Portsmouth's Lost Pubs D-M

These pages focus on some of the city's pubs that have closed over the years. Some have sadly been demolished, whilst many have been converted to other use. Portsmouth has lost literally hundreds in the last century, many of which still stand. These can often be identified by looking for evidence of glazed tiling on the frontage or half timbered decoration to the upper floors of the buildings. The last decade has seen a spate of closures and demolitions, though thankfully these have mostly centred on post-war houses of little or no architectural merit - although any loss is of course regrettable.

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"When you have lost your inns, drown your empty selves, for you will have lost the last of England" Hilaire Belloc

The Dairymen's Arms	7 Candahar Place, Landport
This mid-terrace beerhouse took its name from the dairy that once stood behind the row of houses that occupied this street. Complete with Brickwoods familiar tiled frontage, the premises has long since vanished from the map. The area is now home to a dominance of council flats.

The Dial Tavern

104 Crasswell Street, Landport

The third of the Crasswell Street trio, the Dial Tavern was demolished in the mid 1990s. A victim of its environment, stuck in the centre of a run down inner city estate with high unemployment. The Webmaster recalls a conversation with the licensee shortly before its closure, who was resigned to the fact that it would soon cease trading due to a lack of custom. Part of the Friary Meux chain at the time of this photograph, it was another of those pubs sold to Gales in the early 1990s.

Photographed 18th February 1990

The Dog & Duck	115 Fratton Road, Fratton
Housed in one of Portsmouth's oldest building, the Dog & Duck was converted from two adjacent cottages, dating from 1669 and 1703 respectively. Both still stand and have recently undergone refurbishment, including the reinstatement of an inn sign. The pub traded from the early 18th century. Owned by the Pike brewery from 1750, the pub was in the hands of Brickwoods in its later life. The right-hand photograph shows the pub in the 1940s, when it sported a large forward extension courtesy of Brickwoods. Closure came in 1981 (by Whitbread) and the front extension was demolished in 1984 when the building was converted for the National Westminster Bank, who occupied the site until 2002. Architecturally a rare post war survivor. Planning permission currently (2007) exists for a new bar and restaurant to be housed within the building.
Left-hand photograph 14th August 2005

The Dorchester Arms	Market Way, Landport
The Dorchester Arms became one of the few pubs left standing in the Charlotte Street area following construction of the nearby Cascades centre in the late 1980s. The house was owned for many years by Dorchester's Eldridge Pope until the brewery was closed in the '80s and the pub was sold on. Demolition of the Tricorn in 2004 and the subsequent application to redevelop the whole 'Northern Quarter' meant that the Dorchester's days were numbered. The pub closed in late 2005 and now stands empty, awaiting inevitable demolition.
Left-hand photograph 18th February 1990	Right-hand photograph 15th July 2007

	The Duchess of Fife	86 Castle Road, Southsea
	One of a number of former pubs still standing in the local area, the Duchess of Fife was originally, as seen in the photograph, part of Portsmouth's Longs Brewery. Its green glazed tiled frontage has survived fifty years since the pub ceased trading in the late 1950s when it was owned by Brickwoods of Portsea. The premises was initially converted into a retail premises and is presently an office. Photographed 18th March 2007

The Duke of Cornwall

247 Lake Road, Buckland

One of around twenty pubs that stood on Lake Road in the 1930s, the Duke of Cornwall started life in Victorian times as the Prince of Wales and was once run by the small Anderson Brewery, located off Commercial Road. The pub stood roughly where Turner Road now meets Lake Road, on what was once the corner of Westminster Place, one block away from the Swan (now Ladbroke's turf accountants). The house was renamed the Duke of Cornwall in 1902, probably on acquisition by Portsmouth United Breweries, who had the pub refronted to a design by architect A E Cogswell in 1909 (see photograph). It's date of demolition is uncertain.

