Portsmouth Pub Names

This page provides background information on dozens of Portsmouth's pub names. Many of these derive from historic events or famous persons, whilst other pubs take their names from more contemporary sources, or have humorous or gimmicky names given to them by modern pub companies. Some names may be the subject of conjecture, especially where heraldic coats of arms are used. It is not unusual for pubs to be named after little-known families who once owned land around the area in which a pub was built. Centuries later, such connections can sometimes be hard to trace.

The list shall be added to as further research is completed. The Webmaster welcomes any contributions from visitors.

*an asterisk denotes that the pub has either closed or changed its name

Pub Name	Derivation
THE ABERCROMBIE ARMS*	Named after James Abercrombie (1706-1781), British Army general and commander-in-chief of forces in North America during the French & Indian War. He later became a Member of Parliament and deputy governor of Stirling Castle.
THE ADMIRAL DRAKE	Named in honour of Sir Francis Drake (1540-96) who is best remembered for his famous victory over the Spanish Armada in 1588.
THE AIR BALLOON*	The name of this former pub commemorates the ascent of an air balloon that took place nearby.
THE ALBANY*	The word Albany derives from the poetic name for Britain, Albion. The name may also refer to Prince Leopold, the Duke of Albany (1853-1884), the fourth son of Queen Victoria.
THE ALEXANDRA	Named after Alexandra of Denmark (1844-1925), queen consort of King Edward VII.
THE ALMA ARMS	The River Alma flows through the Crimea Peninsular, Ukraine and in 1854 was the site of the first battle won by the Allies over Russia.
THE AMERICAN	A patriotic name celebrating the independence of the American colonies in 1776. The pub once displayed a large painting of a soldier waving the 'stars and stripes' (see elsewhere on this site).
THE APSLEY HOUSE	Named in honour of Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852), who's home, Apsley House, at Hyde Park Corner, was colloquially known as No.1 London. The painting on the exterior of the pub depicts an image of Apsley House, with the wording "No.1 Portsmouth" beneath.
THE ARTILLERY ARMS	The pub sign depicts the coat of arms of the Honourable Artillery Company, the oldest and most senior regiment of the British Army, albeit made up of Territorial soldiers.
THE BAFFINS	Takes its name from the adjacent Baffins Pond, which also gives its name to this particular area of Portsmouth.
THE BARLEY MOW	A very common pub name, the word 'mow' relates to a stack - with barley being one of the main ingredients of beer. The pub sign was therefore a good indicator to the illiterate population in bygone years that ale was on offer within.
THE BATTLE OF MINDEN	Reputedly the only pub in the UK to have this name, the Battle of Minden was fought in 1759 by a Prussian-Hanovarian-British army led by Prince Ferdinand, who defeated a French force under the Marquis de Contades.
THE BELGRAVE TAVERN*	Most likely named after Viscount Belgrave, a subsidiary title of the Duke of Westminster. The title derived from the Cheshire village of Belgrave - near where the family's main country seat can be found.
THE BERESFORD	Likely to be named in honour of Charles William de la Pour Beresford, 1st Baron Beresford (1846-1919), Rear Admiral to the Navy and Conservative politician.
THE BINSTEED ARMS*	Named after the Binsteed (or Binstead) family - a name once prevalent in the Hampshire area.
THE BLACK DOG*	There are various explanations regarding this pub name, which differs around Britian. The most likely in this instance would be that the slang term 'black dog' referred to a counterfeit shilling. Another possibility comes from the nickname of Guy Beauchamp, the Earl of Warwick, who was known as the Black Dog of Arden.
THE BLACK PRINCE*	The Webmaster recalls this pub's inn sign as depicting a black skinned 'prince', though the origins of this pub name tend to relate to either Edward, Prince of Wales (1330-1376), known as the Black Prince due to the colour of his armour. Another likely reason for this pub name being used in Portsmouth is that the Royal Navy has operated a number of warships named the Black Prince since the mid 17th century.
THE BLUE ANCHOR	A very common pub name, especially in coastal towns and villages. The inn sign would be an obvious visual aid to sailors in bygone years.
THE BOLD FORESTER	Timbers from the New Forest were used in the construction of naval warships. Vice Admiral Lord Nelson's vessel Agamemnon was built on the Beaulieu River in 1781 before being towed to Portsmouth.
