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Sir Loin of Beef, Eastney, Southsea
Southsea
PO4 9NH
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about Sir Loin of Beef
Now a more sedately coloured Blue and White exterior, I based the whole of yesterdays crawl on coming to this famous Southsea pub,wondering how I'd managed to miss it out on previous trips, as soon as I turned the corner I knew I had in fact been here and exactly what it looked like inside, obviousley omitted to review it and the visit somehow erased from my memory until that moment. There's a long central bar with the carpeted room wrapped around it. The seating is quite normal, unpretentious and comfortable. There is a row of ten handpumps on the bar top with six being on when I entered with one being turned just after I sat down, the remaining five were Irving Frigate , Fullers ESB, Hop Back Citra , Fallen Acorn Hole Hearted and Awaken the later setting me back a very welcome £3.30. It's a cracking straight forward pub, how I ever forgot about my previous visit I'll never know.
On 18th September 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Sir Loin of Beef
Somewhat isolated from Southsea’s other top ale houses, the Sir Loin of Beef is a cracking two bar local’s pub in the Eastney part of town. A corner entrance takes you into a bright front bar with the servery running down the right hand wall and a good selection of traditional hard bench and low stool seating opposite. The room has been painted an eye-catching shade of yellow, which doesn’t sound like the best idea on paper, but it manages to work somehow, giving the place a vibrant feel that seemed to have rubbed off on the locals, many of whom were in on my Saturday early evening visit, creating a lively atmosphere. Like many pubs in the area, the pub has strong military ties and there is a great deal of naval memorabilia on display, much of it relating to submarines, including a few scale models behind the bar and a particularly memorable photo near the door picturing a surfacing submarine flanked by a school of dolphins. The ceiling is also a talking point, as some industrious person has attached a series of beer garden parasol shades to it, which creates quite a colourful spectacle. There is a smaller second bar to the right with a bar billiards table at one end and a large picture depicting a wide variety of military emblems. Seating is a little more limited in here and the room was considerably quieter than the main bar, mainly being used by a few youngsters putting crap tunes on the jukebox.
I was greeted by a long row of handpulls – probably around eight or so in total – with a mix of reasonably well known brands and beers from smaller local breweries. I tried something from the Hop Back brewery, which I found in excellent condition and enjoyed supping from my table at one end of the pub as I watched the characters around me go about their business.
This is another quality local’s pub that Portsmouth and Southsea seem to specialise in. I really liked the lively feel of this place and the unusual decor which set it apart from other pubs of this type. It’s a bit of a pain to try and incorporate on a wider crawl, but I would say it’s well worth the effort and I’m very pleased that I came here.
On 29th August 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about Sir Loin of Beef
Well described by Quinno below, the L-shaped bar still has the iron columns which replaced the supporting walls when the knock-through was done. Ales on were Wreckless, 6X, Irving's Frigate, a strange strawberry beer, HSB and 3 more that I forgot to record. Crop Circle was available in bottles. There was a quiz night on, I found the staff pleasant and the atmosphere was welcoming. An excellent ale pub, well worth a visit and a valuable inclusion in a crawl.
On 24th August 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3283 recommendations about 3248 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Sir Loin Of Beef
A brilliantly mad exterior colour scheme of red, orange and yellow. The quirkiness extends inside with an unusual ceiling décor of beer garden umbrellas, unfurled and hanging from the ceiling. Naval theme throughout with some model submarines spotted behind the bar, crests, shields and bric-a-brac on the shelves. The yellow bar had some cartoonish hops painted about the serving area. Carpeted throughout and quite cosy, in spite of the wacky palette. Toilets had some interesting murals on the doors. Eight pumps, featuring White Horse, Fullers Front Row, Cottage Old Hooker, Arundel Old Ale (in good form), Downton Elderquad, Gales HSB and Titanic Plum Porter. Oddly, like the reviewer below, my half came in a chunky Carling glass which seemed a bit slack for an ale outlet. The licensee appeared to be somewhat of a ‘character’, he was very anti Portsmouth CAMRA (though I couldn’t more than “f***ing crap” as an explanation). Fairly quiet and there wasn’t a huge amount in the way of atmosphere. Worth making the effort to find (beware some of the nearby pubs which looked rather earthy…).