Photograph kindly supplied by Richard Sheath

The Duke of Edinburgh	80 North Street, Portsea
Dating from the mid 1800s, this old pub was originally given the rather odd name of the Excellents House Of Call before being dedicated to the Duke of Edinburgh in the 1870s. Its original address was 80 North Street, though alterations to the street plan over the decades now sees it listed as standing on Cumberland Street. The pub received a facelift by A E Cogswell at the end of the 19th century and was leased to Portsmouth United Breweries from the Lush Brewery before later becoming part of the Brickwoods portfolio. The house served its last customers as long ago as 1964 and in 1988 was reopened by Prince Phillip following its conversion to private housing. Photographed 14th August 2005

The Duke of Wellington	93 Russell Street, Landport
This attractive street corner tavern dated from early Victorian times and was also known as the Wellington Inn for a short time during the 1870s. Smartly decorated in Portsmouth United Breweries' livery, it was one of dozens of pubs lost as a consequence of enemy bombing during the Second World War. It was demolished following damaged caused to the structure in 1941.

Duke's

147 Albert Road, Southsea

Sadly only in existance for a short time, Duke's stood at the front of what is now the Wedgewood Rooms and consisted of a one roomed bar specializing in live Sunday lunchtime jazz sessions. Real ales were served and food was available during the day. The bar was sadly closed after a very short life and became the ticket office and cloakroom for the Wedgewood Rooms. The site is now partly occupied by the Edge Of The Wedge café bar (see alphabetical pub listings).

Photographed 28th April 1991

The Eagle

94/96 St George's Square, Portsea

Built on the site of the Blue Anchor in 1853, the Eagle stood on the corner of Butcher Street and St George's Square, Portsea and was the last of many pubs that once stood on the square. Originally part of the Pike brewery, the pub remained trading until the summer of 1982 when it served its last pints. The premises was converted to flats in 1988 and was given an external facelift in 2006.

Left-hand photograph 8th February 2007

The Eastney Arms	42 Cromwell Road, Eastney
Another 19th century street corner local, the Eastney Arms was owned by the Miles Brewery and stood on the corner of Eastney Street. The pub closed its doors as long ago as 1918 and soonafter reopened as a shop. In 1975 it became a Chinese takeaway. Today the premises houses a convenience store. Photographed 15th July 2007

The Egremont Arms	52 Crasswell Street, Landport
A former Portsmouth United Breweries pub, the Egremont was one of three surviving pubs on Crasswell Street until the late 1980s. The pub featured some attractive glazed tile work and the building has thankfully remained intact following conversion to private residences (see right-hand photo). Whilst it traded, the Webmaster recalls a rather sparten interior, with bare boards and upturned barrels for tables. The lack of windows also meant that it was a rather dark place in which to drink!
Left-hand photograph 18th February 1990	Right-hand photograph 14th August 2005

The Elephant & Castle	107 Sultan Road, Buckland
Located on Sultan Road in the centre of the crime-ridden Buckland estate, the Elephant & Castle suffered not only from a poor reputation, but also from its less than glamorous appearence, being of typically cheap post-war design. The house was demolished in 2001 to make way for more housing. Photographed 14th August 1988

The Emperor of India	246 Commercial Road, Landport
Located on the site of the former London Stout House (later the Prince of Wales), this pub dominated the corner of Commercial Street and Paradise Street. Designed by architect W J Walmisley and built in 1904 for the Young's Brewery, the house enjoyed only a relatively short life, sadly being demolished in 1961 to make way for the bland architecture of the present Commercial Road.

The Esplanade Hotel

South Parade, Southsea

Opened in 1942 in an imposing building adjacent to the Savoy Ballroom, the Esplanade Hotel traded until 1976. The building will be best known to many readers as Fanshawes - a large pub popular with clubbers during the 1980s and '90s. By the late '90s the premises was trading as Frisco's and has since been known as the Tangerine Suite, White Room and Bar Bluu (sic). The closure of the adjacent nightclubs housed in the Savoy Buildings shall likely see this establishment go the same way, which may not be a bad thing, as South Parade is very much in need of rejuvenation.
Photographed 15th July 2007

	The Falcon	74 King's Road, Southsea
	Once trading under the name of the Oyster Bar, this tavern was rebuilt in 1892 on a narrow plot on King's Road, Southsea. Originally owned by Garretts, the new premises was under ownership of Portsea's Brickwoods Brewery, as is evident in the photograph. Much of this street was heavily bombed during World War II, resulting in the loss of most of its pubs. The Falcon was one of these.

