Because of my busy schedule, I rarely go outside of London, but when I do? I really embrace the excursion. So when my other half and I were visiting Gosport, we found ourselves starving for some killer seafood. Enter The Lightship. Dark green with gorgeous string lights across the boat, this restaurant was not only hard to miss amongst the other waterside retreats, but it was a unique dining destination for anyone visiting the area. So what was the verdict?

This so-fish-ticated food at The Lightship in Gosport was top-notch.

Just a short ferry ride from Portsmouth Harbour Station, we walked up the ramp onto the boat and were greeted with a warm welcome from the staff. They sat us down in a cosy plush booth, complete with gorgeous views of the marina peeping outside the window. Decked out with greenery and a glorious top deck, the grandiose and stylish venue impressed us on all levels.

Our waitress came over with some delicious sourdough bread while we scanned through the menu. My boyfriend opted for a beer, whereas I spotted a lovely sounding cocktail, the Smoky Peach Smash (£9.95) – a mix of Bulleit Bourbon, peach, ginger beer, thyme and a dash of maple syrup. Refreshing and topped with a slice of charred fruit, the tipple was a sweet yet punchy way to start the evening.

I also treated myself to some British oysters (£3.75) – which were absolutely yummy with just a squeeze of lemon juice. Sometimes I find that shellfish can be too salty but these were perfectly briny. To pair with my fresh seafood, I ordered the crab ravioli (£11) which was served in a tomato-based sauce. Honestly, it was slightly disappointing as the crab didn’t seem fresh and the single morsel of pasta on my dish wasn’t oozing flavour. However, my plus one got the hoisin duck bon bons (£9.50) which were crispy, meaty balls served alongside a miso mayo. The duck was cooked well and the umami dip more than made up for my lacklustre starter.

The interiors were just as lush as the alfresco area, complete with nautical touches.

We then moved onto our main – the seafood platter (£75 for two) which came decked out with various bites – think prawns, cockles, langoustines, smoked salmon, lobster and more oysters. This was really the star. Everything was extremely fresh but my favourites? The prawns while simple, boasted the perfect amount of sweetness while the smoked salmon was up there with the best I’ve ever had. After polishing off every shell, we decided to get dessert. I nabbed the chocolate delice (£9) while my partner had the affogato (£10). Both were amazing sweet treats but mine was faultless. Served with a scoop of ice cream and dark chocolate, it was indulgent and the crispy texture of the delice balanced well with the melted ice cream.

To finish off the evening, we sauntered to the top deck so we could have a cocktail while gawking at stunning views of the marina. For drinks, we were eyeing the salted caramel espresso martinis (£11) – a blend of Mermaid Salt Vodka, Kahlúa, espresso and caramel. Classic with a bit more sweetness from the caramel, the heady cocktail was the perfect way to end the evening. We then retreated to one of the rooms at the Haslar Marina, which was a short stroll from the boat restaurant.

Espresso martinis and stunning views of the marina? Swoon.

The DesignMyNight Digest 

Overall, the boat restaurant was a smash hit in our books. While one or two dishes didn’t hit the mark completely, the seafood platter and desserts were incredibly delicious. A one-of-a-kind experience, it’s a great choice if you love seafood and a quick excursion to Gosport. It may be limited to private hire during autumn and winter, but come the warmer weather, it’s a must-visit.

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