Pubs and Beer in Southampton: January 2017

Sunday 29 January 2017

Brewdog, Bedford Place

Modern craftbeer bar. Keg beer. Industrial chic. BrewDog's beers and style of marketing and production does not on the whole suit me, though I do find some of their beers quite palatable even if the marketing is not. The BrewDog bar in Camden I didn't like at all. Very noisy, clashing, hot, crowded, expensive, and with beers that I mostly did not want to drink. So I wasn't expecting much of BrewDog Southampton, but I have been charmed.

The ambiance

Three visits so far. I like it. Buzzing and vibrant. Large number of beers on offer, mostly from BrewDog, the owners, and all keg, though "Live Dead Pony" is unfiltered. I first visited when I did a crawl down from Portswood to see as many of the new bars that had opened in Southampton as I could in one day. I had the Live Dead Pony that day, and a long chat with the very knowledgable barmaid. She seemed a bit upset when I mentioned that one of the other craft bars had been talking about how expensive the beers were, and she wanted to know if it was the Bookshop who said that. Seems there must be some kind of relationship there, as I had been shown a priced bar menu which I assume had come from her in the first place.

Piers brewing up a dog

Second visit was with my son (we had Elvis Juice and Ace of Equinox), and Piers also enjoyed the place.

Ian, enjoying his Berliner Weisse

Third visit was with Ian on the November 2016 pub crawl when we had Flying Dog Berliner Weisse, and Beavertown Tropigamma.

* Trip Advisor
* WhatPub

***

Pubs in Bedford Place

November 2016 Pub Crawl

Saturday 28 January 2017

The Star Inn, Romsey

Just on the outskirts of Romsey town centre, and a stone's throw from where Strongs Brewery used to be, we found The Star. A solid, traditional looking pub from the outside, with a certain timeless quality, though looking a little tired. And awkwardly placed, on the corner of a busy road into the town centre.

Three local beers

Inside is a contrast to the outside, as it appears vibrant, modern, quirky, and very welcoming. The two main rooms have been rather successfully knocked through creating a versatile space. There is a huge fireplace on the right that is a delight to sit in front of on a crisp November afternoon. There were several well kept local beers on offer, and friendly advice from the landlady. We had Red Cat Macavity, Flack Manor Wolfie T, and Bowman's Wallops Wood.

Warm fireplace and folky ambiance

Small backyard for smokers, and accommodation with breakfast is also offered, so this really does have the feel of a traditional inn.

* WhatPub
* FaceBook
* BITE
* Trip Advisor

The Gamekeeper, New Forest

Homely backwater pub. More a local's pub than for visitors. Quite casual, care worn, and with brushed nylon seat covers, so of limited interest, and likely to be avoided by the middle classes. Wadworth beer and food at average prices.

Wadworth Pubs in Southampton

The Happy Cheese, New Forest

Large, pleasant, and clearly popular pub with some rustic charm. Decent menu with child and veggie options. Three cask beers available. We liked it, great service, but on the whole felt it was more restaurant than pub, and some of the rustic features look a little too casual or new-old rather than solid or authentic.

We returned a little later, and I have to say I really like this place. The service is impeccable. Warm, friendly, helpful. Lots of children and dogs. A great range of ice-creams are offered. While it is true that some of the furniture could do with replacing, and that there is a vague feel of this being an extended mobile home rather than a venerable pub, these are really minor quirks. The pub has so much charm, and so much to offer, that I can imagine us coming here again.

Friday 27 January 2017

The Angel, Lower Southampton

Corner location pub somewhat isolated on the wrong side of Southampton's central parks. I dropped in here after doing the Southampton Half Marathon. The staff and customers were moaning about how the marathon was making things awkward to move around Southampton, until they noticed my medal, then they became quite positive about the event, and were asking me friendly questions.

Crisps and Guinness after the
2016 Southampton Half Marathon

The pub looks a little bit run down and scruffy, but it was friendly enough. It has had a poor reputation for some years, which the new landlord had intended to sort out - but he got arrested in Nov 2016 for being involved in a knife attack at the pub. It is owned by Admiral Taverns, who also own the Waggoners Arms, and the Juniper Berry. They are currently looking for a tenant.

* BITE
* WhatPub
* FaceBook

Juniper Berry, Lower Southampton (Closed)

Large and interesting looking mock Tudor pub in the historic tourist area of Southampton. Stands where Jane Austen's house used to be, overlooking what was then the quay. Serves one cask beer. No food.

