Meet Terence Carvalho - The Pompey Tiktoker

If you’re on TikTok and live anywhere near Portsmouth, chances are you’ve seen Terence Carvalho pop up on your feed. Affectionately dubbed “The Pompey Tiktoker,” Terence has become a local sensation bringing laughs, relatable moments, and plenty of Portsmouth pride to screens across the south coast.

Best of Portsmouth sat down with him for a proper chat digging into how he’s built such a big following, where it all started, and, of course, asking the all-important question: What should the official Portsmouth emoji be?

Are you from Portsmouth?

“My dad was in the Navy, so he's 27 years in the Navy. Hence why Portsmouth has just always been home. I've only ever known Portsmouth. I live here. Was born at St Mary's Hospital. I lived in Somers town until I was 4/5. I've moved to the North End and Southsea since I was an adult.”

What made you get into social media?

“It actually started as a natural extension of my job. My background is in hospitality. I spent 15 years in the industry, including six years at the Kings Theatre and later at Becketts. Becketts was actually my last role in hospitality, and fun fact we even appeared on Four in a Bed!

Then came COVID. The endless cycle of openings and closures took its toll. During that final lockdown when Boris told everyone to stay home I was furloughed. That’s when Portsmouth City Council approached me to help run the COVID test centre at the Guildhall.

It was my first ‘normal’ 9-to-5, Monday-to-Friday job. I remember thinking, “Wait, this is what evenings off feel like?” I was used to 90–100 hour weeks. It was exhausting, but it had always been my norm. The contrast made me rethink everything.

Like many others during the pandemic, I started reassessing my work-life balance and what I really wanted from my career. When I returned to Becketts, I realised I couldn’t do it anymore physically or mentally.

So I handed in my notice luckily, I had a three-month window. Here’s where it gets a bit serendipitous: the same day I resigned, John from Delivered Social happened to be in the bar. I told him I was leaving, and he said, ‘Well, our next company conference is actually to launch our Portsmouth office.’

And just like that, my path into digital marketing and social media began.

What’s been your favourite Portsmouth moment so far?

“One that really stands out was when I did the Sleep Out for Portsmouth Community. I spent the night sleeping in the stands at Fratton Park. I was posting about it on social media, and what really touched me was how many people complete strangers started donating.

It showed me how strong the community spirit is in Portsmouth. People didn’t have to know me personally; they just wanted to support their city. That sense of togetherness really stuck with me.

Another favourite moment was at last year’s Victorious Festival. I walked around asking people three simple questions: What do you love about Portsmouth? What would you improve? And what do you want to see more of?

The responses were honest and unscripted real people sharing real opinions. Parking and water quality were the big complaints (no surprises there), and Southern Water got a fair few mentions! But overwhelmingly, the feedback was positive. I actually passed the responses on to the leader of the council. It felt good to give people a voice.

That’s what I love most about my content authenticity. Whether it’s chatting about what the Tricorn Centre used to look like or sharing memories of the Pyramids, those nostalgic, hyper-local posts really resonate especially on Facebook. Pompey people love their past, and they love talking about what the city could be.”

What’s the mission at Delivered Social?

“For me personally, it’s about supporting as many local businesses and charities in Portsmouth as possible that aligns with my own mission and values.

But from a wider perspective, Delivered Social’s mission is simple: to help as many businesses as we can across the UK. We’ve got offices in Guildford, Dubai, and Portsmouth but my heart will always lean toward Pompey.

Interestingly, while we have more clients in Portsmouth, the spending power here is much lower. That’s largely due to economic factors; businesses in places like Guildford, being closer to London, tend to have bigger budgets and are more used to investing in things like marketing.

In Portsmouth, many businesses have struggled to make it for the past three years. I think only around 7% survive that long. That’s why our mission isn’t just about offering services, it's about education. We want to empower small businesses, help them understand how to grow, and give them the tools to thrive.

Because ultimately, the better our clients do the better we all do.”

What’s your biggest piece of advice for small businesses in Portsmouth on or off social media?

“First of all just say yes. Just start.

So many people get stuck trying to create the perfect strategy. You could spend months planning and still never post anything. Sometimes you’ve just got to get on with it and hit ‘publish.’

But before you do, ask yourself: Why are you posting? Are you doing it just because someone told you to? Or do you actually have a message, a purpose, a cause you want people to connect with?

Whatever your reason, be authentic. That’s the biggest thing. Everyone’s posting these days, so if you’re just copying what everyone else is doing, you’ll disappear in the noise.

If you’re a plumber or an electrician, don’t just post the same old “Call us now!” content. Show people something useful. Film a quick video on how to change a light bulb, fix a washing machine, or spot early signs of a leak. Give people value.

When you educate and engage, people remember you and they come back. It’s about being real, being different, and being consistent.”

What’s one of your favourite Portsmouth businesses you’ve worked with and why?

“That’s a tough one! But honestly, as a football fan and someone involved in charity work, I’d have to say Pompey in the Community.

Working with charities is something I find really rewarding. You can see the impact almost instantly. Whether it’s money raised from the Sleep Out at Fratton Park or bucket collections through our ambassador programme, it’s going toward things like kids’ school dinners or half-term activities. That feels more meaningful to me than just helping a business turn a profit.

That said, we’ve had fun with some quirky commercial projects too! South Coast Puppy Yoga stands out mainly because it was chaotic, adorable, and slightly smelly (puppies do get very excited…). But the content from that shoot was gold. It didn’t even matter what the puppies were doing, people just loved it.

We’ve also worked with iconic spots like the Spinnaker Tower, which was amazing, and a lot of local hospitality businesses like El Fuego on Elm Grove, El Greco when they first opened, and Carter & Co.

