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ONE PUB ONLY?
Platform Tavern
CRAWLING FROM RAILWAY STATION TO THE GROUND?
Martyn Constable suggests:-
"In Southampton I'dsuggest the Guide Dog and the South Western in St Denys, the Bevois Castle, Onslow Road"
SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT?
Southwestern Arms
|  |  Alexandra
6 Bellevue Rd, SO15 2AY T 023 80 335071 w. www.thealexpub.co.uk
G Joe Khalil
F All home made cooked food with fresh fish available until gone 12-3, 12 - 8 Sat - Sun
MP SK JB P D
O 11 to 11, 12 to 11 Sun
If, like me, a visit to Southampton must take in a visit to the old Dell haunts of Bedford Place and London Road, then you will soon find that the previously-great pub area is struggling to keep its real ale. The Alexandra is the exception and has managed to maintain matchday traditions for home and away fans and it also has a location that is relatively useful for those trekking from the Station to St. Mary’s.
The pub has been recently renovated to become a large open-plan pub with some nice real pub touches, such as the table football at the rear, traditional tiles and large Victorian furniture that complements the high hotel-style ceilings. Joe has moved in, and the real ale choices remain. Guest ale rotates from the Punch list and suits those locals, “the beardy, weirdy brigade” who make up the regular customers. On my visit it was office-workers and students. The pub only becomes a footie pub in the hours before and after the match. It is well-known among premiership away fans that hold it in great regard. It is a large, real pub with real fires and very comfortable. It was near one such fire I settled to my pint and reflectively gazed out of the large picture window, planning the best route to walk to the stadium.
BWV 4.1.06: Fuller’s London Pride, Ringwood Best, Shepherd Neame Spitfire, Timothy Taylor Landlord
UPDATE 29.9.09
Football by big screen is now a feature. The pub became comfortably busy before the match and very friendly. The table footbal is now in a poleasant back courtyard, space here for 100 seated. All beers are now permanent. The pub is so much better than the Wethersoons around the corner.
BWV 29.9.09 Fullers London Pride, Hopback Suimmer Lightning, Ringwood Best, Timothy Taylor Landlord
Update
Cram packed full of Movie memorabilia, with an emphasis on Bruce Lee and Star Wars, including hundreds of Star Wars models and figures. Also a Star Wars Pinball machine. Huge outdoor heated smoking area, which now houses the table football. Board games galore available.
Getting any food on matchday is highly unlikely, also, doesn't open until 12:00 on Saturdays now.
BWV 30 1.10: Fullers London Pride; Hopback - Summer Lightning;; Ringwood Best Timothy Taylor Landlord
Graham Privett | |  Crown
8 Highcrown St, Highfield SO17 1QE T 023 80315033
G Jacquie Hahyer
F Different menus lunchtime and evening, something for all tastes from traditional fish and chips to steaks, 12 to 2.15. 6 to 9.30 Mon - Thu. 6 to 10 Fri. - Sat. 7 to 10 Sun.
CP BM D
O 11 to 11. 12 to 11 Sun.
I must confess to being very surprised by the changes made at the Crown. Having said that, one of my University locals of 20+ years ago, was one that I would have expected to have gone the way of so many ale houses. It is one large bar, decorated in country pub style, but keeping the feel of a locals’ bar with areas set aside for conversation and pub games. “It draws a mix of locals and academics (CAMRA 2004) Beware it could have 50 % more capacity and still be full on weekends!” On my visit it was the academics and locals who filled the pub, a great atmosphere prevailed as groups of regulars got stuck into great lunchtime pub food and quality ale. Chatty, and obviously popular with all ages and both sexes, the pub also has a heated outside patio for those long summer evenings when the student grant needs careful handling. For me it fits the bill as a place to avoid the congestion of the city centre.
UPDATE Uli Pfeifer runs the pub for Steve and Jacquie, they having tailored the food to their local clientele. The pub goes from strength to strength, retaining a great relaxed atmosphere.
BWV 4.1.06: Bass Draught, Flowers Original, Fuller’s London Pride, Ringwood Best, Strong’s Best
BWV 24.8.04; Bass Draught, Flowers Original, Fuller’s London Pride, Ringwood Best Bitter, Strong's Best | |  Guide Dog
8 Earls Road, Southampton SO14 6SF Tel: 02380 225 642 (easy to find via either Bevois Valley Road or Lodge Road)
G Paul & Margaret
No food
Hours - 12 - 11 (10:30 Sun)
Close to St. Denys Station and about a 15 minute walk to St. Mary's (the locals claim its 10 mins). It is a single roomed, classic back street town pub with 7 hand pumps dispensing a changing range of ales from microbreweries, both local and from further afield. Good selection of bottled beers (mainly Belgian, but no complaints there) and a larger than average wine selection.
