Castle Tavern, Somerstown, Southsea

A down-market local, the last remaining pub open in the Somerstown area, which has seen better days. The building is of 20th Century origin, and the frontage consists of a paved garden, with table and chairs, separated from the footpath by an iron fence. Inside there are two bars, cheaply furnished and decorated with a few football and military memorabilia. Opening times are strange, and the atmosphere is more that of a community centre than a pub, an impression reinforced by the 1970s pop music on the TV. The staff were quite friendly, but the welcome from the locals – a very disparate group – was less than warm. No real ale, but there was a barrel of Weston's cider on the bar, so we gave it a try – it was well and truly past its best. They can keep this castle.

The Castle Tavern is an oldish pub that looks a bit different from the outside as there are two turrets either side of the front door,the pub is almost next door to the Travellers Rest. Once inside there were two rooms and we had a drink in the lounge which was quite smart and cosy with country stye seating. When we visited this pub it was a Whitbread tied house and there was one real ale on the bar this was Whitbread Flowers bitter and this was a decent drink. This was a decent enough pub to have a drink in and we stayed in here untill last orders. Pub visited 18/2/1999 Photo taken 20/2/1999