The interior is dark and atmospheric with lots of wood panelling, though it can be chilly sitting near a window. And that sums up the general ambience we felt: gloomy and chilly. There's a lot of promise here, and we enjoyed the visit, but the place felt it needed more light and warmth. A couple of chaps sitting on stools by the bar were the only other customers. On another night it could perhaps be jollier, but the limitations on interesting beer, the lack of food, and the slightly out of the way location inhibits a return visit, though I'm keen to do so as I think this pub could be interesting.

Date: Jan 2018 Score: 5

When shopping with the family in November 2023 I felt a bit tired, so left the girls and came in here for a drink and a sit down. There was only lager (and I think Doom Bar?) available, and the seats were uncomfortable, so I didn't stay long, and wasn't impressed. There were hardly any people. It's an awkward pub in an awkward location. And I've just heard that it is now closed. It wasn't making enough profit to keep up with maintenance.

Jan 2024 Score: 3

Owned by Admiral Taverns.

36 Upper Bugle Street, SO14 2EE

~~Opens at 12~~ Closed

* WhatPub
* TripAdvisor

Thursday 26 January 2017

The Waggoner's Arms, Portswood (Closed)

The Waggoner's Arms is just round the corner from the Drummond. I thought this had closed down because it looks so run down outside, never has the door open, and several other nearby pubs have closed, but I was wrong. It's old and worn, but still open for business. [Not any more!]

The ambiance

It is warmer than the Drummond, has better banter, and the Ringwood is in better condition, but there is no food and no women. This is a proper old man's pub. All in all I enjoyed it. I am an old man after all, and the place is warm and friendly, and we had a bit of a chat. There is a back beer garden with play equipment for children.

It's been a pub since at least 1871. It is owned by Admiral Taverns, who also own The Angel and the Juniper Berry.

Date: Jan 2017 Score: 4

Closed down in May 2018.

264 Portswood Road
Southampton
SO17 2LE

Closed.

* WhatPub
* BITE

Portswood

The Drummond Arms, Portswood

This is a pub I missed last year as I didn't know it existed. Anyway, visiting today. Five pumps, one is Old Rosie cider, one is not used, one is turned round, and the other two are Ringwood. Does food from Thursdays onwards. Veggie curry and a pint of Ringwood, should be OK. The Ringwood Old Thumper is not fresh, but is drinkable. The food takes an age to arrive.

L shaped room with pool table at one corner and a TV at the other with the main door in the middle. A typical local boozer with several customers on my visit. A little larger then the average back street local, and a little cold.

Date: Jan 2017 Score: 4

I came again, and wrote a full and decent report on the place, but lost it in an internet glitch, and then was so disheartened I didn't want to write it up again. Comments were about the helpfulness of the staff as regards the meal I had, and that the pub accommodated both students and the general public to create a warm and genuine locals pub.

Date: July 2018 Score: 7

As of April 2021 the rear pub garden is open just for drinks. Enter by the side gate.

Date: April 2021 Score: NA

56 Somerset Road
Southampton
SO17 3AA

Open: Noon to 11pm (12am Fri & Sat; 10.30pm Sun)
Meals: Wed - Sat 5pm - 8pm; Sun 1pm - 4pm

* WhatPub
* FaceBook
* TripAdvisor

***

Portswood

Wednesday 25 January 2017

Millers Pond, Sholing

Wadworth pub on the edge of Woolston. It's near a dip in the land where there's a wood, a small nature reserve, and a local pond with ducks. The pub building and garden are on the slope, which is fairly steep. The road level is not used as the pub, so customers have to go down into what was the cellar, which has been converted into a bar. The main room therefore has no windows, but there is a side room with windows onto the beer garden, and a door way has been knocked through so some natural light can filter into the main bar.

The car park has suffered from serious flooding in the past, which has come into the beer garden. When we first visited the place was a little run down, but it has been refurbished, and there are plans now to extend out onto the garden slope to create a larger dining area.

Date: Jan 2017 Score: 4

Gosh, we've been here loads of times since 2017! When Phocea was at Ludlow I'd come here with a parent or two on the walk home sometimes. It's a great place to take the kids. Food has been hit and miss over the years. Often advertised, but not available. I have eaten here once, but have come here with friends and family on at least three occasions to be told that food was no longer available, or - once on a Friday, by the landlord as he sat drinking and smoking outside with some friends, that he couldn't be bothered to cook today, to laughs all round from his friends. Hmm. So, an OK place to come for a drink and some crisps, but very unreliable for food.