THE BREWHOUSE*	Located on Queen Street, this pub once stood close to Brickwoods Brewery, who owned the house. Before its closure, the pub also traded for a short time as the Rising Sun, which also happened to be Brickwood's logo.
THE BRIDGE TAVERN	The inn sign of the pub which stands on the Camber Dock depicts an iron bridge which spanned the water. Also, the former Bridge Tavern on Somers Road - named after Turner's Bridge which once stood close by and spanned the abandoned Portsmouth & Arundel Canal.
THE BRITISH FLAG*	A patriotic title, referring to the Union Flag of the United Kingdom.
THE BRITISH QUEEN	Named after Queen Victoria (1819-1901), who's portrait appears at first floor level above the pub's entrance.
THE BYRON ARMS*	On the corner of Byron Road. Named after romantic poet George Noel Gordon, Lord Byron (1788-1824).
THE CABMAN'S REST	The inn sign depicts a cabman wearing a large cloak. Cabriolets were one-horse carriages seating up to four people and were the forerunners of the modern taxi cab.
THE CAMDEN*	Most likely named after William Camden (1551-1623), an historian responsible for a major survey of the British Isles, entitled Britannia.
THE CASTLE BANNERMAN*	Likely to be named after Bannerman Castle, built on an island near Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York state by Scottish patriot Frank Bannerman VI. The Bannerman family became the world's largest supplier of surplus military equipment and the castle was built to house the collection.
THE CLARENCE GARDENS*	Named in honour of the Duke of Clarence, latterly King William IV (1765-1837), who was appointed Admiral of the Fleet in 1811, in an honourary capacity.
THE CLARENDON	Named after one of the Earls of Clarendon who held high office in the Royal Navy in the 19th century. Villiers Road can be found nearby - this being the family name of the Earls of Clarendon.
THE COACH & HORSES	Another very popular pub name, relating to the stagecoach which once ran between Portsmouth and London.
THE COAL EXCHANGE*	This name (which has now been lost from the Portsmouth pub scene) relates to the venues where merchants would come to buy and sell coal. Coal barges continued to arrive at Portsmouth's Camber Dock until as recently as the 1970s, when large conveyors would transport the cargo across White Hart Road to the adjacent power station.
THE COCK & BOTTLE*	The name generally refers to the fact that both draught and bottled beers are available within. Portsmouth's example was also once named the Cork & Bottle as well as the Cock & Battle.
THE COMPASS ROSE	Typical nautical theme, relating to the figure displaying the orientation of cardinal points on a nautical chart or map.
THE CONNAUGHT ARMS	Likely to be named after Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught (1850-1942), son of Queen Victoria. He became a Field Marshall in the British Army and was appointed as Governor General of Canada in 1911.
COX'S HOTEL*	A former Gales pub that was demolished to make way for the Cascades Shopping Centre. The name came from the former owners of the house - Cox & Fry.
THE CREMORNE GARDENS*	Latterly the Mr Pickwick. The original name derives from Cremorne pleasure gardens in Chelsea, London.
THE CRYSTAL PALACE*	Named after the famous structure that was built in Hyde Park, London for the Great Exhibition of 1851. It was later resited to Upper Norwood in South East London, where it was destroyed by fire in 1936. The pub on Fawcett Road has long since been demolished.
THE CUMBERLAND TAVERN*	The Duke of Cumberland was responsible for the construction of nearby Fort Cumberland around 1747.
THE CUTHBERT ARMS*	Formerly on Cuthbert Road. Named after 18th/19th century Mayor Reverend George Cuthbert.
THE DERBY TAVERN	The inn sign depicts horses competing in the Epsom Derby. The pub stands on the corner of Lower Derby Road.
THE DIAL TAVERN*	This pub name often refers to the existence of a large public clock nearby, although in Portsmouth's case it may have originally referred to a mariner's compasses. The pub's last inn sign depicted an image of St Mary's Church, Fratton, whose clock may well have been visable from this spot years ago - as would the clock of the nearby Guildhall.
THE DOLPHIN	Dolphins have been considered as a sign of good luck by mariners for hundreds of years and it was believed that the creatures would protect a ship at sea in the event of a storm. Many vessels as well as pubs have therefore been named thus.
THE DORCHESTER ARMS*	This pub passed into the ownership of brewers Eldridge Pope in the late 19th century. EP was a Dorchester based company.
