Grove Tavern, Woolston (Closed)

Large 1920s/1930s "roadhouse" pub, built at the same time as the neighbouring estate. Large beer garden, and two bars. It's a little too large these days, but manages to keep itself going, and has recently been redecorated. The car park space out front is popular with the locals as there are parking restrictions in the area. Serves at least one cask ale. I've only been in once. It was OK, and it would be interesting to go back on a weekend with the family, but there's something about the place that doesn't grab me. On my visit only the smaller public bar was open. There were several seats in the corners, all occupied, and a large empty space in the middle of the room. It felt sparse and unwelcoming. I tried chatting, but nobody was interested in keeping up a conversation with me.

Date:  Sept 2016  Score: 4 

***

Just had a flyer through the door with news that there is an application at the council to demolish the pub and build houses. Even though I go past most days, I hadn't realised the place had been closed since March. I also just found out that CAMRA have it listed as having a regionally interesting historic interior.

May 2017

***

The place is not yet closed. They are struggling on. Showing big football matches on sports TV. 

July 2017 

***

Definitely closed now. Demolition fence is up. A lot of people in Swift Road have now lost their parking space!

Sept 2017 

Nov 2017 



68-70 Swift Road
SO19 9FN


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Pubs in Woolston

Ship Inn, Woolston (Closed)

When we arrived in 2014 the Ship Inn was closed., It appears to have been a Punch Taverns pub that closed at some point in 2012, and had been for sale since then. It appears to be a converted Victorian house- with a single story extending out to create bar space. It has been a pub since at least 1907.

A young Polish couple took it over in early 2015. It looked promising - they had inviting signs in the window which indicated they were doing meals all day, and were child friendly. I paid a visit, and had a meal. The place was clean and tidy with an open fire, and the food was nicely cooked, if a little pricey for pub grub. There was, however, no cask ales. And no other customers. And it was a little sparse and echoing. It needed bedding in. It needed an atmosphere. It needed something to pull in the customers. It needed decent beer. I wanted the place to do well, but with no beers I felt comfortable drinking, no bargain foods, nothing for children to do, I couldn't see myself going back. And I didn't. After a few months signs were up saying "Under New Management". There was a heavy emphasis on cheap all day foods, and lots of attractive offers. But still no cask beers, or beers I wanted to drink. So nothing to attract me, but it got customers from the nearby social housing. Just after Christmas 2016 the place looked closed.

It has remained closed since, though as as July 2017, there have been people going in, and clearing up. Unsure what is to happen, but I did see a case of drinks being taken in last week.....

As of October 2017 there hasn't been much development, but occasionally builders are in there. Unclear what they are doing. Some internal changes by the looks of things.


Ship Inn - Victoria Road  SO19 9DZ  - Ind - Children - Meals
10-11 Mon-Sat; 12-11 Sun


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Pubs in Woolston

Victoria, Woolston

Pub that seems to have a number of variations on its name - I've seen Victoria Inn, Victoria Hotel, The Victoria, and simply Victoria - which seems to be its current name. It appears to have been converted from two or three cottages that stood on the boundary of what became the Thornycroft ship building factory. It's a little scruffy and off-putting on the outside. I've only been in once, though intend to go back for another look pretty soon.



Review Jan 2015

Somewhat stranded on the boundary of the redevelopment of the old Thornycroft works, the Victoria is a down to earth locals pub. The pub business appears to have started at the same time as the Thornycroft works were built, though the building may have existed as two residential houses which were then converted into a pub. The entrance to the works were next to the pub, and the wall around the works indented inwards to accommodate the pub. Part of this wall still remains on the street to the left of the pub. The outside appearance is off-putting. There is little sign of activity, and the place often looks closed. Given that a number of shops opposite the pub are closed or struggling, and a cafe building has been part demolished and abandoned, the impression given is that this is a very rough area. The England flag painted on the outside of the pub may give the impression that this is a pub intolerant of those not English, and that, coupled with the scruffy depressed state of the street and the uninviting exterior, may not encourage everyone to visit.

