Ship Anson in Portsmouth

Love this pub. Love the atmosphere the history. The Naval focus. Very patriotic. But…… the food is 1/5. The chicken BLT (6.95) came with little chicken and NO bacon. Ordered chips. (3.25) Came in a small pot so got about less than a dozen chips. 30p a chip!!!!!. 😩😩😩😩. Must be portion control. Sent the sandwich back. Staff said do I want another. Yes of course. I already paid. They were sorry but nothing else. Come on Green King. I know customer service is rubbish in the UK now but get your head out of the sand and pick your game up and be the pub chain that is better than all the rest. Stop cutting corners. It’s a shame. A lovely boozer spoiled by terrible food. It’s all in the detail. Stop employing snowflakes and get professionals in. Take pride.

Very cosy and pleasant on walking in. Found a table by a window. Ordered some drinks and food. Basic but good fish and Chips. Excellent service.

A great pub to catch up with old Shipmates 😜⚓️🍺

Dj was very rude made me feel uncomfortable

Only went in for a drink or two

Naval reunion nearby. Have been a visitor since 1980 and always make time for a visit when I go back to Portsmouth. Although there will always be changes, it never changes. Didn't eat, but there were plenty of others doing so and they seemed happy enough.

Amazing place. I've been there multiple times and it never disappointed me

The staff were lovely and friendly, I was visiting from Lincolnshire I used to live in Portsmouth and remember how nice it was in the Ship Anson, so arranged to meet family there for Xmas. The bar staff were super friendly the pub was decorated beautifully for Xmas, it was lovely and warm. Not wanting to be so crowded in Gunwharf we booked for lunch and drinks. Definitely recommend the pub if you are visiting historic dockyard or gunwharf.

We visited from Australia . It was busy every night when we visited, we felt very comfortable . The bar staff were lovely and the clientele were well mannered . Such a enjoyable time for us .

So my husband travels around the south on business, I am lucky to accompany him on rare occasions. We came to this pub as he loves it, so I went straight to the loo, while he got the drinks. To my surprise on entering the Ladies, I was welcomed with a sweet scent, followed by decor that resonates quality and appropriate decor for the time period of maritime, naval with a twist of modern. Apart from that Ladies, every cubicle was not only clean, but spotless, ok, this is at 19:00 but this pub is open all day... let's say remarkably cleaner than a lot of chain public houses! To add to this the history resonates throughout the bar area into one of the most patriotic public houses I have had the pleasure to drink in.... pay this pub a visit!!

Booked a table here for lunch on a Saturday it was very busy! Standing room only. It’s more a bar for drinks than a restaurant. If you’re wanting a nice atmosphere for a chat and a drink this is not the place for you, as it was so noisy that you can’t talk to the person sat across from you. I had the Christmas roast dinner. It was poor. The meat was 2 slices of sandwich meat you hand one powdery potato quartered. A mountain of Brussels (15 or more) I’m not a fan of Brussels which left the plate empty. It’s not table service you have to go to the bar to order but I couldn’t get anywhere near so we gave up and went elsewhere. My friend had the pie which they said they’d enjoyed and someone else had fish and chips which was good enough. We didn’t wait long for food at all which was surprising seeing how busy it was. Sorry but I will not be returning.

An excellent pub with well prepared meals, particularly the Sunday roasts. A wide selection of drinks are available. The naval bric-a-brac is amazing, which helps create a good ambience. Naval personnel often meet their families in the Ships Anson for a family get together. Sports are shown on the TV screens which is really good if you can get the table next to the log fire in the middle of winter! Well worth a visit and keep it up!

Always get a good pint of ale in here and always a good atmosphere.

My first visit since the fire, and pleased to say the fire hasn't destroyed the atmosphere and nostalgia of the place. This was the first pub in Pompey I visited as a young naval rating back in the 90s, and it's still the best pub in Pompey over a quarter of a century later

The staff were more interested in having a laugh and chatting at the end of the bar then serving waiting customers and the food was not worth the money

Met up with 2 old ship mates. They both bought my book. The fresh Foods Grand Day Out. By Tony O'Kill. We all bought a drinks for each other. Lovely place lots of families. Some watching boring football. Most just chatting. Left to come home. On the way I bought o sausage in batter in the chippy. Thank you to all the hard working stall. Until we meet again. Gents please wash your hands after visiting the toilets please. Cheers

A wonderful pub with loads of character and charm. The atmosphere was great and the staff are very friendly!

Beautiful authentic pub with a lot of attention to the maritime decoration of the building. Great for a pleasant evening. The food is not very special. Thought the price of the fish and chips was mediocre for what I got. Friendly service and a wide choice of alcohol.

