ABANDONED PORTSMOUTH FC PUB | Mr Pickwicks

#AbandonedPlacesUK #Urbex #PortsmouthFC
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Mr Pickwick was once a Long's brewery pub called Cremorne Gardens, which was given its Dickensian name in the mid-1970's, and in 1989 it became Duke's. Refurbished in 1989, the pub was renamed Mr Pickwick due to the author Charles Dickens being born in Portsmouth. It closed its doors and gave its last orders in 2017.

[@kayleighrichardson7342]

Awwwwwwwh no that’s heartbreaking. My mum was the landlady there before it closed. So many memories! Thank you for this

[@VacantHaven]

I bet its hard to see it like this! Thanks for commenting ✌

[@BigShotJD]

Haha my mum was a former landlady as well! Crazy seeing this

[@elaineread2607]

So sad to see this. My ex husband and I ran this fantastic pub from 1994, had so many good times there. Yes it could be lively! Always had to be on our toes but thoroughly loved it. Portsmouth FC matches were always a busy one for us but we never had any trouble. I must correct you on the pool table area, it was on the side of your entry. The part with the lovely fireplace was a restaurant area and the left side conservatory was also a restaurant. We could do 75 covers on that side alone and often did while the bar side would be drinkers. On football days we would move out tall the chairs and bar stools and the place would be packed. Great times, loved memories

[@VacantHaven]

Thanks for the comment! And thanks for pointing out the bits inside, yeah it is a real shame as everyone I've spoke to about this place had fond memories. Seemed like a good community pub. All the best

[@annewren8845]

I worked there from 1976, when John Miller owned it, and it was an extremely busy pub. The barmaids had to wear long evening dresses on the evening shifts, which used to soak up the beer! We had lovely regular customers, and my late ex-husband cooked fantastic meals for the restaurant, as he was one of the best chefs on the south coast. It was certainly not a burger and chips pub then! We got a few Pompey supporters in, but it wasn’t really seen as a football pub in those days. I was sad to see the state of that cooker, my ex had the whole kitchen steam cleaned from top to bottom once a month, as well as strict cleaning standards at all times. It was a happy place to work, but hard work when it was busy. We were given a section of bar to serve, and we couldn’t move from it, as the crowds were up to 8 people deep on Friday/Saturday nights! The video brought back lots of memories, thank you,

[@VacantHaven]

Thank you so much for this comment. Great to hear from someone who worked there in the hey day! I'm glad the video brought back those good memories and it's a shame that it's now just forgotten and abandoned.

[@davecook3840]

Johnny Miller…. There a name from the past. He owned loads of pubs…..and the first of the gay bars…. One had a place above it called Reels…. Can’t remember the name of the pub now

[@aysheawarnes8532]

I know Kayleigh it’s horrible to see isn’t it! I was also a barmaid and lived in the pub with the owner (Kayleigh’s mum), my room was at the very top next to the toilet. We had so many amazing memories in this place! We were all like a little family. The staff/cctv room was rarely used and there was no food cooked in the pub kitchen, it was all cooked up stairs then put in a bay Marie. The pool table wasn’t where you thought it was, we had a little football table there at one point then we changed it around and had a little table and some sofas there. The pool table was back where you were looking at the ‘treasure’ you found 😂 also the cellar was the room next to the back door at the end of the corridor near the pub toilets. It actually hurt my heart watching this video!

[@VacantHaven]

Thanks for the comment ayshea. Also thank you for the info! Sorry to hear it hurt your heart, it is a real shame that its been left in such a state. But sounds like you had some great memories here, and that's what it's all about 😁

[@stuartfletcher2378]

Shame on it closing , Pubs like that were second home for a lot of people . The locals had there position and some had their own pint jug . My uncle Tom had his seat in the Railway Pub in Prestatyn till he passed on . Very nice explore , and a good bunch of lads , really enjoyed the look around . Till next time , take care , Stuart in Canada ..

[@elaineread2607]

I remember the football teams very well. I have a visitors book that was signed by too many to remember. Thursday nights was disco night, all set up next to the red phone box. Sunday nights was music quiz, again by the phone box. I also have a copy of a food review that promoted us so much we were packed for weeks. The kitchen was always busy and clean, although I believe that was the original oven. I’m hoping that 22 years of neglect will help our reputation! I wonder what happened to all the knick knacks? An invalid carriage and trade bike hanging from the ceiling. The chamber pot lights in the restaurant side. Especially the phone box. All left overs from the Johnny Miller days. He had 12 pubs, including Jimmy’s, the Good Intent, Horndean and the Rainbow plus pubs in Brighton. From my memories he went bankrupt twice owning the group, somehow! Jimmy’s was sold while in receivership and now is a high rise student accommodation block I believe. I can remember the day when the Pompey players hadn’t been paid as the team was in trouble. The local news interviewed them in the car park about them not getting paid. We said nothing about their bar spend! I can’t remember names. I have to say in all the pubs we ran, Mr Pickwicks was always a favourite!

