Harper's Steakhouse & Bar, Swanwick Marina

 

We've often driven past, but had never been inside, so Lads Who Lunch popped in for lunch. Formerly called The Navigator, and based on what appears to be a solid Victorian brick built house, there has been extensive work done to add a long conservatory style addition to one side, and a refurbishment of the interior to create a clean and modern looking pub, restaurant and hotel. At some point recently The Navigator became Harper's Steakhouse & Bar - part of a local chain of three Harper's Steakhouses. 

 

It is smooth, tidy, and commercially appealing. Service is friendly, professional, and polite. There is a general upmarket feel about the place. Not top posh, but decent. You wouldn't expect bow ties and caviar, but nor would you expect cockles and loud farting. We felt it was respectable, though a little lacking in authenticity, charm, character, and warmth. It is distinctly food orientated, with a sense that people come here, eat, and leave. It didn't help that we sat in what is clearly the dining area extension, though the pub area around the bar also feels more functional than comfortable. It also didn't help that though we arrived on a Friday lunchtime there weren't many other customers. Only a few people in a large space does  create a hollow, empty feeling. We both felt that the place would no doubt be warmer and livelier in the evening or whenever it was busy. 

There is an attractive brunch deal, and the food was nicely made, though presentation was perhaps a little lacking - large plates made the food offered look small and lonely. A little bit of salad or some kind of dressing on the plate - a sprinkling of herbs or sauce - would make it pop. As it was it looked a little sad.  But that's a minor quibble. The food did look good. 

On the whole it's a nice place, but perhaps a little too corporate, bland, and lacking in charm for my personal taste. Each to their own. 


Nov 2023    Score: 5 


226 Bridge Road
Lower Swanwick
SO31 7EB

Open 7am to 11pm every day
Food all day

Kids welcomed 

* TripAdvisor 

* Pub website 
* WhatPub 

* FaceBook 

Tap and Tandoor, Southampton

 

Modern Anglo-Indian restaurant chain. Tasty veggie lunches for around £7 or £8. The "craft" beer list will vary, though includes standards such as Guinness and the suddenly hugely popular Madri. 

 Prices are not shown on the beer list. 

Mostly empty on my mid-afternoon mid-week visit, though a mix of young men and Indian families. Modern popular music plays not too loud. Service is polite and attentive.  Several TV screens showing news and sport. Outdoor seating, though tables have ashtrays, so I didn't go there. The front bar room looked favourite, but it is all stools, so I went into the back room with proper tables and chairs. Some natural light does filter through the room divider screen, and the ambience is actually quite cool. Decor is a blend of watered down industrial chic with IKEA Asian naff. 

A likeable place that I'd be happy to return to.

Date: Aug 2023.  Score: 6

Pre-Bar, Bevois Valley (Closed)

 

Night time pub aimed at the student population. Closed during Covid, and hasn't re-opened. 


Date: March 2023   Score: N/A 

16 Bevois Valley Road
Southampton
SO14 0JP

* WhatPub 

Bevois Valley

Jolly Sailor, Burseldon

 

One of my favourite pubs in the Southampton area. Chrissie and I used to come here when we first moved to Southampton, but I hadn't been for a while, and was pleased to visit with Lads Who Lunch and find that nothing had changed. The pub is still bursting with charm and character; the fresh beer selection (Badger beers) is solid; the location is sublime, the food is awesome and great value for money, the service excellent, and the whole place is well run with an assured confidence.

Steps down from the road entrance

There are three ways to get to the pub.  The first is by boat - there is a covered jetty which was much used in the TV series Howards Way which was set in the boating/yachting community on the Hamble; though back then the jetty was uncovered.  The second and third ways are by car. You can drive directly to the road above the pub, though this is a twisty route, and parking is limited, so on busy days this is not advised. The other car route is to drive to the free car park at Burseldon Station which has 16 spaces, and then walk the rest of the way. The two land routes both require negotiating a lot of steep steps!  

The Hamble river washes against the pub

One of the main assets of the pub is its location on the Hamble. There are great views from the main rooms and from the covered jetty and the terrace. The seating in the bar and under the trees by the "back" entrance doesn't have river views, but is still charming. 