Because of my own background in hospitality, I’m able to go beyond just social media or web help. I can offer real, practical advice on how things should run from the inside. It’s nice to blend that hands-on experience with digital strategy. It makes the support feel more personal.”

You’re a Portsmouth Ambassador. What does the role involve?

“It’s a volunteer role, and really, it’s all about giving back to the city in any way we can. That might mean marshalling events like the Great South Run, giving guided tours at Victorious Festival, helping out at the Kite Festival, or supporting commemorations like D-Day 80.

One of our biggest ongoing roles now is around cruise ship tourism. Over the past three years, the number of cruise ships docking in Portsmouth has tripled. Before the Ambassadors got involved, many passengers thousands at a time would disembark, hop straight onto a coach, and head to places like Stonehenge or Windsor. They’d spend 24 hours technically “in Portsmouth” without ever stepping foot beyond the port.

So we changed that. Now, we’re there to meet and greet passengers, sometimes 2,000 at a time—and show them what the city has to offer. We hand out maps, offer suggestions, and help them navigate key sites like the Historic Dockyard, Southsea Castle, and the D-Day Story. We even run a shuttle bus service that loops around key points like Commercial Road, Southsea Seafront, and The Hard, making it easy for tourists to explore without needing to book a coach tour elsewhere.

It’s not just about logistics it’s about promoting Portsmouth with pride. We give real-time advice, directions, and local tips (like following the Chain Trail to reach Spice Island far easier than trying to explain that to someone in broken English!).

Each cruise ship that docks is estimated to bring around £1.6 million into the local economy. So keeping tourists in the city isn’t just a nice idea, it's essential. Why should their money go to London when Portsmouth has so much to offer?

At the end of the day, being a Portsmouth Ambassador means being a cheerleader for the city. Whether it’s face-to-face with a visitor or answering someone’s question in a Facebook group, it’s all about showcasing how brilliant this place really is.”

What do you love most about Portsmouth?

“For me, it has to be history. It’s absolutely phenomenal.

Growing up, I didn’t always appreciate it. I used to look at Portsmouth and think, ‘It’s alright, but nothing special.’ But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve seen just how much it has to offer and how much it’s improving, year after year.

I also think people have become more passionate about the city. When I was younger, that pride wasn’t as strong, but now, there’s a real sense of community and local love.

People sometimes say there’s nothing to do here but honestly, there’s always something going on. And a lot of it is free! We’ve got fantastic museums, many of which don’t cost a thing. Even the bigger attractions, like the Dockyard or the Mary Rose, offer annual passes so one ticket gets you in all year round.”

If you could magically fix one thing in Portsmouth, what would it be?

“If I could wave a wand and change something it wouldn’t be the roads, the water, or even the parking. It would be the mood.

During COVID, there was this incredible sense of community. People were neighbourly shopping for each other, checking in, lending a hand. But since the lockdowns ended, it feels like a lot of that spirit disappeared.

Even now, I can post something completely positive online, and someone will find a way to tear it down. The negativity isn’t just a Portsmouth thing it’s happening across the UK but I’d love to see people remember how lucky we actually are.

There are people all over the world facing real hardship and conflict. Meanwhile, we’ve got free museums, a beautiful seafront, brilliant events, and a rich history to be proud of. We just need to see it again.

One way I’m trying to change that is by going into schools to give careers talks. Hopefully, in ten years’ time, some of those students will be Portsmouth Ambassadors too or part of the Youth Ambassador programme we’re launching.

Because if we can get young people feeling proud of their city from the start, they’ll grow up celebrating it. And maybe, just maybe, we’ll get some of that positivity back.”

Victorious Festival, bringing over 100,000 people into the city. The tourism trade is massive. We’ve got Southsea, the seafront, the football club, there's just so much life and culture here.

Portsmouth might surprise you. It surprised me. And now? I absolutely love it.”

You’ve won awards for your community work across Portsmouth. What keeps you driven?

“Honestly, the awards used to mean something to me but not so much anymore. That probably sounds bad, but it’s true.

The one that did really hit home, though, was the Love Where You Live award I won last year for volunteer work. That one meant the most because it wasn’t about business, it was about giving back.

When I turned up, I was shortlisted alongside people who had been volunteering in the city for 30, even 40 years. I genuinely didn’t think I stood a chance. When my name was called, I was in shock. I was relieved I didn’t have to give a speech. I would've just stood there feeling unworthy compared to those legends.

But really, I don’t do what I do for recognition. I do it because I love this city and I want to promote it. I want to show people what makes Portsmouth special.

Back in my time at Becketts, we won 11 or 12 awards. At Delivered Social, we’ve picked up six or seven more. But these days, that’s not what drives me.

When it comes to volunteering, it’s not about trophies or titles. It’s about doing the right thing. That’s what I care about and that’s what I’ll keep doing as long as I live here.”

If Portsmouth had its own emoji, what would it be?

“Easy: a blue heart 💙 and an anchor ⚓. The heart for the community, the anchor for our naval roots. It’s pure Pompey.”

If Netflix made a spin-off about your life, who would play you?

“I’d play myself of course! Though… they’d have to cast someone else as the younger me. Good luck with that one!”

From volunteering at local events to welcoming cruise tourists, raising money for charities, and shining a spotlight on small businesses, Terence Carvalho is much more than The Pompey TikToker. He’s a proud ambassador for the city, both online and off, using his platform to inspire positivity, celebrate local stories, and encourage others to see the beauty right on their doorstep.

Whether he’s creating content, mentoring young people, or handing out maps to confused cruise ship passengers, one thing’s clear: Terence’s heart is firmly anchored in Portsmouth.

And honestly? We wouldn’t want it any other way. 💙⚓

Find Terence Here:

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