Pubs in Gosport

Traditional locals, waterfront drinking, and real ale

Gosport has a solid selection of pubs reflecting the town's long history as a naval garrison. For centuries, pubs served the thousands of sailors, soldiers, and dockyard workers who lived and passed through the town, and the drinking culture runs deep.

The town centre has several pubs within walking distance of the High Street and ferry terminal. The Star on the High Street is one of the more traditional options, a straightforward local that has served the town for years. The Junction Tavern, near the bus station, draws a regular crowd. Trinity Green, the attractive square beside Trinity Church, is flanked by some of the older pubs in the town.

Forton Road has its share of pubs, including the Royal Arms, which has been a Forton fixture for decades. The India Arms, also on Forton Road, is another established local. These are no-nonsense drinking pubs, popular with residents from the surrounding terraced streets.

The Jolly Roger on Priory Road in Hardway is one of the more characterful pubs in the borough, with its harbour-side position giving drinkers a view across the water to Priddy's Hard and the wider harbour. On a summer evening, the outdoor seating here is hard to beat.

Alverstoke has the Anglesey Arms, a more genteel pub in keeping with the village character. It serves food and has a garden, making it a popular choice for families and residents of the surrounding streets.

Real ale enthusiasts will find a few pubs in the borough that keep a reasonable selection of cask beers. The Gosport and Fareham CAMRA branch covers the area, and their guides list the current real ale venues.

Gosport's pub scene has contracted over the years, as it has across the country. Several former pubs have been converted to residential use or demolished. The surviving pubs tend to be the ones with a strong local following or an attractive position. The waterfront and harbour-side locations give some of Gosport's pubs a character that inland venues cannot match.

For late-night drinking and nightlife, options in Gosport are limited. Most residents who want a bigger night out cross the ferry to Portsmouth, where Guildhall Walk and Southsea offer more variety.