Absolutely amazing pub to visit, rich in naval history and everyone in there's so freindly

Popped in for a meal last night and a couple of drinks. Great pub and the food was delicious. Staff were friendly especially Emma who chatted to us about the history of the docks.

We were on a long weekend break at Hayling Island, and this pub was just down the road, so we went here for our main evening meal (twice)! As a party of 9, we booked for the first time and were seated at a lovely glassed topped cartwheel table. Ale, wine and coffee are good and a menu for all tastes. Waiters/waitresses lovely and service prompt. A very relaxing experience. Plenty of parking. Reasonable prices. Recommended.

Nice pub on the waterfront opposite Portsmouth Harbour station. Only had a drink, but it was busy and clearly popular. Good atmosphere. Ideal if waiting for a train.

Very friendly staff, good selection of beers, reasonably priced. Also do food 😉😊👍

It's nice to go back to Pompey. Really nice pub. The staff are very good and always willing to help and have a good sense of humour. A very good range of beers. The food was really good. I just had a burger and that was great. I would consider driving from Crawley just to go for the food

Staff lovely, great service, food lovely to, always enjoy ship Anson

Security made you leave as soon as he thinks you have been there to long

Tasty food busy during lunch time

One of the best pubs on the Island. Great atmosphere even on the coldest of days. Always a warm welcome. Great food and bar selection.

This spot is a top boozer in my opinion. I love the vibe and the feel I get from here. Would recommended to anyone in the area.

Avoid. Power hungry doormen. 'Attempted' to visit for 1 drink before getting the boat with my brother and father, after a matchday in Portsmouth. (Like we do every time we visit!) on Saturday the 9th Nov' @17:40. Unfortunately didn't get a name. Doorman singled me out and let my family in but not me, saying I 'look like I've had too much to drink' and wouldn't be reasoned with and 'didn't believe me when I said I'd had a 2 pints with lunch 4 hours ago. I LEGALLY COULD HAVE DROVE. Couldn't give me a genuine reason other than based on my natural looks, which I find very offensive. I gave no reason whatsoever to have thought this. Guy couldn't even keep a straight face whilst talking to me. This put a real dampner on the day for me and is still annoying me today. Hope action is taken, though I can’t imagine it will be. AVOID.

We came today as part of Remembrance Day after the church service at whale island x Lovely Sunday roast with all the trimmings cooked well and served with loving care x Great customer service really lovely day all round x Thanks to Terry and his team x

Absolutely the best roast dinner we’ve had out in ages really lovely food great atmosphere and top notch customer service highly recommend a visit you won’t be disappointed.

Popped in for a pint before going into HMS Warrior for Pickle night. Great pub, great beer.

Great pub , just outside The Historic Dockyard and opposite HMS Warrior . Bit of history , then a few beers . Lots of RN regalia on the walls.

Update Your request for details as follows; The chicken was grossly undercooked and was not fit for human consumption. There were multiple main ingredients missing from both our food orders. In summary, there can be no excuses for such a blatant disregard of food hygiene. Furthermore, the absence of multiple ingredients from food orders is not acceptable. We trust this short reply will assist you in identifying and rooting out serious inconsistencies from within your catering staff. Date/time of visit: 5 November, 5pm.

Great atmosphere..felt at home in this real cosy venue.. very quirky and a good bunch of people.. well done to you for having a genuine local pub 👍

Great mate lots pub,plenty of atmosphere, worth a visit

Came here on the 1st November, the karoke guy was extremely Rude. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone! You can only sing 2 songs the whole night. The karoke guy is a lier and a very horrible person. Bad bad bad!!!

they were letting customers try their new festive menu today for free…it is very kind of them I had the festive burger which was great…it has a turkey croquette in it which was lush…thank you Ship Anson…

Always a pleasure in The Ship Anson

Great atmosphere, good wine choices.

Great pub. Good staff. Better drinks selection now under new management. Love the guest pump. Food is OK and gets very very busy

Family of 3 teenagers and 4 adults Amazing atmosphere watched football Great food and staff were amazing Definitely recommend

Great evening out with a great atmosphere.

A good place where one is most likely to find an ex Royal Navy shipmate

Clean and tidy GK pub on the Hard with views over the Warrior and close to the Historic Dockyard and HMS Victory. Food served all day. Several ales available from the Green-King estate. Friendly and pleasant staff are very attentive. Discount given to AF Veterans and Camra members.

