George & Dragon, Buckland, Portsmouth

A classic 1920s mock Tudor pub purpose-built by Brickwood's Brewery in the style of its earlier Victorian-era pubs, a wedge-shaped building on a busy corner. It's now owned by Punch. The outside is clad in spectacular red glazed tiles on the first story, while the Tudor-style timber framing adorns the upper story. A rotunda end at the corner finishes off the building and creates a very inviting appearance. At the back is a small garden disappointing given the grandeur of the building, paved and used mainly as a smoking area. Inside, the downstairs rooms have been knocked through at the front to form a key-shaped bar, the outline of the rotunda framed on the floor in tiles which contrast with the mainly wooden flooring. The end opposite the rotunda is a comfortable seating area with a pleasant fireplace and a slightly incongruous dartboard, while the round end has a second dartboard and gaming machines. There is a pool room at the back with two tables. TV screens are visible throughout the pub. The landlord was a dour Jock, pleased to serve us and friendly enough, but clearly a non-nonsense individual. The clientele were mainly male, so the banter was robust and blokey. There were 2 handpumps on the bar, one dry, the other serving Wadworth's 6X, which was in good condition. It's a decent town pub, a good local, and it's worth a visit for its historic interest and a reasonable pint if in the area.