The best pubs in Old Portsmouth trade on something money cannot buy, a front-row seat on the harbour mouth where warships and ferries slide past your pint. The Portsmouth And team walked the Point and the Camber to rank the old town’s finest.
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We judged each pub on its location and views, its atmosphere and character, the drink and food on offer, and value. In this corner of the city the setting does a lot of the heavy lifting, but the best spots back it up with a proper welcome.
1. The Still and West
Perched right on the Point where the harbour narrows, The Still and West has arguably the best view of any pub in the city. From the upstairs windows and the terrace you can almost touch the ships as they pass into the harbour.
It pairs that view with a solid menu and a good range of drinks, which makes it the obvious first stop on an Old Portsmouth crawl.
The appeal
- Possibly the finest harbour view of any Portsmouth pub;
- A sought-after terrace right on the water;
- A reliable food menu alongside the drinks;
- A prime spot at the Point for watching the ships.
The caveats
- The view makes it busy, so seats on the terrace go fast;
- Prices sit at the higher end for the location;
- It can feel touristy at peak times.
For that first waterside pint with a warship gliding past, nothing beats it. Our editors would start any old-town session right here.
2. The Spice Island Inn
A few steps along Broad Street, the Spice Island Inn takes its name from the old nickname for this salty quarter. It is a larger, family-friendly pub with its own slice of the harbour view and plenty of outside space.
It is the easy all-rounder of the Point, good for groups, families and anyone who wants the view without the squeeze.
The appeal
- Harbour-side setting with generous outdoor seating;
- Family-friendly and roomy inside;
- A dependable pub menu;
- Steeped in the history of the old Spice Island quarter.
The caveats
- A chain feel rather than a quirky free house;
- Gets packed on sunny weekends;
- Food is solid rather than special.
If you are out with family or a big group, this is the practical pick at the Point. It delivers the view with room to breathe.
3. The Bridge Tavern
Overlooking the Camber, the city’s old working harbour, the Bridge Tavern is the most characterful of the old-town pubs. Fishing boats still tie up outside, which gives it an authenticity the bigger venues cannot fake.
With a well-kept range of ales and a quayside terrace, it rewards anyone after a pub with a bit of soul.
The appeal
- A genuine working-harbour setting at the Camber;
- A good range of real ales;
- Plenty of character and local atmosphere;
- A quayside terrace among the fishing boats.
The caveats
- Smaller, so it fills quickly;
- Tucked away and easy to miss;
- Limited parking nearby.
For atmosphere over a sweeping view, this is the connoisseur’s choice. It is the one the Portsmouth And team keeps coming back to.
4. The American Bar
Just back from the Camber on White Hart Road, The American Bar is a relaxed, friendly local that rounds out the old-town options. It swaps big views for a comfortable, unpretentious atmosphere.
It is the kind of place to settle in for the evening rather than tick off a view, and the welcome is warm.
The appeal
- A relaxed, welcoming local feel;
- Close to the Camber and the old town;
- A decent range of drinks;
- Quieter than the harbour-front pubs.
The caveats
- No harbour view to speak of;
- Less of a draw for first-time visitors;
- Food offering is limited.
When the waterfront pubs are packed, this is the comfortable fallback. Locals rate it for exactly that reason.
5. The Dolphin
On the High Street in the heart of the old town, The Dolphin is a historic inn with centuries of history behind its frontage. It brings the old-town character inland, away from the water.
It suits a visit that pairs a pint with a wander past the cathedral and the old streets rather than the harbour wall.
The appeal
- A historic building in the heart of Old Portsmouth;
- Handy for the cathedral and the old streets;
- Traditional pub atmosphere;
- Away from the busiest waterfront crowds.
The caveats
- No harbour view;
- Can be quiet on off-peak days;
- Less of a destination than the Point pubs.
For history and a quieter pint in the old town, The Dolphin earns its place. It is a gentle end to an Old Portsmouth stroll.
How the pubs scored (out of 10)
What the comparison shows
The pattern here is simple, the closer a pub sits to the harbour mouth, the higher it tends to score. The Point pubs trade on a view that no inland pub can match, and that view does most of the work.
| Position | Pub | Score (out of 10) | % (out of 100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Still and West | 8.7 | 87% |
| 2 | The Spice Island Inn | 8.2 | 82% |
| 3 | The Bridge Tavern | 7.9 | 79% |
| 4 | The American Bar | 7.5 | 75% |
| 5 | The Dolphin | 7.2 | 72% |
The flip side is character. The Bridge Tavern shows that a working-harbour setting and a good cellar can rival a postcard view, while the inland pubs win on a quieter, more local feel.
How we ranked them
This is an editorial comparison by the Portsmouth And team, scored out of ten on setting, atmosphere, drinks, food and value. Location and character carried the most weight, because at the Point that is exactly what people come for.
Scores are rounded to one decimal place and the order is our view rather than an official ranking. A wet Tuesday and a sunny Saturday can tell you two very different stories about the same pub, so treat it as a nudge rather than gospel.
