Are you looking for a great pub in Portsmouth? Or maybe you want to explore the local Portsmouth bars or Portsmouth nightlife? In this article we have listed 12 amazing Portsmouth pubs and Portsmouth bars to help you choose the venue for a great night out. From the best pubs in Southsea to old Portsmouth pubs with lots of history – here are 12 fantastic pubs in Portsmouth you must visit!
Table of Contents
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The Still & West, Old Portsmouth Pub
The Still & West is an Old Portsmouth Pub with views across the Portsmouth Harbour. The Still & West is one of the most famous pubs in Portsmouth. The beer garden sits next to the water and you have views across Gunwarf Quays and Gosport. The Still & West Portsmouth pub is a lovely Grade II listed bar in Old Portsmouth. In this Portsmouth pub sharp modern style meets classic maritime charm. It was completely renovated in 2017. It’s a great area to unwind at the water’s edge, promising fine food and drink as well as breath-taking views.
Under the cautious eye of Head Chef Luke Emmess, the Still and West delivers wonderful fresh food all day. Start your day with something wonderful from their breakfast menu. This menu includes everything from a full English with Owtons bacon to eggs royal. There’s something for everyone’s taste and hunger on the menu of this pub in Portsmouth.
On the lunch and dinner menu of this Portsmouth pub, you will find seafood delicacies. You can also take fish and chips home from this pub in Portsmouth. That way you can have your Friday fish and chips in front of the telly. This Portsmouth pub lies close to Southsea beach making it the perfect after-beach restaurant.
The Dolphin Pub Portsmouth
The Dolphin Hotel in Portsmouth is a Portsmouth pub that survived the World War II bombings in Portsmouth. This 250-year old pub is thought to be Portsmouth’s oldest inn. You will love the timeless interior of this Portsmouth pub. You will see flagstones, beams and two open fires as well as dramatic nooks and crannies. At The Dolphin Pub in Portsmouth you can choose from a classic British pub menu. Everything on the menu of this Portsmouth pub is made with local ingredients. You can order South Downs sausages or dishes made with local vegetables. Also try the warm chicken and chorizo salad or the peppered beef stew.
Hole in the Wall Pub in Southsea
Jonathan and Kerry own and operate Hole in the Wall. This is a traditional local Portsmouth pub that offers a rotating selection of cask-conditioned real ales. In this pub in Southsea you will also find ciders and a superb alcoholic ginger beer. Come and visit this amazing Portsmouth pub in Southsea if you want to spend an evening in a calm, pleasant, and relaxing environment. The Hole In The Wall has a wide variety of prepared meals and snacks to choose from. This Portsmouth pub in Southsea release a new special every few weeks (something a bit different). All of the dishes of this pub in Southsea are made to order and are freshly prepared. As a result you might have to wait a bit longer when it is busy. It is worth it though! The Hole in the Wall even has its own throwback candy store. Jon and Kerry’s children came up with this innovative idea, which they now run next to this pub in Southsea.
Want to enjoy food of this pub in Southsea from your home? You can take food out as well as buy bottled beers to drink at home.
Southsea Village Bar in Southsea
The Southsea Village is a Southsea bar for all occasions. This Portsmouth pub in Southsea located in the heart of Southsea, Portsmouth. From craft beer to cocktails and everything in between, they serve a wide choice of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
This Portsmouth pub in Southsea is known for having an outstanding beer menu. This Southsea pub also pizzas, burgers, salads, and sharers. Southsea Village Bar has large TV screens which have BT Sports and Sky Sports. They also have a private function area where you can have parties. You will also be able to play interactive darts in this Southsea pub. They have a shuffleboard and a ping pong table.
The Fleet Pub in Portsmouth
The Fleet is a welcoming, calm neighborhood bar. Here you will find both students and locals. This pub in Portsmouth has a fantastic menu with incredible food and drink specials. The fleet Pub in Portsmouth has the largest beer garden in the neighborhood. Here you can rest and drink a pint in the sun in the sun!
The Fleet is a Portsmouth pub that is licensed to serve late into the night. This way you can relax and enjoy yourself without worrying about the night coming to a close too soon!
Enjoy live music while sipping a refreshing drink. You can also stay for lunch or dinner. This Portsmouth pub even has free WiFi so you can even do a speck of work!
There are also HD displays throughout this Portsmouth bar. This way you can watch the news or sports, or if that’s not your thing, there’s a pool table where you can compete!
On a hot summer day, you may take your cool drink outside so you don’t miss out on any of the sun! Why not try one of their cocktails from their cocktail menu if you want to try something new?
The Fleet pub in Portsmouth also serves a fantastic Sunday roast supper! Kids are more than welcome to join their parents or grandparents for a nice afternoon!
The Ship and Castle Pub in Portsmouth
The gorgeous Portsmouth Pub the Ship and Castle lies near the tourist hotspot of the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
This Portsmouth pub is only a short walk away from the Gunwarf Quay shops and district. It allows you to have views across the harbour with the HMS Warrior prominently visible!