	The Flying Squadron	173 Lake Road, Landport
	Home to a large number of pubs, with only one surviving into the 21st century, Lake Road was home to the Flying Squadron - recorded as trading from around 1881 until the pub lost its beer licence in 1928. Originally owned by the Mew Brewery, the tavern later transferred to Pike Spicer in 1911. Some readers may be puzzled by the name of the pub - 1881 being long before the invention of the aircraft. The Flying Squadron in this case refers to the Detatched Squadrons of the Royal Navy - unarmed ships that were formed to undertake worldwide cruises for training and promotional purposes.

	The Fortitude Tavern	53 Broad Street, Old Portsmouth
	Dating from around 1786, the Fortitude Tavern was one of many inns and taverns that could once be found in the immediate vicinity. Once a location synonymous for its drunkedness, prostitution and contraband, Old Portsmouth has long since become a respectable neighbourhood full of wealthy residents. The old pub closed way back in 1923, though keen-eyed observers will notice the HMS Fortitude mural on the building's frontage at second floor level. Photographed 29th April 2008 (courtesy Rob Hall)

	The Fox	1 Gunner Street, Buckland
	Located opposite the Kingfisher, on the corner of Timpson Street, the Fox was once owned by George Palmer's St Paul's Brewery of Southsea, which was subsequently bought out by larger rival Longs. The pub later ended up in the hands of Portsea's Brickwoods Brewery, with whom it is likely to have remained until closure. The Gunner Street area was swept away in the early 1970s and along with its neighbour, the Kingfisher, the Fox was demolished in the name of 'progress'. Photograph kindly supplied by Richard Sheath

The Frog On The Front

Clarence Esplanade, Southsea, PO5 3ST

This small bar was opened in 1993 as part of the Pyramids leisure complex on Southsea sea front and gets most of its patronage from young drinkers on weekend evenings, as well as daytime visitors during the warm summer weather. Aesthetically ugly, the building faces an uncertain future, despite being converted into a showbar in the late summer of 2008. The Pyramids is due to close before long due to local authority cutbacks.

Photographed 3rd January 2005

The George Hotel

29/30 High Street, Old Portsmouth

This famous, imposing old hotel was used by many top-level naval commanders over the centuries. Indeed, it was at the George that Vice Admiral Lord Nelson spent his final night ashore before setting sail to embark upon the Battle of Trafalgar in September 1805. The building in the photograph replaced a much smaller thatched inn and the premises also once traded as the Waggon & Lamb until the early 18th century. The George was also the terminus for the famed Rocket Stage Coach that operated between Portsmouth and London.

The proud history of the George came to an abrupt end in 1941 when the hotel suffered bomb damage by German aircraft. The premises was subsequently demolished.

The Golden Fleece

37-41 Commercial Road, Landport

Externally similar to the Trafalgar on Fratton Road, this old pub once stood at a location where Commercial Road has since ceased to exist. Built in 1867 for the Simmonds Brewery, the house later became part of the United Breweries' estate before ending up in the hands of Brickwoods. Sporting both these companies' names in this photograph, the pub survived until October 1972, when it was demolished for large scale redevelopment.

The Granada

1 Granada Road, Southsea

Still standing into the 21st century, this old pub and hotel is now home to a lap dancing venue. Whatever would its former patrons have made of what goes on within its walls nowadays?! Starting life as the Granada Arms in the mid 1800s, the pub was later renamed the Granada Hotel.

In 1891 it received a ground floor extension courtesy of the Brickwoods Brewery (see near right-hand photo) and was rebuilt in 1937 to a design by Cogswell for the same owners.

The pub survived in this guise until 1985, when it was closed by Whitbread and sold. It has since traded as various nightclubs and late-night venues.