THE DRUIDS ARMS	Referring to the Celtic priesthood and depicting a Druid figure at Stonehenge on the inn sign, pubs with this name were sometimes used as meeting places for the United Ancient Order of Druids, founded in 1781.
THE DUCHESS OF FIFE*	Named after Princess Alexandra, Duchess of Fife (1891-1959), granddaughter of King Edward VII.
THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM	Commemorating George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham (1592-1628) who was murdered by army officer John Felton at a house close to the pub on Old Portsmouth's High Street.
THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE	Most likely named after the 1st Duke of Devonshire, William Cavendish (1640-1707), soldier and Member of Parliament.
THE EASTFIELD HOTEL	Located on the corner of Eastfield Road, the inn sign depicts a weather cock (or weather vane). The exact derivation of the pub name is uncertain, though it most likely relates purely to the cardinal point, as there is also a Westfield Road nearby.
THE EGREMONT ARMS*	The ill-fated Portsmouth and Arundel canal once followed a route close to the pub. The canal construction was financially supported by George Wyndham, 3rd Earl of Egremont (1751-1837).
THE ELDON ARMS	This pub shows an inn sign depicting the Eldon family crest with the Latin motto "Sit sine labus decus" meaning "Let honour stainless be". The pub may well be dedicated to John Scott, 1st Earl of Eldon (1751-1838).
THE ELECTRIC ARMS	With an inn sign depicting a lighthouse and electricity pylons, the origin of the Electric Arms' name is uncertain, though it is believed to be linked to the trams that once ran along Fratton Road. Other pubs with this name may well have been among the first public houses to have had electric lighting installed.
THE ELEPHANT & CASTLE*	The arms of the Worshipful Company of Cutlers depicts an elephant with a howdah on its back, which looks much like a castle. An alternative and common belief regarding the derivation of the name is that it relates to the Infanta de Castile, Eleanor of Castile, wife of King Edward I.
THE ELMS*	Stood on Elm Grove, the name of this pub recalls the many elm trees that once stood along this road - the last of which was cut down in 1929.
THE FAWCETT INN	Named after Lieutenant Alexander Fawcett, Postmaster General during the 19th century.
THE FESTING HOTEL	Named after Lieutenant Colonel Sir Francis Wogan Festing - 19th century commander of the Royal Marines who is buried in Highland Road Cemetery a short distance away.
THE FIFTH HANTS VOLUNTEER ARMS	This pub name recalls the 5th Hampshire Rifle Volunteer Corps (also known as Portsmouth RVC) that came into existence on 18th February 1860.
THE FLORENCE ARMS	Located on Florence Road, after which the pub is named, the inn sign depicts an interpretation of the Florence family coat of arms. The family have been prominent in the Lorraine region of France for centuries.
THE FLORIST	Named after a flower nursery that once existed nearby.
THE FORT CUMBERLAND ARMS	Nearby Fort Cumberland was built around 1747 by the Duke of Cumberland to guard the entrance to Langstone Harbour.
THE FOUNTAIN	Uncertain origin. May either be named after a well that once stood nearby, or possibly derived from the heraldic crest of the Plumbers Company.
THE FRODDINGTON ARMS	The name Froddington is listed in the Domesday Book as being a district on Portsea Island, made up of mainly rough grazing land. The name has since been corrupted to become Fratton.
THE FUZZ & FIRKIN*	Modern pub name dreamt up by Allied Domecq breweries. The building formerly housed what was Southsea Police Station (the word Fuzz being colloquial English for the police force). A firkin is a nine gallon cask of ale.
THE GEORGE	There are three possible origins for this name. The first (and most popular) is a reference to St George, the patron saint of England. Other possibilities are that the pub may have been named after one of the four King Georges who had reigned at the time the pub was opened for business. However, the inn sign depicts a ship and the house may well be named to commemorate a naval vessel.
THE GEORGE & DRAGON	A popular pub name, referring to St George, the patron saint of England, that folklore claims slayed a dragon.
THE GOLDEN EAGLE	Originally simply the Eagle, the inn sign depicts one of the UK's rarest and largest birds, the Golden Eagle.
THE GOLDEN HIND	One of many pubs named in honour of Sir Francis Drake, who sailed his Golden Hind around the world between 1577 and 1580.
THE GOOD COMPANION	The inn sign once depicted a dog - man's good companion.
