The Fleet, Landport, Portsmouth

A big barn of a place, clearly aimed at students with various activities such as live music, karaoke, quiz etc. It features one pool table and my pet hate of industrial ducting, although something resembling air conditioning would have been a useful addition on a hot day. Six handpumps were present, one blank and the others labelled with 'coming soon' tags, although in fairness they sounded like good beers when/if they got there. Also a few craft on keg and the Electric Bear from Bristol was ok.

The Fleet is a large high-ceilinged open plan pub that has the feel of a Wetherspoons. The bar, that runs along the back, wall faces a sea of tables and chairs. Either side of the entrance opposite the bar are raised seating areas and near the bar is a pool table. A plasma screen was showing muted rolling BBC news and there was some low background music playing. I noted that live music is hosted here on Saturday nights from 21:00. During my midday visit on a recent Saturday afternoon this pub was empty, apart from three people who were being served at the bar. I wasn’t expecting to wait nearly five minutes to be served myself. I counted nine hand pumps on the bar that were drawing six cask ales and three Lilleys cask ciders. A standard keg range was also available and a quick glance at the food menu revealed a host of cheap pub grub options with additional meal deals throughout the week. One could be forgiven for assuming that the Fleet is a Wetherspoons pub. However, the adjacent Spoons was very busy when this place was almost empty. Maybe it livens up later in the day when the students of the area have risen from their snore boxes.

Three ciders and three casks now in this more woody Spoonsalike, although the pulls are off to the side of the main counter. Almost entirely dreary bottle and can choice. There was a formal queue for drinks and food possibly as there was some event on at the Guildhall over the way. I stuck it out for at least 10 minutes and ended up with a weak beer that tasted of geraniums, to be fair the choice was that, Doombore or a standard keg. A former Royal Navy post office the Whatpub description is accurate. Pool table, raised area at one end, which was reserved. Odd place but not as bad as it apparently used to be. A blackboard shows the draught beers but sadly they had transposed the keg and cask labels. Garden out back.

Official site of The Fleet / Popworld - www.greatukpubs.co.uk

Official site of The Fleet / Popworld - www.greatukpubs.co.uk

A large student pub occupying the ground floor of an impressive Georgian building. It has a wooden floor, robust furniture, broken toilets, gaming machines and décor mainly supplied by Guinness. Food is of the burger variety, and gluttony appears to be the main source (and indeed sauce) of entertainment; there is a prize offered to anyone who can eat what looks like Addis Ababa's weekly beef ration in an hour, a perfect activity for today's environmentally hypocritical undergraduate. There were 2 ales on draught, GK IPA and Pride, plus Meantime bottled beers in the fridge. Staff were generally friendly and helpful, there was a pool table in decent condition and newspapers were available to read, so it wasn't all bad, but I'll probably not bother in future.

Uninspiring chain style pub, no real character to the place and no real character to the beer choice, Hobgoblin, Pride and GK IPA.Does basic food and wall to wall tv, One to bypass.