This corner pub on the main road near Bitterne Bridge looks as if it has seen better days, but it is clearly trying hard as it advertises cheap breakfasts. I popped in here during a training run for the Southampton Half Marathon and found it to be a friendly place.
Went back recently to check it out again. It's a bit smelly - stale sweat on nylon, and a little dark and tatty - peeling wall and ceiling paper, roughly painted woodwork, but clean and tidy. A bunch of old locals were engaged in conversation - they appeared friendly enough, but despite a couple of attempts by me to engage them in conversation, they preferred their own company. Three cask pumps, two available, both from local brewers: Hop Back Summer Lightning and a Hammerpot, the 4.3% abv Red Hunter, which I had, though it wasn't in top condition - not off, just a bit tired. Breakfast served all day - small £3, large £4.95. A pint costs £3.
This is an OK locals pub, which usefully opens early for breakfast, and you can get a beer from 10 in the morning, but otherwise has little to commend it.
Date: March 2017 Score: 4
Notes:
When the old landlord, Joseph Smith, was in hospital, his daughter, Anneliese, took over running the place. She was burgled in Feb 2020, when a cash box containing over £3,000 was stolen. It appears that the money was left all day in the pub, rather than being put in the bank, and as she is worried about the pub being repossessed, leaving her dad "homeless", it also appears that the pub was not insured for theft.
Looking at the pub's Facebook page, it appears that Joe died in 2020.
Pub appears to be currently open (April 2021) Wednesday to Saturday, 2pm to 10pm - possibly Sundays. Only serving keg lager and bottled drinks to consume in the back garden. No food.
No comments:
Post a Comment