Portsmouth Pub Listings J-L

These pages feature details and photographs of all Portsmouth's public houses that are currently open for business.

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 A PHOTOGRAPH TO SEE THE FULL SIZE IMAGE

The Jameson Arms	122 Church Road, Fratton, PO1 1QE
023 9281 6406
Built in 1934 for the Mew & Co Brewery, this small Cogswell-designed house replaced an earlier pub on the same site. Originally a two bar tavern, the Jameson has since been knocked through into one larger bar room, as was the fate of many such pubs at the hands of the big brewers during the 1980s and '90s. The pub is now used almost exclusively by a local clientele. A recent application (August 2007) to close the pub and convert the premises to flats has been thrown out by the city's planning department. The Webmaster would like to thank visitors to this site who forwarded objections to the council in support of the pub's retention.
Left-hand photograph 18th March 2008	Near right-hand photograph 9th July 2007 Far right-hand photograph 18th February 1990
Pub Operator: unknown
Licenced Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 10:00 'til 01:30

The John Jacques	78-82 Fratton Road, Fratton, PO1 5BZ
023 9277 9742	www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk
Housed in the former Victory Hall, this was the third J D Wetherspoon house to open on Portsea Island. In typical JDW style, everyone knows exactly what to expect at these establishments. Sadly, the company has recently seemed fit to install televisions in many of their pubs, though thankfully the volume is kept to a minimum at most times. Beware however, that despite the attraction of serving high quality real ales, this pub does have a down side - there is a small minority of undesirables who use the pub on occasions, which hopefully the management has since cracked down on.
Left-hand photograph 19th September 2004	Right-hand photograph 22nd July 2007
Pub Operator: J D Wetherspoon
Licenced Opening Hours: Mon Tue Wed Thu Sun 07:00 'til 01:30; Fri Sat 07:00 'til 02:00

The Jolly Sailor	54 Clarence Parade, Southsea, PO5 2EU
023 9282 6139
Once known as the Westfield, the Jolly Sailor has traded on this site since 1948. Originally part of the Portsmouth United Breweries estate, it later became the property of Whitbread and is now owned by Enterprise Inns. The pub is on two levels, with the elevated ground floor being the primary bar area. Popular with younger drinkers at night, the pub also enjoys a good daytime trade during the summer months. The premises has latterly received a rather unnecessary and gimmicky prefix to its name, now trading as Marina Jaks @ Jolly Sailor, as seen in the photographs of the pub and inn sign (above right). The pub is due to undergo conversion in 2008 to provide twelve rooms for bed & breakfast accommodation. NOTE: The pub is presently (September 2008) closed for business.
Near left-hand photograph 13th July 2008 Far left-hand photograph 13th July 2008	Top right-hand photograph 11th May 1989 Bottom right-hand photograph 6th August 2005
Pub Operator: Enterprise Inns
Licenced Opening Hours: unknown

The Jolly Taxpayer	2 Eastbourne Road, Copnor, PO3 6LN
023 9264 3113
Originally an A E Cogswell designed pub in 1914, the Jolly Taxpayer reopened in 1929 following extensive alterations by architect J Walmisley. Hidden away in a residential area and therefore making it one of Portsmouth's least-known pubs, this former Brickwoods house (see top right-hand photograph) is very much a locals' local. The pub is now owned by an anonymous pub company after having been sold off by former brewing giant Whitbread in the 1990s Whitbread having acquired the pub as part of their takeover of Brickwoods in the 1970s). The Webmaster has little knowledge of what the pub now offers, having not visited since the 1980s.
Top left-hand photograph 13th July 2008 Bottom left-hand photograph 4th February 2007	Far right-hand photograph 28th April 1991
Pub Operator: unknown
Licenced Opening Hours: Mon Tue Wed 11:00 'til 00:00; Thu Fri Sat 11:00 'til 00:30; Sun 12:00 'til 23:30; Bank Holiday extensions

The Keppel's Head Hotel	24/26 The Hard, Portsea, PO1 3DT
023 9283 3231	www.keppelsheadhotel.co.uk
Built in 1803 following the destruction of the former premises in a fire, the Keppel's Head Hotel takes its name from the first flag officer of HMS Victory, who was reputed to have owned the premises. The building has, from time to time, also been known as the Keppel's Head & Pier Hotel. Owned by Granada for many years, the hotel was sold to the Regal Group in the mid 1990s. Since 2002 it has been family-owned. There is a large lounge bar sited beyond the reception area, which features various naval artifacts. It is patronised by locals and visitors alike.
Left-hand photograph 28th April 1991	Right-hand photograph 30th September 2006
Pub Operator: Free House
Licenced Opening Hours: unknown

