Juniper Berry, Lower Southampton (Closed)

Large and interesting looking mock Tudor pub in the historic tourist area of Southampton. Stands where Jane Austen's house used to be, overlooking what was then the quay. Serves one cask beer. No food. 

The interior is dark and atmospheric with lots of wood panelling, though it can be chilly sitting near a window. And that sums up the general ambience we felt: gloomy and chilly. There's a lot of promise here, and we enjoyed the visit, but the place felt it needed more light and warmth. A couple of chaps sitting on stools by the bar were the only other customers.  On another night it could perhaps be jollier, but the limitations on interesting beer, the lack of food, and the slightly out of the way location inhibits a return visit, though I'm keen to do so as I think this pub could be interesting. 

Date: Jan 2018   Score: 5 


When shopping with the family in November 2023 I felt a bit tired, so left the girls and came in here for a drink and a sit down. There was only lager (and I think Doom Bar?) available, and the seats were uncomfortable, so I didn't stay long, and wasn't impressed. There were hardly any people. It's an awkward pub in an awkward location. And I've just heard that it is now closed. It wasn't making enough profit to keep up with maintenance. 

Jan 2024   Score: 3 

Owned by Admiral Taverns.

36 Upper Bugle Street, SO14 2EE

Opens at 12  Closed 

* WhatPub
* TripAdvisor 

The Waggoner's Arms, Portswood (Closed)

The Waggoner's Arms is just round the corner from the Drummond. I thought this had closed down because it looks so run down outside, never has the door open, and several other nearby pubs have closed, but I was wrong. It's old and worn, but still open for business. [Not any more!]

The ambiance

It is warmer than the Drummond, has better banter, and the Ringwood is in better condition, but there is no food and no women. This is a proper old man's pub. All in all I enjoyed it. I am an old man after all, and the place is warm and friendly, and we had a bit of a chat. There is a back beer garden with play equipment for children.

It's been a pub since at least 1871. It is owned by Admiral Taverns, who also own The Angel and the Juniper Berry.


Date: Jan 2017   Score: 4


Closed down in May 2018.


264 Portswood Road
Southampton
SO17 2LE

Closed. 


* WhatPub
* BITE

Portswood

The Drummond Arms, Portswood

This is a pub I missed last year as I didn't know it existed. Anyway, visiting today. Five pumps, one is Old Rosie cider, one is not used, one is turned round, and the other two are Ringwood. Does food from Thursdays onwards. Veggie curry and a pint of Ringwood, should be OK. The Ringwood Old Thumper is not fresh, but is drinkable. The food takes an age to arrive.

L shaped room with pool table at one corner and a TV at the other with the main door in the middle. A typical local boozer with several customers on my visit. A little larger then the average back street local, and a little cold.


Date: Jan 2017    Score: 4


I came again, and wrote a full and decent report on the place, but lost it in an internet glitch, and then was so disheartened I didn't want to write it up again. Comments were about the helpfulness of the staff as regards the meal I had, and that the pub accommodated both students and the general public to create a warm and genuine locals pub. 

Date: July 2018    Score: 7 

  

At the moment the rear pub garden is open just for drinks. Enter by the side gate. 

Date: April 2021  Score: NA 

  

Back fully open. Meals from Wednesday to Sunday, from 1pm to 6pm (5pm on Sundays). 

Date: June 2023    Score:  N/A 

 

Lads Who Lunch visited for a lunch, only to find the landlord doing some model making on a table. "Sorry lads, I'm leaving in a few weeks, a new landlord is taking over - I've been here long enough, and it's time to go. So, there's no food. I'm just running the place down." As it was lunch we were after, I was up for leaving - but Myles ordered himself a pint, an absolute rarity for the man. So we stayed for a quick drink, and I had a dull exploration of the beer garden. What a gem. A little old and tired now, but you can see the promise. I hope the new landlord looks after the place. We'll be back in the summer to check it out. 

