Portsmouth music studio Casemates begins food takeaway service to keep business afloat

Casemates, a rehearsal studio opened in 1994 in Scotts Road, Hilsea, is selling hot and cold food, as well as drinks, as a takeaway service – and the studio’s owner has been ‘blown away’ by trade so far.

Owner Paul Caruana said: ‘We’ve done a couple of weekends now and on the days when it’s been sunny I’ve been quite blown away by the number of people that have come up to grab a coffee to takeaway.

‘We are a little bit hidden where we are in the forest and so many people I’ve spoken to say they have lived in Portsmouth their whole lives and never known this place existed.

‘It’s totally fenced off from any roads so they can roam free in the forest and you’ve got no worries about them running into roads anywhere.

‘There’s a few lakes they can swim in with swans and ducks. It’s just a lovely place to walk the dog.’

But Paul insists the studio will always come first – and has plans for a new bar and a livestreaming project, as well as exhibitions for artists and photographers, once the venue can reopen.

He added: ‘Even though we’re trying something different, the studio will always be our number one priority and we’re looking forward to being at a stage where everyone can come here and rehearse again, and we can get back to normal.

‘It will be lovely to know that when were out of all this we can do things to support more artists in Portsmouth.’

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Last year, more than 20 musicians and artists came together to launch a compilation to fund independent venues and musical facilities across the city.

Meanwhile, Southsea venue The Wedgewood Rooms raised more than £12,000 to save the gig venue after its future was threatened by the first national lockdown.

Casemates is open for takeaway on weekdays from 9am to 3pm and weekends from 9am to 4pm.

More information about the studio can be found at casemates.co.uk

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