The Grantham Arms

5 Somers Road, Somerstown

Another typical 1960s estate pub, the Grantham Arms started life as the Somerstown Tavern until it underwent a refit and change of name in 1989. It suffered from a poor reputation owing to its run down inner-city location and was eventually closed in 2002. The premises served for a short time as the home of the Packhorse Brewery until it was wound up in 2003. The building still stands, complete with signage, and is now used as a storage facility for Portsmouth City Council.

Left-hand photograph 22nd July 2007
Far right-hand photograph 28th April 1991

	The Great Western	57/59 Commercial Road, Landport
	Located on a part of Commercial Road that has long since disappeared, the Great Western shown in this drawing was built in 1902 to a design by Cogswell for Portsmouth United Breweries and had further alterations carried out four years later. The pub later became part of Brickwood's portfolio and lasted until 1972, at which time it was demolished to make way for redevelopment work.

The Guardsman	129 Fratton Road, Fratton
Certainly one of Portsmouth's oldest buildings and definitely (until recently) its oldest pub, the Guardsman stands on Fratton Road, just south of the junction with Arundel Street. It is reputedly the only timber framed building in the city and is apparently haunted by a lady, a small boy and a cat. Once part of the Brickwoods estate, the pub became a Free House in the 1980s, stocking Marstons beers. Around the turn of the century the Guardsman spent a short time as a private members' club and by January 2007 it stood closed and boarded. A planning application by the owners toconvert the Grade II listed premises into two private dwellings was initially thrown out by the city council. However, a revised application was given approval soon after. By mid 2007 the building stood in a poor state state of repair (as seen in the bottom left-hand photograph) and by November of the same year contractors had moved in and removed the historic roof of the pub, as shown to the right. It has since been faithfully reconstructed to modern standards.
Top left-hand photograph July 1990 Bottom left -hand photograph 22nd July 2007	Bottom right-hand photograph 3rd November 2007 (courtesy Rob Hall)

	The Guildford Arms	22 Guildford Road, Fratton
	Now yet another anonymous house conversion, the former Guildford Arms once occupied the corner of Guildford Road and Forton Road, Fratton. No further information available at present. Photographed 29th July 2007 (courtesy Rob Hall)

The Harlequin

57 Fyning Street, Landport

This small tavern started life as the Napier Arms and occupied the junction of Fyning Street and Northam Street, in the area north of Arundel Street. The pub was rebuilt for Horndean brewers George Gale & Co. in 1901 to a modest design by A E Cogswell and named the Harlequin. The house survived until 1968, at which time it was flattened to allow redevelopment. An abundance of brutally-designed council flats now cover the area.

The Harlequin

Portsdown Park, Cosham

Certainly one of Portsmouth's most notorious public houses, owing to its location amidst the concrete jungle that was Portsdown Park, this small Gales house could be found in an elevated position at the entrance to this infamous council estate. Finding the way in could well be a challenge for a first time visitor, but then again, once inside you'd probably have wished you'd not bothered! The Webmaster has vauge recollections of spending a couple of lunchbreaks in the Harlequin, downing large, cheap whiskies before returning to work at the hospital opposite! The end for the Harlequin came in 1987 when the entire estate was flattened to make way for an altogether nicer private housing estate.

The Havelock Tavern	114 Crasswell Street, Landport
Another of three Crasswell Street pubs shown on this page and the first to close. As the left-hand photograph shows, it had already served its last pints when the picture was taken in February 1990. Part of a small estate of Eldridge Pope pubs in town, it too suffered from being in a deprived area with few people having the resources to spend money in a pub. It was soon converted into flats, as shown on the right.
Left-hand photograph 18th February 1990	Right-hand photograph 14th August 2005

The Hearts of Oak

483 Commercial Road, Mile End

This striking former Brickwoods pub once stood towards the northern end of what was once Commercial Road (now Mile End Road). The original end-of-terrace property was architecturally unasuming until given a trademark elaborate facelift by Arthur Cogswell in 1897. This resulted in a riot of glazed tiling and stained glass, as seen in the photograph. Sadly, time was called on the pub in 1974 and demolition followed. Thankfully, some of the internal fittings were saved and can now been found on the first floor of the Portsmouth Museum. Additionally, much of the ornate frontage has also been saved and is presently in storage (reputedly at Fort Purbrook), hopefully to be exhibited to the public one day. Compare this lovely building to the monstrous Mile End flats that now dominate the area.

