A good pub and a happy dog go together, and Portsmouth is well stocked with both. Between the old waterside inns around the harbour and the traditional locals of Southsea, there is no shortage of places where a muddy spaniel is as welcome as a thirsty walker, often with a water bowl already waiting by the bar.
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We have pulled together the pick of them, judged not just on whether dogs are allowed through the door but on the whole package: the food and the beer, the setting, the welcome and the value. Every entry is weighed against hundreds of real diner and drinker reviews rather than a single visit, and each one has a confirmed record of letting dogs in.
The list runs from the top down, scored out of ten, and it covers the range, from a smart harbour dining room to a seafront boozer that keeps dog treats behind the bar. Policies can vary by area of the pub and by how busy it is, so a quick call ahead never hurts, but these six are the ones we would happily bring a lead to.
1. The Eastney Tavern
Over in Eastney, this wood panelled traditional pub is the sort of place regulars describe as deserving to be packed every night, and it usually is. It has built its reputation on consistently excellent food, with generous portions at honest prices, a well kept range of beer and staff who seem genuinely pleased to see you. Dishes like the tomahawk steak and the Sunday lunch come up again and again, and it stays spotlessly clean through a busy service.
For dog owners it ticks the boxes, with a large outdoor area and a welcome for four legged visitors in certain parts of the pub. The walls are covered in football photos and memorabilia, which gives it a lively, lived in character, and it sheltered more than a few festival goers from the wind during Victorious. It is a proper local that happens to serve some of the best pub food in the city.
Why it leads: outstanding food and value, a warm welcome, a big outdoor space and dogs allowed.
The one catch: dogs are welcome in certain areas rather than the whole pub, so check where on arrival.
Portsmouth And score: 9.2 out of 10.
2. The Still and West
If you want a view with your pint, nowhere in the city beats the Still and West. It sits right at the mouth of the harbour in Old Portsmouth, close enough to the water that ferries and yachts seem to glide past the windows, and the terrace is a prize spot on a bright day. With well over three thousand reviews it is also one of the most consistently praised pubs around, which is no small feat for somewhere this busy.
The menu leans on local produce and the service draws warm words, and dogs are welcome to join you, the terrace especially suiting a sunny afternoon with a tired pup underfoot. It is not the cheapest night out, prices match the prime location, and on a rare off evening the kitchen can slip, but for the setting alone it earns its place near the top. Book ahead for a window table and let the harbour do the entertaining.
The pull: an unbeatable harbour setting, a dependable kitchen and a dog friendly terrace.
A small reservation: prices sit at the higher end and busy nights can stretch the kitchen.
Portsmouth And score: 8.8 out of 10.
3. The Florence Southsea
Tucked away on Florence Road, this one is a genuine hidden gem, the kind of pub people are faintly annoyed they did not find sooner. The draw is the food, and above all the Sunday roast: one regular rates the roast chicken here as the best they have ever had, which is a bold claim backed up by plenty of agreement, and the Yorkshire puddings arrive the size of your plate. The room is beautifully decorated, spotless and cosy, with a log fire that makes winter visits a pleasure.
It is openly welcoming to dogs, and the comfortable, relaxed feel suits settling in for a long lunch with one at your feet. A couple of practical notes: it is closed on Mondays and leans towards evenings earlier in the week, and being off the main drag it takes a little finding, so it is worth having the address handy. Those are small prices for a roast this good. It is also step free with accessible facilities, which not every old pub can say.
What wins people over: superb Sunday roasts, a cosy, handsome room and a sincere welcome for dogs.
Before you head in: it is shut on Mondays, keeps shorter early week hours and sits off the beaten track.
Portsmouth And score: 8.5 out of 10.
4. The Bridge Tavern
Perched on the edge of the Camber in Old Portsmouth, the Bridge Tavern is the one to pick for a lazy afternoon watching the working boats come and go. The outdoor seating looks straight over the water, with umbrellas for shade, and diners single out generous portions, properly good chips and friendly, efficient service. There are gluten free options too, and a prawn and crab sandwich that regulars rave about.
Dogs are welcome, and the waterside tables are made for them, though you may find yourself negotiating with the local seagulls over any leftovers. It can be quiet on a midweek afternoon, which is either a drawback or exactly the point depending on your mood, and the setting beside the Camber gives it a character that the chains simply cannot buy.
The best bits: a lovely waterside terrace, generous food with gluten free choices and a dog friendly welcome.
Just so you know: it can be quiet midweek, and the seagulls have designs on your chips.
Portsmouth And score: 8.0 out of 10.
5. The Dolphin
Billed as the oldest pub in Portsmouth, the Dolphin sits in the heart of Old Portsmouth on the High Street, a short walk from the cathedral and the seafront. It is old and pretty dark inside, but that is the appeal: it has bags of character, and regulars warn you not to let the gloom fool you, because the food usually delivers. The steak and ale pie wins particular praise, with substantial pastry and good beef, and the kitchen turns out a roast that has surprised more than one hopeful diner.
