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

Ship Anson, Portsmouth

Ship Anson, possibly named after the 18th century HMS Anson, consists of three side by side pubs, The London Tavern, King and Queen, and Ship Anson, though only the buildings of the King and Queen and Ship Anson remain, The London Tavern having being destroyed by bombing during Word War II, and that space now serves as the smoking area. The King and Queen and Ship Anson were knocked together in 1985 when both pubs were owned by Whitbread; the Ship Anson side now holds the bar and the toilets, while the King and Queen side is a distinct room with a roaring fire. 

As soon as we stepped inside we were struck by the atmosphere - there are quirky knick-knacks all over the place, and, as we are both from Swansea,  we were pleased to see the Welsh flag on the ceiling.  The place was busy, so we were pleased we were doing a Mystery Shop so had booked a table. Unfortunately the table reserved for us was occupied, and we were placed on a small table by the fire and by a pillar. It was cramped for two people having a meal. And we were so close to the fire that it proved rather uncomfortable. We were assisted by a very friendly Welsh waitress who shifted things off the table for us. We hoped that a table might become vacant so we could move onto it, but the pub remained popular throughout our stay and all tables were occupied each time we looked around. 

We loved the warmth, the atmosphere, the sense of history, and the location by the water so ships could be seen now and again. It is also close to the Historic Dockyard so useful for lunch when visiting. 

All in all, a pub we'd be happy to visit again.

Date: Jan 2022    Score: 8 

10 The Hard

Portsmouth

PO1 3DT


* WhatPub 

* Greene King 

* BITE 

Greene King pubs

Castle In The Air, Fareham

  

This is a homely locals pub serving four cask beers - two Greene King plus Tribute and Timothy Taylors Landlord. Being a Greene King pub the food is edible but unexciting, and not geared toward vegans or healthy eating. Chips and meat is the main emphasis. The core menu is exactly the same in all Greene King pubs, though the price will be higher in the more upmarket Green King brands, such as Chef & Brewer, and lower in the Local Pubs and Hungry Horse brands. The Castle In The Air is a Local Pubs brand.  

It is a popular pub, and was full on our visit. There's a nice buzz about the place. It is warm  and comforting, and the other customers are laid back and friendly, and it's easy to get into a conversation when ordering at the bar. The pub is vibrant, and positive, with quiz nights and live bands.  

Downsides are that on our visit the front staff (two women) were clearly stressed having to cope with the number of customers. Serving the meals while simultaneously being at the bar to take orders was a trick that was beyond just two people on a busy lunch day, and management should have at least a third person at lunchtimes. The men's toilet is in a poor state and needs refurbishment.  Those quibbles aside, this is a cracking pub I'd love to have as my local.  

Date: Dec 2011   Score: 8 

Greene King pubs

Coop Micro Bar, Hedge End