The Avenue, Southampton (Closed)

Review April 2015


Slightly rough and ready backstreet boozer. What would have been originally a small one or two room pub has been extended through to the back in a series of quirky rooms which offer interesting nooks and crannies. There is the option of sitting out the back or the front - neither are very attractive or pleasant options, but at least you can sit in the fresh air.

The rooms are fairly basic and it has the feel of a student pub with modest decor and furniture. The room right at the back, past the toilets, is the billiard table room. Three cask ales on offer. Doom Bar is the regular, with two or three guests from such as Sharps, Black Sheep, St. Austell and Purity. Prices are good - on my visit it was £3 a pint.

Food not offered - just as well, it's not a clean looking place. Good for crisps and a pint of beer, but little more than that. Barman very friendly and pleasant. Loud punk music played in the main bar on our visit. We sat out in the rear beer garden which does catch the sun.

Review Oct 2016

Drove past and noticed that the pub is now closed, and converted to two houses. Seems it had closed in 2013, then opened up again, and closed in Nov 2014, and opened up again, before finally closing late in 2015.

Appears to have been an Aldridges Bedford Brewery pub built around 1869 as The Avenue Hotel. The brewery was bought by Brickwoods, who were later acquired by Whitbread, whose pub estate was later bought by Enterprise Inns in 2003. It was Enterprise who closed it down and sold it off for housing.


* WhatPub
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Enterprise Inns (Ei Group)