15th Nov 08: Previously unreported is the opening of the Villiers Inn, located at 69 Palmerston Road, Southsea. Further information shall follow in the alphabetical listings of this site. 13th Nov 08: Following a change of ownership earlier in the year, the Osborne, Osborne Road, may soon be relaunched as Kingsley's, with a strong leaning towards a younger clientele, with a gaudy decor and the inclusion of a dancefloor. 20th Oct 08: The Beresford, Twyford Avenue, is now closed and boarded. Owners Punch Taverns have informed the Webmaster that a licencee is still being sought to take on the pub. 11th Oct 08: An application to demolish the Spotted Cow, North End Avenue, has been received by Portsmouth City Council, with the intention to build flats on the site. The developers are arguing that the repairs required to the structure make the retention of the building unviable and therefore believe it should be demolished, despite this being on the 'local list' of architecturally significant properties. See the home page for a link to send objections to the planning department. 8th Oct 08: The New Inn, Havant Road, Drayton, is once again open for business after a recent period of closure. 29th Sep 08: Further to the entry dated 24th Sep, Enterprise Inns has now confirmed to the Webmaster that the Painters Arms is due to reopen in October with a new tenant. This is good news for this traditional city centre local. 24th Sep 08: The Painters Arms, Lake Road, is reported to be presently closed. Further details shall be posted when news has been received. 22nd Sep 08: Florence Arms licencees Greg Clark and Jane Goldring have announced that they have taken over the licence of the Golden Lion, Southwick and hope to open for business on 11th October. Meanwhile, it's business as usual at the Flo'. 22nd Sep 08: The Cabman's Rest, Plymouth Street, is now reported to be closed. Further details shall be posted when available. 22nd Sep 08: The Jolly Sailor, Clarence Parade, is presently closed and boarded. Its future is uncertain, as planning permission for B and B accommodation has recently been granted by the City Council. It is therefore hoped that the premises shall reopen in due course. 18th Sep 08: The Webmaster has received a disturbing letter from Portsmouth City Council's Planning Services department...it would appear that the developer responsible for the demolition of the architecturally significant Mayflower pub on Highland Road has now withdrawn its application to construct nine houses on the site. This is a shocking situation, meaning that absolutely nothing has been gained by the senseless destruction of the pub. Presuambly the site shall now remain a vacant plot until the ecomony improves and the site is once again earmarked for redevelopment? 17th Sep 08: The Frog On The Front is being relaunched as the Seahorse Showbar and is due to open on September 26th. Unfortunately, it sounds as if it shall no longer qualify as a pub and therefore not be worthy of inclusion on this website. 13th Sep 08: Planning permission has been applied for by the Drift Bar, Palmerston Road, for the construction of a single storey extension to the rear of the premises. 13th Sep 08: Despite the pub currently being for sale, with planning permission for conversion to a surgery, the Market House Tavern has applied for permission to construct a two storey extension to comprise additional letting rooms. 15th Aug 08: The Dolphin, Old Portsmouth has now reopened for business, serving a selection of cask ales, with the main emphasis on food. 10th Aug 08: The beginning of the month saw the former Owtback Bar on Ashby Place, Southsea reopen as an high quality bar and hotel - seeing the premises revert to its original name of Ashby's once again. 4th Aug 08: Portsmouth City Council has given conditional planning permission for the conversion of the Magpie, Fratton Road, into nine flats. 3rd Aug 08: The New Inn, Drayton is presently available on a five year Short Tenancy Agreement from Punch Taverns. 3rd Aug 08: The Devonshire Arms, Devonshire Avenue, is presently available on a ten year Secure Lease from Punch Taverns. 3rd Aug 08: The Mermaid, New Road, Copnor is available on a 5 year Short Tenancy Agreement from Punch Taverns. 3rd Aug 08: The Webmaster has received concerning reports of three pub closures within the city boundary. The Greene King owned Surrey Arms in the city centre is apparently due to close for the final time at the end of August. Meanwhile, both the Swan and the Salisbury in Cosham are temporarily closed at present. Punch Taverns is seeking a new tenant for the Swan, whilst Wadworth confirms that the Salisbury shall reopen in due course. 