please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Quite similar to the Eldon in having original exterior and done out (though not so corporate) interior. pretty much all Wadworth brews - albeit well kept versions.
|
Attractive, pleasant pub with civilised punters and a community atmosphere. Often quietish so easy to get a seat. The beer is Wadworths plus a guest (Irving's Frigate for me: great stuff). However when I visited last time early on a Friday night there was only pump on, which was bad plannning. The food and bar snacks are a bit strange: all home cooked but the chef's style may not be to your liking.
Still it's definitely worth a visit if you're in Southsea.
|
Good mix of locals in a Victorian setting. Wadworths ales in great condition. Friendly young staff who actually wanted to talk. As I'd just been in the excellent 'The hole in the wall' this place was in no way a step down in standard. Check out the piano in the small beer garden. Must rate a 7/8.
|
Like the nearby Eldon Arms this was a regular stop for me 25 years back. Then it was run by a couple of lovely old ladies and had Blackfoot Sue with Standing in the Road on the Juke Box. Them were the days. Its gone up market (going for the arty crowd like me) and grown in size to include a larger seating area and a small court yard. Both fine by me. It still has the look of being an old pub, Victorian fire place, wood floors, nice wood tables but why customs on ever seat. Does the local Piles Association frequent the place?. Moving on. Unlike the Eldon this place has local beer, well more local than the Eldon. Wadsworth by the barrel load. Good stuff as well, 6X, Henry IPA and the summer light bitter Red, White & Brew. For £3.70 a good price considering the rip off places down in Old Pormpey. The food looked good as well. This place gets an extra point for not selling Pride.
|
Been in this pub several times and the only good pint i have had is the irving frigate.
The landlord tried telling me that the henrys tasted funny because it was a new barrel.!!
Most of the time there is no beer at all.
|
Very attractive up-market pub. Beer is Wadworth's plus a guest. Well worth a look along with the nearby Eldon Arms.
|
Very pleasant, love Wadworths beer, agree that it's become a little more gentrified since its days as The Diamond, but still good.
|
A superbly decorated and furnished gastro pub in the same sidestreet as the Eldon Arms. The exterior is a riot of old school Victorian pub frontage and the interior is a feast of dark wooden panneling, furniture and glass.
There are five Wadworth ales on, the Horizon and Henry's IPA were in good nick.
BUT...
Despite a friendly welcome it was fairly clear that drinkers were very much secondary to the diners with all tables reserved for dining on Saturday evenings, with us being restricted to stools at the bar.
The food descriptions were enticing and the prices were very reasonable, explaining there fully booked status. The only lunctime that they open is Sunday, with heavily advertised roasts, the rest of the week the pub opens at 18:00.
As nice as this place is, it is really no longer a traditional wet sales led pub and is more a small resturant with a bar.
|
Nice sidestreet pub. Four ales on when I visited and very reasonably priced wine. Was not eating but the food looked decent. Sat in the garden which makes the most of a small space. Friendly barman and interesting mix of locals. The bar billiards table is currently under repair unfortunately but should return in the near future apparently. I flit between this place and the equally good neighbouring Eldon Arms depending on how the mood takes me.
|
Attractive, realaxing pub with interesting interior decor. Beers from Wadworth with a guest(Titanic Iceberg on my visit). Well worth a look.
|
A bit pretentious and the pint of henry's wasn't up to much,much preffered the eldon, 6/10
|
not a bad pub, but it's only got wadworths beer, food reasonable but overpriced, so i don't visit often
|
ps doesn't open until 18:00(!) Sat.
|
Wadworth beers, 6X, JCB, Henry�s IPA, Bishops Tipple, Horizon. Looks traditional from exterior and there is some old-style architecture in evidence, albeit with modernist �twists� (I�d twist the fkn designer�s head off!). Nice back-bar, etched mirrors, restaurant area to right, jazz band setting up to left. It�s not at all bad, but potted plants & spider-lights(?) make you feel it�s been made over for �Manhattan Transfer� enthusiasts. It wouldn�t be on my list for a return visit.
|
In my opinion this is simply one of the finest pubs in the country. The pub is traditionally furnished but with quirks (such as an collection of unusual board games from around the world), has a splendid selection of real ales and a really friendly atmosphere. The home-cooked food is excellent, especially for the price (neither being the typical ding-ding pub food nor gastropub nonsense) and the atmosphere is comfortable and welcoming.
It's one of those happy, comfy watering holes where you pitch up with friends in the early evening and then, five minutes later, it's suddenly midnight, you're very jolly and you have no idea where the time went except that it went very well.
If there were more pubs like this the world would be a happier, and probably drunker, place.
|
As a landlord I don't get to get out much so don't make it to many pubs but when I do I try to venture to a couple, the King Street being one of them. A good range of ale on plus unusual lagers, a good pub with enthusiastic??(have I spelt this right) landlord and landlady. Keep it up the area needs more pubs like this.
|
fantastic non-smoking real ale pub with bar billairds, shove h'penny, bagatelle. live jazz and irish music. good home cooked cheap food
also got hoegaarden on tap!
s.gains - 5 Feb 2007 13:34 |
