Here are 5 locations for you to discover right here in our island city
A recent survey found Portsmouth to be the UK city with the most pubs per square mile (12), beating the nation’s capital and other regional metropoles like Liverpool, Manchester and Bristol.
For the times when you want to enjoy a great quality beer in a unique setting, here are 5 (technically 6) locations for you to discover, many of which sell local beers brewed right here in our island city.
1 | Brewhouse & Kitchen
Southsea - 51 Southsea Terrace, Southsea PO5 3AU
Portsmouth - 26 Guildhall Walk, Portsmouth PO1 2DD
Although actually a chain of pubs rather than a unique venue, Brewhouse & Kitchen is worth a mention. It boasts two locations in the city: Portsmouth - literally on the doorstep of many students in Guildhall Walk - and Southsea, a stone’s throw away from Rees Hall.
What makes it different from other chains is that the business is built around onsite brewing and offers a selection of craft ales and lager produced right in the bar itself. You can literally smell the hops brewing in large tanks dotted around the place.
But don’t worry if you find the smell of fermenting beer too strong - the Guildhall pub has a secret roof terrace you can access from the back, and the Southsea venue has perhaps the largest pub garden within the city, right on the seafront.
2 | The Merchant House
The Merchant House - 9-11 Highland Rd, Southsea PO4 9DA
This fully independent free house is a firm favourite with locals and students alike. It features a wide range of craft beer on keg and cask, as well as a well-stocked can fridge. Its location just to the east of Albert Road makes it an ideal stop off for many students living in the area.
The pub hosts the award winning Need Street Food, which dishes up a range of tasty burgers, gyros, loaded fries and more, with some banging veggie/vegan options which are well worth the wait on busy evenings. What’s more, for every order placed, you help Need Street Food to fund packets of life-saving food to children in need across the globe.
3 | The Brewers Tap
The Brewers Tap - 177 Eastney Rd, Southsea PO4 8EA
The Brewers Tap is a micropub and brewery taproom for the Southsea Brewing Co, which brews small batch beers from within Portsmouth’s historic Southsea Castle. The beer selection is second to none, with 14 taps offering a large variety of craft ales, lagers and ciders on rotation, complemented by over 50 cans in the fridge.
The bar has a relaxed atmosphere with a selection of board games available to play, and even provides a free cheeseboard on Sunday afternoons!
4 | Staggeringly Good Brewery
Staggeringly Good Brewery - Unit 10, St George’s Ind Est, Rodney Road, Southsea PO4 8SS
Only 10 minutes’ walk from the University bus route (Lidl stop), this dino-inspired brewery is well known in Portsmouth for its great beer and innovative artwork. The taproom is set in a massive warehouse alongside the brewery itself, complete with tons of outside space, retro arcade games and an upstairs which regularly hosts live music, events and even a rollerdisco.
What’s more, the brewery hosts Natty’s Jerk Kitchen every Thursday to Sunday, so you can pair your crisp, refreshing beer with some fantastic Caribbean food.
5 | Makemake Taproom
Makemake Taproom - Unit 1.2, Central Point, Kirpal Rd, Portsmouth PO3 6FH
Located near Milton Common in Portsmouth, Makemake Brewery & Taproom (pronounced mah-kay-mah-kay) is inspired by Makemake – a dwarf planet in our Solar System. Each of Makemake’s beers has a celestial link to space, which is a cool touch.
The location is a little further out than the other venues on this list, but the beer selection at Makemake - brewed on site - is nothing short of impressive.