The Eastney Tavern, Eastney, Southsea

Maybe a Sunday afternoon wasn't the best time to call in, the pub was very food orientated and busy with diners, despite the amount of people inside there was very little in the way of pub atmosphere and as ETA mentions a couple of years earlier it seemed all a little contrived. Three cask ales on , Sharps Doom Bar and Atlantic plus Fallen Acorn IPA. I guess the pub sign that I failed to study on the way in is the give away, "Pub & Restaurant", It wasn't the type of pub I had hoped on first sight.

A Victorian pub opposite the former Royal Marines barracks, now a popular venue for families and social diners.  The interior feels a bit contrived, knocked through and carpeted but more modern than most of the other local pubs, with the air of a Fullers food outlet rather than a local. Food was rather formulaic, not terribly inspiring, and the muzak was quite depressing.  The clientele were a strange mixture including CAMRA types, families and a man photographing his penis at a urinal in the lavatory.  Dogs are allowed but ‘encouraged’ to go into the garden.  The bar staff were a bit dim, there were several TVs showing live sports, the walls were cluttered with sporting artefacts and there was a sign promoting ‘craft’ beers which caused a certain amount of discussion among the locals.  Three ales on draft, Ubu Purity, Doombar and Irving Spinnaker, all reasonably kept.  It makes a good addition to a crawl but somehow I just couldn't see myself spending an evening here.