Over the years, I've been to the Coat of Arms many times, frequently for lunch on Fridays when it's quiet. Â I like the Coat a lot because it's relaxing and comfy, and doesn't try so hard that it comes off like something from Epcot. Â The food, beer, and service have always been really good, and this place gets better with each visit. Â That also means that it isn't necessarily going to impress someone new when they first walk through the door. Â During the five years that I lived in Portsmouth, this became one of my favorite hidden spots.
Review Source:The Coat is where I take my guests, my friends, and myself whenever I am in need of a relaxing and fun night out. Â The beer selection is awesome. Â The menu is really good. Â It's definitely a dark, smelling-of-beer establishment, but the bartenders are great and there is some serious UK pride going on in there.
Review Source:It was pretty quiet when we went in, but we got seated right away and ordered food. The wings were good, just hot enough...though when I splashed the sauce into my eye it was wicked hot. The fish and chips I had were good...flakey and hot. The other had a burger which was fine. The molten cake was decent considering that it wasn't made from scratch or was reheated. Its not a fancy place, but I could see this being a comfortable place.
The waitstaff was quite nice and left us alone enough to be ok.
They never disappoint! Their menu keeps getting better and you can never go wrong with a delicious Strongbow. In the winter you can sit next to the fire, and in the summer you can get away from the crowds at the deck.
The staff is friendly, and their curried chicken pita is incredible. They always have great beers on tap and a decent cocktail list as well. Pint night on Tuesdays and Thursday and trivia on Sunday! A hidden gem in Portsmouth.
Went here with a bunch of friends after reading many reviews and it did not disappoint! Â The atmosphere was fun and relaxing, the curry fries were yummy and the Celtic warrior drink complemented the scotch eggs perfectly! Â The staff was friendly and attentive and we will certainly be back again!
Review Source:Stopped in on Saint Patrick's day. Had a proper pint of Guinness and a well cooked Corn Beef Cabbage bulky. Wait staff was very friendly. We were given a couple of new free glasses because of the holiday. The atmosphere was calm and overall very welcoming.
Will defiantly stop in again soon for a quick eat or for a couple pints.
My one and only beef like with many other places... the doorway was blocked by smokers.
we had stopped in here a few times, during the day i guess, and it never seemed that impressive, sort of dark and blah.....well it isn't...we had heard the food here was very good so we gave it a try, nice experience and pretty busy place at night, very nice selection of beers and a good moderately priced drink list....we tried the fish and chips which had been recommended but it was good but nothing special, i had the smoked halibut pie which was great, you don't see too many places serving finan haddie....we enjoyed the visit..
Review Source:Great little pub in the downtown Portsmouth area.
We came in with a group of us for some after-dinner drinks and had a great time! Server was attentive, bourbon was tasty, and the vibe inside was real nice. We sat right next to an indoor fireplace that they had which added some nice warmth as we engaged in our beverages.
The pub definitely has a British theme to it with memorabilia all around. I'd definitely come back for another good time.
I left this place with a 30 dollar tab.
I had numerous delicious Crispin' Ciders.
I had a scotch egg that was all kinds of awesome.
I had a french bread pizza.
I listened to some great bands and had a wonderful time. Â Certainly check this pub out if you are in the mood to hang out and have a good beer.
Subtracting another star from my previous review due to the owner comment I received on my previous review.
How insanely childish that the response I got was an accusation of property damage that never occurred. That's essentially slander!
And yes it WAS a whiskey. And even if it wasn't it wouldn't make the rude behavior of this bartender any more acceptable. Simply *asking* not demanding for a better portion is no reason to toss out our drinks and curse at us to leave.
You are confused with some other customers that you pissed off, which apparently happens regularly enough. Why in gods name would I make a PUBLIC REVIEW if I was connected to property damage in anyway? Ridiculous immature accusation.
Maybe you should offer better customer service and you won't be confusing the hordes of people you piss off!
