The Muni (formerly Bowlers), Upper Shirley

 

Southampton's hidden gem they call themselves. Well, hidden it certainly is! Only users of the council gold course would be aware of this place, as it is down a long narrow track that is the only way in and out of the gold course. There is no way that anyone else would be aware of it, and they don't advertise themselves.  

Myles with his giant fish and
finger sandwich

My messy looking, but tasty 
tuna mayo baked potato

The location, though remote, is attractive, with a pleasant view of the rolling, wooded golf course. The venue itself is rather plain and low key, with more of a feel of a working men's club or factory canteen, than what one would normally expect of a club house at a golf course.  The name has recently changed to that of Muni or The Muni - I wasn't sure what it meant, and wondered if it was a golfing term. The warm and friendly girl serving said it was short for The Municipal Golf Course. Ah. Of course.  

There were two hand pumps in place, but only one on during our visit - a beer from the local brewery Hop Back. It was a new beer called Rye Tangled - drinkable. The menu isn't exciting, but it does offer standard canteen food or pub grub. I had a decent jacket spud with lashing of moist tuna mayo. Myles had the biggest fish & finger sandwich we've ever encountered. The fish & finger sandwich is one of the staples of Lads Who Lunch - it's a fall back if there's little else of interest, and we often have to fall back on it, so we have eaten bucket loads of the stuff. This was without a doubt a giant sized doorstep portion. 

All in all it's an OK place to have a drink and/or some lunch if you're here playing golf, but - to be fair - it's not a place to go out of your way to come to. It is oddly similar to The View, which is nearby at the Sports Centre on Thornhill Road.  

Date: Sept 2022   Score: 5  

Clubhouse of Southampton Golf Club, but open to the public. Built in 1938. Does food and keg beer. Closes at 5pm. 

Date: Aug 2022   Score: N/A 

The Pavilion
Golf Course Road,
Southampton
SO16 7LE


Open: 10am to 3pm (though could be 5pm)

* The Muni 

* WhatPub

* Bowlers 

* Facebook 

Ceno, Portswood

 

Not yet visited

119 Highfield Lane
Southampton
SO17 1AQ

Open: Tues to Sun 10am to 11pm
Meals: Tue - Fri 10am - 2pm, 6pm - 9pm; Sat 10am - 9.30pm; Sun 10am - 8pm

* Website 

* WhatPub 

Portswood

The Lord Nelson, Hythe

  

Been here many times. Had a family Christmas meal here, probably around 2018. We like to do the Hythe Ferry, and then pop in here for a drink and a meal. There are three cosy snugs at the front, a larger room at the rear, and a moderate but useful beer garden out back over looking the Solent and the Hythe Ferry train that runs along the pier.  

The building is listed. And is included in Camra's Pub Heritage listings.  

I'll dig up some photos....






5 High Street
Hythe
SO45 6AG


Open 11am to 11pm every day

Lunchtime food, 11.30M to 2.30pm weekdays; 11.30 to 11pm weekends

Children welcome



* WhatPub 
* CamraPubHeritage 
* LordNelsonHythe 

Beards & Boards Craft Beer Bar, Bedford Place

 

Opened in September 2019, just in time for the pandemic, this was our first real chance to visit this relatively new beer outlet in Southampton.  It's mostly a typical "craft beer bar" in that it is small, has plain wooden board seating rather than comfortable, lacks charm and history, doesn't do food, and offers a range of cask and keg beers from small breweries. However, it has its own gimmick of a theme of skateboards, and it does allow children (a rare and brilliant thing!) - indeed, supplies games for kids (and adults) to play. It's a welcome addition to the  thriving beer scene in Southampton, and makes Bedford Place even more of a social draw. 

The beer choice

Accidental photo of us choosing
our beers

There is seating outside at the moment, though as that is taking up space on the road, it's unclear if this is going to be a permanent thing.  

Inviting name - Banana Milkshake

Another beer

My quibbles are the lack of food offered by the place (though they say you can bring your own, or order in, I'd kinda prefer if they took over that side of things, otherwise it's little more than ordering at home and drinking a few canned beers there), and the feeling that its a bar rather than a pub, and - unlike the BrewPub bar round the corner which has a wow impact on entering, there is a lack of distinction in the place - it is, after all, just a small slightly dark shop room (or a table in the street, if you sit outside). That's not to say I don't like it, I do, it's just that I don't think it is really aimed at people like me (slightly romantic, aging hippy in love with history, tradition, and authenticity) but at younger (albeit middle aged), more trendy people. 

