Among Portsmouth's vast array of pubs there are a number that any serious beer drinker should seek out. This page features some of the city's best real ale houses, which vary from quiet back street locals to busy town centre pubs. The real ale fan is sure to find something of interest in any one of the following.
The Webmaster can personally recommend each of these pubs.
CLICK ON A PHOTOGRAPH FOR A FULL SIZE IMAGE |
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| The Sir Lion of Beef |
152 Highland Road, Eastney |
| 023 9282 0115 |
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 This former Eldridge Pope pub is now a thriving, friendly, genuine free house, with a wide variety of real ales on offer, mostly from independent breweries across the south of England. There is a large u-shaped drinking area around the bar counter, divided into two distinct areas. A variety of quality bottled ales are also available. The licensee holds a monthly beer festival which sees a good range of beers from a featured brewery, all available at discounted prices. Occasional live music is performed and quiz nights are held. Well worth seeking out.
| Click here for map |
Featured Breweries: |
Hop Back, Downton, Ringwood |
| CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2012: |
Included |
| Opening Times: |
Mon-Thu 11.00am-11.30pm; Fri-Sat 11.00am-12.30am
Sun 12.00pm-11.00pm |
| Bus Stop: |
Eastney Health Centre |
| Bus Routes: |
1C 6 17 18 27B 57 |
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 Until the late 1990s the Winchester Arms was a rundown, keg-only local with little custom. It was then sold to a member of the local Hartridge family (producers of soft drinks) and was transformed into one of Portsmouth's best real ale houses, complete with microbrewery at the rear. The latter has since ceased operating, but the pub continues to serve a large selection of quality ales, mainly from the Oakleaf Brewery in Gosport. An annual beer festival is held each May. Well worth a visit indeed.
| Click here for map |
Featured Breweries: |
Oakleaf |
| CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2012: |
Included |
| Opening Times: |
Mon 4.00pm-11.00pm; Tue-Thu 2.00pm-11.00pm
Fri 2.00pm-12.00am; Sat Sun 12.00pm-11.00pm |
| Bus Stop: |
Queens Road (Kingston Road) |
| Bus Routes: |
1 3 23 38 40 41 57 |
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 This small, friendly former wine bar is arguably the best public house in Portsmouth. Consisting of a small split level, L-shaped bar room, with an even smaller snug to the rear, there is much exposed wood in evidence. Six real ales are on offer, with at least one from the local Oakleaf Brewery always available. The remainder are sourced from independent brewers the length and bredth of the country and often include seasonal or limited edition offerings. Real cider is always available as is a selection of Belgian bottled ales. Additionally, the pub is a rare outlet for Grandma's Weapons Grade Ginger Beer from Cornwall's Wheal Maiden Brewery. Service is always welcoming and weekly quiz nights are held on Thursdays. Good quality food is served. If you are visiting Portsmouth & Southsea and would like a quiet location in which to enjoy superb ale in a convivial atmosphere, look no further than the Hole In The Wall.
| Click here for map |
Featured Breweries: |
Oakleaf, Wheal Maiden |
| CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2012: |
Included |
| Opening Times: |
Mon-Thu 4.00pm-11.00pm
Fri 12.00pm-12.00am
Sat 4.00pm-12.00am
Sun (summer) 4.00pm-11.00pm
Sun
(winter) 2.00pm-11.00pm |
| Bus Stop: |
Kings Road |
| Bus Routes: |
1C 4 15 23 40 |
| Railway Station: |
Portsmouth & Southsea / Portsmouth Harbour |
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  Thoroughly refurbished in mid 2007, the Leopold Tavern has now joined the ranks of Portsmouth's best ale houses. Offering six, high quality cask beers, mostly sourced from local independents and micros, the pub is now very popular, especially at weekends. The single bar room is divided into three separate areas and seating consists of a mixture of high stools, sofas and traditional tables and chairs. Sporting events are regularly shown on television and darts is played. For those feeling peckish, a selection of filled rolls is available at very reasonable prices. Well worth a visit.
Winner of the 2010 & 2011 Portsmouth & South East Hants CAMRA Pub of the Year award.
| Click here for map |
Featured Breweries: |
Bowman, Oakleaf, Irving, Hop Back |
| CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2012: |
Included |
| Opening Times: |
Mon-Thu 10.00am -11.00pm; Fri-Sat 10.00am -12.00am
Sun 12.00pm -11.00pm |
| Bus Stop: |
Albert Road |
| Bus Routes: |
16 17 18 |
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 A street corner pub situated a stone's throw from the sea front, the Florence Arms features a public bar, a lounge and a larger function room/restaurant. The summer of 2007 saw the pub return to its roots as a cider house and now offers an impressive choice of fifty ciders in the public bar - six of these on draught dispense. Four well-kept real ales are also a popular draw - one of these is rotated monthly as a guest beer, ensuring that there is always something of interest at the pumps. The pub is popular with locals, real ale fans and seasonal holiday makers. Weekday evening meals are available. Highly recommended.
