There’s something charming about this pub which is named after an obscure 18th century foreign battle. It puts on live music upstairs and has a good stock of board games.

The Venue
In 1756 France’s Duc de Richlieu laid siege to the British garrisoned Port Mahon and, around the same time, this pub was so named to commemorate the fierce battle. Port Mahon is a stone and cream brick building which spreads over two levels. It has a wooden floor and cream and green wood panelled walls. The lower level has a big soft living room style settee and books on the windowsill, as well as bottles and clay jars on the ledges.

There are board games to while away the hours like Scrabble, Monopoly, chess, Mastermind and draughts. There’s quite a big decked beer garden out the back too, with around six tables and enclosed by a yellow wall at the far end. They host live music most nights of the week in the small function room upstairs.

The People
This friendly pub attracts a loyal student following and the live music nights bring in a diverse crowd - from spiky haired indie kids and young dark haired and dark eyed rock chicks to long haired hippies and pierced and proud metal heads.

The Food and Drink
Strongbow, Budweiser, Kronenbourg, Foster’s, Guinness, Greene King’s Tanner’s Jack and IPA and Gem are on tap and in bottles you’ve got Beck’s, Corona and Peroni, as well as Bulmer’s and Kopparberg. You can get a bottle of house red or white for £11.70 or £9.50 if you’re a student. You can also gobble up a plate of sausage, egg and chips for £5.50, while nachos with chill con carne comes to the same price.

The Last Word
Despite its slightly neglected feel – it can feel like it has been laid siege to - Port Mahon is cosy and quaint and has a welcoming feel. Let’s drink to that.

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