This Portsmouth pub is well-known for its excellent carvery. The carvary is available seven days a week. The rest of the menu is freshly prepared. It features a variety of classic home-cooked foods as well as other family favorites.
The Ship and Castle Pub Portsmouth welcomes small tables and coach parties alike. It can accomodate a large number of people.
Portsmouth Harbour has always played a critical roll in the success of the British Empire. Many monarchs erected castles in the area to defend this national treasure. Portsmouth was after all once the world’s largest industrial complex. This means that the name of this Portsmouth Pub could in fact not be more suitable as it lies between the Ships and Castles of Portsmouth!
The Barley Mow Pub in Southsea Portsmouth
The Barley Mow is one of the only pubs in the area with something for everyone. There is a quiet lounge bar with an old fashioned juke box which can be used for free. There is also a livelier public bar in this Portsmouth pub where you can find a pool table. Pool is only 50p per play making it the cheapest game of pool in town.
The Barley Mow Pub in Southsea also has two dartboards and a popular quiz machine available for customers. The Barley Mow pub in Southsea also has a traditional bar billiards table. Bar billiards is a game that dates back to the 1930’s and which is rarely seen in pubs today. This pub in Portsmouth also has free wifi in the bar and in summer you can sit in the courtyard garden which is a sun trap. The Barley Mow Pub in Portsmouth serves seven real ales of which two are resident: London Pride and Old Rosie Cider. There is also a large selection of guest ales which will always include a mild, a stout and a porter.
Shenanigans Portsmouth
Shenanigans offers a little touch of Ireland and a fairly nice pint of Guinness in Southsea. The welcoming atmosphere, excellent music, and amazing service will ensure that your stay is one to remember.
Shenanigans Irish Bar in Southsea guarantees a warm welcome in a secure, pleasant environment. You can come here for a delicious breakfast or relax with a few beers.
This pub in Southsea serves great coffee, Yorkshire tea, and a range of soft drinks to non-drinkers. They have won honors for serving the greatest pint of Guinness on the South Coast.
But you won’t just be able to find Guinness at this Portsmouth Pub. You can also order Becks, Stella, Stowford Press Cider, Franciscan Wells Irish Rebel red ale, and Chieftans IPA on tap.
There’s a large selection of bottled beers/wines and spirits to choose from in Shenanigans pub in Southsea. This includes their award-winning whiskey collection for the discerning whiskey drinker.
Keep an eye on their Whiskey of the Month selection. This pub in Southsea is known for its breakfasts and traditional Irish fare, from Irish to Scottish, Boxty’s to Farls.
Cooked to order and sourced locally from award-winning “Buckwells” butchers, just across the street.
Head to Shenanigans on the second Thursday of the month for some amazing live music. This is when the resident musicians (the Shenanigans – who else!) perform a mix of Irish and current folk music. Shenanigans is also a great place to watch some good old rugby!
Brewhouse and Kitchen Pub in Southsea
Are you looking for great views and great ales in Southsea? Then you should head to Brewhouse and Kitchen Pub in Southsea. This is Portsmouth’s second larges brewhouse.
There are over 70 craft beers to sample, with a variety of types, price points, and ABVs. If you stick to the basic menu, you’ll receive beer produced on-site. This beer was made with the equipment on display inside the pub.
Apart from craft beers, Brewhouse and Kitchen pub in Southsea also offers a wide selection of wines, ciders and spirits. Have a look at their menu filled with British pub classics including amazing sunday roasts.
There are also tasting notes on the menu to help you choose the finest beer to pair with your meal. At the front of the pub, there’s a large terrace with plenty of seats and views out over Southsea Common’s westernmost point.
There are sunbathing benches and small booths for those who want to get away from the weather.
Huis Bar and Restaurant in Southsea Portsmouth
Last but not least you can also head to HUIS. Huis means house in Flemish. I would not be a good Belgian without recommending visiting a Belgian bar and restaurant for some amazing food and Belgian beer.
In all honesty – I had a look at the menu of HUIS and I can tell you that it is a lot better and more authentic than Belgo in London (whose menu literally offends me every time I look at it!)
Do you want to drink at HUIS? With about 100 beers from Belgium and beyond, their beer selection is broad and ever-changing. This Southsea bar’s draft selection includes their own HUIS wheat, pilsner, and blonde beers.
Do you want to eat at HUIS? They are the best location for lunch and dinner. This Portsmouth bar and restaurant features a full à la carte menu. Here you can find many typical Belgian meals cooked in beer, such as a broad variety of mussel and meatball dishes, as well as frequent specials.
They also have a large selection of croques and waffles. All of their food is prepared from scratch, is always fresh, and is sourced locally.
The décor is inspired by a 1960s living room with modernist elements, and it offers a friendly ambiance.
Lieze Neven is a globetrotting travel writer and expat currently based in Nepal. With a passion for exploration, she has lived in Dubai, the UK, and Belgium, alongside her international teacher husband. Her parents live in France and she tries to visit Paris at least once a year. Together, they travel the world looking for the best hotels, experiences and food locations have to offer!