The Ship and Castle in Portsmouth

We booked for three nights in Portsmouth to see the harbour attractions, we had passed the pub/restaurant a couple of times because our hotel was just behind it. We rang the number on their website and booked a table. On entering the pub it was very busy because of the six nations playing. I went to the bar and told the young man we had booked a table and he took us straight there. It was a nice spot just out of the main bar, he advised us to look at the menu then order at the bar. We had already decided what we wanted when we looked on the website so I went to the bar and ordered, on paying the chap asked if I had any discount cards like blue light/ student union or armed forces which was good because I normally forget to ask. Our food arrived after a short wait, we had both ordered the black and blue burger which sounded nice on the menu. When the food arrived it was a lovely looking burger, a nice thick and tender burger, with onion rings. It tasted amazing, the blue cheese was great and the whole meal was perfect.

Back here on a work visit 4 years after post lock down hol with the Mrs.. not flashy, good solid local.. my sort of pub!

Met here with a group of friends. Pleasant experience and excellent staff. Did not eat so cannot comment on food.

visited today with my wife and children, kids meal portion size was big compared to most places and my wife had the lasagne and I had the southern fried chicken burger, it was arguably the BEST one I've ever eaten. children's food was fantastic, the kind lady who served us was very polite and lovely to talk to. over all a fantastic lunch out and great place, clean and tidy and the table was very clean. we will be going there again when in the area and we would highly recommend others price was on par with many places in the area and worth every penny.

Refreshing venue to chill out and relax..great menu selection and chilled wine

Plate of fish and chips Prior to my departure. Farewell old England

Had a 2 night break and went to this pub at different times of day. Staff fantastic absolutely friendly and welcoming, landlord walks round talking to his guests proper feel good place cannot recommend highly enough

Food was ok but a bit expensive. Staff friendly and helpful but an encounter with the very sarcastic owner sent us packing as I suspect he intended.

Stopped for lunch. Had the small plates liver and bacon and lasagna. Both were delicious and £10 each. No parking but big multi storey just behind which is a good parking spot if you are visiting gunwharf or the historic dockyard. £4 for four hours so much cheaper than gunwharf.

Only went in for a drink beer was good

A great find, after having no luck elsewhere, we found this pub upon walking back to the car. What a lovely place, we had a nice table with a reasonable view looking out over the water and HMS Warrior. There is a good menu with all the usual pub favourites, all the food was delicious and the staff were extremely friendly. Definitely a place to visit after a full afternoon shopping or a visit to the historic dockyard next door. Definitely somewhere we'd visit again next time we are down in Portsmouth.

Popped in after the Dockyard was closed. Amazingly friendly, managed to organise a meal for a large party and made us all very welcome.

I wanted to return here for the carvery after our first experience here (February 2023), which had been excellent. Sadly our recent visit wasn’t so great. The carvery had gone up in price (which was to be expected in the current climate). Unfortunately however the quality of the carvery has gone down a bit which is a shame. There is still a good selection of cooked meats, vegetarian/vegan options too, and a good selection of vegetables. The cauliflower cheese and Leeks were very good. Unfortunately the roast was let down by the roast potatoes, which had previously been freshly cooked and crispy. This time they were pre-cooked frozen style roast potatoes, which were not nice. I understand that a decision may have been taken to serve these instead to save money or for convenience but it really affected the whole experience, sadly. If you’re not too fussy about your roast potatoes then I would still recommend eating here. The drinks are well priced and the service is good. If you’re the manager/owner reading this; please bring back proper roast potatoes.

Visited 30/11/2024 Ordered food at 14:00. The food was nice enough - I opted for the burger which was well-prepared, though the portion of chips was a little on the mean side. The onion rings on the top were a nice touch. Being honest - all dishes appeared a little overpriced for what was offered - perhaps a little reliant on the tourist attractions in Gunwharf. Service swift and friendly at the bar. The manager did appear a little overzealous - however - in turning people away from tables if they were not ordering food. Fine if the place was super busy, but the pub wasn't. It seemed a little off, to be honest.

Excellent! Great customer service. Lovely roast loved the fact it was so organized even though it was really busy no queuing. The Biscoff cheesecake was amazing. Will definitely be back

Lovely selection of food and beers (all at a good price!

The food was well presented and tasted really good. Staff were friendly and a very reasonable price.

Surely putting ice into a glass of wine then pouring the wine to the required mark is wrong!! I have experienced this before and when questioned I was told that this was the way bar staff had been told to serve wine by the glass when ice is requested - wrong!!

Great pub service is excellent always warm and friendly and the food is delicious

Second week in a row that we have enjoyed the carvery great food great team from team Admiral Drake

My partner and I got married yesterday (17th October 24) We went here after the ceremony.. 20+ people of all ages.. Food great , service great. We all had a great time.. Special thanks to the bar staff Aaron and Adelaide for being so welcoming, accomadating nothing was to much trouble for them.. Highly recommend..

