The Northcote, Southsea

The Northcote has an L shaped bar to the left that houses a dartboard on a raised area and a pool table at the rear. I counted four hand pumps amongst the premium and standard keg offerings. In the right-hand side of the pub is a lounge bar with very red décor. The same ale offerings are available in here. Out the back is a paved beer garden full of picnic tables. I found the service to be polite and enjoyed my stay on the recent Friday evening I visited.

Surprising number of decorative features on both façades of this side-street corner pub, and it retains two bars separated by a central servery unusually featuring a window between the back-to-back bar-backs. The lounge is comfortably furnished, with a pool table and dartboard available in the public bar. Four real ales on handpump: a 'house' Northcote Hotel amber ale from Wadworth, Landlord, Long Man APA and Irving Invincible (£2.05, half).

I agree with BF that this is certainly a fine looking back street Victorian pub. I enjoyed the lounge side on this visit and found it to be very spacious and comfortable, along with a relaxed atmosphere. The back court yard was also a decent size, which will obviously come in handy in the summer months. I went for the Longman APA, which was spot on.