That's fine you know there are plenty of places for me to go to in Portsmouth that actually offer good customer service!
I was an extra for a film that was being shot here and came back when they were open to check it out. They have a very wide variety of British beers, on tap and bottled. The ambience is what you would think a British pub in England would be like, the staff is great and the prices are surprisingly reasonable. Plus, it's next to the parking garage, so BONUS!
Review Source:Great fish and chips. Â Chicken shawarma was good, but not very authentic. Â Had my 20 month old daughter with me and although they do not have kids menus or boosters, they were quite accommodating. Â Visited on a Sunday and it was pretty empty.
Fun music, nice menu, great location. Â I want to go back and try the Scotch eggs. Â They also had pretty decent and strong coffee available. Very fresh.
Best thing about this place is its location and its late hours.
Unfortunately their kitchen shuts down at 10.
So if you are staying in the Residence Inn, Sheraton or the Hilton Garden Inn.. this place is 2 minutes walking distance away.
Lots of beer and I am sure you'll find your seasonal favorite imported from some obscure brewery in England or some far away land.
I was in town for the night and ended up here for a bite and a beer. Â I was actually really surprised the food was great. Â I got a burger but it was cooked perfectly with a nice bun and sweet potato fries. Our service was a bit slow on a slow night but nonetheless the experience was good!! Try it out for a beer!!
Review Source:I mean the server was nice, you can't call her out for the fact that one of our friends happened to forget their ID. Â She really does look younger than the other guys that were at our table, or it might be that the rest of us specifically look older.
So we were able to enjoy our drinks while she sipped on her warm milk in a sippy cup or what ever the under 21s get served in bars. Â I'm jumping ahead, we didn't get our drinks right away, we had to wait a bit and had a nice conversation about how long it actually takes to pour a pint of beer and how the other patrons that weren't there couldn't possibly be getting their beer first. Â Hole in the glasses.
Then we repeat with food, I'm in nervous anticipation of bangers and mash, and I had no need to be. Â There is a casing but for some reason it splits apart before I could cut it. Â I wish the knife was that sharp but instead the skin is just skittish or has been weakend by the somehow dry filling. Â
I want to go back and try their specialty pints and pretend that they don't serve food, or get very drunk before I eat it.
I came back from England 5 years ago and have tried multiple english pubs and I think this is the best one for food and drink.
they have a large selection of black and tan combinations that I always try. Â The last meal I had in there was a steak and kidney pie that tasted just like the pub I use to go to in Cambridge England. Â
It is a bit pricey but thats what you get in Portsmouth
Great atmosphere. Â Tasty beer. Â I thought the the Steak and Kidney Pie with chips was very good. It was rich and flavorful. in a nice gravy with a good puff pastry. Â The "steak fries" were pretty decent. Â I also sampled some of the bangers, and they were very good. Â The place is not cheap, but not unusually expensive either. Â I can see why this place is so popular.
Review Source:Friday night, my friends and I had dinner at the coat, they have changed where they order the meats from and the burgers are now from Carl's and are even better then before!
I highly recommend the Med. Rare Burger topped with swiss cheese and mushrooms  the steak fries and the (can't remember name of it) California Pinot Noir. And my companions were equally as pleased with the veggie Shepard's Pie (it has lentils instead of beef) and the Chicken Pot Pie.
The Coat of Arms pub pretty much rocks. Â They have a really interesting draft selection with imports that include more than your usual Bass, New Castle, and Guinness trifecta. Â I had a pretty killer Scottish cream ale from..you guessed it..Scotland and a bitchin' oatmeal stout from Maine. Â The atmosphere was fun and it was pretty damn packed since it was a weekend night. Â Luckily, a couple of people left at the bar while we were looking for seats and we nabbed their seats. Â Their jukebox has a nice mix, which is fun because I'm a metal-head and they had a nice selection of tune-age. I will definitely have to try some of the food on some occasion. Â I must say that I had a pretty awesome time at the CoA and will happily be back the next time I'm in Portsmouth, which is as often as possibly because it is one of my favorite towns.