Nice food, good atmosphere en very friendly people. There was a menu for the kids and they recieved colored pencils with a coloring page.

The food was nice however Rude staff serving the carvery with rude blunt remarks not very welcoming with stingy portions

Went for a roast today and the food was fairly rubbish, fatty pork served and the beef over cooked to which no one finished their food, very small plates and the man serving the food was quite rude and not welcoming at all.

Brilliant staff and food at an excellent price, would highly recommend to anyone for a fulfilling meal and evening! Not too rowdy, just a nice environment and place to be

Came across this place by accident- and it was excellent! Met by the "maitre di"and given a great table. The establishment is refurbished with a calm ambience. Well worth a visit. Many thanks.

The food was bloody amazing staff very friendly very clean tables

Arranged a surprise meal for my wife’s 30th, the manger was excellent let me set up decorations the night before and was really helpful throughout. Amazing food and they really went the extra mile by getting her flowers and a card. Would highly recommend everyone to come down for the Sunday Roast , best in Portsmouth !

Amazing welcome and shown to our dog friendly area/table. We were told of the carvery details and how to order. They then bought our little dog treats and water. The food was excellent value and the puddings amazing. But the staff and team couldn’t do enough, even carrying my dinner to the table as I have a stick at the moment. Sarah and team need praising as you don’t get service like that in any other pub. Well done.

My wife and I couldn't find a better pub in this area of Portsmouth. Food was excellent, fresh, tasty and plenty. Sunday carvery was amazing too. Excellent, polite and quick service plus a really cool atmosphere with live music in the evening. A pub not to miss if you're visiting the dockyard.

As always fabulous food and beer. They know how to look after their real ale. The food was great and good value. We would recommend ‘the ship and castle pie’. Very tasty. Good atmosphere and the staff are friendly and helpful. A hidden gem in the port, just by passport control.

One of the best roasts we have had! We are very fussy with our roasts but found thus one absolutely lovely! Was shocked at the price of 17.00 for it BUT it was well worth it lovely meat lots of it veg all cooked lovely and lots of choice! Spuds was nice to! A MUST but best to go end of the month when u have been paid lol!

This is a nice pub. The staff are friendly and there is a good atmosphere. The food is good and reasonably priced.

Came here for a pint after visiting the cinema. Was greeted by friendly bar staff serving drinks at a reasonable price. We have now decided to make this our new regular place to drink when having one of our monthly get togethers. Can't wait to try their food

We all had the carvery towards the end of service today. The food far exceeded our expectations. It was freshly served, of excellent quality and very tasty. There was a varied selection on offer and the meal was excellent value for money. All the staff were very friendly and delivered a high standard of customer service. Oh and the desserts were great too! Thank you everyone.

Popped in for a bite to eat after a long day on the IOW.. Excellent food and a lot of it. Bit pricey but we all enjoyed it. Thank you.

A friendly pub with nice food. It’s very down to earth.

We came in this bar-restaurant with our five children. 5 minutes after our arrival, a man comes and abruptly and furiously explains us that our children must not seat in the bar because of the law on alcohol (they were just standing a moment in front of the tv of the bar). We explain that they will seat with us in the restaurant part and it will be ok. Next, the same man comes and tells us, furious, that our baby can not move and that we would be ashamed to be such parents. Angrier and angrier, he tells us that he does not want us to come back in his restaurant. Maybe, we would better take our baby on ours knees but we tell ourselves that it is a shame to welcome so badly a family, with reproaches and insults without any world of politeness. We advise strongly against this restaurant for a family. Fortunately, several other clients say us their shame for him and solidarity.

Thoroughlg enjoyed Sunday carvery! We both are Portsmouth people and met relatives from Winchester. All of us were very pleased with the venue, food and service.

Visiting Portsmouth this week, and having had a bad experience the day before at another pub, my partner and I were a little dubious at the quality to experience in the area. How different! The reception was great when we walked in, with a smile and a happy hello! Food was lovely, and nothing was a trouble for the staff. So much so, we had a return visit!

We visited on a Saterday afternoon with teenagers and a dog and found the staff very welcoming and the food was very tasty

Unfortunately both meals we wanted were not available but on the menue, after sitting down and deciding what we wanted then going to order we were told they do not have what we wanted, this left us having to pick a second choice on the spot so not very good. The chilli was just very hot not much flavour, rice was hard from being micro waved. I wouldnt call in again for food. Our first visit the night before was just for drinks and this was not good, draft beer I wanted not available. Staff were pleasent but this alone is not what makes a place good. We got a better meal from the chip shop down the road.

Delightful, friendly pub. Food is fabulous and reasonably priced too. We will come back again and again.

