Part of the joy of a Pompey matchday is the walk to the ground through Fratton’s tight terraced streets, and part of it is the pint beforehand. Fratton Park sits right in the middle of a proper old neighbourhood, so there is no shortage of pubs within a short stroll of the turnstiles, most of them loud, friendly and unmistakably blue.
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Here is where our team would line up a pre-match drink, from the die-hard locals plastered in Pompey memorabilia to the bigger, cheaper rooms on Fratton Road.
The proper Pompey matchday pubs
If you want the real thing, the Shearer Arms on Shearer Road is as Pompey as it gets. It is decked out in club memorabilia, shows the football on multiple screens and keeps prices low, with friendly bar staff who have pre-match service down to a fine art. For many regulars it is the first and last stop on a matchday.
The Froddington Arms on Fratton Road is another character-filled local, handy for the ground and good for a beer in front of the telly before you head in. A short walk away, the Newcome Arms is a proper backstreet boozer that comes alive on match days, with a lively crowd and plenty of screens.
The Electric Arms, also on Fratton Road, has quietly become a favourite with fans heading to the game. It is cosy and welcoming, the staff will happily let you bring in fish and chips from next door, and it is a fine spot to settle the nerves before kickoff. Note that it opens at 3pm on most days, so it suits evening and later weekend games.
Big and cheap before kickoff
For cheap pints and plenty of room, the John Jacques on Fratton Road is the local Wetherspoons. It keeps the usual low prices and a solid range of real ales, and it opens early for breakfast, so it works for an early kickoff. It gets loud and busy on a Saturday, which is either the appeal or the problem depending on your mood.
Over towards Goldsmith Avenue, the Shepherd’s Crook Pub and Kitchen is the pick if you want a bite with your pint. The kitchen earns warm reviews, the Guinness is well kept and there are usually decent deals on drinks, which makes it a comfortable base before you drift down to the ground.
Worth the short walk
A little further out on Milton Road, the Rose in June is the highest rated of the lot and a favourite with fans who care about their beer. It pours four or five well-kept ales, has a big garden and even does stone-baked pizza, so it is worth the extra few minutes on foot when there is time before kickoff.
A few matchday tips
A bit of planning makes the pre-match drink go smoothly:
- the pubs closest to the ground fill up fast, often more than an hour before kickoff, so get there early;
- most are home-fans locals, so travelling away supporters are better off checking ahead or drinking nearer the station;
- the nearest station is Fratton, around a ten-minute walk from the ground;
- parking around Frogmore Road is very limited on a matchday, so come in by train or leave the car well out;
- keep an eye on the time, because the walk in and the turnstile queue sneak up before kickoff.
Most of these pubs sit within a few minutes of the turnstiles, as the map shows.
Sort your pint, soak up the pre-match buzz and leave enough time to get in. If you are still finding your feet around the ground, our visitor’s guide to Fratton Park covers getting there and what to expect inside, and our guide to buying Portsmouth FC tickets sorts the hard part. For a pint on a day without a game, the best pubs in Portsmouth look beyond Fratton, and then it is just a matter of up the Pompey.
