Yes, it is I, your ever intrepid, South-England-roving, yelper-extradordinaire with yet another review.
Being somewhat obsessive-compulsive about pub names, and having been too preoccupied with my toddler to ask one of the staff about the name, I've done a bit of searching to try and discover the source of yet another cryptic pub name.
On the sign is a handsome gentleman, if not somewhat sissified in an 18th century kind of way (puffy white wig, frilly sleeves, etc). Must've been someone of note. But there is no difinitive answer. My best guess is that this person is one George Anson, a person of nobility, and Admiral of the Royal Navy who circumnavigated the globe. Not a small feat even today, but back then, quite commendable, to be sure. If not he, then it must be named for his eponymous WWII war ship. But that's just so un-pub-like. (Pub names must be rural, people at least 200 years old, or someone's arms, don't they?)
You need not go around the globe for a good meal in Portsmouth, right at the mouth of the historic naval shipyard, and the home of the fabled Victory and a short walk from the Gunwarf Quays Shopping. The Ship Anson was great. The risotto, tasty and not overdone. The vegetarian chile, very good flavor, and just a bit of bite. My typically picky 2-year-old devoured his spaghetti.
Top that with the fact that they serve one of my favorite real ales, Old Speckled Hen, and you have a winner.
The staff were friendly, helpful, and even tried really hard to help me out; with my American accent I must have sounded like I didn't know how to order in a pub (never mind I've lived here for a year). My subconscious spitefully forgot to get the table number, and the bar keep still was able to determine my table number just by my description. Surely a sign of quality.
To top it off, they do have a wide screen, and were showing the Wimbledon Final, so it would work for sports viewing, too.
If we find ourselves needing food in the vicinity of Portsmouth Historic Shipyard again, we might very well go back. You should try it, too. read more