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Many hundreds of pubs have been built in Portsmouth over the last two centuries.
The turn of the 19th/20th century saw a massive increase in pub building, with a number of brewers turning to prolific local architects A E Cogswell and A H Bone to design ever more impressive structures. Whilst a large number of these pubs have been lost since the early 1940s, there are still many fine examples to be found around town. This page focuses on a selection of these. Others can be viewed on the Closed Pubs pages.
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| Eastney & Southsea |
| The Auckland Arms |
Netley Road, Southsea |
 Hidden in quiet Netley Street, a stone's throw from the seafront, the Auckland Arms displays one of Portsmouth's most remarkable façades. The wonderful glazed tiling of the former Longs Brewery still looks as good as the day it was finished in this photograph, taken by the Webmaster in 1989. Sadly, much tile work of this quality has disappeared as pubs around the city have been demolished or converted.
Photographed 18th February 1990 |
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| The Eastfield Hotel |
Prince Albert Road, Eastney |
 Built in 1906 by renowned Portsmouth architect A E Cogswell, the Eastfield Hotel on Eastfield Road, Eastney still retains the splendid original tiled façade of Portsmouth United Breweries a century later. The pub is well worth a visit.
Photographed 11th May 1989 |
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| The Leopold Tavern |
Albert Road, Southsea |
 Sporting one of Portsmouth's most intact pub exteriors, the Leopold Tavern stands on Albert Road, in the heart of Southsea's drinking district. Clad with ornate green glazed tiles and still displaying the name of its original owners, Portsmouth & Brighton United Breweries, this house is one of few remaining examples.
Photographed 11th May 1989 |
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| The Eldon Arms |
Eldon Street, Southsea |
 The Eldon Arms was one of a small number of pubs in the city owned by former Dorchester brewer Eldridge Pope. This remains their most attractive house, with its green glazed tiling and unusual bay windows. The pub was extensively altered and enlarged in the early 1990s, though it remains a very pleasant pub indeed, now extending into two adjacent cottages. Also of note is a rare Eldridge Pope Royal Oak clock that adorns the right-hand wall as you enter.
Photographed 18th February 1990 |
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| The Fawcett Inn |
Fawcett Road, Southsea |
 This landmark pub on Fawcett Road, Southsea was designed by architect A H Bone in typical brewers tudor style, with ground floor glazed tiling, mock tudor beams at first floor level and witches hat tower. Originally part of local brewer Brickwoods' estate, it is now in the hands of an anonymous pubco, following its sale by Whitbread a few years ago.
Photographed July 1990 |
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| The Diamond (King Street Tavern) |
Norfolk Street, Southsea |
 Another of Southsea's gems, the aptly-named Diamond on Norfolk Street also has a remarkably ornate frontage, courtesy of the former Brickwoods brewery. The interior was refurbished in the late 1990s and now features two distinct drinking areas and a pleasant atmosphere. The Diamond is now in the hands of Wiltshire brewer Wadworth.
Photographed 18th February 1990 |
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| Mile End & Landport |
| The Mars |
Church Path North, Landport |
 An unlikely survivor amongst the rundown streets of Landport, with its rows of council flats, the Mars is a small local hostelry hidden away on Church Path North, behind Commercial Road's shops. The pub is notable for its 1923 extensive dark red tiling and mosaic lettering of the former Brickwoods brewery, which was located one mile away on Queen Street, Portsea.
Photographed 28th April 1991 |
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| Buckland & Fratton |
| The Florist |
Fratton Road, Buckland |
 Standing at the nothern extremity of Fratton Road, the Florist is one of at least four Portsmouth pubs built in half-timbered style with distinctive witches hat tower. Sadly, when Devizes brewer Wadworth bought the pub from Whitbread in the early 1990s, they illegally removed the original Brickwoods tiled facia (shown in this photo). This they were forced to replace, though sadly with an inferior modern facsimile. The Florist is also noteworthy for being a regular entry in CAMRA's annual Good Beer Guide publication.
Photographed 18th February 1990 |
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| The George & Dragon |
Kingston Road, Buckland |
 Within the first couple of years into the 21st century the George & dragon was the only pub left trading on Kingston Road, Buckland. Thankfully it is also the most architecturally significant of those that, until recently, were open for business. A former Brickwoods pub, its attractive half timbering with tiled facia is a classic example of many of this brewery's original pubs.
Photographed 11th May 1989 |
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| The British Queen |
Queens Road, Buckland |
 The British Queen is a fine example of half timbering and glazed tiling. Located in a residential district on Queens Road, Buckland, the pub was rebuilt in 1896 and is still remarkably intact externally. A fine portrait of Queen Victoria adorns the entrance, at first floor level.
Photographed 14th August 1988 |
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| Hilsea & North End |
| The Coach & Horses |
London Road, Hilsea |
 Probably Portsmouth's most well-known pub, owing to its prominent position at a major traffic junction to the north of the island in Hilsea, the present Coach & Horses dates from 1931 and was designed by A E Cogswell. This imposing structure is most recognizable for its red brick mock-castle style, including large corner turret and crenellated parapet. Certainly one of Portsmouth's most distinctive buildings.
Photographed 14th August 1988 |
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| The Lord Chichester |
Chichester Road, North End |
 The Lord Chichester, located on the residential street of Chichester Road, North End is typical of the designs of A E Cogswell, with half timbering and glazed tiled exterior. Built in 1909 for the Brickwood brewery on Queen Street, Portsea, the pub continues to be a thriving local and still retains its Brickwoods livery.
Photographed 14th August 1988 |
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| Copnor & Milton |
| The Old Canal Inn |
Shirley Road, Milton |
 Tucked away on Shirley Avenue in the Milton area, the Old Canal is named after the abandoned Portsmouth & Arundel Canal that passed nearby. Notable for its striking green tiled exterior of Portsmouth & Brighton United Breweries, the pub was first licensed in 1931 and later passed to Whitbread before being sold on in the late 1990s.
Photographed July 1990 |
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| The Tangier |
Tangier Road, Copnor |
 A beautifully decorated corner house located on the road of the same name in Copnor, the Tangier was built by Portsmouth United Breweries in 1912 to a design by A E Cogswell. The pub is a riot of glazed tiling and mosaics depicting images of Tangiers Market. Recently refurbished, this large two-bar pub has a loyal local clientele.
Photographed 11th May 1989 |
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| The Mermaid |
New Road, Copnor |
 Not named after a mythical creature, but instead a corruption of the words 'mere mead' [water meadow], the Mermaid on New Road sports an ornate cast iron canopy. Originally owned by the local, long defunct Spicer Brewery, it was one of many houses that ended up in the hands of Whitbread following a number of takeovers and mergers.
Photographed 14th August 1988 |
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| Portsea & Old Portsmouth |
| The Ship Anson |
The Hard, Portsea |
 The Ship Anson, situated a short distance from the dockyard's former Main Gate (now Victory Gate) is coincidentally pictured with two wrens at the entrance in this photograph taken in 1989. The attractive brewers tudor exterior covers only half the frontage, as the pub was once two different premises. The King & Queen stood directly to the left of this photograph and has long since been swallowed up by the Ship Anson.
Photographed 11th May 1989 |
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