On 18th March 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5081 recommendations about 5064 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Sir Loin Of Beef
Don't be put off by the rather garish orange and yellow exterior, inside lurks an excellent pub for the ale drinker well worthy of making a journey to visit. Inside there is a central bar with seating opposite, the room returning slightly to one end and around to the back of the bar towards the front. Carpeted, regular seating at benches and standard chairs and tables. It is certainly quirky inside, the exterior colour scheme is maintained with the add-on of pink skirting boards, the ceiling is dotted with upturned umbrellas however there is also much of tradition and interest to grab attention. There is a distinct naval theme as befits the Pompey location, submarines feature extensively with various models around including over the bar, pictures, diagrams, flags, a large framed poster of British submarine crests, shields, plates, gauges and dials as well as model ships and a particularly fine painting of a fighting galleon in full sail. Additionally there are drawings of American bridges as well as working drawings of The Empire State and Chrysler Buildings.
The bar gantry has painted hops along it's length and several doors and a column have unusual murals featuring sea life and hot air balloons. It all sounds like a real mish-mash and it is, however it works for me.
This may of course be assisted by the superb selection of handpulled beers, my visit found Hop Back Citra, Goddards Scrumdiggity Bitter, Titanic Cappuccino, Palmers 200, Fullers ESB plus their Black Cab Stout, Alliance Bowled Over plus Flowerpots Goodens Gold well priced at £3.10 for a 4.8% beer. All the beers are listed on a chalkboard over the bar with ABVs and price. I didn't spot any ciders however there was a CAMRA poster on display advertising ciders and perries sold here, perhaps there was a box or two lurking that I missed. I have no idea if they do food, I didn't see any indications.
There was no music or other distractions during my midweek lunchtime visit, just a buzz of conversation but there are a few speakers dotted around. I didn't see a TV.
The pub is apparently late Victorian and was once a rare Eldridge Pope tied house in the city prior to becoming the free house it is today. Make no bones about it, this is yet another first rate must visit pub at this end of Portsmouth/Southsea, easily part of a good crawl including The Leopold and The Nell Gwynn, I suspect I'm still to find a few more crackers in this area which remains rich in pubs despite the national pub carnage taking place over the last few years.
On 23rd November 2013
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Michael Wright left this review about The Sir Loin Of Beef
As Dan says, this pub stands out from the crowd, quite "quirky" interior, see photos, murals in loo are worth having a leak for
Landlady was polite, friendly & obliging for interior photos
Lunch time visit, 8 hand pulls [2 not available], see photo for brews
Loads of naval memorabilia, white ensigns etc, all as one would expect in Pompey
All very clean & tidy, in fact given Naval flavour of pub one could say "ship shape & Bristol fashion"
Not sure if food served, I saw no indication of it, but never asked
On street parking should not be a problem, buses stop nearly outside
Well worth trying it out, even making a detour for if in Albert Road or Eastney area
Summation, bit quirky decor but well worth a visit
On 27th September 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 526 recommendations about 382 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
dan bert left this review about The Sir Loin Of Beef
Now sporting a new paint scheme that I would describe as a kind of mandarine orange, the Sir Loin of Beef certainly stands out as you approach it.
There is a long bar facing the front (Highland Road) and a smaller one around the back and to the side. A wide range of real ales on offer that are kept well. The usual lagers, etc may also be obtained.
If you are interested in RN submarines it's worth having a look in the back bar where there is quite a lot of memorabilia on the walls. You can also have a look at the ceiling display of sunshades and then the artwork that decorates the toilet doors.
A good pub that is worth visiting whilst in the eastern parts of Southsea.
On 29th March 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 19 recommendations about 19 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
train man left this review about Sir Loin of Beef
Heard this venue had fallen out with Camra, for some reason, but is undoubtedly a real ale pub. 8 handpumps, Sat pm had one unclipped, otherwise Flowerpot Goodens Gold, Hopback Summer Lightning, WJ King New Beer's Resolution, fff Moondance, Irving Frigate, Palmers Best, Whippet Gone with the Whippet. Light and airy in the bar with large windows to street, the rear area has had a pool table removed but sadly the dartboard has also gone – ‘It's just a drinkers pub now' we were told by the friendly guys at the bar, but must be popular as they had 19(!) teams for the quiz last week. Friendly staff too, I really liked this place – they just need to invest in some half pint pots; serving that measure in carling glasses is somewhat off-putting to old grumpies like me, haha! Ps. not at all crowded pre-match, but if you are heading to the ground there is a choice of buses from the stop almost opposite which will get you there in 5mins.
On 17th February 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 412 recommendations about 411 pubs]