It is a traditional, dog friendly pub that has looked after large family gatherings and even a wedding reception, with staff who go out of their way to accommodate. Worth being straight about: on a bad day the kitchen can be inconsistent, and a couple of diners have reported a slow or underwhelming meal, so it pays to keep expectations grounded. Taken as a historic Pompey local with genuine atmosphere, though, it is a fine place to bring a dog and soak up a bit of the city’s past.
The character: centuries of history, real atmosphere and a hearty, traditional menu with a warm welcome for dogs.
A couple of caveats: the kitchen can be hit or miss, and the interior is dark by design.
Portsmouth And score: 7.6 out of 10.
6. The Jolly Sailor
Right on Clarence Parade facing the Common, the Jolly Sailor is the seafront choice, perfectly placed for a pint after a blustery walk along the front. Dog owners rate it warmly for a reason: one visitor describes the staff going above and beyond for their dog, offering snacks and water, which is exactly the sort of touch that turns a casual stop into a regular one. The food gets good marks too, with some calling the fish and chips among the best they have had, and the two for one Sunday roasts are cracking value.
It had a rocky patch under previous owners, and some longer term regulars drifted away, but recent visits suggest it has found its feet again with fresh, tasty food and friendly service. It keeps shorter hours earlier in the week, closing on Mondays and Tuesdays, so time your visit, and the overall rating sits a touch below the others here. For a dog friendly seafront local with real value, though, it still earns its spot.
What makes it work: a prime seafront setting, genuinely dog doting staff and strong value on roasts and fish and chips.
Where it slips: a slightly lower rating, a wobble under old owners and no opening on Mondays or Tuesdays.
Portsmouth And score: 7.1 out of 10.
The common thread
Put the six side by side and a couple of things stand out. Old Portsmouth is the heart of the dog friendly scene, its cluster of historic waterside inns built for exactly this kind of slow afternoon, while Southsea answers with characterful locals that treat a dog as a guest rather than a nuisance. The pubs that score highest are not the fanciest but the ones that get the basics right: good food, a proper welcome and somewhere comfortable to settle with a lead in hand.
The other pattern is the water. The best of these pubs trade on a view, whether it is the harbour mouth at the Still and West or the working boats off the Bridge Tavern, and a dog walk along the seafront or the Camber pairs naturally with a stop at one of them. Pick your spot to match the walk, and Portsmouth makes it easy to keep everyone in the party happy, two legged and four.
How the pubs score
The six ranked by our overall score out of ten:
The full ranking
Where to find each one and what it does best:
| Rank | Pub | Area | Score | Best for |
| 1 | The Eastney Tavern | Cromwell Road, Eastney | 9.2 | food and a proper local |
| 2 | The Still and West | Bath Square, Old Portsmouth | 8.8 | harbour views |
| 3 | The Florence Southsea | Florence Road, Southsea | 8.5 | Sunday roasts |
| 4 | The Bridge Tavern | The Camber, Old Portsmouth | 8.0 | a waterside afternoon |
| 5 | The Dolphin | High Street, Old Portsmouth | 7.6 | history and character |
| 6 | The Jolly Sailor | Clarence Parade, Southsea | 7.1 | a seafront stop and value |
Behind the scores
Each score is built from a weighted blend rather than a single star rating. A pub’s overall reputation and review score is the biggest factor at about 30 per cent, the quality of the food and drink counts for 20 per cent, and how genuinely dog friendly it is, including outdoor space, counts for a further 20 per cent. Atmosphere and setting add 15 per cent, with value and location each worth 10 per cent. That weighting is why a much loved local can edge ahead of a pub with a slightly higher average, and why a warm welcome for dogs genuinely moves the needle.
A word on fairness. These scores draw on aggregated public reviews and our own read of each pub at the time of writing, not a paid visit, and nothing here is sponsored. Dog policies, menus, prices and opening hours change, and welcome can depend on which part of the pub you sit in, so treat the list as a guide and check before you set off with the lead. If a favourite is missing, that is simply the luck of a city with this many good pubs.
Planning your visit
Half the fun is pairing the pub with a walk. The waterfront locals suit a wander round the harbour, and our guide to the best pubs in Old Portsmouth digs deeper into that corner. For the Southsea entries, a blow along Southsea beach works up the right sort of thirst, while a gentler option is a loop of Victoria Park in the city centre before heading in.
A last thought from the team as you plan the outing:
The best dog friendly pub is the one where nobody minds a wet nose at the table. In Portsmouth, happily, that is most of them.
Match the pub to the walk, pack a towel for muddy paws, and the city will look after the rest.
