Ship Anson

You walk in off The Hard and immediately feel the salt spray history of this place — it's got that unmistakable Portsmouth dock atmosphere, all timber and character without trying too hard. The Ship Anson pulls a real mix: office workers grabbing a pint after clocking off, couples making an evening of it, mates who've been coming here for years. The views across the water are genuinely brilliant, especially as the light goes golden late afternoon, and the staff know what they're doing without being stuffy about it. Greene King does decent enough beer and the food's the kind of honest pub fare that actually tastes like someone cared — nothing fancy, everything solid.