User name:

Password:

Login


Sign in with Facebook


Not already a member?
Join our community and - Rate & review pubs - Upload pictures - Add events JOIN for free NOW


Chat about:
New pub visits 2024 with Brainypool on the Pub Forum

The Phoenix, Southsea

13 Duncan Road
Southsea
PO5 2QU

Return to pub summary

Page: 1 2

Reviews (Current Rating Average: of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Steve C left this review about The Phoenix

The Phoenix consists of a U-shaped bar with jukebox, television and dartbord to the left and thin bar with seating to the right. The television was off, but there was some background music playing at quite a high volume for a Friday afternoon. The walls are adorned with film and television memorabilia including lots of photos of actors. The governor must be very patriotic as there are St George’s Crosses and union jacks all over the pub. Also, the Queen stands holding an England flag in a first-floor window above the entrance. I noted that there is a quiz every Sunday.
Standard keg is available, and I counted three hand pumps which were drawing Goldmark’s Warrior, Ringwood’s Forty-Niner and Sharp’s Doom Bar. Food is not served. I liked it in here and would gladly return if in the area.

On 30th May 2019 - rating: 7
[User has posted 5179 recommendations about 5148 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Phoenix

Characterful corner local retaining a twin-bar layout, separated by narrow gap. There is a great selection of theatre memorabilia and vintage ephemera to look at in the lounge, and the side patio beer garden is a fine spot when the sun's out. Three real ales on handpump: Doom Bar, Ringwood 49er and Goldmark Warrior (£1.85, half).

On 24th April 2019 - rating: 7
[User has posted 8066 recommendations about 8066 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Quinno _ left this review about The Phoenix

A rather brilliant backstreet local with bags of character. Two bar interior in a traditional style; loads of old TV and theatre memorabilia to be seen including lots of framed black and white photos of the old stars who appeared in the playhouse over the way. In addition there’s plenty of leftfield bric-a-brac and a load of Portsmouth FC stuff. As noted elsewhere, numerous St George Cross and Union Jacks around the pub, don’t take Guardian reading Greta in here. There’s also a fantastic rear garden to be sampled, with old pub paraphernalia. Three ales on; Ringwood Fortyniner, Sharps Doom Bar and a welcome sighting of Goldmark Warrior (NBSS 3). A proper buzz inside from the patrons. A real find this one and I’d definitely be wanting to pop in again whilst it’s like this. 8.5

On 10th April 2019 - rating: 8
[User has posted 5050 recommendations about 5033 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Tris C left this review about The Phoenix

A former Whitbread house this, judging by the metal ellipse over the sign frame. This is an attractive corner pub with plant boxes atop the first-floor parapet.
Inside, and there are loads of knick-knacks to keep the drinker entertained including an old wall-mounted candlestick phone and the pair of can-can legs protruding from a wall. Furniture is eclectic, the floor’s carpeted and there’s some matchboard painted green to the walls up to about waist height.
Out back there’s a very verdant beer garden with an old Gales sign which may have come from the Portland.
I plumped for a half of Goldmark’s Warrior which tasted ok to me if uninteresting but was told by a colleague that it was slightly off.
This seems to be a jolly place and I’d be happy to sample it again.

On 2nd April 2019 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1956 recommendations about 1923 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Real Ale Ray left this review about The Phoenix

The lounge side of this establishment had some novelty factors to keep you enthralled. You enter the lounge either from a tight squeeze in front of the bar area, especially when drinkers are loitering in front of the pumps or the easy option is to use the separate lounge door, accessible from the street. When entering the lounge you will immediately see a pair of ladies Can-can legs sticking out from over the bar. An old wind up mounted telephone can also be found on the right of the bar counter, an upright piano opposite and a collection of photos around the walls of actors and comedians who have visited this pub. I went for the Goldmark Warrior on handpump.

On 2nd April 2019 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3378 recommendations about 3378 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Bucking Fastard left this review about The Phoenix

A charming street corner local close to the Kings Theatre and displaying photos of the many thespians who have played there over the years.It's a two room layout with the larger wing having a darts board.Externally there are some very interesting old signs and metal advertisments,while internally although seating is limited this feels a comfortable spot to sink a few pints.There is much etched glass to admire.The beer garden also offers a good option in fine weather.
I spotted three ale options Doom Bar,Goldmark Warrior and a decent Ringwoods 49er.Worth including on a crawl,mainly for the good interior features and authentic atmosphere.

On 31st March 2019 - rating: 7
[User has posted 2709 recommendations about 2709 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Moby Duck left this review about The Phoenix

I can't add much to Pub SignMan's excellent discription below, this little backstreet boozer was easily my best pub of the day, oozing atmosphere and quirkiness within the pub as well as the fascinating beer garden, the only thing I would like to see improve would be the beer selection, my Langham's XXX mild was thankfully a decent drop, the only other choice available was Doom Bar. A worthy 9/10.

