The Still & West in Portsmouth

The recent renovation has certainly paid off—this restaurant now boasts a lovely decor with a warm, inviting atmosphere. The views are a real highlight, making it a great spot for a relaxed meal. However, the experience was somewhat let down by the service. It was a busy afternoon, and it seemed like the restaurant could have used more staff to keep up with the demand. The long wait of over two hours for our main course was particularly frustrating and took away from the overall enjoyment of the meal. As for the food, it was decent but not outstanding. The roast potatoes were a bit too hard, and the crumble for dessert wasn’t the best. That said, other elements of the meal were enjoyable, and with a bit more attention to detail, the kitchen could deliver a more consistent experience. Overall, this restaurant has a lot of potential. The setting and ambiance are fantastic, but improvements in service and some refinements in the food would make a significant difference.

Well what can I say from the moment we walked in the door greeted by a very nice man with a great sense of humor the staff were so on it never had to wait long at all drinks were fast in coming to table the food was out of this world starters prawn cocktail Mackerel pate both delicious pork roast dinner was amazing roast potatoes were delicious flavored fennel or Star anise I think not sure they taste amazing apple sauce delicious can’t fault today 10/10 well done thank you for a memorable day

An excellent location with great ambience, really good service and excellent food. We dined upstairs with a view over the harbour and all the maritime activity on the water. It was a birthday celebration and all four of us agreed that we couldn't have picked a better place for our lunchtime event. I can't recommend the Still and West too highly.

This is a must go to if you are ever in Portsmouth, our favourite pub in the UK with our favourite views. With fabulous staff and fantastic food you can't really go wrong. We turned up on Sunday just for a drink and were greeted by the wonderfully warm and charismatic Barry. Now we hadn't booked a table for food and we well advise you do, however we found a little table by the fireplace to enjoy our drinks. I was served by the very happy ( and tall ) Jack who certainly knew his way around the bar. Now whilst I was being served I could not help but to overhear the customer next to me having a right go at the other guy behind the bar , Luke. From what I saw and heard none of what was said was Lukes fault but he did a brilliant job of remaining calm and de-escallating the situation, so A very well done to you 👏 We in the end decided to stay on for food and Barry very kindly managed to squeeze us in. The food was outstanding , so please pass on our thanks to the chefs whicjwas superbly served by Gracie. The only thing I didn't do was take a pic of it but there are two very empty plates apart from the last piece of pudding which I'm just about to devour!! Thanks to all of you for a huge team effort as I know due to a water leak you were all put under a lot of pressure. Five massive and well deserved stars from us ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Still & West is located in Old Portsmouth by The Point and is right at the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour with stunning views, particularly from the upstairs restaurant. A popular venue for both locals and tourists alike, with a buzzy cosmopolitan vibe. Inside the pub has recently received a decor refresh but retains its mixture of an 'olde-worlde' maritime wooden rustic feeling downstairs, and more modern maritime theme upstairs. The ambience inside is snug and comfy downstairs, and light and airy upstairs. I last reviewed this pub in January 2024 and thoroughly enjoyed my visit; service was excellent and I had a lovely meal. On my visit this time, however, I has a somewhat different experience. The gent who was manning the entrance reception desk informed me that there was no table available, on account that they were either all in use or were reserved. I had to settle for a pint of (admittedly well kept) HSB and a packet of crisps. What I did find annoying, is that several tables were empty with reservation times at least an hour away and one of the tables was reserved for 1930 in the evening. As I arrived at 1535, there was actually plenty of time to ‘fit me in’ if they had wanted to. I think this is a trend in UK pubs nowadays, that unless you book a table beforehand, they are just not interested in your custom and certainly not for a solo visit. Service at the bar was fine, I was served immediately and the gent serving me was attentive, efficient and extremely polite. I don't want to denigrate this pub too much, for I know I can provide a fine experience, but on this occasion, given the circumstances described above, a disappointing visit.

Great for all occasions and a regular for a Sunday Roast

Impromptu lunch for 7 people. They happily managed a last minute booking. The food was excellent, the views from the pub are wonderful and we had a very lovely time

New years eve with friends, a unique view over the Solent in a beautiful pub!

Absolutely phenomenal pub. Visited with my wife and daughter and we were received with a warm welcome. This was our first visit since my Father-In-Law has passed and he was very familiar with this place from many moons ago during his Navy days. Suffice to say, it was an emotional experience as he was not with us this time. I would highly recommend the Ribeye Steak and the sharing fish platter. The staff are some of the friendliest we have ever encountered. This will not be our last visit here.