The King Street Tavern	70 King Street, Southsea, PO5 4EH
023 9282 2071	www.thekingstreettavern.co.uk
This ornate old pub gained a new name in 2005, having been known as the Diamond for 150 years previous. Owned by Wadworth of Devizes, the pub received an internal refit during the 1990s and now sports a pleasant single bar, with two distinctive areas. The pub spent some time closed throughout 2004 whilst the brewery sought a new tenant. Thankfully the pub is trading once again, serving a range of good quality real ales, and has become a popular community local.
Left-hand photograph 13th July 2008	Near right-hand photograph 22nd July 2007 Far right-hand photograph 30th September 2006
Pub Operator: Wadworth & Co	see also The Diamond
Licenced Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 10:00 'til 00:30

The Kings	39 Albert Road, Southsea, PO5 2SE
023 9282 0557
Opened in 1910 and replacing the Clarence Tavern that previously stood on the site, The King's Hotel stands opposite the King's Theatre on busy Albert Road. No longer a hotel, this large pub now consists of one large bar and is popular with younger drinkers and sports fans. A separate upstairs room (without bar counter) is used for playing pool. The downstairs bar is divided into two main areas, with a bare-boarded front area and a more comfortable rear section which is carpeted and includes a large television on which major sporting events are shown. Note that the inn sign depicts a different king on either side.
Left-hand photographs 13th July 2008	Near right-hand photograph 11th May 1989 Far right-hand photograph 30th September 2006
Pub Operator: Punch Taverns
Licenced Opening Hours: Mon Tue Wed 10:00 'til 00:30; Thu Fri Sat 10:00 'til 01:30; Sun 12:00 'til 00:00; Bank Holiday extensions
visit the Pub Crawls page for a detailed description of this pub (March 2007)

The Lady Hamilton	21 The Hard, Portsea, PO1 3DT
023 9287 0505
This site was once occupied by the Nag's Head, a 19th century tavern owned by the local Pike Brewery. By 1920 the pub had become an off-licence and it wasn't until 1992 that the building was once again converted to a public house. Named the Lady Hamilton after Lord Horatio Nelson's mistress, the narrow tavern consists of a single bar room. Bed & Breakfast accommodation is offered and good value meals are available in the bar throughout the day. By the early 21st century the interior was starting to look a little jaded and in need of a minor refurbishment.
Left-hand photograph June 1992	Right-hand photograph 30th September 2006
Pub Operator: Free House
Licenced Opening Hours: Mon Tue Wed Thu Sun 10:00 'til 00:00; Fri Sat 10:00 'til 01:00;

Langtry's	51 Southsea Terrace, Southsea, PO5 3AU
Known as the White Lodge in the 1940s, this pub is best known as the White Horse - the name it received in 1953. In 1988 the pub closed and received a major transformation, doubling its size and even including inside toilets! It reopened as Langtry's - taking its name from Lily Langtry - the Jersey actress who was known to have stayed here. The large front garden is an attractive feature and is always busy in the summer. It is once again known as the White Horse.
Photographed 14th August 1988	see also The White Horse
Licenced Opening Hours: see The White Horse

The Lanyard	19 London Road, North End, PO2 0BQ
023 9269 8747
The former North End Baptist Church reopened its doors in January 2005 following a £500,000 conversion into a spacious new public house. Owned by the Barracuda Group and made part of their Smith & Jones pub chain, the Lanyard is a sympathetic conversion of a listed building, featuring a single, cavernous bar room within the former nave, with the bar counter situated on the north side. Stairs at the rear of the premises lead to the galleried area, where tables are arranged around the edges of the parapet. Food is served all day and real ales are available. The pub is popular with a varied clientele during the day, but is populated mainly by younger customers in the evenings, when the music is cranked up to a level which may inhibit general conversation.
Photographed 23rd January 2005	Pub Operator: Barracuda
Licenced Opening Hours: Mon Tue Wed Thu Sun 08:00 'til 00:30; Fri Sat 08:00 'til 01:30
see the Pub Reviews page for more detail and photos (Jan 2005)

The Lawrence Arms	63 Lawrence Road, Southsea, PO5 1NU
023 9282 1280
The Lawrence Arms has traded from this street corner location since Victorian times. Originally part of the Brickwoods Brewery, the pub ended up as part of Whitbread's massive estate when that company purchased the former. The pub received a major refurbishment in 1998, which sadly saw the loss of its seperate lounge bar. However, it remains a pleasant community local, offering a comfortable bar room with a pool table and dartboard. The south-facing beer garden is a welcome addition in warmer weather and two well-kept real ales are served - thesegenrally beign Fullers (Gales) HSB and Brains SA (the only regular outlet for the latter beer in Portsmouth). The pub enjoys a good local following, as well as catering for passing trade. The pub is likely to be very busy when Portsmouth FC are playing home matches at Fratton Park.
Top left-hand photograph 16th April 2008 Bottom left-hand photograph 16th April 2008	Near right-hand photograph 14th August 2005 Far right-hand photograph July 1990
Pub Operator: Tubb Enterprises Ltd
Licenced Opening Hours: Mon Tue Wed Thu Sun 10:30 'til 23:59; Fri Sat 10:30 'til 01:00