GOOSE AT THE V & A	Pub owners Mitchells & Butlers run a chain of pubs named the Goose. The V & A suffix refers to the pub's location at the junction of Victoria Road and Albert Road.
THE GRAHAM ARMS	Named after Sir James Robert George Graham (1792-1861), First Lord of the Admiralty.
THE GRANTHAM ARMS*	Grantham Place stood nearby, off Somers Road. The inn sign depicts the Grantham family coat of arms.
THE GRAVE DIGGERS	Highland Road Cemetery stands opposite the pub and is the final resting place of a number of notable figures from the 19th century.
THE GREEN FARM*	Since renamed Toby Carvery, the Green Farm pub was opened on the site of Green Farm - Portsea Island's last working farm.
THE HARVEST HOME	A fairly popular pub name, referring back to the festivals that were held at the end of a successful harvesting season.
THE HAVELOCK TAVERN*	In honour of Major-General Sir Henry Havelock (1795-1857), British Army General with strong associations with India.
THE HOG'S HEAD	A chain of pubs owned by the Laurel Pub Company. Many of these were originally named the Hogshead and were primarily real ale pubs. A hogshead is a 54 gallon beer cask.
THE HOLE IN THE WALL	There are various origins of this pub name, though none specific to this particular pub, which has only been open since 1998. A Hole In The Wall may have referred to gaps in the walls of condemned prisoners' cells, through which a conversation could be held, or maybe at a debtors' prison, allowing food to be passed to the inmate. Another reason may be that a pub with this name may be accessed primarily via a narrow passage from the street. The inn sign of the Southsea pub depicts a trio of sailors rushing to exit the dockyard from a narrow gap in the wall.
THE HORSESHOE*	The horseshoe has long been a symbol of good luck and can often be found nailed to walls and fences. Significantly for the pub in Portsmouth, Lord Horatio Nelson was known to be a particularly superstitious man.
THE INDIA ARMS	Named to commemorate the days of the Raj, when the British Empire ruled over India - the largest of the overseas colonies during the 19th century.
THE INVINCIBLE	Named after the Royal Navy's aircraft carrier HMS Invincible, which entered service in 1980 and operated from its base in Portsmouth until being mothballed in 2005. The name Invincible has been used regularly by the Royal Navy since the 18th century. The pub was known before 1983 as the Old Free House.
THE ISAMBARD KINGDOM BRUNEL	Named in honour of the 19th century engineering genius who was born in Portsmouth in 1806. Isambard Brunel Road is located two hundred yards from the pub.
THE JAMESON ARMS	The pub displays the Jameson family coat of arms on its inn sign, with the motto "Sine metu" - "Without fear". The specific Jameson family connection to the area is uncertain.
THE JOLLY SAILOR	A very popular pub name, especially in coastal towns, though also found inland. The attraction of an inn sign depicting a jovial mariner would be obvious to the naval personnel of bygone years. A reliable indicator that sailors would be welcome within.
THE JOLLY TAXPAYER	Possibly unique in Britain. The name derives from the fact that an Inland Revenue office was once located nearby.
THE JUBILEE TAVERN*	Located on Jubilee Terrace, the inn sign shows a portrait of Queen Victoria and it is likely that the event being commemorated by the pub's name would have been her silver jubilee of 1862, as the pub appears to have been named as such since at least 1867.
THE KEPPEL'S HEAD HOTEL	Named in honour of Admiral Viscount Augustus Keppel (1725-1786), commander of the British fleet at Ushant in 1778 and circumnavigator of the globe with Admiral Lord Anson.
KIMBERLEY ARMS*	Most likely to be named after the Siege of Kimberley of 1899-1900 during the Boer War in South Africa.
KING'S HOTEL	Named as such in 1910 and therefore likely to have been dedicated to King George V, who ascended the throne in that year. Also, the pub is located directly opposite the King's Theatre. Nowadays the pub depicts images of George III and Henry VIII on its two inn signs.
THE LADY HAMILTON	Vice Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson's mistress was Emma Hamilton (1765-1815), by whom he fathered a daughter.
LANGTRY'S*	Lillie Langtry, nicknamed Jersey Lily, (1853-1929) was a British actress born on the island of Jersey. She is reputed to have once lived at this premises before it became a pub.
THE LANYARD	A Lanyard is a piece of rope or cord worn around the neck, or aboard ship can also refer to a piece of rigging.