Great spot overlooking the harbour entrance. Lunch with friends

This was a wait worth waiting for! Having moved to Southsea back in 21, this place has been on our radar for some time but have never actually been. But we decided to book on boxing day for lunch, and well, the wait was over and it delivered with a punch 👊 😀... We asked for a table with a view and we were so happy to be seated at this table with such a beautiful view, with ferry's, boats, and even a cruise ship going past, it adds to the experience. Service was quick and efficient. Starters came out quickly and were so tasty! The mains took a little longer to arrive, but look, it was boxing day, and it was packed in there!! Our burgers were incredible well worth the wait and the beef was very juicy and thick. You could tell this was a proper fresh burger here. Overall, our experience was extremely pleasant. Thank you to all the staff for coming out on boxing day smiling and working hard to ensure we enjoyed our food and the experience.

Amazing steak, Greta views, pints a little pricey

Went for works Christmas Dinner. 15 people, great friendly service, delicious food all served hot. Amazing views out onto the harbour entrance, highly recommended 👌

Went today mid walk for a brew to warm up and sit outside with our dog. On entering my son has coeliac so wanted to check the hot chocolate was gluten free. The man on the door said it was cadburys but he thought they were out of stock and hadn’t had a delivery. I said it wasn’t a problem he would get an alternative. When I say brew, I just wanted a cup of tea. My husband ordered a Guinness and was told they didn’t have any but was offered 0%. He ordered an ale instead. I asked for a cup of tea. I was told the coffee machine was off and it would be 30 minutes. 30 minutes to make a cup of tea! I was mind blown and asked why. They said the coffee machine was in maintenance mode. I didn’t want a coffee just a weak tea. I mean I dunk the bag for 15 seconds most (baby tea). I just needed hot water. Still insisted 30 minutes. The man on the door hadn’t told us so I was frustrated. I told my husband and them I didn’t want anything I would go and get a cup of tea over the road elsewhere. They insisted it was because it was busy and they couldn’t leave the bar. Tables were all booked but they certainly wasn’t busy enough that one person couldn’t get some hot water. I used to live in portsmouth and I love these pubs on the front. Real history but this pub over the years has gone down hill. My husband paid for his pint and we left. Next time we go back we will be getting a drink in spice island instead. Much friendly and more inviting. You don’t feel like an inconvenience.

Had our works Christmas lunch there. The service, food and atmosphere were excellent.

Booked a table. Despite them saying “dog friendly”, that only refers to the downstairs. Manager was kinda rude when I asked if anything was available downstairs. He did seat us but said “you better hope the people who were going to sit there aren’t bringing a dog”. Wait for the food was 45 minutes and came out cold. Took another 15mins for them to microwave it and bring it back, then another 10 for our server to bring condiments and enough cutlery for our party of 5. Food was pretty average. Server seemed pretty indifferent to the shoddy service as well. Fine for a drink but don’t recommend food. Won’t be going back.

Very small portions, slow service and no atmosphere. Look elsewhere if you want food and good service.

Just home from Christmas day dinner, all I can say is what an amazing time we had, food was phenomenal service was absolutely amazing cannot fault the staff and restaurant at all, 100% booking for 2025! Thank you.

The food is fabulous, we loved our starters, mains and desserts. My steak was as good as it gets (yes pricey) but perfectly medium rare and beautifully seasoned. I have nothing but positive things to say...

Today I choose to go here for my birthday which was based on a recent fantastic visit. The last time I had the steak and I would put it up there with the best steak I've ever had. Today I had gravlux and then the same steak...omg totally delicious and as good as the last time. The steak isn't cheap but some things are worth paying for. Staff professional, atmosphere great. 100% happy

The atmosphere was ok. The wait staff and managers seemed to try their best but the food was just not as good as we'd expect other ('lesser') pubs have provided better food recently and to top it off the chef didn't make a component for some of the desserts and we had to ask why that was. In the end that part of the meal was given as complimentary but it did seem a little too late. Hopefully the summer will provide a better experience 🤞

Four of us went there for dinner, we had been once before and it was fine. This time, it was 4pm in December with a relatively quiet restaurant. We ordered a selection of meals, only to say it was average. My haddock and chips was not matching the price and wasn't hot, it seemed like it had been sitting around. The mushy peas were like pellets. I've had a lot better from a local chippy where the prices are much better. Someone had coleslaw which looked like withered cabbage and dried carrot. The service was very slow, considering the place wasn't busy. We certaily won't be going back, especially over £100 for a very below average pub food experience. Definitely not a gastro pub.

Nice pub with great views across the harbour entrance toward Go sport. Very close to Isle of Wight ferry.

Just home from an excellent large group xmas meal. The food was superb as was the service and what a setting - perfect!