| Click here for map |
Featured Breweries: |
Bowman, Shepherd Neame, Ringwood |
| CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2012: |
Included |
| Opening Times: |
Mon-Sun 12.00pm -11.00pm (often extended) |
| Bus Stop: |
South Parade; The Triangle |
| Bus Routes: |
1 3 4 5 6 7 23 24 40 |
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| The Barley Mow |
39 Castle Road, Southsea |
| 023 9282 3492 |
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 Designed in the mid 1920s by A E Cogswell, this two-bar street corner local is currently experiencing a resurgence in popularity thanks to current licensee Judith Burr. March 2008 saw the pub win a prestigious national award for the quality of its cask ales, of which there are six on offer, with examples from large independent breweries as well as an ever-changing choice from micros. The Barley Mow offers a traditional public bar and a homely, wood paneled lounge bar as well as an attractive beer garden. A popular weekly pub quiz is held on Monday evenings and inpromptu folk music sessions are sometimes held.
| Click here for map |
Featured Breweries: |
Greene King, Fuller Smith & Turner, Triple FFF |
| CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2012: |
Included |
| Opening Times: |
Mon-Fri 12.00pm -12.00am; Sat 11.00am - 12.00am
Sun 12.00pm - 11.00pm |
| Bus Stop: |
Kings Road |
| Bus Routes: |
1C 4 15 23 40 |
| Railway Station: |
Portsmouth & Southsea / Portsmouth Harbour |
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| Good Beer Guide 2012 |
Below is a comprehensive list of all pubs within the City of Portsmouth boundary that appear in the
CAMRA 2012 Good Beer Guide.
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| The Artillery Arms |
Hestor Road,
Milton |
| Traditional two-bar cornerhouse with good selection of ales from independent brewers. |
| The Barley Mow |
Castle Road,
Southsea |
| Pleasant two-bar cornerhouse with comfortable wood-panelled lounge. Good selection of real ales. Popular Monday pub quiz. |
| The Bridge Tavern |
East Street,
Old Portsmouth |
| Quayside Fuller's house with views to IoW ferry terminal and Spinnaker Tower. Good meals. Four ales. Separate upstairs restaurant. Free wi-fi. |
| The Duke of Devonshire |
Albert Road,
Southsea |
| Comfortable, traditional pub on Southsea's main drinking street. Two real ales. |
| The Eldon Arms |
Eldon Street,
Southsea |
| Strikingly ornate cornerhouse, with two distinctly separate bars. Range of around eight ales (including some from local micros). |
| The Fifth Hants Volunteer Arms |
Albert Road,
Southsea |
| Portsmouth CAMRA's original HQ! Retaining two traditional bars. Beers from Fuller's range. |
| The Florence Arms |
Florence Road,
Southsea |
| Very popular real ale and cider house near sea front. See main entry above. |
| The Fountain Inn |
London Road,
North End |
| Large, ornate, Victorian house on main drag, in shopping district. Always a beer from Irving & Co served. |
| The Hole In The Wall |
Gt Southsea Street,
Southsea |
| Marvellous little ale house serving excellent choice of beers. The Webmaster's favourite Portsmouth pub. See main entry above. |
| The Leopold Tavern |
Albert Road,
Southsea |
| See main entry above. |
| The Northcote Hotel |
Francis Avenue,
Southsea |
| Large, comfortable, two bar cornerhouse just north of Albert Road. Four ales sold, including local micros. |
| The Old Canal |
Shirley Road,
Milton |
| Ornate 1930s pub in residential backstreets. Oakleaf beer sold. |
| The Old Customs House |
Gunwharf Quays,
Portsea |
| Multi-roomed Fuller's house in listed former dockyard building. Good range of draught and bottled beers. |
| The Pembroke |
Pembroke Road,
Old Portsmouth |
| Traditional, one-bar cornerhouse in tourist district. London Pride, Bass & Abbot Ale sold. |
| The Phoenix |
Duncan Road,
Southsea |
| Traditional two-bar community pub with guest beers from local independent and microbreweries. |
| The Rose In June |
Milton Road,
Milton |
| Large, two-bar traditional pub on main thoroughfare, with extensive beer garden. Real cider stocked. Annual beer festival held each June. |
| Royal Marines Artillery Tavern |
Cromwell Road,
Eastney |
| Traditional, Fuller's-owned cornerhouse. Regular live music. |
| Sir Lion Of Beef |
Highland Road, Eastney |
| Well-run, friendly ale house on residential street corner. Ever-changing guest ales are served from the eight or nine beer engines. |
| The Winchester Arms |
Winchester Road,