[@iceydiamond9992]

Oh yes good old “affordable housing” most people still can’t afford 🤦🏼‍♀️ Nicely caught whilst open, well done. Enjoyed the voice over and history. Thanks for sharing, looking forward to the next one.

[@VacantHaven]

Thanks as always Icey ✌

[@MrRQBQ]

Real shame this pub closed. Whenever I went to Fratton Park Mr Pickwick was always my favourite pub with a great match day atmosphere.

[@sallydavis1391]

My sister Josie and brother in law Adrian were landlords here in the 1980 s .Very happy memories.

[@TheHopelessMusician]

Used to go in there for a burger and a pint at lunchtimes when I worked at Linningtons Renault all them years ago. After seeing that oven I wish I hadn't 😩 haha All the good pubs are shutting down sadly.

[@andre-dx4yw]

i played football for the Pickwick in the 90s. was 4 teams and a really good family pub. after the game we would all go to the pub and with our families have dinner that was laid on free of charge by the landlord and lady. i lived in edgeware road which is right opposite the pub. those were fantastic times, it was turned into a yuppy wine bar and the teams dropped and police wagons outside most saturday nights, was a steady decline till it closed. so sad have some really good memories of that pub. cheers

[@VacantHaven]

Thanks for your insight and memories. Sounded like a good pub for a while. But yeah, real shame it had to end up like that.

[@AdySilverback1]

You never did that 30 yarder past me that you promised. 🤣

[@andre-dx4yw]

@@AdySilverback1 hey mate how are you. hope your well and lifes treating you good

[@AdySilverback1]

@@andre-dx4yw I’m good mate. Sent you a pm a while back on facey. Check your other inbox or look me up. Be good to catch up. 👍

[@Trish1]

What a cool little pub - bet it was popular and jam-packed on match days!!! I agree can’t stand to see all these smaller pubs close down - they’re the ones with so much character🍺🍻 Well done nice video 👍

[@VacantHaven]

The smaller pubs are the ones with character and characters! Would've been a little community pub this one. Thanks Trish

[@hahomy]

Enjoyed this little explore Alex thanks for sharing 👍🤘💖

[@dcmexplores]

Been there many times when going to watch Portsmouth FC, was very clicky in the day… thanks for bringing back past memories mate

[@VacantHaven]

No worries! Yeah been there once when it was open and never went back mate 😆

[@Marilyn195]

Shame to hear smaller pubs are dieing off,the bigger businesses always ruin it for the little guy,enjoyed the tour through the pub🇨🇦

[@megamills150]

Cool explore 👍💯

[@VacantHaven]

Cheers mate glad you enjoyed ✌

[@SueGirling68]

Hi Alex & Ned, this is one of the things I love about your channel besides the urbex is the comedy, you guys are so funny. Thank you for sharing, much love. xx 🥰

[@LadyLucie]

Ray heaving at what’s in the toilet but zooms in with his camera 🤣 some great footage as usual ❤️

[@VacantHaven]

Haha! Yeah I didn't even look. Guess we'll have to wait for Ray's video to find out......🤢

[@AbandonedandForgottenWales]

Awesome explore dude,nice one👊

[@VacantHaven]

Thanks mate glad you enjoyed it! ✌

[@ParanormalExplorers]

This place is class mate. Would have been heaving on match days. 👍

[@VacantHaven]

Cheers man. It was packed!!

