These pages feature details and photographs of all pubs currently known to be trading throughout the Portsea Island districts of Portsmouth. Further entries are listed on the Mainland Pubs page.
Some pubs may also be listed with additional information on one or more of the following pages:
Pub Architecture, Pub Crawls, Pub Reviews, Best Ale Houses
CLICK ON THE PHOTOGRAPHS TO SEE THE FULL SIZE IMAGES
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| The Cabman's Rest |
1 Plymouth Street, Somerstown, PO5 4HW |
| 023 9275 4351 |
  The Cabman's Rest stands isolated as a remnant of the terraced housing that once stood here prior to the destruction caused by bombing during World War II and the subsequent building of the ill-conceived Somerstown estate. A true local pub, it dates from 1922 and was designed by A E Cogswell for Brickwoods Brewery. Its glazed green brickwork is an attractive feature.
Following a lengthy period of closure, the pub reopened under the charge of a new licensee in October 2009. This friendly, well-furnished little pub is a centre for the community and features a pool table and large plasma television on which sporting events are shown. Sadly, no real ale was being served during a visit in July 2011, though a selection of four bottled ales from the Shepherd Neame/Greene King breweries is stocked.
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Pub Operator: Punch Taverns |
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Licenced Opening Hours:
Mon Tue Wed 10:00 'til 23:30;
Thu Fri Sat 10:00 'til 00:30
Sun 11:00 'til 23:00;
Bank Holiday extensions |
Photographs, left to right:
13th July 2008;
4th February 2007;
18th February 1990;
April 1999
(by Ray Scarfe) |
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| The Castle Tavern |
119 Somers Road, Somerstown, PO5 4PT |
| 023 9281 7171 |
   The Castle Tavern has existed on this site since the late 19th century and the present building sports an unusual crenellated tower on the east elevation. Mainly used by locals, the pub was refurbished around the turn of the 21st century and now has a pleasant, modern interior, without having lost too much of its character.
The outdoor seating area is welcome in the summer months.
| Pub Operator: MJM Inns |
Licenced Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat 10:00 'til 23:30;
Sun 12:00 'til 22:50 |
| Photographs, left to right: 13th July 2008; 22nd July 2007; 18th February 1990 |
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   This small, street corner local traded as the Eastney Cellars as long ago as the 1880s. Once part of Portsmouth's Young's brewery, a century later it was in the hands of Friary Meux before being sold to Gales as part of a job lot in 1990. It was put on the market soon after and was refitted and renamed the Cellars At Eastney, becoming popular with the gay community.
This guise didn't last long and the premises changed hands once more, transforming the pub into Portsmouth's premier live music bar. The formerly run-down pub is now a thriving, comfortable bar, featuring live acts most nights of the week. These often include well-known names from both the UK and US.
  NOTE: Strictly speaking the Cellars is no longer a 'public house' in the traditional sense, as the premises is generally not open unless there is a live performance taking place (and therefore an admission charge is usually made). However, the Webmaster has chosen to continue including it on this site, in order to put the record straight.
| Pub Operator: Enterprise Inns |
Licenced Opening Hours:
Mon Tue Wed 10:00 'til 23:59;
Thu Fri Sat 10:00 'til 00:30
Sun 11:00 'til 23:30; Bank Holiday extensions |
Photographs, clockwise fom top left:
April 1999 (by Ray Scarfe); 4th February 2007;
January 1995 (by Ray Scarfe); unknown date;
18th February 1990 |
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| The Clarence Gardens |
118 London Road, North End, PO2 0LZ |
| 023 9266 0743 |
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   This prominent pub in North End's shopping district was rebuilt in 1937 to a design by A E Cogswell. Famously known as the Clarence Gardens until 2005, the interior consisted of two large bar rooms, with a central servery. The pub's reputation suffered for a time, with the licence being revoked temporarily in 1991. In 1995 it underwent a major refit and had its name changed to the Town House - part of a nationwide chain owned by then major brewer Whitbread.
  By 2004 the pub had began losing custom to the newly-opened Wetherspoon outlet nearby and it was then that the latest owners Greene King decided to refurbish the premises. Now sporting one very large bar room, the pub is comfortably furnished and includes an area to the rear where pool can be played. Various sporting events are shown on a number of television screens positioned around the pub. Unfortunately the welcome refurbishment came at a cost - the loss of the pub's traditional name in favour of a pointless, gimmicky and frankly childish one - the Mischief.
