The King Lud, Ryde

Had just one pint here. Clean and social, but also a bit edgy. I would return, but the beer needs to be better. Great location, and is lovely to sit outside near the seafront. Watching the Hovercraft come and go was a pleasure also.

Sadly the Ryde Esplanade is not blessed with smart drinking establishments and for some inexplicable reason the advanced party we sent over the road to find a beer whilst the rest of us sorted out hovercraft tickets chose this one, the least smart of the lot. A single room pub with some limited table seating on the pavement out front I cannot improve on the boisterous and fairly basic description offered below. Serving bar on the left and large flatscreen telly’s dotted about for the sport, I got the impression that most of the clientele had been in all day for looking at the screens on this early Saturday evening. Two real ales on from major Brewers, both boring brown bitters including a poor Gales HSB, especially as I had to drink it out of a plastic glass as we had chosen to try and avoid some of the characters and drink on the pavement. A plan that sadly misfired as most of them were in and out like a Jack-in-the-Box to share their fag smoke with us. Let’s just say I couldn’t wait to get back on the hovercraft over to Southsea and its pubs.

A rather boisterous and fairly basic single room pub strategically located opposite Esplanade station. OK for a quick pint when quiet, but probably best avoided when it is crowded. It also has a late night licence. Has a fair range of beers, including local and national brews, including some sourced from round the back of the bar, possibly straight from the barrel. Quality and availability seems a bit hit and miss however.

The distinctive mock-Tudor façade stands out amongst the Esplanade buildings, but there is nothing very distinctive about the plainly furnished rectangular interior. Also has several benches out front looking out towards the pier. Basic menu. Bombardier, Cornish Coaster and Gales HSB being served from three of four handpumps, with the other displaying clips for two draught ciders.