Pub is currently saying (April 2021) on their Facebook page that they are open and doing food. Booking recommended for Fri, Sat and Sunday. Meals and drinks can be ordered and paid for on their own app.

The garden has been refurbished again, and an outside bar area created. The outside area is the best asset of the pub, so it's good to see them make use of that. The pub does attract smokers, and is quite down to earth and popular. This is not a posh place. Be aware that you will generally hear loud swearing from the smokers sitting or standing by the back entrance.

Not a perfect pub, but we like it. We like the Wadworths beer, and the outside grass area.

Date: April 2021 Score: 6

2 Middle Road

SO19 8FQ

023 8043 4371
Opens 11am Mon to Sat, 12 on Sundays. Generally closes around 11pm

* Wadworth
* BITE
* WhatPub
* Website

Pubs in Woolston

Wadworth Pubs in Southampton

Sunday 22 January 2017

Butcher's Hook, Bitterne

Southampton's first micro-craft-beer-bar-pub. This is the place that has started the beer revolution in Southampton. The city has not been the same since it opened. 2016 was crazy with so many craft-beer bars and micro-pubs opening, all of them saying they owe it to this place.

Visited one Saturday afternoon when I was the only customer, and had a good chat with the friendly, likeable and very knowledgable owner. Came back in November with Ian on a pub crawl around Southampton. We had Staggeringly Good PaleAleOntology, which was fairly ordinary.

* WhatPub

Pubs in Bitterne

November 2016 Pub Crawl

Tramstop, Portswood (Closed)

I've popped in to Tramstop at least twice since it opened, but by November 2016, it still hadn't got signage up outside. It is named after the Southampton tram system, which terminated at Portswood, and had a garage where Sainsbury's is now.

Came here with Ian on our mammoth pub crawl, which I never finished writing about, and which we've not yet repeated for one reason or another....

Excellent range of local beers on offer

I'm here again. There's A boards outside, but still no proper signage. Staff outnumbered customers, but it is 5pm on a grey Tuesday. There is a good atmosphere. I do like this place. I'm drinking a Plain Ales Port Stout.

Date: Jan 2017 Score: 7

Opened in 2016, closed in May 2018.

186-188 Portswood Road
Southampton
SO17 2NJ

* WhatPub

* Untappd

* Daily Echo

***

Portswood

November 2016 Pub Crawl

Pubs and beer in Portswood

The Manor of Portswood, which included Bevois Town, Swaythling, St Denys and Highfield, was first named in a charter dating from 1045. The name Portswood comes from the Old English Porteswuda, meaning "wood of the town". The manor was granted to St. Denys Priory by Richard I in 1189, and it remained under their ownership until the Dissolution of the Monasteries by Henry VIII in 1536. The land and title was purchased by Francis Dawtrey in 1538, and passed through several hands before being bought by Giles Stibbert in 1771. Stibbert, Lieutenant-General with the East India Company and later Commander-in-Chief of India, built the first Portswood House on the estate to the design of a Mr. Crunden. The house, which stood in the area now bounded by Spring Crescent and Lawn Road, was demolished in 1852 to make way for more housing, and the name Portswood House transferred to the nearby Portswood Lodge. The estate was gradually sold for development, and the second Portswood House was demolished in 1923, allowing the whole estate to be sold by 1928.

Today it is a mainly residential area with a long shopping street between Waitrose and Sainsburys. It has a large student population due to the nearby Southampton University, and there is a cosmopolitan vibe due to the mix of students, lecturers, and peoples from all over the world. It feels quite liberal, relaxed, bohemian, relatively well off, and vibrant. There are a number of pubs, bars, coffee houses, and gelaterie.

For the purposes of this blog the boundaries of this area are Southampton Common. the M27, and the Itchen River. More precisely, it is the Avenue, starting at the Crown Court, going up via Bassett Avenue to the M27, then down the Itchen River to Northam Bridge, and then drawing a line from Summers St to Cranberry Avenue / Cranberry Terrace. Some pubs are close to these boundaries, such as The Prince of Wales, the White Swan, and Cowherds, and I may shuffle them around.