The front entrance

A sympathetic extension has been built along the river terrace in order to accommodate the extra customers  since the pub's popularity after the Howards Way TV drama series. 

Myles - the view from the window is
awesome, but doesn't show in this photo

The olde world charm of the interior

The beer I chose

Cauliflower and hummus cobb

The food is delicious, good value, and quite adventurous. Myles had a Fish Finger Cobb (a regular lunch item for our Lads Who Lunch outings), while I had a Roast Cauliflower and Hummus Cobb. I was a little concerned that the cauliflower might be hard and crunchy, but it was delightfully soft. £6.50 for my cobb, £8.74 for Myles' cobb.  Good value for the size and quality.  

Selection of cask beers

This pub is definitely one to seek out - it's a destination location. 


Date: March 2023    Score: 9 


Hall & Woodhouse (Badger) 

Lands End Road
Bursledon
SO31 8DN

Open: Mon-Sun 10am to 10pm (8pm Sun)
Meals: Mon-Sun Noon to 9pm (7pm Sun)

* Jolly Sailor 

* FaceBook 

* TripAdvisor 

* WhatPub 

Brunch & Barista, Southampton Central

  

Useful café, a blend of British and American, in Southampton's main street. And it also serves beer. It opened in May 2018. 

Clean and well lit interior

The staff welcome you as you come in, letting you know that you can sit anywhere. They are friendly and  attentive all the time without ever being obtrusive. The café goes a long way back, so there's plenty of seating. And all the cooking is done in a visible area behind the counter. You have a choice of a booth or a table or a bench near the counter. It's well lit, very clean, and comfortable.  

It's sort of a blend of a British greasy spoon and an American diner. Smooth, clean, efficient place with decent food, and a small selection of bottled lagers. Good value for money. All day breakfast and sandwiches. Veggie options. And you can come in just for drinks. 

Date: March 2023 Score: 5

102 Above Bar St

Southampton
SO14 7DT

Open Mon-Sat 8am to 5.30pm 

         Sun 9.30am to 4pm 



* FaceBook 

* TripAdvisor 

Sony's Sports Bar & Lounge, Shirley

  

Opened in Shirley in November 2022. 

Lads Who Lunch popped along, but the loud music, cigarette smoke, and general ambience of the place didn't seem conducive to a relaxed lunch, so we went to Santo Lounge instead. The impression created was that this is a place for working men to drink, smoke, and play pool while loud music is being played. If that's your thing, then this is the place for you. 

I'll return just for a drink to check the place out in more detail. 

Date:  April 2023    Score:  N/A

 

Cool ambience

Returned.  Very quiet today. Hardly anyone here. They do coffee, soft drinks, and keg lager. No food. Not even breakfast. The kitchen is not ready, apparently. Smoke drifts in from outside. No atmosphere. No decent beers. No food. Cigarette smoke.  

 

Keg lagers

Quiet now, with a cool ambience, but the other day it was noisy when the pool players were in. There are three pool tables. There are also two noisy aggressive dogs as I just found out when a woman came in and was challenged by them. There's not much here to commend the place to be honest.  

Date:  April 2023    Score:  3

303-305 Shirley Road
Southampton
SO15 3HU

Open Mon-Sun 9am to 11am 

* Facebook 

* WhatPub 

Charlie's Cabana, Portswood

  

Keg beer bar in Portswood area. No food. Though crisps are available. 

  

Ambience

Small place. Two other customers in my daytime visit - old men like me, so we have a chat about the old days. 

Range of keg taps

There's about 12 kegs with a mix of cider, lager, some Belgium, and two British ales. Seating is benches, stools, and a couple of chairs. The benches are a bit uncomfortable. 

   

My beer - photo taken by bar staff

It was hard to select a beer as the keg taps are a distance away so I couldn't see the keg clips clearly. I asked the woman serving if there was any cask beer, but she wasn't familiar with the term, and got a little confused, so I assumed that there wasn't. I asked her to tell me what the beers were, and she - bless her - read out each name, but it was difficult to get important information such as if it was a cider or a beer, and what the strength was. I took a photo of all the taps, but when I zoomed it I still couldn't make out the details, so I asked the woman to take a photo of the clip that looked most likely. 