Review Source:Strongbow on tap. Free darts. I'm probably here once a week, so figured it deserved a bump.
Still love the mac and cheese... other menu items are hit or miss. It's one of the only spaces in Portsmouth large enough for a group, yet low key enough to still be able to have a conversation.
Coat of Arms is the shit!
Curry fries that'll make you wet the bed, and not in the semi-awesome sexswal way. Cheap pints of Guinness, Bass, Smithwick's and Strongbow, and free darts all night long. All night? All night. All niiiiight loooong.
She ordered the Irish nachos (sweet potato fries with cheese, bacon and teh sour cream) while I gravitated towards the non-traditional Cuban. Only pork, no ham, but that's... OK. Great crust from a solid press and the innards stood up to the challenge. Biff, settle down.
Can we talk about the perfectly operational Pirates of the Caribbean pinball? I totally put the smack down on the Kraken, like, a dozen times.
And worthy of a few mid-week jaunts north, every Tuesday and Thursday from 5-9pm, a good number of their 20oz drafts are only $3.25. Spend the savings on Motel 6 room because, child, you tipsy.
Love it!
The beer selection is good. As far as pub-fare goes, the food is very good.
I love that they keep board games here. Enjoying a brew while playing checkers in a pub reminds me of spending younger days trekking through Europe....I suppose that  is exactly the effect this place is shooting for here. Well...Mission accomplished.
....I have been meaning to come here for trivia night.
"The Coat" is A-OK. Â The decor and furnishings are a little tired. Â Though I did like the classic Ms. Pac-Mac machine available for play. Â It is developing the neglected classic pub feel. Â I would put down new carpet, clean up the woodworking and fix the waterfall in the stairwell. Â I give the atmosphere here three and a half stars.
I tempted no fate and went with a Smithwick's. Â Their tap needs to be cleaned as there is a slight flavor of the tap being imparted to the beer. Â I'd give the beer two and a half stars, easily brought up by giving the taps a once over. Â
I have had the curry chicken sandwich and the chicken pot pie. Â I thought their food was good and I'd give it four stars. Â The service was good and I'd give it three and a half stars. Â On my second visit the server was annoyed with the fact we were paying separately. Â I'd give the service three stars.
Overall I'd give The Coat three and a half stars.
I am a fan for many reasons:
1. Friendly service--bar and waitstaff.
2. Really good food. It's very English, but way better than pub food you'd actually get if CoA were a pub in England (if you've been, you know what I'm talking about).
3. Management immediately accommodated a party of 13 on a Saturday night when the party's original plans fell through.
4. Scotch egg! With sinus-clearing mustard!
5. Atmosphere. It's a couple of steps above a dive bar. Come as you are.
6. Good cocktails--a wide variety, and made pretty strong.
7. Strongbow on tap! Available in half-pints too!
Why haven't I reviewed this yet? When I briefly lived in downtown Portsmouth I walked here nearly every night. Ok, no. That's a stretch- and makes me sound like an alcoholic- but I did go here pretty often. I try to go back everytime I'm in the area visiting friends/family.
It has everything you could ask for- the great authentic pub feel, a wide array of delicioso beers on tap, attentive and personable waitstaff and bartenders, lots of UK kitsch everywhere, darts, oh and TRIVIA!
** I should note that my friend and I were on a two person team, surround by teams of 6+ people, and yet we still won 2nd place in trivia here. Smarter than you? YES. Or more full of useless knowledge... either one.
I have never tried their food. I probably never will. Â Pub fare is rarely that great, and UK pub fare is notorious for being even worse... so I venture to guess that Coat of Arms' attempt at UK pub fare is something I can pass on.
This is a great place to hang out though for a few brews with friends! Or for trivia... just pray that I'm not there too so that you at least have somewhat of a shot of placing.