We went in for lunch. Nice decor and friendly staff all let down by the lunch. We had fish and chips. Whilst the chips and mushy Peas were nice, the fish wasnt. All batter, which went soggy, and little fish and little flavour. Probably microwaved. I doubt we d go back

Great place for lunch while visiting the museum! It's a great value and easily accommodated our group of 6. Most of us had the fish and chips, but the fisherman's pie and liver, bacon and onions were great too. Definitely recommend.

Decent pub that I used as a base for my 3 days in Pompey - less rowdy than some others in area + staff pretty much on the ball - nice big tv screens, comfy chairs/sofas as well as bar stools + dining chairs.

The food was HOT which in it's self is fantastic, plus it was tasty too. Nice pint of Ale too, again another bonus. Edit: 2nd visit after 3rys still a great choice of menu. Food and the beer were just as tasty as last time. Will be back sooner next time.

Great pub. Food, spacious and friendly staff. Blue light discount

Lovely food, nice staff ,great place to eat

Delicious foods and drinks. Lovely atmosphere. Steps away from the Historic Dockyard and the train station.

The very worst pub in Portsmouth.The food is inedible.Rat droppings everywhere.Hair in the food and a manager that has very concerning behaviour with young children.The service is beyond shocking.Please don’t waste your money or time and just go a few doors down to the shop and on for quality service and food.

Nice and typical location. Food all right. Friendly people.

Very quiet, bar staff friendly

Forces' discount. Straight across from HMS Victory 😎 👌 🫡

Excellent service and right next to victory ship museums and gun wharf quays shopping centre the iconic spire experience

Really nice food. Good portion sizes. Friendly staff Very happy with the value too at about £15 per head inc drinks. The fish and chips was delicious and the pie was impressive. Sticky Toffee pudding was well received by all

Following a visit to the historic dockyard we called in late on a Sunday afternoon for drinks. It was delightful sitting outside at the front of the pub, in the sunshine, watching the world go by.

Went for a drink before eating at our hotel. Went back afterwards to see the 2nd half of the Euro final. It was full, but the fellows on the door did their best for us. The lovely manageress came to the door and even managed to find a seat inside for my wife. Couldn't have asked for more (except, perhaps, for an England win).

We were a table of 11 with one in a wheel chair and the staff and food were exceptional couldn’t have been more helpful

Really great dinner with my family at the Ship and Castle tonight. Great varied menu with lovely food. The service was brilliant, especially the 2 lads that looked after us, nothing was too much trouble. Would definitely recommend.

Didn't eat so can't comment on the food. Lovely old building, great staff, cheap drinks with Servicemen's discount. Well done!

Very quick and friendly bar service. Food is great but a little on the expensive side so I don't eat here too often. Like to come here for a quieter place to drink by the dockyard.

Catfished!! (Literally) Ordered a fisherman's pie, described as 3 kinds of fish in a white wine sauce topped with cheesy mash for £16. What I got was a bowl of mashed potato and cheese, with a few miniscule pieces of carrot and pea with a hint of dill. There wasn't a single piece of fish to be found. No white wine sauce no fish just a bowl of stogy mash which I wouldn't be upset about if it wasn't £16!!! If im paying the price of fish there better be at least one piece of fish. Feel like i was scammed.

Nice pub in the harbour, as a British pub should be. For a drink and with a modest menu. Once you're there you won't be able to leave.

Lovely pub Always looked after us deaf people. Looking foward to try carvery soon.

Poooed in for a late lunch. We had fish pie , lasanhe, fish and chips, Childs sausage chip and beans and cheese and pickle sandwich. All food was excellent. Came out piping hot. Dressed and garnished so well. The food was delicious presented to a high standard. We recieved such a good service as the staff were professional and attentive. I always eat here when I visit Portsmouth

May have been a quiet part of the day. Very nice pub, bright and clean. Good choice of ales

Second visit this year, and we received good service and lovely food.

Tonight the whole family visited the ship and castle all 8 of us, the food was absolutely delicious, the halloumi flat bread was amazing the flavours were outstanding. The whole table of food came out and everyone said how amazing there dinners had been. This place is a hidden gem and must try for dinner or lunch, great portion sizes. We will be back for a Sunday lunch carvery. Staff very attentive.

Service and food was excellent..prices weren't too high..Service was good.will go back again when in Portsmouth

We made a trip to Portsmouth last weekend, and visited the Ship and Castle before going for a pre-booked evening meal. Our experience at the Ship and Castle, brief though it was, proved excellent however. The service at the bar was quick and efficient with a fine selection of drinks. Most outstandingly the manager went out of his way to find us seats and to make us feel really welcome. Unfortunateky we didn't eat there as we had made a booking at a nearby restaurant - but alas our experience there (The Bar + Block) proved awful, as it was one of the worst eating experiences which I've ever had! If we had our time all over again we would certainly have eaten at the Ship and Castle rather than at the appalling Bar + Block!