THE LAWRENCE ARMS	Located on Lawrence Road, the inn sign depicts the coat of arms of the Lawrence family, with its motto "Be ready". Probably named after Sir Henry Lawrence, a soldier in the India Campaign. Henry Lawrence was also the name of a local builder, responsible for the construction of Waverley Road, located a few hundred yards to the south.
THE LEOPOLD TAVERN	Leopold I of Belgium (1790-1865) was the uncle of Queen Victoria and was crowned first King of the Belgians in 1831.
THE LORD CHICHESTER	Likely to be named after Thomas Pelham, 1st Earl of Chichester (1728-1805), who was Lord of the Admiralty from 1761-1762. The inn sign however shows the portrait of a bearded 'Lord Chichester' - appearing to be from the Victorian era.
THE LORD CLIVE*	Robert Clive, 1st Baron Clive of Plassey (1725-1774), known as Clive of India, famed for establishing the hugely influential East India Company and instrumental in the creation of British India.
THE LORD JOHN RUSSELL*	Lord John Russell (1792-1878), Whig politician and twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
THE LONE YACHTSMAN*	Named in honour of Sir Alec Rose (1908-1991) who, on 4th July 1968 returned to his home town of Portsmouth after single-handedly circumnavigating the globe in his yacht, the Lively Lady. He was knighted by the Queen the following day. The pub included a Lively Lady bar.
THE MAGPIE*	Various superstitions surround this bird, differing from place to place. The inn sign depicts one perched bird and another in flight - the popular rhyme proclaiming "two for joy". Therefore presumably the joy of finding a public house?
THE MARKET HOUSE TAVERN	This name may derive from the tavern once being a place where market auctioneers collected their monies and sought refreshment. The inn sign depicts an aproned publican serving working men with tankards of ale, whilst a dog and a goose gather around.
MARMION TAVERN	This pub took its name from an earlier Marmion Tavern which stood close by and is now a restaurant. The Marmion name recalls an 1808 poem by Sir Walter Scott, telling the tale of Lord Marmion. The Royal Navy also named a destroyer HMS Marmion in 1915, though this would have postdated the original Marmion Tavern by a number of decades.
THE MARS	The inn sign depicts a warship "The Mars". Built in the 1840s at Chatham, Kent, the Mars took part in the Crimean War and was later converted to a steam screw ship. She became a training ship and spent sixty years anchored in the Firth of Tay, where she trained disadvantaged boys.
MARTHA'S	Named in honour of the former licensee of this pub, Martha Kingsbury (d.1914), when it traded as the Suffolk Arms. It became Martha's in 1948.
THE MARY ROSE*	Formerly the Gloucester Hotel, this pub was rechristened in 1983 to mark the raising from the Solent of Henry VIII's famous warship, which sunk off Southsea Castle in 1545. The ship's name came from Mary, the King's sister and the rose, the Tudor family emblem.
THE MAYFLOWER*	Another nautical name, this time from the famous ship that delivered the Pilgrim Fathers to Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620. She returned to England the following year and in 1623 was sold for scrap.
THE MEON VALLEY	The Meon Valley is an attractive area of south Hampshire, located primarily to the north of Fareham. The River Meon flows into the Solent at Titchfield Haven.
THE MERMAID	This name derives from a corruption of the words mere mead - a water meadow. The pub stands on what was once Mermaid Field.
THE MR PICKWICK	Named after Samuel Pickwick, the eponymous character from Portsmouth-born author Charles Dickens' novel the Pickwick Papers.
THE NAVIGATORS*	Possibly a reference to the navvys who would have built the abandoned Portsmouth and Arundel Canal, who's course ran nearby. The inn sign appears to have depicted a stove pipe-hatted gent, possibly Isambard Brunel. The pub stood on Isambard Brunel Road.
THE NELL GWYNNE	This name recalls Nell Gwynne, the 17th century English actress, orange seller and mistress of King Charles II.
THE NEW ROEBUCK	From the male of the species of Roe deer, the Roebuck. New is likely to have been included in the pub's name as the house stands on New Road.
THE NORTHCOTE HOTEL	Named after James Northcote (1746-1831), the English artist who lived in Portsmouth for a short time in 1776, during which time he produced many paintings of local families, for a price of five guineas per head. The pub sign depicts the Northcote coat of arms.
THE OAKWOOD	On the corner of Oakwood Road, part of the so-called Wood Estate. The inn sign depicts a character resting beneath an oak tree.