Greene King appeared to see sense in the summer of 2010 by giving the pub another refit and reinstating the original and historic name. Sadly, no cask ale is served.
| Pub Operator: Greene King |
Photographs, clockwise from top left:
20th March 2011; 20th March 2011; 14th July 2007
23rd January 2005; 14th February 1988 |
Licenced Opening Hours:
Mon Tue Wed Thu Sun 09:00 'til 23:40
Sat Sun 09:00 'til 00:40 |
| see the Pub Reviews page for a
detailed description (June 2005) |
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| The Clarence Pier |
Long Curtain Road, Southsea, PO5 3AA |
| 023 9273 4622 |
  This Brewer's Fayre pub was opened in 1997 by Whitbread and was soon joined by an adjoining Travel Inn. Originally named the Clarence, the pub has now been renamed as above. Concentrating primarily on diners, the pub is most popular during the summer season, with visitors to the fun fair next door. The patio area now has perspex screens protecting it from the sea spray.
| Pub Operator: Whitbread |
Photographs, left to right: 15th July 2007; 3rd January 2005 |
| Licenced Opening Hours:
10:00 'til 01:30 (open 24hrs to hotel residents) |
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| The Coach & Horses |
London Road, Hilsea, PO2 9SE |
| 023 9266 0533 |
   One of Portsmouth's most well-known buildings, the Coach & Horses is the first pub that motorists pass as they drive onto Portsea Island.
The imposing structure that is the present pub was built to a striking design by A E Cogswell in 1933 and replaced an earlier pub of the same name (as seen in the right-hand photographs). The building features a high tower at its northwest apex with a crenellated parapet and is built in a Scottish Baronial style.
 Up until the early 1990s the pub consisted of a large saloon bar, with dining area, plus a public bar accessed via a seperate entrance.The public bar spent a short time throughout the mid '90s branded as a Cheese & Ale House, with a good choice of cask ales and free peanuts.
Now knocked through into one large, comfortable, single bar with a separate dining area, there are a number of distinct seating areas radiating from the bar counter.
Now owned by the Spirit Group, it was originally a Portsmouth United Breweries house before being taken over by Brickwoods.
In the '70s it became part of the vast Whitbread empire. July 2007 has seen further work take place at the pub, with a new decked area facing the northbound London Road and new signage on all sides of the building.
| Pub Operator: Spirit Group |
see the Pub Reviews page for further details
(Sep 2004) |
Licenced Opening Hours:
Mon Tue Wed Thu 09:00 'til 00:30;
Fri Sat 09:00 'til 01:00
Sun 10:00 'til 00:30;
Bank Holiday extensions |
Colour photographs, clockwise from top left:
14th August 2005; 14th August 2005;
June 1999
( by Ray Scarfe);
14th August 1988;
13th July 2008;
1980 (by Ray Scarfe) |
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  This pub was built during the 1980s as part of the large Anchorage Park estate, which occupies the site of the former Portsmouth Airport. It became one of only two Gibbs Mew pubs in Portsmouth, though the brewery has since ceased production and the pub is now part of the extensive Enterprise Inns chain. Now located adjacent to a Morrison supermarket, the pub offers four well-kept real ales and a keenly-priced, comprehensive food menu, including a good selection of daily specials. The pub is split into two or three distinct areas, with a pool table and Sky television on hand for those of a sporty inclination.
| Pub Operator: Enterprise Inns |
Licenced Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 10:00 'til 00:30 |
| Photographs, left to right:
14th August 2005; 28th April 1991 |
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| The Connaught Arms |
119 Guildford Road, Fratton, PO1 5EA |
| 023 9264 6455 |
  Constructed in 1891 as the Connaught Hotel, this pub is unusual in having retained the same name throughout its whole life.
The Connaught underwent a major refurbishment in 1993, with its former three bars now knocked into one.
However, where such modifications can often destoy the ambience and appeal of many pubs, the refit managed to retain the pub's homely feel and the bar area is
now seperated into three distinct areas.
One of these featuring a well-used dart board. The pub spent its early life with Portsmouth United Breweries before transferring to Brickwoods in the mid 20th century. It was latterly bought by Whitbread before being sold on in the 1990s.
| Pub Operator: Enterprise Inns |
Licenced Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 10:00 'til 23:59 |
| Colour photographs, left to right:
13th July 2008; 14th August 2005; July 1990 |
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| Please note that the Licenced Opening Hours stated are the hours for which each premises has a licence to open its doors to the public. The hours for sale of alcoholic liquor may well be shorter than the Licenced opening hours. Some pubs may choose to open for shorter hours than their licence allows. Therefore it is always adviseable to check ahead to ensure that the premises shall be open at the time of your planned visit. |
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