The Highland Arms

Highland Road, Eastney

The Highland Arms (Brickwood) archive photo

Starting life as the Highland Tavern in 1865, the former Highland Arms dominates the corner of Highland Road and Eastney Road. By 1900 it had changed its name to the Highland Arms and the building underwent extensive alterations early in the 20th century (the date of 1915 still being clearly visable on the left side of the building). Closed in 1984, the house was converted into flats and now sports an ugly third storey extension and lift housing. Photographed 30th September 2006

The Highland House

108 Highland Road, Eastney

One of a number of pubs located on Highland Road (many of which are still trading), the Highland House stood on the opposite corner to the Three Marines. A small Victorian tavern, it was owned by the Mew Langton Brewery up until the 1930s and the pub remained in business until at least 1960. By 1980 the premises had become a hostel by the name of Highland Lodge and remains so to this day. The bar room and counter are still in situ.

Photographed 15th July 2007

The Horseshoe	1/3 King's Road, Southsea
Standing in a prominent position at Kings Road Junction, the Horseshoe was constructed in 1957 to replace the Horseshoe Hotel. The house spent a brief period in the late 1980s trading as Shoes (see left) before reverting to its original name. In latter years it became one of the few pubs in the city regularly featuring live bands. Planning permission was given for redevelopment in 2004. The right-hand picture shows the premises closed and boarded in September of that year. Demolition soon followed.
Left-hand photograph 11th May 1989	Right-hand photograph 19th September 2004

The Jersey Arms	70 Jersey Road, Buckland
Located diagonally opposite the still-thriving Winchester Arms, at the junction of Langley Road and Jersey Road, the Jersey Arms ceased trading many decades ago. By 1918 the premises was listed as being an off-license owned by a Mr George Saunders. It is now a residential property. Photographed 19th July 2007 (courtesy Rob Hall)

The Jubilee Tavern	15 Jubilee Terrace, Southsea
The Grade II listed Jubilee Tavern traded under this name for over 150 years and occupied a prominent corner building, dating from 1809. Originally part of the Lush Brewery, the house passed to Portsmouth United Breweries before being taken over by Whitbread as a consequence of their buy-out of PUB. The pub consisted of a single bar area and had a varied clientele, most of whom were local inhabitants. Close to Southsea Common and within easy walking distance of Clarence Pier and Old Portsmouth, the pub somehow never manged to capitalise on its prime location and by early 2007 was opening only occasionally. By November of that year it was rumoured to have been purchased for conversion to offices. Another traditional Portsmouth local was therefore lost.
Left-hand photograph 27th January 2008	Near right-hand photograph 30th September 2006 Far right-hand photograph 11th May 1989

The Kimberley	99 Somers Road, Somerstown
Located on Somers Road, one block from the Traveller's Rest, the original pub on this site started life as the Morning Star in around 1886 and survived until 1906, by which time it had been renamed. The Kimberley was rebuilt in familiar brewers tudor style by Brickwoods and finally closed its doors in 1982, at a time when Portsmouth was losing many of its local pubs. The building spent a brief spell as a tea room before being converted to a hostel.
Left-hand photograph 14th August 2005	Far right-hand photograph kindly supplied by Neil Deville

The King George V	83/85 Cottage View (formerly 1 Bishop Street), Landport
Located at the corner of Cottage View and Railway View in Landport, this pub was closed in the 1980s and converted to residential use. Fortunately the premises still sports its original tiling, with the pub's name clearly prominent at first floor level - the tiled façia was thankfully revealed once again during a recent restoration of the building's exterior, as seen in the right-hand photograph.
Left-hand photograph 18th February 1990		Near right-hand 1940s photograph kindly supplied by Neil Deville Far right-hand photograph 4th February 2007