THE OLD CANAL INN	This pub stands close to the course of the long-abandoned Portsmouth & Arundel Canal. The inn sign shows a boatman punting a barge.
THE OLD CUSTOMS HOUSE	This new pub is located in the Vernon Building, part of the former HMS Vernon shore base. The building was once used as a customs house.
THE OLD HOUSE AT HOME	This name originates from a once-popular ballad, often recounted by soldiers longing to return home from the battlefield.
THE OLD OYSTER HOUSE	May well derive from oysters once having been farmed in nearby Langstone Harbour. The inn sign once depicted a large pearl and oyster close to the shore. Nowadays the sign shows a fisherman seated on the canal side.
THE OLD VIC	Once the Borough Arms and renamed the Old Vic in 1989, presumably in honour of the late Queen Victoria.
THE OLIVER TWIST*	Named after the eponymous character in Charles Dickens' 1838 novel. Dickens was born one hundred yards from this pub, on what is now Old Commercial Road.
THE OSBORNE	Named after Queen Victoria's favourite residence, Osborne House, on the Isle of Wight.
OWENS	Named in honour of Thomas Ellis Owen, who in the 1830s was responsible for the construction of many grand properties in this part of Southsea, such as those on Portland Road.
THE PAINTERS ARMS	This name may derive from arsonist Jack The Painter (James Hill) who was hanged outside the main gate in 1777 following an attempt to destroy the dockyard.
THE PARK TAVERN	Located a short distance from the entrance to Victoria Park, which was opened in 1878 - the year the pub changed its name from the Battle & Breeze.
THE PARADE HOTEL*	Stood on Clarence Parade. The inn sign (which still stands) shows a lady and naval gentleman (resembling Lord Nelson and mistress Emma Hamilton) parading along Southsea's promenade.
THE PELHAM ARMS	As with the Lord Chichester pub on the same street, likely to be named after Thomas Pelham, 1st Earl of Chichester (1728-1805), who was Lord of the Admiralty from 1761-1762.
THE PEMBROKE	Possibly in honour of the Earl of Pemboke, but more likely to have been named after one of the Royal Navy's ships, HMS Pembroke. Probably the vessel built in 1812 and not sold until 1905. The inn sign depicts the ship's crest.
THE PENHALE ARMS*	Opposite Penhale Road. The name reputedly derives from a farm which once stood in this part of Portsea Island.
THE PHŒNIX	There are two pubs in the city with this name. Both depict the mythical phœnix bird rising from the ashes.
THE POMPEY*	Located outside Fratton Park, home of Portsmouth Football Club, who's nickname is Pompey. The term has since become a byword for the city itself.
THE PRINCESS ALEXANDRA*	Named after Alexandra of Denmark (1844-1925), queen consort of King Edward VII.
THE PRIORY INN*	Built on a site close to a former priory and Priory Farm. The nearby Priory School also takes its name from these two former establishments.
THE RAVEN	Ravens are the subject of much folklore and superstition. The inn sign depicts a bird perched at the Tower of London, where it is believed that the castle shall be destroyed if the resident birds ever leave.
THE RED WHITE & BLUE	A patriotic name, showing the Union flag on the inn sign, together with a ship.
THE REGISTRY	A new pub conversion of the late 1990s, housed in the former Portsmouth Registry Office.
THE ROSE IN JUNE	Another patriotic pub name, referring to the English Rose, or even the Hampshire Rose - the official county emblem. The rose is the most popular flower mentioned in pub names.
THE ROYAL	Previously the New Inn, the pub's name recalls the existence of the Royal Hospital, which was located directly opposite the pub on Commercial Road. The inn sign shows the hospital's distinctive entrance gate.
THE ROYAL ALBERT	Most likely named after HMS Royal Albert, the 131-gun screw steamer launched at Woolwich in 1854. The inn sign shows a steam ship in sail.
ROYAL EXCHANGE	There are various derivations of this particular pub name, though most are believed to refer to the financial institution in the City of London. The sign of the pub in Southsea depicts a monetary transaction being paid by a commoner to a member of the gentry.
THE ROYAL MARINE(S) ARTILLERY TAVERN	The pub stands opposite the entrance to what was, until recently, the Eastney Barracks of the Royal Marines.
THE ROYAL STANDARD	A popular pub name, referring to the flag used by the monarch and members of the royal family.
