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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  This Grade II listed building stands on a busy dual-carriageway and has retained its name for well over 150 years. Originally part of the Pike Spicer Brewery's estate, the pub later transferred to Brickwoods and is now run by private operators Pubfolio. Now isolated and dwarfed by the horrendous blocks of flats that overlook Mile End Road, the pub stood on
a street corner until the early 1970s, on what was once Commercial Road (see bottom right-hand photograph).
  The Market House Tavern enjoyed somewhat of a Renaissance in the 1990s after being allowed to become rundown and neglectedby previous owners Whitbread. Bed & breakfast accommodation is available, though this would not be recommended except to those on a very limited budget.
The single bar room is now a mix of traditional tables and chairs and leather armchairs. A pool table can be found to the rear. Despite another refurbishment in the spring of 2007, the interior is somewhat lacking in intimacy and could well do with additional decoration to make the place feel more homely. Its former interior was far more pleasant that the present one.
NOTE: Planning approval was granted in November 2008 for the construction of a two storey extension to the premises. This has been sought in order to expand the pub's bed & breakfast business. It is hoped that this decision may now breathe new life into what has, in recent years become one of the city's prime candidates for closure. The pub was earlier given planning permission for conversion into a surgery, so hopefully this subsequent development may now save this historic tavern from going the way of so many others in recent years.
| Pub Operator: Burlinghill Ltd |
Grade II Listed |
Licenced Opening Hours:
Mon Tue Wed Thu Sun 10:00 'til 00:30
Fri Sat 10:00 'til 01:30
Bank Holiday extensions |
Colour photographs, clockwise from top left:
6th August 2005; 14th August 1988
March 1999 (by Ray Scarfe)
Centre right-hand photograph kindly supplied by J B
Bottom right-hand photograph kindly supplied by Neil Deville |
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| The Marmion Tavern |
20 Marmion Road, Southsea, PO5 2BA |
| 023 9282 1897 |
   Known as the Lord Napier until 1976, the Marmion Tavern took its name from another pub/hotel that stood nearby on the opposite side of Marmion Road.
Once part of the Brickwoods Brewery estate, the pub was swallowed up by Whitbread in the 1970s. A refit in the 1990s led to a much improved interior and a smarter façade, but it wasn't until recently that the pub really came into its own.
   The Marmion is comfortably furnished with upholstered bar stools, traditional tables and chairs, plus a relaxing sofa. The burgandy and cream coloured decor gives the pub a homely feel and a small library can be found facing the bar counter from across the room. An historic photograph of HMS Marmion is proudly displayed above the bar, facing the entrance door.
A small television shows Sky Sports News and low-level lusic is piped throughout the pub. The Marmion Tavern is highly recommended traditional public house.
| Pub Operator: Treginnis Ltd (Punch Taverns) |
Photographs, clockwise from top left:
13th July 2008;
15th July 2007
matchbox label image kindly supplied by Rob Hall
November 1998 (by Ray Scarfe)
28th April 1991; 14th August 2005
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Licenced Opening Hours:
Mon Tue Wed 10:00 'til 23:30
Thu Fri Sat 10:00 'til 00:30; Sun 12:00 'til 23:00
Bank Holiday extensions |
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| The Mars |
1/3 Church Path North, Landport, PO1 4DG |
| 023 9282 0909 |
   Originally named the Olive Branch and owned by the King Brewery, the present pub was built for Brickwoods in 1923 to a traditional style by A E Cogswell. The Mars has been an unlikely survivor, tucked away in a rundown neighbourhood and surrounded by post-war council flats - a far cry from how the district once looked. The single bar has an exclusively local clientele.