I'm not a big beer drinker, but my friend is and swears by this place. Â They have a large selection of bottled, tap, and cask beers. Â Food-wise, they serve classic bar food with their specialty being British. Â
I can't visit without getting their Scotch Egg. Â It is extremely tasty and served with some good Coleman's mustard. Â Also tasty is their Bangers and Mash, make sure you get the gravy and the mustard; really good together.
On other trips I've had their curry fries and London nachos. Â I've never had anything there that I didn't care for.
If you park in the garage remember to bring your ticket, they validate.
I live in the Boston area, which boasts of an Irish Pub on every corner. Well yeah, I agree, that is awesome. But sometimes you just want a pint of bitter, and though I shouldn't have to trek all the way to New Hampshire to get it, I can't really complain because my quest for British beer leads me to the Coat every time. I LOVE this place with its kooky snooker tables and dartboards and magnificent tap selection. The old me spent many a night there with friends, camped out by the little hearth as we quizzed each another with Trivial Pursuit cards and sampled a wide selection of brews.
Now my husband and I go there in non-busy early afternoon hours and bring along our baby and it's just as warm and inviting, if a bit more sober. I have plans to come full circle and turn into that elderly lady who whoops it up there someday too.
The Coat of Arms: for every time of your life.
This pub impressed me so much that only having been here once, it is already one of my favorites and one of the best I have ever experienced. Â It has the feel of an authentic British pub as evident by the menu, beer choices, games, interior decor and atmosphere. Â I absolutely love pub food and microbrews, but I also have a taste for European beer including porters, stouts, and ales (excluding Heineken and similar skunk smelling beer), and this place delivers.
The Coat of Arms is located on the second floor and you enter from the street below. Â The interior is dark and cool. Â There aren't many windows (I counted two), but it has tables both standard and pub all throughout, and it has a nice large bar with plenty of draft and bottled beer as well as a great amount of liquor. Â Among all the beer choices, you get to choose between not one but two cask-conditioned beers. Â Also, they offer a huge selection of mixed beers each with their own name (i.e. Black and Tan, etc). Â I had a chance to try a porter import from the cask (it was intriguing and unlike any porter I have ever tasted) and I also tried a Guinness mixed with Absolut vanilla vodka (I forgot the name of this mix, but you could really taste the vanilla as it complimented well with the Guinness).
For being the middle of the afternoon on a hot sunny Sunday in July, the place was empty, but we were looking for good fish 'n chips to try and figured this place would have 'em, so we didn't mind the place to ourselves. Â The menu featured a huge selection of British-inspired dishes at decent prices, including the said fish 'n chips, which did not disappoint. Â Not only were the portions huge and the haddock fresh, but it all tasted incredible. Â Three out of the four of us ordered it, while I got a burger and it too was very tasty. Â I couldn't get enough of the steak fries. Â We were all very happy with our meals and quite full afterwards. Â
The only help I saw in the place was the bartender who waited on us, but she was very nice and professional and didn't miss a beat. Â I cannot recommend this pub enough. Â It offers a great ambiance and a real taste of the English. Â With all the Irish pubs that I've been to over the years, the Coat of Arms was quite a refreshing and rewarding experience.
The Coat is my favorite bar in the local area to have drinks with friends. The staff isn't snotty, the people aren't pretentious that frequent it, it's not a meat market hang out type of place and the food is AWESOME. The beer battered fries are soooo good. It is a great pub style place that has good seating, fun trivia on Sundays (although lately it is packed for Trivia...and the trivia guy is kinda a jerk) and plenty of parking around it. The drinks are plentiful and always well made.
I recommend The Coat to all laid back locals looking for a relaxing evening. And I have  to say that I hope it never becomes a tourist mainstay or place for drunk guys and girls to grind on one another - there's plenty of those places already.
This place is the best! I go here every Sunday night for trivia and I always have a blast! Their staff is friendly, attentive, and always knowledgeable when it comes to their great beers on tap (this is what I've witnessed, at least. Still have to wait 5 months until I can drink. Boo!).