THE RUTLAND ARMS	The inn sign depicts the coat of arms of the Dukes of Rutland - members of the Manners family (Manners Road is located nearby) and also holders of the title of Marquis of Granby.
THE ST MARY'S ARMS*	On St Mary's Road and close to St Mary's Church. Named after the Virgin Mary. The previous inn sign depicted the local church, whereas the last sign showed St Mary in a nun's habit.
THE SALLYPORT INN	The word Sallyport refers to an opening in a fortification from where defenders may make a 'sally' or rush toward the enemy. The defensive Hot Walls are located nearby, where a Sallyport can be found.
THE SALUTATION*	The origins of the Salutation pub name derives from the Annunciation - the greeting and proclamation of the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary.
SCOTT'S BAR*	Formerly the Elm Brewery Tap. Renamed in honour of John Scott, Lord Eldon (1751-1838), Lord High Chancellor of Britian. The pub was located on Eldon Street.
THE SHAFTESBURY*	Named after Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury (1801-1885). English politician and philanthropist.
THE SHEARER ARMS	The former inn sign depicted a shepherd shearing one of his flock. Sadly the pub no longer displays a pictorial sign.
THE SHEPHERD'S CROOK	The agricultural references in this pub name are obvious and the inn sign shows a crook entwined with hop flowers, barley and a sickle (referring to the ale on offer within). The name also has biblical references at some pubs, with Jesus being the shepherd in question.
THE SHIP & CASTLE	Two pubs with this name can be found in the city. The building on The Hard has a wall-painted inn sign which appears to show a ship sailing past Dover Castle.
THE SHIP ANSON	This pub name originally referred to HMS Anson, launched in 1781 and wrecked in Mount's Bay, Cornwall in 1807. So far, seven Royal Naval vessels have been named Anson. These all honour George Anson, 1st Baron Anson (1697-1762), the British Admiral who circumnavigated the globe.
THE SHIP LEOPARD*	The Royal Navy has operated eleven vessels by the name of HMS Leopard. The first of these was launched in 1635 and the most recent example was scrapped in 1977. The painted sign on the wall of the pub appears to depict the sixth HMS Leopard engaging USS Chesapeake in 1807 whilst searching for Royal Navy deserters.
THE SHIPWRIGHTS ARMS*	Located close to the dockyard's Unicorn Gate, the pub was named after the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights (founded 1605), the largest of the livery companies.
THE SIR JOHN BAKER	Sir John Baker was a Liberal politician and Member of Parliament for Portsmouth twice between 1892 and his death in 1909.
THE SIR LOIN OF BEEF	A sirloin cut of beef comes from the upper section of the loin and the word sirloin derives from the French, where the prefix indicates 'over' or 'above'. The popular tale that King James I was once known to have knighted a loin of beef is, sadly, not true, though this image did once appear on the wall of the pub.
THE SIR ROBERT PEEL*	Sir Robert Peel (1788-1850), Conservative politician and twice British Prime Minister. During his time as Home Secretary he was instrumental in the formation of the first modern police force, who's recruits subsequently became known coloquially as Peelers.
THE SLUG & LETTUCE	Part of a nationwide chain of pubs now owned by the Laurel Pub Company. The name is likely to have been dreamt up by the marketing staff at original owner's Grosvenor Inns. An older example of the name, found at a pub in Stratford-upon-Avon, has an inn sign depicting a cricketer slugging a ball through the pavillion window and into a bowl of lettuce.
THE SPICE ISLAND INN	This pub name dates only from 1991 following the amalgamation of two adjacent inns. The name derives from the alternative name for this part of Old Portsmouth, where spices were once unloaded off ships arriving from all across the British Empire.
THE SPORTSMAN'S REST	A popular pub name throughout the country. The example at Copnor has an inn sign showing a gamesman resting beneath a tree whilst his dog looks on.
THE SPOTTED COW*	The name of this pub may well derive from the fact that the original licensee Elizabeth Glaysher (who ran the previous pub on this site between 1838 and 1869) was a keeper of cows. Today the inn sign depicts a lone friesian cow.
THE STAG	As well as an inn sign picturing a red deer stag, the pub also features a large statue of a buck at roof level.
THE STAR & GARTER	A popular pub name, it refers to the Most Noble Order of the Garter - the highest order of knighthood in the UK.