Buckland |
| Excellent, welcoming cornerhouse and former home of the Buckland Brewery. Oakleaf beers always available. |
| Also Worth A Look |
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The following pubs also serve an interesting range of quality real ales from small independent breweries |
| The Admiral Drake |
Silverlock Close,
Mile End |
| Traditional local in shadow of Rudmore flyover. Pavement tables. Five ales. |
| The Churchillian |
Widley Walk,
Portsdown Hill |
| Popular food pub with good ales and spectacular views across the city and Solent. |
| The Dolphin |
High Street,
Old Portsmouth |
| This historic inn underwent refurbishment in 2007 and now serves eight quality ales from small breweries, as well as offering French cuisine. |
| The Eldon Arms |
Eldon Street,
Southsea |
| Rambling, comfortable pub with wide selection of ales. Bar billiards table. Good food. Pub quizes. |
| The Lawrence Arms |
Lawrence Road,
Southsea |
| Friendly, well-run local serving three cask ales and real ciders. Irving Brewery beer always stocked. |
| The Marmion Tavern |
Marmion Road,
Southsea |
| Friendly, one bar pub in shopping district. Six ales from various regional/independent breweries. |
| The Northcote Hotel |
Francis Avenue,
Southsea |
| Spacious and comfortable two-bar corner house with small range of cask ales from independent brewers. Outside patio area. |
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| Cask Marque Pubs |
The following pubs in Portsmouth have been awarded Cask Marque acreditation, denoting that they serve consistantly high quality real ales and are subject to anonymous spot checks by officials from the Cask Marque Trust
(list correct as at October 2011). |
| The Baffins Inn |
Tangier Road,
Baffins |
| Greene King |
| The Barley Mow |
Castle Road,
Southsea |
Free House
GOOD BEER GUIDE '12 |
| The Bridge Tavern |
East Street,
Old Portsmouth |
Fuller Smith & Turner
GOOD BEER GUIDE '12 |
| The Eastfield Hotel |
Prince Albert Road,
Eastney |
Enterprise Inns
GOOD BEER GUIDE '12 |
| The Farmhouse |
Burrfields Road,
Burrfields |
| Greene King |
The Fifth Hants
Volunteer
Arms |
Albert Road,
Southsea |
Fuller Smith & Turner
GOOD BEER GUIDE '12 |
| The First Post |
High Street,
Cosham |
| J D Wetherspoon |
| The Golden Hind |
Copnor Road,
Copnor |
| Greene King |
| The Good Companion |
Eastern Road,
Milton |
| Greene King |
| The Goose At The V&A |
Albert Road,
Southsea |
| Mitchells & Butlers |
| The Green Posts |
London Road,
Hilsea |
| Greene King |
The Isambard Kingdom
Brunel |
Guildhall Walk,
Landport |
| J D Wetherspoon |
| The John Jacques |
Fratton Road,
Fratton |
| J D Wetherspoon |
| The Lawrence Arms |
Lawrence Road,
Southsea |
| Enterprise Inns |
| The Leopold Tavern |
Albert Road,
Southsea |
Enterprise Inns
GOOD BEER GUIDE '12
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| Lloyds No.1 Bar |
The Boardwalk,
Port Solent |
| J D Wetherspoon |
| The Lord Palmerston |
Palmerston Road,
Southsea |
| J D Wetherspoon |
| The Manor House |
Court Lane,
East Cosham |
| Greene King |
| The Marmion Tavern |
Marmion Road,
Southsea |
| Punch Taverns |
| The Pelham Arms |
Chichester Road,
North End |
| Free House |
| Owens |
Palmerston Road,
Southsea |
| Orchid Pubs |
| The Portsbridge |
Portsmouth Road,
Cosham |
| Greene King |
| The Red Lion |
London Road,
Cosham |
| Orchid Pubs |
| The Rose In June |
Milton Road, Milton |
Enterprise Inns
GOOD BEER GUIDE '12 |
| The Ship Anson |
The Hard,
Portsea |
| Greene King |
| The Slug & Lettuce |
Palmerston Road,
Southsea |
| Laurel Pub Co |
| The Slug & Lettuce |
Gunwharf Quays,
Portsea |
| Laurel Pub Co |
| The Sir John Baker |
London Road,
North End |
| J D Wetherspoon |
| The Sovereigns |
Kingston Crescent,
North End |
| Orchid Pubs |
| The Spice Island Inn |
Bath Square,
Old Portsmouth |
| Greene King |
| The Star & Garter |
Copnor Road,
Copnor |
| Greene King |
The Still & West Country
House |
Bath Square,
Old Portsmouth |
| Fuller Smith & Turner |
Toby Carvery
(Green Farm) |
Copnor Road,
Hilsea
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| Mitchells & Butlers |
| The Trafalgar |
Edinburgh Road,
Landport |
| J D Wetherspoon |
| The White House |
Southsea Terrace,
Southsea |
| Merlin Inns |
| The White Swan |
Guildhall Walk,
Landport |
J D Wetherspoon
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| Yates's |
Guildhall Walk,
Landport |
| Bay Restaurant Group |
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