Friendly staff. Karaoke on a Friday and Saturday with CJ. Great Atmosphere

Chill pub. Was here form lunch. Nice atmosphere. Great food. And nice halloween lighting

Very busy and a fight started and the doormen just watched a man get beat up and only when ot was over they got first aid kit. The barman just closed tbe door

Really good pub. Highly recommend the Pirate Ale. Really tasty and goes down extremely well.I sampled a couple just for you so I could leave an accurate review. Wife says the lager is nice too. Definitely worth a visit.

So many people all the time, no seating and really loud. You can't hear any conversation.

Was busy when we visited. Stood outside. Need more seating area.

A great historic pub with loads of character. Ideally situated in the city for transport links, the Historic Dockyard and Gunwharf. The pub itself is a large building and is also the meeting place for many a reunion.

Great staff. Great mixed crowd and atmosphere really good on a Saturday afternoon.

Great atmosphere and lovely choices of beers. Close to the Historic Dockyard

Even though it was busy I got served in a reasonable time and the drinks and service was good.

My daughter is a vegetarian, and she told me it's hard to get a veggie burger "right." The one at Ship Anson was so good, she was dreaming about it for the rest of our trip to England! I had the vegetarian chili, and it, also, was the best meal of my vacation. Highly recommended!

It’s been years since I last visited there and was pleasantly surprised. A traditional English pub with no frills and serving good bear and food. I will return

Great food great atmosphere great prices

great food at a sensible price, very friendly staff will recommend to friends.

Lovely food, great pub, full of atmosphere, excellent service even though very busy, definitely recommend

A nicely classic looking pub across from the pier, a good atmosphere and vibe, and even though it got busy, it wasn't so loud you couldn't hear yourself speak. The service was good, though we did have a long wait for drinks and food to come out, but when it did, we were very happy with the portions and flavour of everything. Their chicken wings are excellent, and fries are super seasoned and tasty, just what you want when you're hungry!

A very busy and a very nice pub, Big shout out to the owners 10% discount to all armed forces 😀 that is lovely.

Americans in Portsmouth. Great service, delicious food and fair prices! This place is as enjoyable to visit as the food is delicious to eat! A great place to spend the day on the waterfront in Portsmouth. And don’t forget the beer list!!

Lovely food Amazing atmosphere Too

A Proper Pub,serving good honest food,even got service with a smile,Excellent Atmosphere ,with a good mixture of Clientele,will return on my next visit to Portsmouth!!,Cheers, K

Lovely atmosphere, lovely service. 😊

Meal excellent value for money. Atmosphere good, but a bit noisy for me. A good place to visit.

Opposite the Naval Museum Socks, this gorgeous old pub is bristling with atmosphere, history, character and is cozy on a summers day or winter. Large range of ales from tap beer to bottled and the meals are fantastic!

A lovely pub with plenty of atmosphere and a covered aria for smoking. Situated directly outside the train station and the historic dockyard with a nice view of Admiral Nelson's Victory. Perfect for a family or company event, easily room for about 100 people.

The Ship Anson is handy for staff and visitors to the historic dockyard. The staff are nice and it's not too crowded.

Just a suberb Navy pub! Veterans discount too! Loved it!⚓️😀

Brought some chips from shop next to it and a beer in here and the made me sit on the curb

We had a delicious lunch. I had a chicken club and it was the best I have had in a long time. We were visiting from Canada and learned to order at the bar. Well done!

Having spent the best part of 7 hours travelling from Sunderland to visit Portsmouth and the area, my partner and I went to this pub for some well required food. What a disappointment! Having literally just walked through the doors and looking for somewhere to sit (and my partner looking at what to drink), it wasn't encouraging to be barked at by the staff demanding to know what we wanted to order, them huffing and puffing when we couldn't answer immediately. After finding a seat and re-approaching the bar, a different member of staff continued with the same 'couldn't care less' attitude. Drinks ordered successfully. Food less so - I was informed after ordering the chicken that there wasn't any, on questioning what alternative chicken options there were, was told salad. Yet I managed to order katsu chicken burger. Which was overloaded with sauce to a sickly level. Steak for my partner to be cooked medium, was responded with 'we do pink or well-done. That's your only choice'. Well done chosen, and was it well done - practically cremated! We couldn't eat the food due to them being particularly unpleasant, despite the cost. On leaving, a staff member asked if we had enjoyed our meals (what do you think, you're clearing up our almost full plates!) When we said the meals didn't taste very nice, the response we received was 'ah, oh, ok. We've heard that before'. Didn't even try any damage limitation! Though I guess by our accents, they probably thought they didn't need to try for our return custom. They would have been stuck if we'd moved to the area! Shame.

We went for a meal and a drink after shopping at Gunwharf Quays. We were greeted with warm smiles and cheerful words. Service was swift and efficient. The food was excellent. I have tried several of the beers over time and the cellarage is first class. A big thank you and well done to the staff.