| Pub Operator: Enterprise Inns |
Photographs, left to right:
13th July 2008; 14th August 2005; 28th April 1991 |
Licenced Opening Hours:
Mon-Sun 10:00 'til 01:30 |
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   Trading as the Suffolk Arms until 1948, this pub acquired its unusual name in tribute to former licencee Martha Kingsbury (d. 1914). The pub has had a chequered history and once housed a brothel during the 1930s. Major building works last took place in 1957 and many interior refurbishments have followed. Until the late 1980s the pub was popular with the Royal Navy, but Martha's has since been known primarily as one of Portsmouth's most popular gay bars. Discos are held at weekends and the venue is often busy. However, the premises is not known as the most inviting venue in town and has a somewhat dubious reputation. The pub shall soon be lost when this area is flattened to make way for the Northern Quarter redevelopment scheme.
| Pub Operator: Mitchells & Butlers |
Photographs, left to right:
unknown date (by Ray Scarfe)
4th February 2007; 28th April 1991 |
Licenced Opening Hours:
Mon Tue Wed Sun 11:00 'til 02:30
Thu Fri Sat 11:00 'til 03:30 |
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| Mary Rose & Dragon |
19 St George's Road, Old Portsmouth, PO1 2EH |
| 023 9275 1751 |
  Known as the Gloucester Hotel for many years (as seen in the top right-hand photograph), this large inn was built in 1900 to a design by Portsmouth's top Victorian pub architect A E Cogswell. In 1983 it was renamed the Mary Rose in celebration of the raising of Henry VIII's warship from Spithead at that time.The pub received a comprehensive refurbishment in 1984 and featured a single, large bar which sadly had a rather soulless feel to it.
Once owned by the local Pike Spicer brewery, it later became a Brickwoods property before ending up with national brewer and pub owner Whitbread. In the spring of 2007 the house was renamed the Dragon Bar & Restaurant - a small chain of Enterprise Inns' houses which consist of public house-style eateries, with an emphasis on oriental food. By June 2010 the novelty appeared to have worn off, as the pub regained its Mary Rose name, albeit suffixed with the Dragon name. There is an outside terrace and plans are afoot to provide a covered area for smokers. A pool table is available for those who enjoy pub games.
| Pub Operator: Enterprise Inns |
Licenced Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat 10:00 'til 23:30; Sun 12:00 'til 22:50 |
Colour photographs, clockwise from top left:
15th July 2007; June 1999
(kindly supplied by Ray Scarfe);
11th May 1989; 30th September 2006 |
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| The Meon Valley |
64 Meon Road, Milton, PO4 8NN |
| 023 9282 7259 |
  This attractive corner house was built in 1930 for Portsmouth United Breweries and, until 2009, sported an impressive-looking, ornate, original tiled façia (as seen in the bottom photographs). The pub enjoys a mainly local clientele and is always busy when Portsmouth FC are playing their home matches at nearby Fratton Park.
The large single bar is pleasantly furnished and the staff are welcoming.
Sadly, an external 'facelift' in early 2009 saw the aforementioned United Breweries tiling tastelessly painted over in what appears to be a two-fingered salute to the city's pub heritage by owners Admiral Taverns.
Sadly, due to the pub's lack of listed status, nothing can be done to make sure this 'vandalism' is put right by the owners.
| Pub Operator: Admiral Taverns |
Licenced Opening Hours:
Mon Wed Sun 10:00 'til 00:30; Tue Thu 10:00 'til 01:00;
Fri Sat 10:00 'til 01:30; Bank Holiday extensions |
Photographs, clockwise from top left:
April 1999
(by Ray Scarfe); unknown date (by Ray Scarfe);
11th May 1989;
15th July 2007; 14th May 2009 |
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| The Mermaid |
222 New Road, Copnor, PO2 7RW |
| 023 9282 4397 |
  Designed by A E Cogswell and built in 1900 for the Pike Spicer brewery on what was once Mermaid Field (Mermaid being a corruption of the words mere mead - a water meadow), this pub has an ornate cast-iron canopy over the entrance doors. Retaining its two bars, it is a popular local with a public bar at the front and a lounge to the rear.