Lack of table service was a bit of a surprise. But food was very nice, and ales OK.

Great pub with amazing views of Portsmouth Harbour.

Fabulous views of harbour entrance. Lovey young lady serving who was professional, friendly and great fun. The food was tasty but the portions for my gnocchi were mean and tiny and certainly not value for money. Unfortunately we had a table where the radiator was stone cold. We asked the manger who bluntly said it’s not working, we asked for a plug in heater and he didn’t have one. His attitude was dismissive and arrogant. He urgently needs lessons in how to treat paying customer from his own staff The experience has put us off returning.

Beautiful place to dine with friends. Excellent backdrop of the harbor too.

Delicious Malbec, Roast Beef and Atmosphere! ...so highly recommended! The service is so efficient and so polite. This place is a warm gem!

Good grub. Has great views of the harbour if you can get a seat. Good roast on a Sunday.

Great location, it's amazing to dine with the ferries passing so close to you. Beautiful, cozy dining room. The service is warm and the dishes delicious. A good address

Fantastic views, and the food was good. However, the first table we sat down at needed clearing. The waiter did this, but in spite of being asked didn't return to wipe the sticky, grubby table, or take away the dog bowl underneath. We moved to another table. It had already been cleared but not wiped. The place appears grubby, and the service lacklustre. This has been our go-to pub on our frequent visits to Portsmouth, but has been declining for a while and we won't be back.

Lovely pub great views Had a pint of cider and chocolate cake

Sunday birthday lunch with family , 8 in total. Service was a bit slow. They could have had more staff. We all ordered at 1.30pm for main lunch,with no starters. But we did not get food till 2.15pm, 45 minutes approximately wait. After complaining twice. But the food was very good, all enjoyed their lunch. Also, they did knock the price of one meal off. Very nice pub/restaurant,sea view.

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS & A Favourite Pub / Restaurant in OLD PORTSMOUTH. Sea / Harbour Views & Lots of Ships passing right outside the windows. WONDERFUL Food, Great Friendly Staff Great Beers & Some Lovely Wines are available. 36 hour Slow Cooked Beef Short Ribs were Absolutely PHENOMENAL 10/10. Henry (Our Waiter) & the Team at the Still & West were all Wonderful. We came to Old Portsmouth to meet up with a couple of friends for Dinner. We all had a fabulous evening & dinner & beers & wine. Very Highly Recommended 5 Star review for this Lovely Pub / Bar / Restaurant.

We came here for a Sunday roast a couple of weeks ago. Very happy with our meals and our table was great too. The only thing is it took a little while for someone to take our order but it was a busy day. Will definitely be back.

Tried to book a table, informed that it was being ‘considered’ then got a very blunt email to say my request had been cancelled. Sent message twice to ask why or whether other times may be available but no response at all. Not the Still and West I remember so went next door instead.

The food was good. Service was a little slow, but staff were attentive once with you. Very noisy atmosphere. Hard to hear the person next to you speaking.

I enjoyed a terrific pint (HSB) and a very tasty sandwich lunch (highly recommend the chips) whilst sitting on the sea wall, watching the IoW and cross-channel ferries sail through the harbour entrance. Absolute bliss!!

One of our favourite places to frequent with visitors. At short notice they accommodated 8 of us. One of our party had the haddock and chips. She thoroughly enjoyed it, saying it was very good quality as it didn't affect her stomach at all like some fried foods. Everyone enjoyed their meals and I was craving the fish pie next day!! The staff were very friendly, patient (old people and Italians! LOL), helpful and efficient. It has a fantastic location with superb views over Gunwharf and the harbour. Would definitely recommend this establishment.

I would have rated this place higher but despite the front of house staff being really professional about dietary restrictions. I was served with something I couldn't have and told twice by the waitress that there was no dairy on my plate. I think that if you have no dietary restrictions that this is a good place to eat but would discourage anyone with dietary restrictions from risking eating here. Saying that the staff were pleasant and excluding the issue with my food the service was good. The atmosphere was nice and the outside area had a lovely view of the boats entering and leaving the harbour.

Lovely lunch in the downstairs pub area. We received very attentive and excellent service from the staff members. The fish platter was very good especially the smoked trout. We would certainly recommend this as a lovely lunch venue.

Great food, great service, lovely views

Waited over half an hour, thinking great, food being cooked from scratch. One was clearly microwaved and the haddock, chips a minty peas was cold.