The beer was pleasant enough. Served a little too cold for my taste, though one of the regulars appreciated that his Guinness was chilled. 

Not a destination pub, but certainly a casual, laid back, and useful place for locals. 

Date: April 2023    Score: 5

117 Portswood Road
Southampton
SO17 2FX

Open Mon-Sun 10am to Midnight 

* Facebook 

* WhatPub 

Buddha Lounge, Bedford Place

  

Nightclub venue in Bedford Place. 

Not visited. 

Date: March 2023    Score: N/A 




3 Winchester Street
Southampton
SO15 2EL

Open Tues-Sat 8pm to 3am 

* WhatPub 

* Buddha 

* Facebook 

* TripAdvisor 

Pubs in Bedford Place

All Bar One, Southampton Central

  

 

Pub chain which, as is the trend, offers bottomless brunch, tapas, and cocktail classes.  Meals all day, with various deals. Children accepted until 7pm. 

Decent selection of popular keg beers
Sadly, on my visit, those with glasses
On the top were not available

There is an attractive deal called Love To Lunch. For £9.50 you get a half pint of Amstel, or other drink, plus a Small Plate ( such as pan fried pawns, normally £8.50) and a Side ( such as garlic flatbread, normally £6.50). You can order and pay via an app at the table, or at the bar where you can chat with the barman.

Ambiance 

Relaxed background music blends well with the relaxed chatter from other tables. This is a wet midday afternoon, but there are six other tables occupied. Couples, small groups of women, a small group of men, one person ( other than me) on their own, and what appears to be a grown up family group. 

There's a range of seating - stools and high tables by the window, low booths, square tables, and round tables, etc. A leather padded bench runs the length of one wall, and there is a central circular bench going round a mirrored pillar in the centre. Great view of the city wall. (I forgot to take a photo - I'll need to go back to do that!)

A clean, relaxed, comfortable and versatile place. Yes, lacking in charm and character, lacking in cask beer, and not a destination location, but if looking for a relaxed place to drink or eat in the centre of Southampton, this is fine.

Date: March 2023    Score: 5

 

Unit 4 Level 3 Watermark,
West Quay
Southampton
SO15 1QE

Open Mon-Sun 10am to 11pm +/-

* Facebook 

* AllBarOne 

* WhatPub 

* TripAdvisor 

Shenanigans Irish Bar, Bedford Place

 

 

Irish sports bar and music venue which took over Seymours in Oct 2019. 

Not visited. 

Date: March 2023   Score:  N/A

1 Carlton House, Carlton Place
Southampton
SO15 2DZ

Open  Mon-Fri 5pm to Midnight 

Sat/Sun Noon to 2am/1.30pm to 11pm

* Facebook 

* Shenanigans 

* WhatPub 

* TripAdvisor 

Pubs in Bedford Place

Fever & Vibe, Bedford Place

  

A bar/nightclub. Doesn't appear to do food, and is not for children. Looks to be free (and not busy) most nights, but gets busy at the weekend and when there are events on (entry fee), and booking is advised.  Currently appears to only be open at weekends. 

Not visited. 

Date: March 2023   Score:  N/A

24 Carlton Place
Southampton
SO15 2DY

Open Thurs-Sat  6/4/4pm to Midnight/2/2am 

* Facebook 
* Fever&Vibe 

* TripAdvisor 

* WhatPub 

* RestaurantGuru 

Pubs in Bedford Place

XOXO, Bedford Place

  

Not visited.

Date: March 2023   Score: N/A 

29 Bedford Place
Southampton
SO15 2DG

Open Mon-Sun 9am to 11pm or later 


* XOXO 

* WhatPub 

* TripAdvisor 

* Facebook 

Pubs in Bedford Place

Crib, Bedford Place

  

Describes itself as the interior of a tasteless mansion. The focus is on shuffleboard, bottomless brunch (this is THE big thing for bars in 2023!) and cocktails (also big!). 

Date: March 2023   Score: N/A

3-4 Vernon Walk
Southampton
SO15 2EJ

Open Thurs-Sunday 4pm to Midnight (open from Noon on Sat) 

* Facebook 

* Crib 

* TripAdvisor 

* WhatPub 

Pubs in Bedford Place

The Social, Bedford Place

  

Appears to do roasts now and again, but unclear if it regularly does food.  