The gravity cask in the Victoria pub

I was surprised when I entered by how packed the place was, how welcoming it is, and that a locally brewed cask ale was on offer. It is rough and ready, and on my visit was predominantly occupied by middle aged to older men loudly watching football. The place is well worn, and is in need of a refurbishment, so is not the place to come for a meal, or bring your wife or children. But it welcomes dogs. On my visit there were several dogs. And other visitors have remarked on that as well.

This is not a pretty pub, but it has a warm vibrancy and it has character. I don't know how welcoming it would be to everyone, and I prefer pubs that are open, liberal, and cosmopolitan, but I saw no evidence that this pub would be unwelcoming. It's a down to earth working class, mainly male orientated pub. It's walking distance from my house, so I may well find myself in here from time to time to check out what cask beer they have on.

A more attractive Victoria before the paint job

Sept 2016

I have been back inside for a drink - again there was a gravity cask beer available, this one from Marston's - Salted Caramel. I sat near the back, and noted there is a small beer garden at the rear. It's an OK place once you're inside.


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Pubs in Woolston

Olaf's Tun, Woolston

A new pub has opened in Woolston. Micro pub or craft ale bar, it's part of a trend for small (or intimate) pubs that are drink and conversation focused. They tend not to do food and not to accept children, the target market tends to be young people out for the evening who want somewhere to drink and chat.

There are four gravity casks on offer along with some keg and bottled beers. Food is crisps and nuts. It has a pleasant ambiance.

The limitations on food, non-acceptance of children, and the evening only (plus weekends) opening hours means this is a place I am unlikely to visit often. Shame, as I like the place.

Visited here with Ian on our November 2016 tour of Southampton.  We had Wild Weather Big Muddy Bitter and Lost And Grounded Saison D’Avon,



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Pubs in Woolston

November 2016 Pub Crawl

The Cricketers Arms, Woolston

Large Marston's roadside pub near the roundabout leading to the Itchen Toll Bridge into Southampton. It's a little run down. It no longer does food, and there's an air of neglect about the large echoing back room, which has a stage and dance floor. Pool table and large TV screens in the front room. Two cask ales on offer - Pedigree and BoonDoggle. Decent condition. Children welcome. Smokers use the entrance lobby on damp days. The place is not attractive, comfortable or charming, but it does serve beer, and is not offensive.

Date: Nov 2014   Score:  3

This Marston's pub has had several names over the years. When we moved to Woolston two years ago it was called The Bridge, and despite what it said outside, it didn't do food. It was a little run down and in need of some TLC. It had a particular problem with smokers hanging around the door. It was then closed for  several months while it underwent what appeared to be a major overhaul. I tried it shortly after it reopened and the large back room is now shut off, and Marston's are doing food again. The place was cleaner, but still had problems with smokers standing in the doorway so smoke blows into the pub. They have a children's menu, so there is an intent to attract families, but despite the refurbishment, it's still a pub I'm not that comfortable taking my daughter into because of the smoke. At least previously you could go into the back room to escape the smoke, now that's closed, there is no escape. I'm not comfortable eating food in a smokey atmosphere.

Date: April 2016   Score: 3 1/2

Back to not doing food, but new managers due in a couple of months when it is hoped food will start up again. £3.20 for Hobgoblin, £2.85 for Carlsberg. Pool table requires a deposit for the cues; games are £1 a go. Music playing moderately loud. Some chit chat among the customers. Nobody (yet) smoking by the door. Pleasant relaxed atmosphere. Normal and unremarkable pub.

Date: Nov 2016    Score: 3 1/2

As part of the Covid precautions, the front of the pub is roped off so customers are funnelled into the old backroom which opens onto the car park T the back which has tables for smokers and a raised wooden desk for others. No cask available so I settled for a Thatchers cloudy cider. It's early Tuesday evening, but there's around 18 or so customers.

From the back you can see how the pub has been extended over the years. There appear to be around four or five separate single storey extensions.