The Kingfisher

2/4 Gunner Street, Buckland

Originally known as the Carpenters Arms, this small street corner local occupied a plot at the junction of Gunner Street and Timpson Street. The whole area has since been completely redeveloped, with Gunner Street being erased from the map and only a short section of Timpson Street surviving into the 21st century. Once part of the Jewell Brewery estate, the pub passed to Brickwoods in around 1934 and was renamed the Kingfisher. Toward the end of its life it was run by Dorchester's Eldridge Pope Brewery and served its last pints in 1970, being demolished in December of that year to allow the aforementioned redevelopment.

Photograph kindly supplied by Richard Sheath

The Kingston Tavern	62 Kingston Road, Buckland
The only surprise about the closure of the Kingston Tavern was that how it managed to survive for as long as it did. The original island bar counter was stripped out in the early 1990s and the single room was given a pleasant makeover. However, the pub still struggled to attract the right clientele and after a spate of temporary closures it shut up shop for the final time in 1999 following the death of a customer due to negligence by the licensee. It was converted to apartments at the turn of the century.
Left-hand photograph 14th August 1988

The Kipling

10 Addison Road, Southsea

Now one of many anonymous residential properties across the city that once housed a licensed premises, the former Kipling could be found at 10 Addison Road, on the corner of Grenville Road. The premises spent much of its life as an off-licence and grocery store, though it would appear that it spent a brief time as a public house, owned by Brickwoods, prior to its demise in around 1934.

Photographed 21st July 2007 (courtesy Rob Hall)

	The Lion Brewery Tap	13 London Road, North End
	This familiar Brewers Tudor fronted building in North End's busy shopping district was once home to the Lion Brewery Tap, who's beers were once brewed in the buildings to the rear, which also still stand, on Pitcroft Lane. The brewery ended up in the hands of Brickwoods in 1910 following a series of takeovers and mergers and by 1970 had been converted to a factory. The pub itself has also long since been converted to retail use - notably the award-winning Churchill's fish & chip shop. Photographed 24th July 2007 (courtesy Rob Hall)

The Lord Clive	1/3 Brookfield Road, Fratton
Built in 1898 on the corner of Brookfield Road and Guildford Road in Fratton's densely populated terraced streets, the Lord Clive was owned by Portsea brewer Brickwoods and remained trading until 1986 when planning premission was granted to convert the premises into flats. Note that the bracket for the inn sign remains in situ in the left-hand photograph, taken 14th August 2005

The Lord Nelson

469 Commercial Road, Mile End

Another pub to once occupy the area which is now home to the dreadful council flats which back on to Mile End Road, the Lord Nelson was a medium-sized, detached Victorian local which was given a typical Brickwoods tiled exterior. The house was once run by the Bransbury Brewery before passing into Brickwoods ownership later in the 19th century. By the time the pub closed for the last time in 1973 it was in the hands of national brewer Whitbread.

The Magpie	66-70 Fratton Road, Fratton
Built in 1901 to replace a previous pub of the same name (and formally the Brickmaker's Arms) the Magpie was a typical traditional Portsmouth local. Once part of the Friary Meux pub chain, it received a major refurbishment in 1989, though began to fall into decline by the turn of the century. The pub spent a number of years during the '90s under the ownership of Gibbs Mew before being sold to Punch Taverns. The Magpie received an internal refurbishment in 2007 in an effort to increase its trade and make the pub more welcoming. However, by the end of the year it had closed its doors and in June 2008 a plannign application was submitted to convert the pub into nine apartments. Submit your objections to Portsmouth City Council by clicking here
Left-hand photograph 18th March 2008	Near right-hand photograph 4th February 2007 Far right-hand photograph 19th February 1990

The Marmion Tavern

27 Marmion Road, Southsea

Not to be confused with the present Marmion Tavern, which is located a short distance to the west, this former pub stands on the corner of Marmion Road and Wilton Place. In 1887 the house changed its name to the Marmion Hotel and closed for business as long ago the 1937 when its license was transferred to another pub. The premises became a drapery store in the 1940s and reopened as a record shop in 1971. Today it houses Roux jewellers.