The Leopold Tavern	154 Albert Road, Southsea, PO4 0JT
023 9282 9748
This ornate former Portsmouth United Breweries pub has occupied this plot since Victorian times and sports one of Portsmouth's most striking tiled façades. Passing to Brickwoods in the 1950s, it later became part of Whitbread's huge estate and is now owned by Enterprise Inns. The single bar is split into seperate areas and the pub serves good quality ales. The pub received a comprehensive refurbishment in July 2007 and now serves a range of six real ales, plus a good selection of other beverages. The secluded beer garden is a welcome retreat for smokers and those wishing to drink al fresco during the warmer weather.
Left-hand photograph 16th April 2008	Near right-hand photograph 14th August 2005 Far right-hand photograph 11th May 1989
Pub Operator: Enterprise Inns
Licenced Opening Hours: Mon Tue Wed Thu Sun 10:00 'til 00:30; Fri Sat 10:00 'til 01:30; Bank Holiday extensions
see also Best Ale Houses
visit the Pub Reviews page for a detailed description of this pub (November 2007)

Little Johnny Russell's	12/14 Albert Road, Southsea, PO5 2SH
023 9282 6502	www.littlejohnnyrussells.com
This pub has had five different identities in the last twenty years - this one being the most recent. Originally the Lord John Russell, the pub then had to suffer the indignity of being firstly named the Liquid Lounge, followed by Easy Tiger and then Blonde - both cocktail type bars aimed at the youth market. It's most recent incarnation returns partially to the original name and now features live music. A range of real ales are now available and food is served throughout the day. There is an outside drinking area to the rear. This is a much improved pub and a welcome return to a more traditional theme.
Left-hand photograph 13th July 2008	Right-hand photograph 4th February 2007
Pub Operator: unknown	see also The Lord John Russell and Blonde
Licenced Opening Hours: Mon-Wed 10:00 'til 00:30; Thu-Sat 10:00 'til 01:00; Sun 12:00 'til 00:30
visit the Pub Crawls page for a detailed description of this pub (March 2007)

The Lone Yachtsman	63/65 Broad Street, Old Portsmouth, PO1 2JD
This 18th century inn stands at the end of Broad Street in the city's most historic district. Known as the Union Tavern for well over 150 years, the name can still be seen in the photograph at second floor level. In 1968 the tavern was renamed the Lone Yachtsman in tribute to circumnavigator Sir Alec Rose and also featured a Lively Lady Bar. Sadly, owners Whitbread saw fit to destroy much history by knocking the Lone Yachtsman and next door's Coal Exchange pubs into one sprawling establishment in 1991, renaming it the Spice Island Inn (an alternative name for the area, which alludes to the cargo that was once imported here from the far east).
Photographed 11th May 1989	see also The Spice Island Inn
Licenced Opening Hours: see The Spice Island Inn	Grade II Listed

The Lord Chichester	182 Chichester Road, North End, PO2 0AX
023 9265 1172
This imposing Edwardian pub in a residential district was built in a half-timbered design with glazed tiling for the Brickwoods Brewery. The pub somehow managed to avoid being turned into one large single bar when it was owned by Whitbread in the latter part of the last century. What we have today is a two bar local, with a lounge at the rear and a traditional public bar to the front.
Left-hand photograph 13th July 2008	Near right-hand photograph 15th July 2007 Far right-hand photograph 14th August 1988
Pub Operator: Southern Counties Taverns
Licenced Opening Hours: Mon-Thu 10:00 'til 23:59; Fri Sat 10:00 'til 00:30; Sun 12:00 'til 23:30

The Lord John Russell	12/14 Albert Road, Southsea, PO5 2SH
Dating from the late 19th century, the Lord John Russell remained a constant on Albert Road for well over a hundred years. It was a pleasant one-bar traditional pub, part of the Friary Meux chain, complete with upright piano in the corner! Everything went wrong in 1998 when the pub succumbed to the marketing men and was renamed Liquid Lounge in an effort to part the young crowd with their money. Further incarnations followed over the next eight years and the pub is now known as Little Johnny Russell's - the Webmaster wonders what the real Lord Russell would have made of being addressed as such!
Photographed 18th February 1990	see also Blonde and Little Johnny Russell's
Licenced Opening Hours: see Little Johnnie Russell's

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.