THE STILL & WEST COUNTRY HOUSE	Originally a pub named the Still, the marriage of the landlord's daughter to a neighbour at the local East & West Country House saw the pub acquire its present day name.
THE STRAND BAR	Formerly the Captain's Table, the present name relates to the nearby Strand road junction, where Clarendon Road meets Waverley Road.
THE SURREY ARMS*	The pub stands on Surrey Street, itself named after the county of the same name. The inn sign shows the Surrey coat of arms, with the blue and gold of the Earls of Surrey and the black taken from the Arms of the towns of Guildford and Godalming.
THE SWAN	Another popular pub name, swans have featured in royal coats of arms throughout the centuries. Swans on the River Thames are still considered to this day to be the property of the monarch.
THE TALBOT*	A breed of hound, once popularly used for hunting. This particular species of dog derived its name from being used on the Talbot family coat of arms in the 15th century.
THE TANGIER	This pub features a large mural of a Moorish horseman above the entrance door and another scene of Tangiers Market as you enter. It is likely that textiles from Tangiers once entered Britain through Portsmouth.
THE TAP	Formerly the Brewery Tap, the Southsea Brewery stood behind this pub in Pitcroft Lane. Tied pubs located close to breweries often had the name Tap, indicating that ale was brewed in or near the premises.
THE TASWELL ARMS	Located on Taswell Road and named after a Dr Taswell - historian and local landowner.
THE THATCHED HOUSE	Until recently, the name of two pubs in Portsmouth. Possibly both located on the sites of thatched properties, which would have been plentiful on Portsea Island in bygone centuries.
THE THREE CROWNS*	Generally a reference to the Magi, or three wise men, who travelled to Bethlehem to visit the infant Jesus. Also, the heraldic livery of the three crowns relates to the Worshipful Company of Drapers.
THE THREE MARINES	The Eastney Barracks of the Royal Marines were located a few hundred yards from this pub.
THE TRAFALGAR	On Edinburgh Road, this large pub is located within Trafalgar House.
THE TRAFALGAR ARMS	On Fratton Road, named after Lord Horatio Nelson's famous naval victory, fought off the coast of Portugal, near Cape Trafalgar, in 1805.
THE TRAMWAY ARMS*	On Kingston Road. This was a major route for trams throughout the first half of the 1900s.
THE TRAVELLER'S JOY	With an inn sign depicting a bowler hatted gent supping a pint of ale, this is an obvious theme for a pub name.
THE TRAVELLER'S REST	Similar to the above, the pub on Somers Road shares a name with many dozens throughout the land, with an inn sign also showing a gentleman with a pint of ale.
THE UNICORN*	The unicorn is a popular heraldic symbol and appears on the English royal arms.
THE VICTORY	Named after HMS Victory, Lord Horatio Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar, which is berthed in dry dock nearby and is still a commissioned ship.
THE VIKING*	Named after the Scandinavian marauders that invaded Britain between the eigth and eleventh centuries.
WALKABOUT	A modern name given to a chain of Australian theme pubs by owners Regent Inns. The term walkabout derives from the belief that Aboriginal Australians head off alone into the outback for a prolonged period as a rite of passage at the age of thirteen.
THE WELLINGTON	Named in honour of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852), victor at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 and twice Prime Minister of Britain. The pub's sign pictures the Duke's boot, hat and telescope.
THE WHEELBARROW	The name reputedly derives from a story relating to a former garrison commader of Southsea Castle, who was known to be a heavy drinker and would be transported home each night in a wheelbarrow. A wooden barrow once stood above the parapet at first floor level.
WHEN SHALL WE THREE MEET AGAIN*	The opening line of William Shakespeare's Macbeth, referring to the three witches in the play.
THE WHITE HORSE	The white horse features prominently in the arms of several guilds and was also adopted as a symbol by the Kings of Wessex.
THE WHITE SWAN	As with the Swan. These birds have appeared on many royal coats of arms over the centuries and are closely associated with royalty to this day.
THE WIG & PEN	Originally the Balmoral. This pub was renamed in recognition of the abundance of solicitors' practices on nearby Hampshire Terrace and Landport Terrace.
THE WINCHESTER ARMS	On Winchester Road. The pub and street take their name from Winchester College.
THE YORKSHIRE GREY*	Named after the famous breed of horse, once used by the Royal Artillery who were barracked nearby.