Award-winning pub The Leopold in Southsea is to reopen

The award-winning Leopold Tavern, in Albert Road, Southsea, closed in February with the landlord Stuart Ainsworth saying the cause was a dispute over a rise in rent with pub owner Ei Group.

However, the Southsea venue – which was crowned the best pub in the region by the Portsmouth and south-east branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) – is now due to reopen at midday tomorrow.

A spokesman from Ei Publican Partnerships, formerly known as Enterprise Inns, said: ‘We can confirm a new publican will be taking on the Leopold for an interim period from Friday, while we assess the options available for this site.’