The King Street Tavern, Southsea

ps doesn't open until 18:00(!) Sat. 17 February 2009 Wadworth beers, 6X, JCB, Henry's IPA, Bishops Tipple, Horizon. Looks traditional from exterior and there is some old-style architecture in evidence, albeit with modernist ‘twists' (I'd twist the fkn designer's head off!). Nice back-bar, etched mirrors, restaurant area to right, jazz band setting up to left. It's not at all bad, but potted plants & spider-lights(?) make you feel it's been made over for ‘Manhattan Transfer' enthusiasts. It wouldn't be on my list for a return visit.

This street corner pub has an attractive and enticing exterior, however once inside the place has that modern stripped out feel albeit with a few hints to tradition. The pub is a long single space, I suspect linking two original properties due to the slight change in level to the right, beyond the bar. The floor is bare boarded with a few rugs here and there, seating is at generally regular tables of varying size and shape and with that current trend of mixed chair styles. There are some solid looking timber beams, probably not original, and a fair bit of wood panelling. Bright and airy, the windows are large and of plain glass but with upper chequered coloured glass pieces, large pot plants in most corners. A number of mirrors are dotted around, all with etched glass but not of any vintage. The overall feel is pretty chilled, helped by the jazz soundtrack. A shelf has a few books regarding the genre plus some concerning beer. The pub is a Wadworth's house, five handpumps, one unclipped; 6X, Henry's IPA, Boundary plus Thatchers Heritage Cider. I noticed that the keg fonts were limited to Amstel, Thatchers Gold cider and something called Corvus Stout. Food is served and looked pretty good, not an extensive menu, the chalkboard listed home made soups, sausage and mash and ham with eggs and spring onion potato cake. Sunday roasts advertised around £9. To the right is a scruffy looking bit of courtyard garden which contains an absolute wreck of a piano which clearly will never play another note. Not a bad pub at all, not on my original list but I'm glad I popped in. NB closed Mon/Tues lunchtime (Wed to Fri 12-3) generally 5/6pm opening.

When i went in this pub it was called the Diamond. This was a really nice looking back street pub that still had its original tiled frontage,once inside the pub was just as nice with lots of wood about and the pub seemed pretty much unaltered. When we visited this pub it was a Wadworths tied house and there were three real ales on the bar we had drink of Wadworths Henrys IPA and this was a really nice drink the other beers were Wadworth 6X and Adnams bitter. This was a proper locals pub and it was well worth the visit. Pub visited 18/2/1999 Photo taken 20/2/1999