A happy Chrissie

We are both keen to revisit and try out the skateboard sample tray. It looks so cool. And this bar would be great as part of a pub crawl around Bedford Place.

Date: May 2022   Score: 7 

Pubs in Bedford Place

Pie & Vinyl, Portsmouth

 

Charming & quirky place that is worth a visit. The vinyl records are all new issues rather than originals - the prices appear to be around £22 per album so there's no chance of a bargain, and there's little romance because they are not the originals. However, if you like buying new vinyl, this is a cool place to browse - you even get a free cup of tea! 

The pie part of the shop is mostly separate, though there are albums around the tables to browse for those so inclined. The menu is divided into meat pies one side, and non-meat the other. A hot pie by itself is £6.50, gravy £1 extra, mash (various) £3 each, mushy peas or beans are £3 - though you can get the complete plate for £11.50. The servings are generous, and the pies are tasty. 

There are canned beers from three different local breweries available - 440ml cans  are £6.50. All in all not cheap but a fair deal for honest, locally cooked food and locally made beer in a charming and quirky environment. And the staff are cool. 

Well worth a visit. 

Date: March 2022    Score:  8 

59-61 Castle Road,

 Portsmouth PO5 3AY



* Trip Advisor 

Mettricks, Portswood

 

After several years under dodgy ownership, Mettricks is back under the control of the founder, Spencer Bowman, and he has opened a new branch in the old Lloyds Bank building in Portswood, which had previously been converted into a pizza restaurant.  

The ambience 

The inside is very attractive, and the atmosphere is buzzing, and the vibe is cool, trendy, and bohemian. The music is, though, just a tad too loud for comfort; and, with the high ceilings creating an unpleasant acoustic echo which makes the music sound harsh and hollow, that, for us, was a serious flaw. But the place looks great, the service is pure Mettricks (smooth, casual, friendly, and rather slow), the food menu is small, but very interesting, with a decent choice for non-meat eaters, and there's a local beer on tap. The place has more good than bad.  But it could be absolutely brilliant if the music were turned down a tad. The buzz of other people chatting and enjoying themselves is the best music - the canned music should be warm and low for the customers, just there to fill in any spaces between the conversation (or, preferably, not there at all in order to allow people to relax and chat to each other without having to raise their voice - but that's a personal choice).  

The choice of keg beers and cider

The beer I had was Unity Conflux - a locally made beer (Unity are just down the road - oh, no, they are not, they moved in 2019 to Princes Street). It's a modern hazy pale ale, in which the citric hops are added late to create a soft and fragrant citric flavour with little bitterness.  

My Turkish eggs

I ate the Turkish eggs: Poached eggs with seasoned yogurt, spiced smoked paprika butter, herbs & buttered toast. Bloody good stuff!  Lyn had the breakfast butty with awesome crispy kale. Both meals gave me ideas to try out at home.  

Lyn looking wistful as she tries
her smoothie

This is a good place. 

Date: March 2022 Score: 8


267-271 Portswood Rd, 

Portswood, 

Southampton 

SO17 2LA

Open: 8am–11pm every day


* Mettricks

* Daily Echo   

* TripAdvisor 

Portswood

Welcome Inn, Fair Oak

 

Welcome Inn is a Greene King pub in a mid 20th century housing development. Nearby are a few local shops, a local church, and a fish & chip shop. The pub is clean and spacious, with car parking space out front, and a beer garden out the back. It is very much a locals pub, and would be used by families at the weekend. Three cask ales are offered, though none were available during our visit. 

Myles with his scampi and chips

The pub does modest  Greene King pub food, with an eye on frozen chips, instant mash, and low cost. A decent meal for two with drinks comes to under £20. It's not the sort of food, nor the sort of setting, to woo your loved one on a special night out, but it is popular everyday food in a relaxed place where you can feel at home. 

 

Me, with my fried scorpion

It's an average sort of pub. They have quiz night and do karaoke, and while it was empty on our Thursday lunchtime visit, it would be popular with some of the locals looking for somewhere unpretentious to relax and unwind. It's not a destination pub, but is quite acceptable for what it is.  

Date: Jan 2022 Score: 5


154 Fair Oak Road
Bishopstoke
SO50 8LP

Open 11am to 11pm 

Food: Noon to 10pm 

Children welcome 

* Greene King 
* TripAdvisor 
* WhatPub 

Greene King pubs