Meon, Portsmouth

This attractive corner house was built in 1930 for Portsmouth United Breweries and, until 2009, sported an ornate, original United Breweries tiled fascia. Sadly, present owner Admiral Taverns saw fit to paint over this, resulting in a rather bland frontage. The pub enjoys a mainly local clientele and is always busy when Portsmouth FC are playing home matches. The single U-shaped bar room is bare-boarded and furnished with a mixture of traditional tables and chairs and upholstered bench seating. Two original fireplaces can be found on either side of the room. A series of ornate stained-glass panels depicting scenes of the Meon valley are set into the woodwork of the pot-shelf above the bar counter. There are also four very rare United Ales windows on the southern and eastern elevations of the pub. The Meon is a very sport-orientated pub, with darts, pool and golf all played. A number of televisions are prominently located around the bar to show sports events. There is an impressively large collection of sporting trophies displayed adjacent to the dart board. The pub has a jukebox and there is a small stage for live performances. A meat raffle is held at weekends.