Kings, Portsmouth

Opened in 1910, replacing the Clarence Tavern that previously stood on the site, this imposing red brick building stands opposite the theatre of the same name on busy Albert Road. No longer a hotel, the Kings now consists of a single, split-level bar room, with an ornately-carved counter running along the left-hand wall. The house is bare-boarded at the front, with chequered tiling around the servery and carpeting to the rear. Traditional tables and chairs are complimented by a pair of leather armchairs arranged around an original fireplace. Framed photographs of bygone Southsea adorn the walls and there is a small collection of sporting trophies displayed on the bar-back. An unusual feature is the large, attractive, stained-glass recessed ceiling light that can be seen in the centre of the bar room.