| Pub Operator: Punch Taverns |
Photographs, left to right:
13th July 2008; 14th August 2005
14th August 1988; 1984 (by Ray Scarfe) |
Licenced Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu 10:00 'til 00:30;
Fri Sat 10:00 'til 02:00
Sun 12:00 'til 00:00 |
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| The Milton Arms |
174 Milton Road, Milton, PO4 8PR |
| 023 9282 5136 |
 Historic old Brickwoods pub which was almost demolished in the 1920s. The main bar consists of a long public bar which runs the length of the frontage and there is an old barn at the rear of the property which doubles as a lounge and function room, where live bands sometimes perform. Football away fans beware - the pub is known to be very partisan when it comes to Portsmouth FC and the house is therefore not suitable for visiting supporters.
Following a period of closure and uncertainty in the autumn of 2009, the pub was reopened following a refurbishment and trade is reported to be good.
| Pub Operator: Enterprise Inns |
Photographs, left to right:
June 1999
( by Ray Scarfe)
15th July 2007;
28th April 1991 |
Licenced Opening Hours:
Mon Tue Wed Thu Sun 08:00 'til 00:30
Fri Sat 08:00 'til 01:30 |
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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.
| Pub Operator: Greene King |
Photographs, clockwise from top left:
2nd July 2005; 14th July 2007
14th February 1988; 23rd January 2005 |
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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| Mr Pickwick |
142 Milton Road, Milton, PO4 0PN |
| 023 9283 3600 |
   This Victorian pub has seen much change throughout its lifetime. Originally known as the Cremorne Gardens (and variations of), this name is still evident behind the existing façia. It became the Mr Pickwick during the 1970s, then spent two years as Duke's between 1986 and 1988 - a pub frequented by a young clientele. The Mr Pickwick name returned after a refurbishment in 1989 and has remained ever since. The exterior of the pub conceals the ornate tiling than can be found inside the entrance. The pub was once part of the Longs Brewery estate.
| Pub Operator: GRS Inns |
Photographs, left to right:
April 1999 (by Ray Scarfe);
3rd January 2005
matchbox label kindly supplied by Ray Scarfe |
Licenced Opening Hours:
Mon Tue Wed Sun 07:00 'til 00:30
Thu Fri Sat 07:00 'til 01:30 |
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| Monks (Moncks) |
54 High Street, Old Portsmouth, PO1 2LU |
| 023 9281 2040 |
   This marvellous pub, housed in an historic building opposite the Anglican Cathedral was fully refurbished in November 2009 and almost without doubt now has the most attractive and confortable interior of any pub in Portsmouth.
Well run by the proprietor of the now-closed Sallyport Inn nearby, Monks serves six real ales, including a choice from the city's Irving & Co brewery, as well as a good delection of
of wines. The pub is split into two or three distinct areas, despite its narrow width and is decorated with many interesting continental posters, many of which advertise alcoholic drinks from bygone years.
Highly recommended and well worth travelling to.
| Pub Operator: Free House |
Photographs, left to right:
6th June 2010; 30th September 2006; 11th May 1989 |
| Licenced Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 09:00 'til 01:00 |
Grade II Listed |
| see the Pub Reviews page for a comprehensive report on this pub |
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| The Mother Shipton |
223 Twyford Avenue, Stamshaw, PO2 8NY |
| 023 9266 0453 |
   Built in 1886 to a design by local pub architect A H Bone, the Mother Shipton stands in a densely populated residential district. The pub was refurbished in 1985 and the carved figurine was replaced in 1999 (see photos). The Mother Shipton has gained a dubious reputation as a less-than-salubrious establishment - even appearing on Sky Television's series Britain's Roughest Pubs.
The Webmaster has not yet checked to see if this reputation is still deserved - having last visited in 1987!
| Pub Operator: Greene King |
Photographs, left to right:
unknown date (by Ray Scarfe)
14th August 1988; 30th September 2006 |
Licenced Opening Hours:
Mon Tue Wed Thu Sun 08:00 'til 00:30
Fri Sat 08:00 'til 01:15 |
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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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