The Dolphin, Portsmouth

A really old pub, sandwiched between more modern buildings, retaining beams and other features but all tastefully modernised in an upmarket way. The main room at the front has a nicely polished wooden floor, with a side room containing a pane of glass allegedly boasting Lord Nelson's graffitied signature. To the rear is a larger stone-floored dining area and at the back a small patio. A fair range of ales was on offer and seemed well-kept, although it has to be said not the cheapest.

Official site of The Dolphin - www.thedolphinportsmouth.co.uk

Official site of The Dolphin - www.thedolphinportsmouth.co.uk

This claims to be Portsmouth's oldest pub, whether it is or not I cannot vouch but there is a vague feeling of age with a beamed ceiling and a centrally located large inglenook fireplace opposite the side bar. Long and relatively narrow, the front has a small side room with its own smaller fireplace, bare boarded here, about halfway down it steps up a little to a flagstone area which then runs on to a small paved rear courtyard with large barrels as tables. Leaded windows, stone jars and weigh scales on a shelf, lots of old B&W photos of the local area plus a large and rather good old photo of Southsea Pier on a chimney breast beneath which sits a piano. There were six handpumps of which five were in use, one was reversed but I couldn't pick it. GK IPA, Pride, Doom Bar plus thankfully Red Cat Scratch plus also Tom Cat. Not cheap at £4.10 but a decent drop for the TC. Despite the cat themed beer the pub is dog friendly and a bowl of water and a biscuit were provided for a particularly giddy canine visitor. It's not a bad spot however it felt a little bit corporate and impersonal, maybe it is me but there was a little bit of something missing.

Open plan with a leaning toward the gastro but still a decent pub,6 pumps including some usual stuff like Doom Bar and Pride, my pint of Irving Frigate was excellent and the best pint of the day, however unless I was overcharged ,this was by far the most expensive pub of the day,£4.60 for a 3.8% beer was more than a pound over the local odds. That aside ,its not a bad spot.

An excellent Old Portsmouth high street pub, historic and welcoming. It claims to be ‘Old Portsmouth’s Village Pub’. The main bar at the front has traces of the original structure and a few architectural gems – fireplace with original brick-built hearth and some structural timbers on display, and there are wooden floorboards. The dining area at the back is pleasant, airy and spacious, while there is a small but functional garden at the back. The staff were tremendously welcoming and great fun, while the locals, at least those not occupied in apparently covert romantic liaisons, were friendly. Six handpumps on the bar, five ales available. I had a pint of Andwell’s Gold Muddler, which was in perfect condition, and a very agreeable pint indeed. They have theme nights as well as the regular restaurant service. There is BT WiFI, and they support animals and Service charities. Definitely worth a visit, and I would definitely include on a crawl.

Contrary messages as you approach, with notices reading ‘Portsmouth's Oldest Pub' rather clashing with the presence of venetian blinds at the street windows. The room to the right of the entrance and the semi-open area opp bar do carry some originality, each with wood burning fires, the former has whitewashed brick walls, the latter curving half-timbered banquette seating, but the general feel of makeover – the large open bar area and those blinds detract from any sense of history or old pubbiness. Wooden floor throughout the front & bar sections, stone slabs to the rear where light wood tables appear set up in restaurant style, when I wandered back there to take a look staff hanging at the corner of the bar asked ‘Can I help you?', hmmm. Jazzy schmoozy soundtrack added further to the feeling of bar, rather than pub, although the blues trumpet on a version of Summertime was pretty special. The beers were in fine condition, mostly from the local Irving brewery, Frigate, Cathedral, Invincible, Wee Malc's 80-shilling, also Landlord & Doombar, but at an eye-watering £3.30! My only target pub in ‘Old' Portsmouth, and the price and unsympathetic treatment of décor would dissuade me from returning.