Date: Sept 2020.  Score: 4

***

Pubs in Woolston

Marston's pubs in Southampton

Yacht Tavern, Woolston (Currently closed)

Currently closed until further notice - 23 Aug 2023 

I keep trying the Yacht because it's in a half decent location by the river, and on the way home from Phocea's school. I've been here with the family and we had an acceptable meal in the lounge bar. And popped in with or without friends several times over the years, mostly to get a drink and take it across the road to Itchen beach. There's always been a cask beer available, but more often than not the beer was not fresh. So I haven't been back for a while. But "under new management" has been outside for a few months so I popped in today to see what's changed.

Well there's two cask beers, and the pump handles have been moved to a more prominent position. One cask is off. The new owner says there wasn't enough demand so it went off. Well at least he stopped serving it, which is good. The remaining one is Doombar, not my favourite beer. It's served very cool which does somewhat mask that it's not in peak condition. Drinkable though.

The pub has a number of middle aged to older men, and varied pop music plays in the background. There is an echoey, empty vibe even with around 8 or 9 people in the public bar.

Wednesday night is Bike Night when a burger and chips is under £5 and the pool table is free. Sunday nights there is a meat draw.

It's an OK place. Not one to draw in people from outside the area, but works as a low key and friendly local. If only the beer were better!

Ambiance

Date: Aug 2019  Score: 5

Two room pub - traditional public bar and lounge. The public bar is plainer, but is the most popular, and has a pool table. The lounge bar is better dressed, but is often empty, with the bar staff on the other side of the wall in the public bar. Near to the river, yet also on a small industrial estate. There's a certain riverside charm about the pub and the location, but there's also the ugliness of the light industry. There is seating by the road at the front which is used by smokers. Across the road is a small mostly rubbish-strewn but nevertheless useful pebble beach which my daughter loves. You can take your glass across the road. There is a large enough car park at the back. 

The pub itself is quite decent. The clientele are normal folk - friendly and relaxed. There are live bands in the evening, and there is a sense of community about the pub. But there's a lack of charm and character about the place. It's OK - a solid pub. But there's nothing special enough to make it stand out. From what I've seen so far, it's the best pub in Woolston; though, to be fair, that's not a difficult achievement. There's food at lunch time and in the evening.Good prices and good value pub grub with veggie options. Two cask ales. Looks like Doom Bar is the regular with a guest ale as back up. The guest ale wasn't as crisp and fresh as it could be, so I suspect there may not be enough interest in cask to sustain two pumps. If you're in the Woolston area, this is the pub to head for, but if you're not in the area, then it's probably not worth making a detour for.

Date: Jan 2015  Score: 5 

As of July 2020 open for drinks. Does takeaway food. Holds live concerts in the back garden.

Date: July 2020 


As of April 2021, the back garden is open for drinks only. 

Date: April 2021  

Sea Road
Woolston
SO19 7QZ

Opening Times

11-11 Mon-Thu; 11-Midnight Fri & Sat; 12-10.30 Sun

Meal Times

12-2.30, 5-7 Mon-Fri; 12-2.30 Sat; Closed Sun

History

Unknown pub, Itchen Ferry - possible site of The Yacht?

The Yacht is on a street corner of what used to be a thriving community. Itchen Ferry was one of the oldest continuous settlements on the east side of the Itchen River. It was a fishing village, a home for yachtsmen, and was the base for the Itchen ferry, which for hundreds of years was the main method of crossing the Itchen. The creation of the Woolston Floating Bridge meant the decline of the ferry, but the community of fishermen and yachtsmen continued until the German bombing raids in September 1940. The Spitfire factory was on the edge of the village, and during two heavy nights of bombing the village was totally destroyed. There are two houses on the waterfront which appear to be the only survivors. The village had three pubs. It was government policy to repair or rebuild pubs as they were morale boosters. Given the total destruction of the village it is no surprise that only one pub, The Yacht, was rebuilt. 

The Royal Oak, Itchen Ferry

* A useful blog on Itchen Village
* Some brief details

Websites

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Pubs in Woolston