2nd Aug 08: The RMA Tavern is due to undergo rebranding by present owners Fuller Smith and Turner. 2nd Aug 08: The Dolphin, High Street, Old Portsmouth, is due to reopen in mid-August following a period of closure due to the previous lessees going out of business. 10th Jul 08: Enterprise Inns has been given permission to carry out alterations to provide twelve rooms for bed and breakfast accommodation at the Jolly Sailor, Clarence Parade. 3rd Jul 08: Wine Vaults (Portsmouth) Ltd's application in May to convert 175 Elm Grove into an extension to the Cider House next door has been withdrawn. 30th Jun 08: The Three Marines, Highland Road, is undergoing a much-needed external facelift. 30th Jun 08: Cafe Verde on Albert Road, Southsea, is being rebadged as Porters, with a greater emphasis on drink rather than food. 26th Jun 08: After many months of closure, the Victory, The Hard, has reopened in time for the summer season! 23rd Jun 08: The Wellington, High Street, Old Portsmouth is holding a beer festival from 21st to 25th August. 22nd Jun 08: The Clarendon Tavern, Clarendon Road, is available on a 10 year lease from Punch Taverns. 22nd Jun 08: The Swan, High Street, Cosham, is presently available as a 5 year tenancy from Punch Taverns. 22nd Jun 08: The Sportsmans Rest, Copnor Road, is available on a 10 year lease from Punch Taverns. 22nd Jun 08: The Pelham Arms, Chichester Road, is presently available as a 5 year tenancy from Punch Taverns. 22nd Jun 08: The Beresford, Twyford Avenue, is presently available as a 5 year tenancy from Punch Taverns. 22nd Jun 08: The New Inn, Havant Road, Drayton, is presently closed and partially boarded. The pub's future is uncertain. 20th Jun 08: Yet more disappointing news has been received today. The Webmaster has learnt that the Dolphin, High Street, has ceased trading. Enterprise Inns are on the lookout for a new lessee, though the future of this historic tavern looks dim, considering the pub's recent poor patronage. 20th Jun 08: The Red White and Blue, Fawcett Road and the Brewers Arms, Milton Road are to be given a facelift by current owners Fuller Smith and Turner. 15th Jun 08: The latest city pub under threat of conversion is the Magpie, Fratton Road. G I Contractors has submitted a planning application to convert the premises into no less than NINE flats. Please object to the council by following the link on the Closed Pubs D-M page and submitting your comments. Thank you. 28th May 08: The Jolly Sailor on Clarence Parade, Southsea is planning to expand its business by offering up to a dozen bed and breakfast rooms on the upper floors of the pub. A planning application has been submitted to the city council. 23rd May 08: Following the previous news article (see below), the Duck on Elm Grove has been renamed the Cider House. The adjacent property shall presumably used to extend the premises if planning permission is granted. Details shall appear on the Pub Reviews page in due course. 16th May 08: Wine Vaults (Portsmouth) Ltd has applied for planning permission to convert 175 Elm Grove into a new pub. This is the property that stands immediately west of the Duck public house, which is also part of Mike Hughes' Wine Vaults empire. 15th May 08: The former Santa Fe restaurant at Gunwharf Quays is currently undergoing conversion to a Slug & Lettuce pub. The premises is due to open on 4th June. 13th May 08: The owner of the Drift Bar, Palmerston Road, has been refused permission for the construction of a rear extension. 13th May 08: After years of stalemate, permission has now been given for the demolition of the former Town House (Cambridge Hotel) on Portland Road, Southsea. The plot shall be home to nine houses. 23rd Apr 08: The American Bar, White Hart Road, as applied for planning permission to carry out external alterations to the premises, in order to provide a new entrance. 19th Apr 08: Enterprise Inns has received permission for the construction of a small smoking shelter at the George Inn, Portsdown Hill Road. 14th Apr 08: The Webmaster has received disturbing news that demolition began today of the Mayflower on Highland Road, Eastney. The Webmaster has contacted the city council to enquire as to whether any illegal work has been undertaken on site, as planning permission is yet to be granted for building work to be undertaken. 