Lovely pub, not too loud and food was really good. Reasonable average prices. Will definitely return

Having sampled a few pubs in Portsmouth we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of food and general atmosphere, not too crowded and not too rowdy. We had an extremely pleasant evening being able to talk and enjoy the evening.

Food was lovely and look freshly made (no break brothers stuff in our meals) staff very friendly, would highly recommend.

Food was amazing. Yorkshire pudding gets 1*, was hard as a rock. Rest of food 5*. Was a little confusing as a tourist, not clear on how ordering works. Very attractive staff members, especially curly haired blonde mate behind bar.

I balked when I saw Thai, Korean and Middle Eastern food on the pub menu. But our party was tired and we decided to eat here. What we are: - Fish and Chips - Seafood pie - Biscoff pie with ice cream PRO: - Suited to those visiting Mary Rose in Portsmouth as it caters to many tastes CON: - It’s always the food and it was just ok. SUMMARY: I know the trend is to do all other foods with pub food but it’s something I don’t want in my pubs. The food wasn’t bad but it wasn’t great.

Very enjoyable late Saturday afternoon lunch in a friendly pub, situated across the road from the dockyard, Gosport ferry, and Portsmouth Harbour railway station. The pub is modern, clean, and has great helpful staff. Good range of cask beers, and excellent wines. Food was right - nothing outstandingly fancy, but highly enjoyable anyway. Nice atmosphere, and given the location, the right sort of pub eatery. Excellent..

Best pub in Portsmouth no make that the world,can't fault it

We came for lunch with the family (4 adults, 6 kids), the service, food and sizes were awesome. Will be back and I suggest you visit.

Great Sunday Carvery. Staff and food are amazing, very dog friendly, can't do enough for you. Highly recommended if you're visiting Portsmouth.

Me and my other half came here almost exactly a year ago and really enjoyed this pub and the staff were very friendly. One lady serving drinks stopping to talk to me about F1 (I was wearing my Fernando Alonso mercy). We came back almost a year later and were recognised but the same lady and remembered. We had another chat about F1 and even the young lad behind the bar remembered us and even my favourite draught beer! If that’s not good customer service I don’t know what it! Plus the food is very good (especially that calamari) best pub on the Portsmouth docks by a mile! Love this place!

Great pub and excellent food and service and good value.It is in an ideal location as well and away from the over priced Gunwharf quays complex.

A bit of a soleless place really. Didn't enjoy my time here so didn't stay long. Guinness was low quality.

Just had the best fish and chips in a long time we will be back,

Very nice English pub food great not pricey eather

Food(carvery)doesn't even rate a 1 star, it was disgusting 🫣 bar staff doing us a favour by serving us and the tv was so loud it hurt your head, we took a 83 yr old in there after a visit round the docks for his birthday, he even complained about the tv and he's deaf, never again shame because on the outside it looks inviting....

first time visiting in a couple of years. seems to have lost its buzz. fairly quiet on the evening we visited.

Wow just wow the food is a 10/10

We missed the Calvary by 10mins 😭 But the meal we all had was delicious 😋.

Carvery is now till 6 pm on a Sunday, so popped in for one. Thumbs up really nice and well organised.

Lunchtime family meal, something for everyone with an excellent Vegan burger and choices.

We went in this lovely pub right by Portsmouth Harbour for a meal! Great pint of real ale, it does other drinks too! We had a lovely meal too which was Lamb Kofta Burger which was delicious! It was very quiet when we went in at lunchtime but was doing a party in the evening! The staff were friendly and the food arrived really quickly as well! Will be going back next time in Portsmouth!

I wanted wholemeal bread and was today only brown bread...the barman said its all the same.

Not hygienic having the gents toilet lights go off automatically whilst sitting on the loo! No way to get them back on again unless someone else opens the main toilet door and comes in!

Lovely place for lunch, pleasant staff place very clean, and we thoroughly enjoyed our lunch big thumbs up. we will definitely visit when we go to Portsmouth again

Lovely food and friendly staff. Displayed Defence Discount, but food and some drinks not included, maybe state that on your poster.

Fantastic carvery on a Sunday but the interior is dated

A lovely find in Portsmouth. Welcoming, helpful and friendly staff along with quick service and a comfortable atmosphere.

A group of eight of us enjoyed a delicious festive menu at lunchtime today. The staff were amazing, the food delicious and the whole experience highly recommended. We will be returning.

Seems to have been a change of menu, much less variety and much more expensive (£25 for a Thai curry!), food we had was ok but much changed from the last time we visited. No salt, vinegar or sauces on the table or available unless asked for. Carvery was good but the person serving took ages to come out and then seemed very put out that he had to do something! I don’t think we will be coming back, which is a shame but I’ve always really liked this place.