The Hole in The Wall, Southsea

As you'd expect, it maintains a good and varied selection of quality real ales, an impressive bottled Belgian selection and a whisky selection that's getting better. Despite a plethora of pubs in Portsmouth, there aren't that many that satisfy the criteria of a good real ale pub and this is one of them. There seems to be a new curly haired barmaid (apologies can not remember her name) who's adding to the already varied staff. She brings nice big smile and always polite and friendly with a splash of cheek (which goes along way now and then) which made me and my friends want to stay there longer just to see what she would say next. The bar staff in general seem to have a good way of making people laugh so it's a good atmosphere with the exception of the gentleman with the glasses who seems to do everything he can to avoid serving customers. On my last visit noticed the staff having to deal with a particularly difficult crowd but still maintained a smile and being polite.

The food is good quality home cooking which is what you need, only negative comment is that the menu doesn't seem to have changed for a long time and they no longer stock Granny's weapon grade ginger beer. However this is not a choice of the pub I have been told.

28 Jul 2013 12:31