10th Apr 08: Portsmouth News 'Best Bar None' awards results: Best Community Pub: The Old Vic Best Pub: The First Post Best Bar: Yates's Readers' award for Best Traditional Pub: The Goose At The V&A Readers' award for Best Community Pub: The Compass Rose Readers' award for Best Bar: Martha's Only selected venues that have signed up to the 'Best Bar None' initiative, complying to various safety requirements laid down by local authorities, are eligible to be entered for these awards. It is therefore not representative of the Portsmouth pubs community as a whole. 5th Apr 08: Barracuda Group has been refused permission to extend the opening hours of The Lanyard, London Road, North End to 01:30am Fridays and Saturdays. 1st Apr 08: The owner of the Drift Bar on Palmerston Road, Southsea has applied for planning permission to erect a single storey rear extension, possibly to include a roof garden. 28th Mar 08: The Alexandra, Wingfield Street, is available for lease through McCoys Pub Brokers. 28th Mar 08: The Northcote Hotel, Francis Avenue, is available for lease through McCoy's Pub Brokers. 26th Mar 08: The Wymering Arms, Medina Road, Wymering is available on a short 5 year tenancy through Punch Taverns. 25th Mar 08: The Barley Mow, Castle Road, has won a prestigious award for the quality of its real ale. The accolade, devised by Greene King in conjunction with The Publican newspaper, saw the pub beat hundreds of other contenders in the nationwide search for the country's Best Cask Ale Pub. 19th Mar 08: After many months of closure the George on Queen Street, Portsea is once again open to drinkers. 19th Mar 08: The Magpie, Fratton Road is presently for sale. 29th Feb 08: Enterprise Inns has applied for permission to construct a covered smoking area at the George Inn, Portsdown Hill Road. 29th Feb 08: Barracuda Group is seeking permission to extend the opening hours of The Lanyard, London Road, North End, to 1.30am on Friday and Saturday nights. 23rd Feb 08: Greene King has applied for planning permission to construct a timber framed canopy to the rear of The Mischief on London Road, North End. 20th Feb 08: The former City Arms on Isambard Brunel Road has been purchased by Ascott Leisure and is to be transformed into the Watermark Wine Bar at a cost of £800,000. The premises shall open for business this summer. 13th Feb 08: The owner of the Drift Bar on Palmerston Road, Southsea has this week received planning permission to convert the former Moss Bros. tailors shop at 61-63 Palmerston Road into a pub and restaurant. 11th Feb 08: A correspondant of the Webmaster's reports that the Contented Pig, Fratton Road has been purchased for redevelopment. As yet, no planning applications have been submitted to this effect. 11th Feb 08: The Market House Tavern, Mile End Road, is reported to be for sale. 10th Feb 08: The Owtback Bar on Auckland Road West, Southsea, has submitted a planning application to carry out alterations to the south facing elevation. 9th Feb 08: A revised planning application has been submitted to demolish the Mayflower on Highland Road, Southsea and construct nine houses on the site. Please send your objections to the city council by logging onto http://planning.portsmouth.gov.uk/PublicAccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_comments_entryform.aspx?caseno=JVK4SDMO02T00. These greedy developers must not be allowed to demolish the city's historic buildings in the name of profit. 4th Jan 08: After many months of stalemate, a planning application has been submitted by T Ware Developments to demolish the Town House on Portland Road, Southsea and construct nine houses on the site. 20th Jan 08: The Strand Bar on Clarendon Road, Southsea is available on a business transfer from Punch Taverns. 20th Jan 08: The Devonshire Arms on Devonshire Avenue, Southsea is available on a ten year lease through Punch Taverns. 20th Jan 08: Punch Taverns is currently looking for new tenants to run the Tap, London Road, North End. 20th Jan 08: The New Roebuck on New Road, Buckland is currently available for tenancy through Punch Taverns. 16th Jan 08: The Spotted Cow, North End Avenue, is presently reported to be closed due to problems with the building's structural integrity. It is wondered whether this may be the death knell for this unlikely survivor. 16th Jan 08: The Magpie, Fratton Road, is reported to be currently closed for reasons unknown to the Webmaster. Any additional information gratefully received. 15th Jan 08: The Webmaster has received reports of the recent closure of the Contented Pig on Fratton Road. The status of the pub is at present unknown. Watch this space for further details.