Pitcher & Piano, Ocean Village

Myles at the bar

This was my fourth venture into the heart of the bars in Ocean Village (not counting the Wetherspoon pub), and the second with Myles. Last week we tried Banana Lounge, and found it fairly average, though the food was good. This time we tried the venue next door.  Pitcher & Piano is Marston's upmarket pub chain, which they bought off entrepreneur Crispin Tweddell for £20 million in 1996, when there were only seven pubs in the chain. The deal seemed to include Sheila McKenzie as managing director, as she appears to have created the brand, and made it something that appealed to women. The success of the brand made Marston's an attractive proposition for Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries who bought out Marston's in 1999 for £300 million, and changed their name to that of Marston's. But, despite developing the Pitcher & Piano brand so there are now 18 pubs across the country, Marston's were considering selling it last year for £40 million. No sale took place, so all must now be happy in the Marston household. 

View to the right over Ocean Village

View to the front over the harbour towards Southampton Water

This is a bright, airy, clean, modern and attractive pub. More bar than pub (there are three hundpumps, but none were in use on our visit). With lots of space. There is an air of calm about the place that I liked, and a gentle buzz of conversation. The place wasnot crowded, but there were a good number of tables occupied, so this is a more popular location than Banana Lounge, and we can see why. The bar is higher up than the Banana Lounge, so it has a greater view of the harbour in Ocean Village. There are windows all round, and this creates a lovely vibe. You can imagine yourself on holiday in some exotic location. It really is very nice.

My lunch

The food is upmarket pub grub rather than the restaurant style of Banana Lounge, but the prices are lower as a result. The lunch menus though are similar prices.



Date: Feb 2020    Score: 7


Channel Way
Ocean Village 
SO14 3JB


Monday to Thursday: 10am to 11pm
Thursday to Sunday: 9pm to Midnight

* Pitcher & Piano
* WhatPub
* TripAdvisor

* PubsGalore

* BITE

Banana Lounge, Ocean Village

Not a pub, but a restaurant with a bar area where you can just have drinks. Banana Wharf is a modern diner in Ocean Village. Large windows provide a view over the yachts in the harbour, and also across the water to Woolston Sewage Works. It's a little more bland and prosaic looking inwards, so if you're bringing someone here for a special meal, be considerate and give them the seat facing out. Myles and I came on a Friday lunchtime. The place was mostly empty so we weren't seeing it at its best, but even so, there is a bland coldness about the interior that is not inviting. There is little in the way of style or quirkiness, such as with the nearby Maritimo Lounge, nor any cosy warmth. It feels like a modern office space. Matters are not helped when, even empty, you have to stand at a podium to wait to be directed to a table. Each to their own, but I prefer to sit myself, but I suppose they wish to create an upmarket feel. The prices are a tad high for everyday eating, but are not excessive, and the lunchtime menu was very inviting, and if accompanied by the £1 soft drink deal, offers reasonable value.

The dated decor in the bar area

I really enjoyed my squid. Myles had the fish finger wrap, which came with chips (why not offer a salad as an option?), and was pretty average.

Myles with the fish finger wrap, and a view
of Woolston Sewage Works over his right shoulder

We didn't find anything special to like about the place,. On the plus side I really liked my Salt & Pepper Squid and fully recommend that, on the negative side we found the decor to be old fashioned, and the general ambiance to be cold and functional. On the whole the place is kinda average. If you come here with appropriate expectations I can't see anyone being disappointed, but this isn't the place to bring your special one for a date, nor is it the place to bring friends for a good night out. Business meals on expense accounts is what this place is best suited for. Nobody is going to be distracted or get the wrong idea, and the service and the food is not going to disappoint or embarrass anyone.

Date: Feb 2020   Score: 5



Ocean Village,
Southampton
SO14 3JF


* TripAdvisor
* WhatPub
* Banana Wharf