On 3rd November 2017 - rating: 9
[User has posted 1868 recommendations about 1841 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Pub SignMan left this review about The Phoenix

Hidden down a side street just a short distance from the busy Albert Road, the Phoenix is a quality two bar side street pub. The public bar to the front of the building, is the slightly more restrained of the two, with bare floorboards and some good sturdy banquette seating around the perimeter. There is a darts area at one end and loads of pump clips around the servery and ceiling. An incredible number of photos line the walls, many relating to Portsmouth FC, whilst the darts area has its fair share of trophies. The rear lounge bar is smaller and felt a bit more cluttered but somehow more homely as well. A table top arcade machine was the first thing I spotted as I entered, beyond which there was a sofa and a couple of tables with standard chairs. An upright piano on the rear wall suggests that the occasional sing-a-long might occur and there were a number of traditional pub games scattered around, perhaps exiled from the games room which is housed in an outbuilding previously used by a small brewery. The main draw of this rear room has to be the enormous collection of framed and signed photos from various celebrities, all of whom have played the nearby Kings Theatre at some point. Numerous signed panto posters are on display as well as an old sign from the theatre itself. Other points of interest include the heavy drapes on the windows, an ancient telephone on the end of the bar and an enormous England flag on the ceiling. Outside there is a quirky little garden with picnic bench seating and some shelters for the smokers. There are loads of hanging baskets, making it a colourful summertime spot and the look is enhanced by lanterns, junk sculptures, old road signs and other bric-a-brac. Music was playing quietly throughout my visit, but as with any pub worth its salt, this was drowned out by the general hubbub of Saturday evening chatter.
There were just the two ales on the bar – Exmoor Ale and Oakleaf Nuptuale. The latter set me back a very reasonable £3.30 for a pint and was in fantastic condition – with beer this good, there really is no need for a long row of handpulls. I was tempted to return for a second pint, but sadly had to press on. The bar staff were very friendly and welcoming and seemed to have a very efficient and professional approach to their work.
This was the pick of the nine pubs I visited on my recent visit to the area and it stands up there as one of the best that Portsmouth/Southsea has to offer. I loved the various collections of memorabilia and thought the garden was somewhere I could quite happily settle down for a long afternoon. A marvellous pub with great beer and high on my list for a return visit.

On 25th August 2016 - rating: 9
[User has posted 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


E TA left this review about The Phoenix

An old fashioned Victorian backstreet boozer,one of the very few in this area that has retained its two original bars. It also has a cobbled yard at the side which a fine selection of planters and wooden tables. The small rectangular saloon bar also has a 1970s Space Invaders machine in table form, while the larger L-shaped public bar has a dartboard and gaming machines. Copies of old GBGs are dotted around for perusal. Both bars are carpeted and have various photos of actors – some famous – who have played at the nearby Kings Theatre on the walls. Staff were a bit grumpy, while the locals appear to be a decent, normal bunch. Three ales on draught – Ringwood Mauler and Fortyniner, and Black Lion, plus a boxed cider. All were in very good condition. Well worth including in a crawl.

On 5th June 2016 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3272 recommendations about 3237 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Malden man left this review about The Phoenix

This is a cracking little back street gem of a pub just off the main Albert Rd through Southsea, inside, two rooms are split between the bar, the front room is boarded and has a dartboard with a stack of trophies above on a shelf, some Portsmouth FC memorabilia and of note, a real vintage wooden bar football table suspended from the soffit of the staircase passing through. A TV had the football scores running through, muted. The beer pumps are in this room, to the side, three in all, Tetley Cask, Directors and Itchen Valley Pure Gold.
Through to the rear, carpeted room, more seating in here all of the regular type, loads of stuff around to look at. The walls are covered with framed photos of various celebrities that have appeared in the nearby Kings Theatre, many are autographed, There is a wall mounted wooden telephone with the separate mouthpiece and earpiece, an old post box of the type that was built into a wall, a 1980s vintage sit down video game, shelves of jugs, pewter tankards, steins, panto flyers, a shelf of GBGs going back years, even a mini walnut faced piano on the end wall.
It doesn't end here, beyond to the rear is a walled patio garden which has pub signs from presumed long gone places, beyond again is an outbuilding which forms a games room, pool and darts in here, the walls are covered in pictures of old Portsmouth and Southsea as well as old metal advertisements.
The pub is dog friendly with water bowls provided, a couple were in, and allows well behaved children until 8pm. As well as the beer there is an extensive range of whiskies, all listed on a board. Disabled access via the garden and rear bar, step free.
I have visited a good number of superb pubs on my travels over the years, this one is right up there with the best, unfortunately only having three ales on it won't get my best score but judged purely as a pub it is simply fantastic. A 9, but really about 8.6.

On 7th December 2014 - rating: 9
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]

Page: 1 2