[@ParanormalExplorers]

@@VacantHaven ya welcome mate. Shared you out on community page. 👍

[@VacantHaven]

@@ParanormalExplorers thanks for that, much appreciated buddy ✌

[@portsmouthexplore7011]

Went there today with my friends,it was very interesting with old newspapers and that

[@joshires3642]

I grew up in portsmouth and spent most of my teenage years in this pub in the early 90s...Some good and some bad memorys. So sad to see it like this

[@mikepage979]

I was in there for the last home game before it shut,proper class little boozer,unfortunately it's a shame these iconic proper pubs close

[@carolevans5285]

Its happening all over the uk. We are losing our Brithish was of life everday. Its outrageous

[@billdeacon458]

Great job as usual…it’s just a shame to see all the vandalism…

[@VacantHaven]

Yeah man, real shame! Thanks Bill hope you're good mate

[@billdeacon458]

@@VacantHaven Thanks Alex, things are looking up..I’m headed back to work this week after 15 month lay off…I’m so great full to all you great explorers for keeping me sane this whole time…I look forward to joining another live soon…cheers and hope your good as well…

[@VacantHaven]

@@billdeacon458 awesome news mate! And thanks for the kind words, catch up with ya soon.

[@FANTASMAHOUSEPARANORMAL]

This is awesome, subbed you from Paranormal Explores.. we’re in Pompey at the moment, you seem to have a few down here, good stuff 💀👍

[@VacantHaven]

Nice one mate! Yeah I'll give your guys channel a sub too. Yeah plenty of places to explore here

[@FANTASMAHOUSEPARANORMAL]

I’m originally from Pompey, grew up here 💀👍

[@VacantHaven]

@@FANTASMAHOUSEPARANORMAL cool! Same mate, I was born literally 2 mins away from this pub lol

[@BalearicBeatnik]

walked past here not long ago and got some spooky footage of that curtain blowing in the night air.

[@VacantHaven]

It's definitely creepy looking now. Saw it the other day and looks a bit worse than when we filmed. Thanks for watching 👍

[@mashaallah8797]

Very nice video from lndia

[@NaomisAdventures]

That place looks awesome

[@Chrismartin88]

Don’t have a underground cellar it’s in the building at the back

[@neiltrevatt]

It’s demolished now completely flat ground just sitting there

[@glenyshanlon5112]

Sad the good old pubs of the past. Just eating places now with no character 🙃 not like the good old local nice find boys .

[@Dinkum_Aussie]

Jam Rag 😂 Cheers 🍻 😎👍

[@VacantHaven]

Lol cheers 🍻 Dinkum

[@matth1210]

The pub has now been demolished

[@miamiglia]

Been some mental fights in that pub that’s for sure

[@VacantHaven]

I can imagine that 😆👍

[@Chrismartin88]

Been accessible for a very long time went here 2 years ago

[@VacantHaven]

OK mate thanks! It's always been re-boarded up when I've been

[@nickyrichardson6839]

I was the last landlady there. I closed the doors for the last time breaks my heart to see it in such disrepair. 😢

[@VacantHaven]

@@nickyrichardson6839 thanks for commenting. I bet It is a real shame to see it like this now, I'm sure you put a lot of hard work into this place.

[@nickyrichardson6839]

@@VacantHaven yes its heart breaking seeing it like that. The cooker had been condemned for year's. The pool team captain was Darren Glover. We could get up to 330 people in on a football day.

[@VacantHaven]

@@nickyrichardson6839 Yeah we saw the thing about Darren being pool captain and about him and his Mrs first kiss in 2006. Great memories by the sound of it.

[@leonlummis84]

Such a shame to see a grate look pub shut. I bet my step dad used to drink there before the game. 😂

[@VacantHaven]

It is mate! Real hard to see these once thriving community pubs left to rot!

[@joolzedwards6182]

Many a great evening with friends girls only wink wink loved it

[@un-_-known688]

Thanks vacant

[@unclassified63]

Not another 40 minutes waiting for ray lol, portsmouth not far from me.

[@VacantHaven]

Not this time lol. Portsmouth is a good place for Exploring with all the history surrounding the city

[@glynwatkins9968]

oi oi vacant

[@VacantHaven]

Oi oi Glyn ✌

[@dannytheexplorer5889]

I made a vid here a week ago

[@VacantHaven]

Nice one mate, I'll check it out 😁👍

[@johnjackson1658]

Jamrag…, well , that’s got rid of the female fans of vacant haven, well done…

[@OxfordsFinestExplorer]

Cool video bro 👊❤️

[@VacantHaven]

Thanks Mate ✌✌

[@wendythomas5237]

Alex are you a Ned twins?

[@tardistime6857]

They really need todo something with it

[@VacantHaven]

It's getting worse every time I see it!

[@tardistime6857]

@@VacantHaven who owns It now ?

[@VacantHaven]

@@tardistime6857 my theory is it will be sold off by the council maybe and demolished pretty soon

[@Ghost-jk1lp]

Got in through the window what I smashed with my uncle 😂