Brewhouse & Kitchen, Landport, Portsmouth

The Brewhouse and kitchen has an onsite brewery to the right of the entrance, which was kicking up a stink during a recent Friday afternoon visit with the Pubs Galore brigade. I’m not fan of the brewing process aroma, so it took a while for my nostrils to acclimatise. An island bar is in the centre of the pub with seating all the way around. The bar supports a large range of craft/premium keg and four hand pumps, I opted for a half Mary Rose (£1.90) which was very good. I found the service to be very polite, but the beer did run out very quickly. Food is available all day, the burgers are £8.95. There is no live sport here, but there was some low background music playing. There is a late license until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. This is the sort of pub I would pop into for a pint, but I wouldn’t stay all evening.

Having found the Sutton Coldfield branch of this chain a major disappointment three years earlier I wasn't that keen on coming here. As it was only a few yards down the road from the car crash Spoons I gave in. It's a trendy sort of place as noted below but I found it pleasant enough and managed to get a seat despite the presence of a motley crew of drinkers. There is an emphasis on food, "craft" keg beers (some of which are becoming quite mainstream) and gins but despite this there were four hand pumps with only one available soon and three of their premises brewed ales. I went for the Black Swan (£4.20) which was a decent well kept Black IPA and not overpriced for the South. This was a lot better than I expected and will try their Lichfield outlet in the near future. I would even consider a returen to this one.

Dating from at least the early 19th century, this is an early Edwardian incarnation built to the designs of local architect A. H. Bone in the brewers’ Tudor style; it’s a fine half-timbered corner building with extraordinary figures flanking the entrances. Inside and it’s a much more modern and stripped out affair. As mentioned, it has a bit of a restaurant feel though a nod to the brewing trade here is the all-pervasive malty funk, redolent of a Boot’s homebrew kit, copper brewing vessels and a ramshackle table or two with a Perspex top, underneath which you can see partitions containing various examples of malts and hops. Some décor comprises distressed doors which hang from the ceiling, perhaps as an aid to improving acoustics. No need to get in here early doors as the place was sparsely patronised at lunchtime and indeed wasn’t that full when I made a return visit at 8.30. Ales: four real, though two ‘coming soon’ with my half of Amber coming in at £1.80 which was fine. This place is ok if you’re into craft keg and like modern interiors but it’s not really a pub for the traditionalist.