Portsmouth Hispanic Society

Don Quixote, here of Spanish culture

¡Bienvenido!

The Portsmouth Hispanic Society offers presentations and discussions on a wide and eclectic range of Hispanic topics.

Something of interest to anyone interested in all aspects of Hispanic culture and life. We welcome visitors to any of our meetings.

The Aims of the Society

  • To further the understanding of all aspects of Hispanic culture and life
  • To provide a meeting point for those interested in the Hispanic world
  • To provide inexpensive tuition in the Spanish language at a range of levels

Society Activities

The main activities of the Society are Spanish language classes and the Monthly Meetings. The meetings are a social evening, with tapas, accompanied a presentation or demonstration followed by discussions.

One or two external social events are also held during the year.

Our Monthly Meetings are conducted in English. Some Spanish may be spoken but will be translated.

Next Meeting

Thursday 6th November 2025
Fratton Community Centre, 7pm

History of Cuba
- a presentation by Boris Martinez

November's meeting features a History of Cuba, presented by Cuban national Boris Martinez. Cuba is an island country located in the Caribbean, south of Florida and east of the Yucatàn Peninsula. Cuba has been inhabited for over 6,000 years experiencing a troubled history of colonisation, slavery, and revolution. After the collapse of the Soviet Union Cuba experienced severe economic issues, which still persist according to 2023 study by the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights.

The evening's entertainment includes the usual light tapas buffet plus a short review of topical news from the Iberian peninsula, and perhaps beyond.


Non‐members are very welcome provided they are at least 18 years of age.

There is a charge of £3.00 for non-members to attend any meeting.

The society does not have a licence to sell alcohol. The provision of wine at such events is dependent on the generosity of members so please, if you can, bring a bottle to share with fellow attendees. The same applies to soft drinks!

The presentation may be recorded and posted onto the society's website for later viewing.

Please note that on rare occasions, due to circumstances beyond the society's control, it may be necessary to move the date of, or cancel, a presentation, perhaps at short notice. The society will make every effort to warn it's members via email and update the website in good time. Attendees should consult the website for changes prior to attending the event.

Where we meet

Meetings are held at
The Fratton Community Centre
Trafalgar Place.
Off Clive Rd, Portsmouth
PO1 5JJ
at 7.00pm usually on the first Thursday of the month.
Click here for a MAP There is limited free parking. The Centre is twelve minutes walk from Fratton Railway station.
Busses 14 18 21 and 25 stop at St Mary's Church, about 2 minutes walk away.


Membership

Membership currently runs from September 2025 to August 2026

Current Subscription Rates

  • Adult - £20.00
  • Full-time students - £10.00 on production of a student card.
  • One Full Membership, one Student Membership - £30.00
  • Two Full Memberships - £40.00
  • Two Student Memberships - £20.00
  • Native Spanish Speaker - Honorary Membership £0.00


    • Non‐members are very welcome provided they are at least 18 years of age.

    There is a charge of £3.00 for non-members to attend any meeting.

    You may apply to join the society by using our on-line form, which can be accessed via the drop-down menu.

    The society can now accept debit or credit card payments in person at the monthly meetings.

Society News

Posted: 21st October 2025

El Pony Pisador

WemsFest is hosting another Spanish music event in November. El Pony Pisador is a lively and unique band from Barcelona, known for an eclectic blend of musical styles and humorous, adventurous spirit. Their mix of folk sounds from all over the world results in a fun and energetic sound that’s unpredictable and full of personality. From their native Catalan songs and dances to Celtic and Mediterranean tunes, yodelling, Tuvan throat singing, to even Georgian polyphony or Balkan polyrhythms. El Pony Pisador is well-regarded for their ability to engage audiences with their high-energy performances, witty lyrics, and a mix of both traditional and modern influences. Watch a video on their YouTube channel.

Tickets, £18.00p, are available now at Bookends and Harbour Records or on WeGotTickets.

The event takes place at the The Havana,
3 Little London, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 1PH.
Tuesday 4th November. Doors open 7:30pm for 8pm start.

Posted: 20th October 2025

An Evening of Cuban Music

WemsFest is a volunteer-run community interest company based in Emsworth with the objective of bringing international live music to the local area, for example they presented Anglo-Chilean band Quimantu in Portsmouth Cathedral during the summer.

On Thursday 23rd October WemsFest are hosting ASERE, a six piece Cuban band at Westbourne Community Hall.

Portsmouth Hispanic Society members, and their guests, are being offered a 2-for-1 deal on tickets.

Anyone wishing to take advantage of this offer should email their names to Mark Ringwood, WemsFest Artistic Director, to reserve tickets. Click here to email Mark. You can pay cash or card on the door.

Non-members can purchase tickets from WeGotTickets or pay on the door.

Tickets cost £22.50p

The event takes place at the Westbourne Community Hall,
14 River Street, Westbourne, Emsworth, PO10 8GT.
Thursday 23rd October. Doors open at 7:30pm for an 8pm show.

Posted: 20th October 2025

Yamir Gaitero

October's meeting introduced traditional Colombian music to the society. Yamir is an accomplished musician with more than 20 year's experience in the interpretation and composition of Afro-Caribbean music, especially in the Gaitas and drum format of the Colombian Atlantic coast. The Gaita is a traditional wind instrument that has been played in Colombia for centuries. Originating from Caribbean indigenous communities, it has evolved through cultural exchanges, particularly with African influences, to become a defining element of Colombian folk music.

Yamir expertly combined the sounds of traditional Colombian instruments with a fluid electric guitar backing all to the backdrop of a rolling video depicting scenes of landscapes and life in his native Colombia. The evening included introductions to a range of traditional instruments in Yamir's collection via demonstrations and hands on experience.

The evening's finale was a short dance workshop led by Janneth Rey, a Latin American dance teacher. Attendees learned some basic steps in the rhythms of Cumbia, Puya, and Colombian Salsa.

A short video of the evening's entertainment can be seen on YouTube and you can visit Yamir's YouTube channel to see clips of his performances at festivals including Victorious and Escape to the Farm.

Posted: 6th September 2025

Mi Flamenco


The 2025/26 season kicked off in style with a performance by the dance troupe Mi Flamenco. Mi Flamenco have performed to packed audiences in theatres and art centres throughout the UK. This evening the core performers of the group entertained those lucky attendees who managed to secure a seat. The trio comprised of Uri, guitarist, Ester, dancer, and Luis, singer. The entertainment lasted for over an hour, split between two sets. Each member of the group was highlighted during the performance. Initially Luis's painfully soulful voice entranced the audience before Ester's passion and energy erupted on the dance floor. Uri's guitar virtuosity was featured at the beginning of the second set. A truly captivating performance which enraptured the audience.

Another cultural element of the evening was the extensive tapas buffet. Society members contributed dishes to complement those already provided by the tapas team. Many thanks to the tapas team who arranged the buffet and those members who brought in home made dishes. A veritable feast.


Posted: 6th September 2025

Spanish Lesson Schedule for 2025/26


The 2025/6 season starts this week with the announcement of a range of new courses from absolute beginner to very experienced Spanish speakers with the choice of face to face classes held in the Southsea Library or classes over Zoom.

The society's language classes are led by a Spanish national with teaching qualifications and, compared to many other language tuition sources, are extremely good value.

Click here to contact the society's Language Coordinator for more information or select Spanish Tuition from the menu to view all course and conversation options.

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