We stayed in the campsite for one night and went for a drink to experience the rudeness we had read about on other reviews......unfortunately we were welcomed with a wonderful group playing music in an informal jam session and very friendly new managers, we even stayed for a second drink! We would thoroughly recommend, whilst we didn't eat the menu looked good.

Lovely pint of Guinness ,watching the world go bye ⚓️🍻

Great sea front bar. Large lounge, lots of outside tables and draught stella. Still good, even after the fire . . . And still a good pint!

The staff in here are an absolute credit!! Greatest location, always good people in there, very friendly and the best value place for a sundowner in Portsmouth 😊

Last minute trip out for a Fantastic breakfast at an amazing price, friendly staff, easily got a table and very quick service. Will definitely return

We ordered a steak sandwich and chicken salad. There was hardly any steak on the sandwich all bread. My husband had to ask where our food was as we had waited about 20-25 mins. The barmaid checked and came back and 10 mins. No apology or explanation. Only other words were do you want another drink. We were asked how the food was but I wasn't comfortable complaining as she was quite aggressive and again asked if we wanted more drinks. My sandwich said served with salad this consisted of lots of leaves 1 slice of cucumber and 3 small pieces of watermelon. Really disappointed and wish we had chosen another pub. Thanks for answering my review however I would like to answer a couple of points. We were never advised of a wait as we wouldn't have ordered. We were never offered a free drink we were asked if she could get us another drink which is not offering a drink on the house. I am happy to accept explanations for things that were not right but not when untruths are the explanations l.

Good beer and good atmosphere, very busy and lively.

Visited this pub for the first time in over 20 years and was quite impressed. The first thing I noticed was that it’s bigger and has more frontage than it used to have. Later found out that they bought the pub next door and knocked through. It’s a cheerful place, great if your armed forces or veteran as they give discount. Quite a few families here eating lunch. Lovely day so we sat outside enjoying the sun and watching the harbour etc. really top line as far as the drinks selection goes. Staff are really friendly and looking to chat whilst serving. Still got to be the place to drink if your on The Hard.

Really nice atmosphere, great ales and emergency services and forces get a discount. Only down side for me is the TVs showing football to every corner of the pub, making conversation very loud and difficult.

After an eating disappointment on South Parade Pier I fancied a pint so I went to The Ship Anson. The place was packed but I was served straight away by a smiling friendly lady. The Golden Hen beer was cool and tasty and went down a treat. But best of all it was only £3.80. I am used to paying over £5 for a pint at local Fuller's pubs. Well worth a visit.

Loved the food! If you enjoy watching sports, especially football, this is a place for you. The environment is as you suspect a pub to be. Brilliant service.

Fish and chips today,steak sandwich yesterday, no complaints, food was good, service good, nice atmosphere, prices great, would recommend.

Nice pub. Decent beers and food was fine. Usually it gets very busy here with tourists as it’s close to the Portsmouth dockyard, we went at lunchtime and it was quite empty and had a relaxed vibe.

I recently visited Ship Anson for some fish and chips, and I was impressed with the food quality. The fish was fresh, flavorful, and juicy, with a perfectly crispy batter. The potatoes were fresh as well. However, I feel the experience could be improved if the sauces were homemade. On the downside, the service was mediocre. I didn't see any smiles from the staff when I walked in. -

Yuuuuck food. I discourage anyone from getting their salad. Chicken, dry. Vegetables, soggy. Potatoes, gross. I wouldn’t be surprised if the potatoes they use are expired. The watermelon was literally just five TINY cubes of watermelon. Sorry.

Nice Royal Navy pub in Portsmouth

Another very average pub. Reasonable selection of real ale, but clearly with a Greene King focus which is always a shame! Staff very much more interested in talking to each other than providing any sense of service to the customer - albeit you get served reasonably quickly.

Love the ship anson. Always something going on and the atmosphere is amazing. Love the Karaoke at a weekend. Xx

Excellent value, good beer, good food, lively atmosphere, friendly staff.

Come in whenever I visit Portsmouth was definitely busier than other visits but this seemed to affect the food quality I'm already mine seemed a bit over done

Friendly pub with a relaxed atmosphere and good selection of draft beer and cider (thatchers). Very convenient location for the Portsmouth Harbour train station, bus terminal, Gunwharf Quays and the historic dockyard. Wheelchair accessible.

Great Pub, fantastic hospitality and good service. Discount for HM Forces. Well done.

Appalling food, atmospheric yes, but for that read tatty old and grubby.

One of my favourite places when visiting Pompey, popular with Navy staff, good atmosphere and good changing selection of ales, have the sport on too