Photographed 15th July 2007

The Mayflower	295/297 Highland Road, Eastney
The Mayflower retained its identity since Victorian times and was designed in a cottage style by renowned architect T E Owen, who was responsible for the layout of much of Southsea's ornate regency terraces. The pub consisted of a large public bar and a smaller lounge and it spent some time during the 1990s in a guise similar to a Hogshead Ale House (branded as a Beer Engine pub on the inn sign). Owned by both the Longs and Brickwoods breweries in bygone years, it later ended up part of the Whitbread portfolio. Sadly, in 2007 the Mayflower was purchased by property company Velder Developments who swiftly closed the pub in November of that year and submitted a planning application to build nine town houses on the site. This was swiftly denied by the city planners. However, whilst the results of a planning appeal were awaited, demolition of the property began on April 14th 2008. The bottom left-hand photograph depicts the pub as it was being boarded up in late November 2007. Six months later the building was in a very sorry state, as see in the bottom right-hand picture days before its sad demolition.
Top left-hand photograph 30th September 2006 Bottom left-hand photograph 24th November 2007 (courtesy Rob Hall)	Near top right-hand photograph 30th September 2006 Far top left-hand photograph 11th May 1989 Bottom right-hand photograph 11th April 2008 (courtesy Rob Hall)

The Mediterranean	68 Stamshaw Road, Stamshaw
Constructed in 1904 to a design by A E Cogswell, the Mediterranean replaced a pub by the name of the Wheelwrights Arms, located on the same site on Stamshaw Road. The pub survived until 1978 when it was closed and converted to housing. Thankfully the ornate mural at first floor level still survives, along with the canopy. An external redecoration in 2006 helped to brighten up the somewhat jaded façade. Left-hand photograph 14th August 1988 Right-hand photograph 30th September 2006

	The Mile End Cellars	317 Commercial Road, Mile End
	Yet another old tavern which could be found in the Mile End district of Commercial Road. The Mile End Cellars spent much of its life under ownership of George Gale & Co. The house survived until as recent as 1977, at which time routine renovation found the premises to be structurally unsound. Demolition followed and another pub, the Oliver Twist, was built as a replacement, this time under ownership of Scottish & Newcastle Breweries.

The Mitre	28 Butcher Street, Portsea
Standing in a prominent position on the corner of Kent Street, the former Mitre traded as such since at least the late 18th century. The pub closed as long ago as 1935, at which time its license was transferred across town to the Baffins Inn on Tangier Road. The premises has since been used as a restaurant and a hairdressing salon and in early 1980 planning permission was granted to convert the ground floor back into a public house. Sadly this never came to fruition and the building has since been converted into apartments and named Josie Court.

The Monckton	318 Copnor Road, Copnor
Of all the hundreds of public houses that have stood on Portsmouth's streets over the centuries, this must surely have been the most eccentric! Built on a shoestring budget in 1942, on the corner of Monckton Road, at a time when World War II was at its midpoint, the Monckton resembled a brutally designed pillbox structure with limited glazing and a flat roof. The pub survived until the summer of 1982, when it was sadly demolished to make way for housing. The Webmaster held a childhood fascination for this building and regrets not having had the opportunity to venture inside.

	The Mystery	1/3 Warwick Crescent, Somerstown
	Similar in appearence to the former Seagull on Broad Street, Old Portsmouth, this striking little pub stood amidst the forest of tower blocks in Southsea's rundown Somerstown neighbourhood. Built in brewers tudor style with Cogswell's familiar witches hat tower, it eventually succumbed to the inevitable, a victim of the local arsonists who were presumably unable to appreciate the only beautiful building on their doorstep. Demolition followed - a terrible waste of what was certainly one of Portsmouth's most interesting structures. Photographed 18th February 1990

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