) | Sarah Standing
3. Alan Shorthouse (45) from Fareham, opened his own bar and restaurant called Tipsy Turtle in High Street, Lee-on-the-Solent, in August 2024 after spending over 25 years in the hospitality industry. Picture: Sarah Standing (230125-8621)
The bar and restaurant has a range of brilliant dishes to get stuck into including hunter's chicken, carbonara, pizza, halloumi fries and much more. | Sarah Standing
4. Tipsy Turtle, Lee-on-the-Solent
Alan Shorthouse (45) from Fareham, opened his own bar and restaurant called Tipsy Turtle in High Street, Lee-on-the-Solent, in August 2024 after spending over 25 years in the hospitality industry. Picture: Sarah Standing (230125-8644) | Sarah Standing