Meet the people backing Portsmouth’s City of Culture Bid

Portsmouth is bidding to become the 2029 City of Culture. Here we meet one of the people in the city backing the bid - and find out why Portsmouth is so special to them.

Malcolm Drew - Portsmouth Landlords Association

Pictured: Malcolm Drew at Portsdown Hill
Picture: Habibur Rahman — Pictured: Malcolm Drew at Portsdown Hill Picture: Habibur Rahman | Habibur Rahman

placeholder image — Pictured: Malcolm Drew at Portsdown Hill Picture: Habibur Rahman | Habibur Rahman

‘Pompey born and bred’, Malcolm is well-known in the city for his charity work and time as a DJ. He is now a full-time landlord and serves on the committee of the Portsmouth Landlords Association.

Why Malcolm is backing the Bid

He said: “I love the passion that we have got in Portsmouth - the people are very loyal. I’ve been a Pompey fan for nearly 60 years and it is known for the passion of the fans. Many famous footballers and managers over the years have said it has an atmosphere like nowhere else, and so it is with the people who have got a lot of pride in Portsmouth. We have got do much going on, the theatres, the seafront, and a vibrant music scene, and it is the home of the navy - people left here to fight wars and it is full of history. If we win city of culture, which undoubtedly we deserve to, it would be do great for the city. The investment in tourism will be massive which will generate extra income and footfall. It is a one-off opportunity.”

Portsmouth in three words: Portsmouth is everything

Behind the Bio / Pompey Particulars

Malcolm began his working life as an apprentice gardener under Brian Kidd. He later becoming a DJ and spending more than 40 years working in virtually every pub and club in the city. An ardent Pompey fan, he also ran The Mad Hatter’s Party, a children’s cancer charity, for 17 years with my family and have helped organise charity events at Fratton Park, including Alan Knight’s prostate cancer charity match last May.