The restaurant, which is also a pub, has several advantages. As soon as the weather permits, the outdoor spaces are in high demand. The view of the large harbor basin and the city's new landmark, the Spinnaker Tower, is gigantic. The same applies to the seats in the restaurant on the upper floor, provided you get a table in the winter garden-like extension. The seats at the window front would be particularly preferred here and we recommend that you make sure of this by making a reservation early. The lively ferry traffic with a wide variety of ship types accompanies you while you eat until it closes and would be an additional nice side effect, at least for everyone who doesn't have the opportunity to make such observations every day. The menu is clear and fish dishes are clearly in the majority. The quality appealed to us and contributed to a lovely evening. More on turtlesurf eu.

Lovely location and good beer with reasonable prices Next time I visit I will try the food

Board full of specials but none available. 45 min wait for food.

Nice pub, Fabulous location and a few good beers, on this occasion only had a pint of red fox and no food. On previous occasions have and it's been excellent albeit slightly on the pricey side.

Lovely meal with friends. Great views of all the boats and ships entering and leaving the port. Good service. Only downside is they ran out of certain beers and it was only lunchtime. Sunday roast could have done with a couple more slices of pork. Only two pieces given. Overall a good experience.

Went for a Sunday roast and paid £20.95. I was shocked when I see the plate such a small portion of chicken not even a quarter just a small piece and it was cut in half. To be honest is not worth it for the money 💰 taste was okish.

We had a Roast and Fish Pie, the view is great. The food not!

Just went in for a beer. fantastic views across the harbour entrance lots of to see.

Asked for a wheat free menu, was told to scan QR code on the menu's they give you, once you've done that, any allergies for example wanting wheat free choices, there is not much choice on the menu, your choice is fish (without any coating) or steak, the price they charge for the food you are paying for the location. If you have no food allergies you'll be ok

Beautiful pub, I liked the interior design. Delicious Sunday roast.

Great views, tasty food, delicious in fact , nice friendly service , been to this place many times and always come back ; highly recommended to visit, best place in the city , but can be busy. Look forward to be returning.

A great pub at the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour

Didn't have food superb surroundings plenty of good views thumbs up from me

Best place in Portsmouth to watch the activity of the harbour go by and have a pint on a sunny afternoon.

Had a very large party. Good good. Great service. Views were exquisite.

Great place to sit and watch the boats go by.

Great pub for a lunchtime meal and drinks

Drinks are a bit too expensive. Guinness is poor but to be expected. Beautiful view.

Lovely scenic spot for Sunday roast. Really enjoyed the view over the water from the Upper Deck and the tasty roast chicken and pork roasts with lots of veg and Yorkshire puddings.

I never write negative reviews, but was so so disappointed with the food and service here after wanting to come for a while. Everything was slow to come out, cold and also came out individually No offer of a discount or any apology. Wont be going back

Lovey Sunday roast for my grandsons birthday

Staff were friendly but service was extremely slow. Given one menu, nothing like the choice I have had before, also VERY disappointing. Food was ok, but nothing to rave about. Friends and family, who have also eaten there before, which was excellent, agreed that it was a huge disappointment.

My friends and I enjoyed dinner , overlooking the water on a sunny sunset evening on the waterfront ... There was little choice for vegans however the vegan Indian salad was delicious , the broccoli with chilli was a tad overpriced , a bowl of broccoli for a fiver! Likewise the chips were a fiver !!! Come on guys .. a little overpriced and unjustifiable really ,a little excessive given there was no special flavour or preparation for these vegetables !! A spud and broccoli ! Ten quid ! Stop that right now lol:) adjust your price.

Bit pricier than I'd like, but comes with location.

Great food, lovely staff and a really enjoyable atmosphere. Would definitely return.

Just love this pub and have for years. Always have to visit when we're in Portsmouth.

Sooooooo expensive . We spent nearly £8 more here on 2 gin & tonics than we did in the A Bar !! We did complain but were told the high prices were due to it being a listed building and because it suffers during high tides , plus it’s a fullers pub and it’s their decision. We were also told they didn’t have to legally have a list of their prices available to the public . We were asked to compare the prices between Burger King and McDonalds and would we complain to those companies. Needless to say we will be spending our hard earned cash elsewhere!

Had a great night out. Staff were always available and helpful. Lovely view.

Great location with lovely views over the water. Really good food just would have liked one or two more veggie options. Good drinks too, could benefit from a cocktail menu.

Great service and food with lovely views. Could do with slightly more veggies options but what they have is really good.

As a first time or frequent visitor, S&W has this idyllic, unusual and exceptional location to captivate and set the mind wondering about what events it has seen during its history. The risk is that the setting is all, so there is an onus on the management to recognise the privilege conferred upon them in managing such a pub, and seeking to match its setting and history with service, quality and value, and they do. Staff always seem friendly and helpful, food is interesting and as you'd expect without being pretentious or over-reaching, and generally good value. Inside or out, the setting is a delight, the ambience and service respectful and friendly, and it's always a pleasure to visit.

