O'Neill's (formally The Spitfire), Southampton Central

O'Neill's is a Mitchells & Butlers pub in the Above Bar area of Southampton called the Cultural Quarter. It used to be called The Spitfire. It's the same pub run by the same people serving the same food and drinks, but now under a different name. 

Owned by Mitchells & Butlers, who operate it under the Sizzling Pubs brand, this is a potentially decent pub that serves food all day (largely meat and chips, but some limited veggie options can be found) and a small selection of common cask beers plus an occasional quest. Our family visit on a Saturday afternoon was unfortunate in that the sport tv was on and was very loud, and the card machine was broken so if we wanted to buy anything we needed to use cash. I was directed to go to the cash machine in the street. Given that the menu was not inviting, the beer selection was boring, and the tv noise was uncomfortable, I thought that being instructed to go outside was the right option. So we all went outside to Yates and ate there (though that turned out to be a less than pleasant experience in itself - so I'm still struggling to find a decent family pub in the city centre on a Saturday afternoon). 


Date: May 2019    Score: 5


In November 2019, a few months after our visit, M&B changed the branding from Sizzling Pubs to O'Neill's. I've only just noticed! 

Feb 2022   Score: N/A 

   

Walking from breakfast at The Rover to lunch at The Red Lion I stopped at O'Neill's for a refresher. A fairly standard selection of taps, with three handpumps. I fancied the cask cider, but that wasn't on, so I opted for the Tribute, but that wasn't on. The barman said Doom Bar was on, but it's not really my thing. I hadn't had a Peroni in years, so I opted for that. It was cold, fizzy, and harmless. 

  

The tap selection - though only two of the casks were actually available

The place is large, comfortable, family friendly, with low cost food offers (veggie sausage and mash with a pint of Guinness for under £8 - not bad), and several large TV screens showing sport. It's a relaxed, low key, friendly sort of place. A little anonymous, but then this is the main street in a busy town not a local on the fringes.   

 

The ambiance

On the whole, an acceptable place to stop for a drink and watch the world go by, or watch the sport, and perhaps have a little chat. Also cool for a low cost meal - though not yet tried the food so not sure what it is like. I assume the mash will be powdered. 


Date: July 2023    Score: 5 



130-132 Above Bar Street
Southampton
SO14 7DU

Open  7am to Midnight (alcohol from 9am)
Meals 7am to 10pm 



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