The Alchemist Portsmouth

Head down to Gunwharf Quays and you'll find yourself in The Alchemist, where the bartenders treat cocktail-making like a proper craft. The space is all polished concrete and moody lighting—very 2020s Portsmouth waterfront—but what really gets you is watching your drink come together with dry ice, flaming citrus peels, or whatever theatrical touch they've dreamed up that evening. It's not just Instagram fodder either; the drinks are genuinely well-balanced, built on solid technique rather than gimmick alone. The crowd's usually a mix of locals celebrating something and tourists who've wandered over from the Historic Dockyard, which actually works. Prices sit in the £10-15 range for cocktails, so it's a proper night out rather than a quick pint.