If you're lucky enough to get a seat overlooking the water, then it'll be the kind of place you can sit for hours whiling the time away.

Bank holiday Sunday. Roast chicken roast, with all the trimmings. Waiter confirmed the huge Yorkie was homemade. Perhaps heated up to long, as it was crisp like an aunt Bessie's. Not cheap £60 for two for a roast and a drink 🍷

Lovely pub to drink and have a meal. It's lovely to sit outside and watch the boats come and go. Recommended.

Lovely view of the Harbour from the terrace. You have to order inside which isn't clear.

Pre theatre meal with my teenage daughter & her pal who’d never visited before. It’s been a couple of years since our last visit and we noticed a big hike in prices. Judging by the upmarket wine list on the blackboard the clientele’s changed a bit…Dom P. Champagne £250 included. It’s a fantastic location, we always sit downstairs in the bar not up in the restaurant. Fish & chips all round as is tradition on our visits (just under £20) the experience is all about the location for us. Great young helpful staff, with good social skills. Very clean establishment and great washrooms with nice toiletry touches.

Used to come here as a kid back in the 1970s and the pub has had its ups and downs over the years. But today we had a brilliant meal: quality fish dishes served in generous portions and excellent value for money. Lovely friendly staff and a fantastic table overlooking the harbour. Worth the 1.5 hour each way trip from our home in London as Old Portsmouth is only a 15 minute walk from Harbour station.

Used to come here as a kid back in the 1970s and the pub has had its ups and downs over the years. But today we had a brilliant meal: quality fish dishes served in generous portions and excellent value for money. Lovely friendly staff and a fantastic table overlooking the harbour. Worth the 1.5 hour each way trip from our home in London as Old Portsmouth is only a 15 minute walk from Harbour station.

Great view of the harbour staff were friendly and service good

You can sit and watch the ships go by just like Otis Redding !!!!

Perfect rainy Saturday lunchtime venue watching the boats sail by from the conservatory dining area and enjoying a wonderful lunch. Great food and service from start to finish. I recommend the pan fried trout, muscles, samphire, crushed new pots - perfectly cooked.

There aren't really many better ways to while away and afternoon than this. Gorgeous historic pub with a fantastic offering of beers, lagers, ciders and also excellent draught non-alcoholic lager! Food is always very good too and with views like that, it's never a trip one is likely to regret.

A drizzly evening did not detract from the fantastic views, you could easily just sit there and relax with a glass of something. However, we did partake in the menu and the quality was excellent. Special shout out to the pork belly & fish & chips. The staff were really cheerful & friendly. Lovely experience all in all.

Great place, we recommend it ❤️

Lovely food and views and helpful pleasant staff

We just had a drink here and it was lovely looking on the the water

Really nice venue and a great location to watch the boats go by in the sun. Knocked a star off as the Peroni wasn't as cold as it could have been. The Asahi was awesome though!

Sat outside on the walls... watching the boats go by... lovely views...

PLEASE NOTE taking orders at the bar plus service to be done or even taking the glasses at the bar to take them to the table. 2 glasses of rosé a glass of white wine 17 cl £39 or around €46 for me personally if I had seen a price displayed I would not have sat at the bar. Plus very mediocre wine. We pay a high price for the view...but still...plus friendliness 1 out of 10.

Great restaurant with fantastic views. Very good service. Very tasty food but my bream was the smallest piece of fish I have ever been served! Quality excellent. Quantity somewhat lacking! Overall we really enjoyed the night.

Very nice and friendly staff excellent veiws over portsmouth harbour

Great beer and food. Fabulous location ,with the bonus of a wonderful sunset

Great views, good service and food ok. Fish and chips collosal and looked wonderful.

Disappointing. Fantastic location with nice views, but the food was not up to the price. Bream was small, little more than a starter. The squid batter was pale, making it feel undercooked though was ok. The pork belly was overcooked and tough, with 1/2 tough and 1/2 rubber “crackling”. Kids dishes were quite good and the local ale was nice. Bar staff were nice but none checked on us once served. Likely wouldn’t go back.

Very popular local pub with a fantastic view of the boats and ships passing by. There is some outdoor space. Inside is on two levels and I recommend upstairs for the view. I did not eat on this occasion. It can get very busy so do book a table if you are eating.

Situated by the harbour with views of the Spinnaker tower and Ferries coming and going it's a lovely sunny spot to sit out or get a window seat inside and watch the world go by. Friendly staff quick service even at busy times.