'Dream come true' for Portsmouth pub landlord as Ship Anson cements legacy as Royal Navy 'social headquarters'
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The ‘iconic’ boozer at The Hard has held strong connections with the military and veterans for generations
After long and exhausting deployments across the globe, many Royal Navy sailors find themselves going straight to one place when back in Portsmouth - The Ship Anson.
Strong bonds have been forged between personnel and the pub for decades, with having a drink there being a right of passage. Landlord Terry Rigg knew of the boozer’s deep-rooted history before being asked to take the reins.
“It’s a dream come true to run such an iconic Portsmouth pub,” he told The News. “When Green King asked me to come here, I jumped at the chance. I love the military and its history. Being here is part of it.
“Getting to understand the pub and Portsea has been great, and we’re really pushing the connections with the military and veterans. I love helping them and maintaining a space for them where they can come and not be on their own.”
Decades of history
The site has been associated with pubs since the 1600s, populated with different boozers. One was the famous London Tavern, which stood at the current site of The Ship Anson beer garden.
It became known for the phrase “take the King’s shilling”, where former landlady Louisa Walcott would drop coins into the beer tankards of unsuspecting customers. Once they drank, they were said to have “taken the King’s shilling”, and recruited into the Royal Navy. It’s believed that Ms Walcott recruited 26,572 men into the force through this.
The London Tavern was destroyed in Second World War bombing raid. In 1985, The Ship Anson merged with The King and Queen to become the establishment we know today. Mr Rigg said he’s loved being a part of the pub’s modern history.
“Getting to know the regulars has been great fun,” he added. “We host loads of different ships and veterans associations. It’s great knowing the history of this pub from the 80s to how it is now.”
Home away from home
Mr Rigg took over as landlord in 2024. A huge fire caused by a discarded cigarette ripped through the beer garden and parts of the main building a year prior. It reopened a month later thanks to the swell of community support.
By March 2024, it was awarded the Falkland Scarf by Scarves for Falkland Veterans - voted the best pub for former service personnel. “We’re a home from home for the armed forces,” the 45-year-old said. “It’s great knowing we’re nicknamed as the Royal Navy’s Social Headquarters.”
The landlord, of Gosport, started working in hospitality at the naval bar in HMS Collingwood, Fareham. He later become the landlord of The Paxton’s Head in Knightsbridge, central London, renowned for its connection with the British Army’s Household Cavalry.
The Ship Anson has become synonymous with military life, hosting deployment homecomings and veterans reunions. Members of HMS Dragon’s ship’s company will be heading straight to the watering hole to celebrate the end of their Middle East deployment soon.
Inside, the walls are adorned with mementos dedicated to many of the Falklands ships and Daring-class destroyers, alongside HMS Hood, HMS Ganges, and others. Over the past two years, the pub has raised tens of thousands of pounds for various good causes including Blind Veterans UK.
“The pub is here to support everyone,” Mr Rigg said. “The community in Portsmouth is so generous, so it’s nice for us to work together to give something back. The pub has only had three landlords in the last 30 years. We’ve just been adding it to it. It’ll carry on as it has always done. The pub is a Portsmouth institution and is here to stay.”
“It’s somewhere we feel valued”
Engineering Technician Chris ‘Buck’ Taylor, who has served in the Royal Navy for nearly eight years, is a regular when he isn’t deployed to the Falkland Islands. He said it’s a brilliant feeling to know The Ship Anson is there after lengthy periods away.
After first going into the pub once joining the service, he hasn’t looked back since. “Whenever we’ve come back from a deployment, or on a maintenance period, we’re always well looked after,” he added.
“Particularly at homecomings. It has grown from there. It’s somewhere we feel valued and we’ll continue to visit for a long time. When you’re deployed, you're in close quarters.
“That ability to have some breathing space, knock some beers back, and have those discussions is brilliant. If there’s ever a hint of it shutting, I’ll be out there with the placards and protesting until it doesn’t go anywhere.”
Eddie Seaborne MBE, former Command Warrant Officer to the Second Sea Lord, hosts a weekly meet up with the HMS Ganges Association at their spot - Ganges corner -every Friday. The 70-year-old, of Portchester, said he remembers marching from Portsmouth Harbour station with 15 others, and his instructor pointing out ‘the city’s most popular pub’.
He had to wait a while though to enter, as he was only 16 at the time. The veteran also reminisces about when a four star Admiral asked him to go to the boozer in uniform, and the looks on the faces of the younger sailors was priceless.
“I’ve been visiting the Ship Anson for 50 years,” he added. “Terry is so committed and passionate about looking after veterans. I’ve held numerous reunions there. It’s Portsmouth’s number one pub. There is not a person you could speak to who wouldn’t have a naval reunion there. It’s like a second home.”
Regular Ken Gilbert, former Leading Hand who served for 14 years, said the friendly staff, good selection of beer, and great food keeps him coming back. “I started coming here after the Invincible shut down and I’ve been happy ever since,” he added.
“It’s a Portsmouth institution. Naval personnel have been using these pubs for years. I used it while serving. I’m proud of my service, I didn’t get to go to all the places I would have liked, but that was bad luck. It’s an ideal spot for the pub and it’ll always be here.”
“Never a dull day”
James Barnard, 21, has worked at The Ship Anson for nearly two years. He said the staff are proud to host the reunions and homecomings, especially on Remembrance Sunday, VE Day, and VJ Day. “I’ve worked in a few Portsmouth pubs, but this is definitely one of the liveliest,” he added.
“The Portsea locals love the pub as much as the sailors do. They’ll defend it with honour. There’s never really a dull day here. Because of our location, it’s a constantly changing environment with customers.
“The team we have here is incredible and we can deal with nearly every situation that’s thrown at us. The environment we give to the military is to thank them for their service, keeping the Royal Navy and our country safe.
“The charities we choose are very close to our hearts. They suit the clientele as well, as an additional thanks to them. We want to put our efforts to make things easier for their lives after serving. They help us stay such a busy and important pub. We want to give back to them.”
Holly Gransden, of Wymering, has been a part of The Ship Anson team for more than six years. “We enjoy it and there’s a buzz all the time,” she said. “It’s lovely and a nice atmosphere, we’re really lucky. Since becoming a team leader, I don’t see myself going to a different pub.
“There’s been lots going on throughout the years, and it’s only getting bigger. We get great feedback from the naval personnel. A lot of them are from far away, so we give them a welcoming space. We have a connection with a lot of them. I don’t see us going anywhere.”