Date: July 2024   Score: 4 


56 Somerset Road
Southampton
SO17 3AA 

Open: Noon to 11pm (12am Fri & Sat; 10.30pm Sun)
Meals: Wed - Sat 1pm - 6pm; Sun 1pm - 5pm

* WhatPub
* FaceBook
* TripAdvisor

***

Portswood

Millers Pond, Sholing

Wadworth pub on the edge of Woolston. It's near a dip in the land where there's a wood, a small nature reserve, and a local pond with ducks. The pub building and garden are on the slope, which is fairly steep. The road level is not used as the pub, so customers have to go down into what was the cellar, which has been converted into a bar. The main room therefore has no windows, but there is a side room with windows onto the beer garden, and a door way has been knocked through so some natural light can filter into the main bar.

The car park has suffered from serious flooding in the past, which has come into the beer garden. When we first visited the place was a little run down, but it has been refurbished, and there are plans now to extend out onto the garden slope to create a larger dining area.

Date: Jan 2017   Score: 4 


Gosh, we've been here loads of times since 2017! When Phocea was at Ludlow I'd come here with a parent or two on the walk home sometimes.  It's a great place to take the kids.  Food has been hit and miss over the years. Often advertised, but not available. I have eaten here once, but have come here with friends and family on at least three occasions to be told that food was no longer available, or - once on a Friday, by the landlord as he sat drinking and smoking outside with some friends, that he couldn't be bothered to cook today, to laughs all round from his friends.  Hmm. So, an OK place to come for a drink and some crisps, but very unreliable for food. 

Pub is currently saying (April 2021) on their Facebook page that they are open and doing food. Booking recommended for Fri, Sat and Sunday. Meals and drinks can be ordered and paid for on their own app. 

The garden has been refurbished again, and an outside bar area created. The outside area is the best asset of the pub, so it's good to see them make use of that. The pub does attract smokers, and is quite down to earth and popular. This is not a posh place. Be aware that you will generally hear loud swearing from the smokers sitting or standing by the back entrance. 

Not a perfect pub, but we like it. We like the Wadworths beer, and the outside grass area. 

Date: April 2021     Score: 6 


2 Middle Road  

SO19 8FQ

023 8043 4371
Opens 11am Mon to Sat, 12 on Sundays. Generally closes around 11pm



* Wadworth
* BITE 
* WhatPub
* Website

Pubs in Woolston

Wadworth Pubs in Southampton

Greene King pubs in Southampton

   

The Fleming Arms, Swaythling / Bitterne

  

 West End Brewery

The Station, Bitterne

The Mitre, Portswood

Richmond Inn, Portswood 
Closed - now a chemist shop

The Bellemoor Tavern, Shirley

Encore, Southampton

   

Scholars Arms, Southampton Central

Osborne, Shirley 
Closed

Salisbury Arms, Shirley 
Now owned by Proper Pubs

The Malvern, Shirley

  

Walnut Tree Farm, Nursling

Fox and Hounds, Bursledon

***

Pubstops of Southampton

Butcher's Hook, Bitterne

Southampton's first micro-craft-beer-bar-pub. This is the place that has started the beer revolution in Southampton. The city has not been the same since it opened. 2016 was crazy with so many craft-beer bars and micro-pubs opening, all of them saying they owe it to this place.


Visited one Saturday afternoon when I was the only customer, and had a good chat with the friendly, likeable and very knowledgable owner.  Came back in November with Ian on a pub crawl around Southampton. We had  Staggeringly Good PaleAleOntology, which was fairly ordinary.


* WhatPub

Pubs in Bitterne

November 2016 Pub Crawl

Tramstop, Portswood (Closed)

I've popped in to Tramstop at least twice since it opened, but by November 2016, it still hadn't got signage up outside. It is named after the Southampton tram system, which terminated at Portswood, and had a garage where Sainsbury's is now. 

Came here with Ian on our mammoth pub crawl, which I never finished writing about, and which we've not yet repeated for one reason or another....

Excellent range of local beers on offer

I'm here again. There's A boards outside, but still no proper signage. Staff outnumbered customers, but it is 5pm on a grey Tuesday. There is a good atmosphere. I do like this place. I'm drinking a Plain Ales Port Stout.

Date: Jan 2017    Score: 7 

Opened in 2016, closed in May 2018. 

186-188 Portswood Road
Southampton
SO17 2NJ

* WhatPub 

* Untappd 

* Daily Echo 

***

Portswood

November 2016 Pub Crawl