The Still & West, Portsmouth

A first visit in almost fifty years to this famous harbour side pub, a pub that saw off the departure and sadly depleted return of the Falklands Task Force during those years. Tourist trap extraordinaire and actually very dumbed down in some ways, in others it’s become even more pretentious in the fifty odd years. Downstairs is an ill conceived attempt at the alehouse look, upstairs a failed sophisticated restaurant look. Of course better beer and better staff would help but then there’s always another mug or four through the door. Beers are all Asahi stuff on cask viz: HSB, Pride, Seafarer and Golden Rays, Beer quality: average, Decor: sad, Staff: poor, Pretentiousness: pretty high but not top marks.

A hugely touristy pub in an unbeatable location overlooking the harbour and all its comings and goings. On two levels, both extensively windowed to make the most of the view, plus a quayside patio outside. Beers are from the wider Fullers range, especially the Gales-badged brews whose house it once was. Usually busy.

A large Fullers Pub and Restaurant which due to its commanding location at the Point in the cobbled Portsmouth Old Town operates more as a restaurant for the tourists than a pub for drinking. Very modern décor throughout there is a pleasant wooden floored bar area but the commanding feature is the very large all glass conservatory restaurant section bolted onto and running the length of the river facing part of the pub that gives commanding views of the estuary. Then additional to this is another dining room known as the Vanguard room at the very back. If you are only after a beer then I would say this pub is best used on a fine weather day, such as the one we were blessed with, when you can use the outside drinking area, known as the Lower Deck, with its fine views towards the Spinnaker Tower. The bar has four pumps with Pride, Seafarers and HSB as the permanent beers and then the Fullers seasonal brew was on the fourth, and the Seafarers went down well in the sunshine.