Ship Anson — Restaurant in Portsmouth

Awful pub vile staff. I popped in to meet a friend there so the plan wasn’t to stay long and she was already drinking there along with a friend of hers. I had only just ordered a coke and vodka, drank it then went to the toilet with the two girls. The whole time a blonde/white haired older female staff member was pottering between behind the bar and cleaning tables, she already seemed to have a issue with the third girl of our little group which at the time I didn’t know why yet. She kept staring at her and actually nudging her whenever she passed, later come to find out her son was the one who worked behind the bar and he was seeing that third girl that was with us which this older staff member didn’t like.

After learning this though thought nothing of it as she already showed unprofessionalism but didn’t think she’d go any further. Anyway back to finishing the drink and heading into the toilet with the girls, I was waiting my turn by our bags on the sink while other people were using the loo and the older white haired woman actually came into the toilet and went straight into our bags as they were behind me on the sink. Didn’t care about me trying to somewhat push her hand away and saying “I’m sure you’re not allowed to do that.” I didn’t want to be too rough because I wanted another drink I had just got there 😂 the two my friend and the third girl who was sleeping with the white haired woman’s son came out of their toilets and straight away she started telling the girl who was sleeping with her son to get out because she had caught her sneaking drinks under the table. Couldn’t find anything in the bags though? Was disgusting. For a grown woman who is staff in a pub, shouldn’t be behaving in such a way. Don’t work with your son if you’re going to get involved in his sex life. And don’t think you’ve got a right to go through peoples things because the girl we’re with is sleeping with your son. We didn’t get thrown out nothing came of it the woman obviously had petty issues. Really weird to see of a old woman. But don’t expect anything...

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...

I haven't been to this pub for over 30 years and my memories of it then, fading, are of a lively, noisey, establishment, full of young men in high spirits, blue uniforms and round white hats (just like what I was wearing) It was also frequented quite often by the Regulating Branch armed with night sticks and hand-cuffs. As I say, it was a lively place.

On this my most recent visit, I noted the layout had completely changed and seems to have absorbed the pub next door – the King & Queen, as I recall - and had become part of the depressing Greene King expanding empire. But the purpose of this visit was because of it's Cask Marque Ale Trail and I would have visited - at least once - whatever the place was like and even if all there was to drink was the ubiqitous Abbott Ale or IPA – good enough beers, but don't they do anything else?

As it happened, the place was indeed lively, although not a blue uniform to be seen and the demographic was older and more varied. But the big bonus was, Black Sheep, Flanders Fields, Gangly Ghoul and Hopspur were all to be had. In keeping with the occasion glasses of Flanders Fields (3.7%) were downed with relish. The Cask Marque accredition is suitably awarded.

And yes Greene King do dispense other ales - if only the spread them to more...