New owners of the Old Farmhouse. This is a pub that has great potential, but hasn't yet found it's market. I feel it would work as a proper old fashioned cask ale pub serving home cooked food, but perhaps its location on the border of the multi-ethnic Nicholstown (the northern part of St Mary's) and the semi-industrial units along Imperial Road, leading to the Itchen river) is against that. I've only been here twice. First time about two years ago (2015) with a couple of friends. We sat in the garden while someone was auditioning for a stage slot. If I recall we had cheesy chips. Owners were very friendly and enthusiastic for the music slots they were doing.
Second visit was last week (Aug, 2017) with Chrissie and Phocea. On entering we noticed a lovely smokey cat on the counter whose name is Sky. Apparently he turned up one day, left abandoned outside in a cardboard box. There were two pump clips for Doombar, but neither available, so I had a Guinness. The pub does all day breakfast and baguettes with chips. We first sat in the garden, and could see the potential, but also that the place was overgrown with weeds, and needs some TLC. The large stage area seems to no longer be used - it looks unsafe, and has no roof. There is a smaller area - suitable for one person doing acoustic sets. The new owners were discussing their beer order with a supplier on the table behind us. It started to rain so we moved indoors, which is very charming with low ceilings, wood panelling, and a concealed minstrels gallery. There are two rooms - the main bar area, and a side room, which currently has a pool table. This is a lovely room, with wood panelling and a noble fireplace. It would be lovely done up as a small lounge or dining area with pictures, ornaments and flowers. At the moment the usage of the place as a student venue seems at odds with the building's character and history.
There has been a farmhouse on this site since at least 1560, though the present building was rebuilt in 1611, with that date shown in brickwork on the front wall, along with the initials E.R. There is some belief that the initials indicate the name of the builder; certainly by 1611 it was no longer Elizabeth who reigned, but King James. It was serving beer from at least 1843 when Panton's Brewery took out a 1,000 year lease. Scrase's Star Brewery in Southampton had it from 1892 - Scrase's were acquired by Strong's of Romsey in 1927, who were themselves taken over by Whitbread in 1969. The pub is currently owned by Enterprise Inns. Barry Short became manager in around 2005, and he cleared the back garden and introduced the live bands.
Date: Aug 2017 Score: 5
This pub was suddenly closed, but I've also heard that it's reopened. So I need to take a look. But for now I'm marking it as closed.
* BITE
* Trip Advisor
* WhatPub
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| Enterprise Inns (Ei Group) |
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