Not visited. 

Date: March 2023   Score: N/A 

21 Lower Banister Street
Southampton
SO15 2EH

Open Mon-Sun Noon to Midnight 

* Facebook 

* TripAdvisor 

* WhatPub 

Pubs in Bedford Place

Orange Rooms / Mile High, Bedford Place

  

The roof

The Mile High room 

Fantastically decorated with several theme rooms, this place is described as a nightclub, independent bar, cocktail bar, and dance club. There are admission charges for events such as Abba tribute bands, though it appears to be free entry at other times.  Rooms for hire include Mile High, Tiki Shack, and Off Piste.  Food appears to be fried chicken. 

Not visited.

Date: March 2023    Score: N/A

1-2 Vernon Walk
Southampton
SO15 2EJ

* Facebook 

* OrangeRooms 

* WhatPub 

* TripAdvisor 

Pubs in Bedford Place

1932 Bar, Southampton Central

  

Upmarket and expensive small upstairs drinks bar. Part of but separate from the Cafe Parfait night club. 

Not visited.

Date: March 2023  Score: N/A 

194 Above Bar St, 

Southampton 

SO14 7DW

Open:  Wed-Fri  5pm 'til late

Sat Noon 'til late

* 1932 

* Facebook 

* TripAdvisor 

Pubstops Southampton 2023

  

There is a new and updated Pubstops map for Southampton. Available soon from Pubstops at £28 framed.  The previous one was published in 2015, and much has changed over the eight years. 

The new one has attempted to update the old one, but there are some mistakes: 

Pubs that are closed

Hare & Hounds was demolished in 2018.

Royal Oak was demolished in 2016.

The Brook and The Joiners are no longer pubs - they are music venues. You can only get in if you buy a ticket.

Crammed Inn is closed.

TheOsborne is closed.

Handle Bar is closed.

Isobar closed in 2016.

Unity Brewing has closed.

Gin & Olive has closed.

Waterloo Arms closed Nov  2022 and is up for sale. 

Good Libations is missing (Unity took over Cloud Wine in Bedford Place, and converted it to a beer shop with a drinking license)

Quayside in Woolston is missing

Mettricks Guildhall and Woolston and Portswood are missing

Taberna 13 Bar & Kitchen is missing

Walnut Tree Farm is missing

The Griffin is missing (it reopened in Oct 2022)

The Art House Cafe is missing (it is licensed)

Blue's Smokehouse (which has a bar) is missing

Sharkey's Sports Bar is missing

The Painted Wagon is missing 

Marco's is missing 

All Bar One is missing 

Charlie's Cabana is missing 

Sony's Sports Bar & Lounge is missing

Stein Garden is actually Stein Garten

The Bowlers is now The Muni

Chilworth Arms is not in Southampton, it's in Chilworth.

SoBar is student only (non students allowed only as a guest of Southampton students)

Tokyo Bar, Bedford Place

  

Appears to be mainly a night club that you (sometimes?) need to pay to enter. 

Not visited.

Date: March 2023   Score: N/A 

Salisbury House,
Salisbury Street
Southampton
SO15 2TZ

Open Tues-Sun 2pm to 1am (Opens 1pm on Fri/Sat) - though info varies

* Facebook 

* TripAdvisor 

* WhatPub 

Preez Bar, Southampton Central

  

Small bar offering beer, wine, spirits and bar snacks. Appears to have opened around 2020. 

Not visited 

Date: March 2020   Score: N/A 

Unit 2
Guildhall Square
Southampton,
SO14 7FP

Open Wed-Fri 4pm to 10pm (approx)

Sat-Sun Noon to 11/5pm 

* Preez 

* TripAdvisor 

Rita's Bar & Kitchen, Oxford Street

 

Opened in July 2021 on the site of Chimichanga's in Oxford Street, this is another of the new places that does afternoon teas and cocktails. A blend of bar and eatery. 

Not visited.

Date: March 2023   Score:  N/A 

48-49 Oxford Street, 

Southampton 

SO14 3DP

Open Wed-Sun 11am to midnight 

* Facebook 

* Rita's 

* TripAdvisor