Fun fact: My friend frequents this place so often that he has his initials engraved on a mug- how cool is that?!
Also, if you're looking for great food at night, look no further than this place. I always get the Ruben + beer battered fries and they're AMAZING. (And it's pub food! Who'da thunk it?)
Important note: This place is also free of preppy assholes and sketchy weirdos. Check it out, guys.
Best place to have a drink with friends in Portsmouth.
Even on a super-busy night I never find the service too slow or the servers overly stressed. The staff  remembers returning customers which is something I find important and makes you feel good!  I think the only food I've eaten here is the french bread pizza which was basic but tasty.
I dig the plaid interior and the Black Velvets (Guiness & Strongbow.) Â Recommended for people of all backgrounds and all ages.
I love this place. Â I try very, very hard to get in here whenever I go to Portsmouth.
However, that's part of the problem, it's often too packed to get in there.
That being said, the handful of times I've made it inside I've enjoyed myself. Â Perhaps not the extensive beer list of a BBC, but it's damn close, with better food.
Service is usually decent, but I did have a terrible experience here on my last trip. Â Maybe had one of the least attentive and unfriendly waitresses of all time. Â I'm not hard to serve - I know what I want, I don't ask a lot of questions, and I'm not fussy. Â Give me the bare minimum service, be a little friendly, and I'm going to give a customary 20% tip. Â This was apparently too much for the woman serving me. Â I came a long way, it was my birthday, show a little love.
But every other time this place has been awesome, when I can get in the door. Â Best bet - get there before 9PM. Â This place fills up quickly. Â Also, respect the jukebox (great selections) and give their 'special blends' drink list a try (especially the Snakebite).
STRONGBOW ON TAP.
If you're in the mood for a jeans and t-shirt style hangout, this is THE place.  Mega selection on tap, tons of suggestions about what to mix with what (someone in my crew spontaneously created a mixture of  the Shipyard Pumpkinhead with Guinness and almost combusted from joy), more-than-decent mixed drinks (especially note-worthy for such a pub-style place) and a relaxed crowd. Â
Excellent service. Great music. Plenty of places to sit with your group.
Other things I hear they have which folks enjoy but I have typically been too drunk/distracted to experience: Games! Â Food!
The "Coat" has been one of my favorite pubs on the seacoast for years. When you are in the mood for some serious pub grub, a game of snooker and an epic selection of English brew - look no further!
I would recommended the chicken curry with a pint of Boddingtons, and my friends always get the fish & chips.. we call it the "whale fin" due to its usually large size.
When I first walked into Coat of Arms or "The Coat", I smelled trouble, literally. The place has this initial "old lady's house" smell. Once you walk through the entrance passed the smelly smokers you enter the best Pub in Portsmouth. The Coat is a true British Pub, serving a lot of different beers and a great food menu!
Seating: Plenty of tables and some bar seats. You shouldn't have trouble finding a table at the right time.
Selection: The drink list is extensive, anything from Bud Light to Boddingtons, and even mixed beer drinks which are excellent. The food is really good. I recommend the Camden Town Burger with the beer battered fries. The best burger I have had in Portsmouth. They also seem to have some great deserts but I have yet to try. A friend informs me they also have the best fish and chips in Portsmouth.
Price: Reasonable. Tuesday and Thursday are "Pint Nights" with $2.99 pints.
Perks: Snooker! If you never played you are in for a treat. On the back of the menu are the rules for the game. If you can't get on the table then it's still cool to watch. $4 an hour to play, except for Mondays when it's free! I also believe they have Trivia Night on Sundays. They also have a wild selection of board games. Yahtzee anyone?
Staff: Extremely nice. No complaints at all
Reason for rating: My favorite place in Portsmouth. Honestly a cool place to go and eat, or just go and grab a pint. I try to make it there once a week. The Coat gets my 5 star, bang a gong, tell your mom review!
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