When we visited with Stockport County, the locals were very welcoming, engaging and rightly very proud of their pub, which was South Hants CAMRA Pub of the Year 2005, 2007, 2008 & 2009. One couple we met regularly make a 40 mile round trip just to tickle Jasper the pub cat, who is just as welcoming and looks like he never goes hungry. Apparently, there is a beer festival each year, usually in October, so if you are lucky enough to be visiting Southampton at that time of year, it would certainly be worth enquiring in advance. A Gypsy Swing Band also play once a month.
A great selection of ales, many of which we had never seen before, not even in Stockport, the known real ale centre of the universe. We ended up in the Guide Dog post match, which turned out to be a good thing as leaving proved very difficult.
BWV 30.1.10: Ballards - Midhurst Mild;Bowman - Swift One, Three Castles Pewsey Heritage. Flowerpots - Goodens Gold; Fullers ESB; Roosters - Huntsman Ale;
Graham Privett
| |  Platform Tavern
Town Quay, S014 2NY T 02380 337232 W www.platformtavern.com
G Stewart Cross
F Normal extensive menu plus specials board from sarnies to steaks £3 - £10 12 to 3, 6 to 9. Sat. 12 to 9. Sun. 12 to 8 Roast dinner only.
MP TV BM D
O 12 to 11 Mon to Wed, 12 to 12 Thu, 12 to 12 Fri - Sat, 12 to 11 Sun.
The Platform is “not like your normal comfy but slightly grotty boozer, but more like the smoking room of a rich, eccentric Victorian explorer.” (integral.soton.ac) My visit was a very pleasant lunchtime, people read papers in piece and quiet, the staff geared themselves up for another evening of good music and partying. This is quite a happening place. Bob Ford of Bristol describes it as “homely, friendly and bohemian. Not a typical football pub but welcoming for fans.” Peter of Southampton continues saying “the atmosphere with real footie fans, both home and away is fantastic.” Near the waterfront bars, it offers everything that the modern try to achieve, being something distinctive yet real.
UPDATE Blues continues to be the pub signature sound although live jazz makes its way to Sundays. On Sunday the pub will be too busy for a lunchtime visit as Sunday roast is usually fully booked.
BWV 24.8.04: Fuller’s London Pride, Itchen Valley Godfathers, Wychwood Hobgoblin, Grease Lightning.
BWV 6.1.06 Cheriton Turkish Delight, Fuller’s London Pride, Itchen Valley Godfathers, Timothy Taylor Landlord.
UPDATE 30.9.09
BWV 30.9.09 Fullers London Pride, Seafarers, Keystone Porter, VPA
Brilliant lunchtime visit, the food is something quits special. The pub has extended into the cafe next door but retains all its old styleFresh fish is a big pull for those who get there early enough. Petal was a great hostess and the background music met our critical music fans approval. London Pride and Seafarers are now regulars plus the guest ales. A free bus to the stadium runs from the quay opposite.
Stedders
UPDATE
When visiting with Stockport County January 2010, we stayed over night and ended up in the Platform Sunday lunchtime. What a great decision. Open fire, leather arm chairs & sofas, the Sunday papers, real ale and the Sunday Sould Roast Jam Session (Steve McClearly & Toby on this occasion). An easy walk to the station from here, but just be careful not to miss your train!
BWV 30.1.10: Cottage Brewing - Western Star & Interceptor; Fullers London Pride; George Gale Seafarers Ale; Aspall Suffolk Cider.
Graham Privett | |  South Western Arms
38-40 Adelaide St. St.. Denys SO17 2HW T 023 80324542
G Steve Hoey and Lin Clare
SP TV BM P
O 3.30 to 12 Mon. to Thu, 2 to 1 a.m, Fri, 12 to 1 a.m. Sat ,12 to 1 a.m Sun.
The Good Beer Guide describes this pub as a large, two-storey pub where many corners provide a surprisingly intimate atmosphere." Little did I know that when I started the research that this pub, the first I visited, would rank so highly among all those I found over the year, it is a premiership beer house if ever there was one. The landlord takes great pride in his constantly-changing range of beers, regularly stocking ten or more. Loads of beers, usually good, usually packed.”(Wessex Motor club) Steve is indeed fiercely proud of what he has achieved in homely and residential St Denys. This pub was often recommended to my website by those who are willing to get off the train a stop early and chat to locals before the game.
UPDATE: Now more of an emphasis on Wessex regional ales. Festivals likely in July and November
BWV 24.8.04: Badger Tanglefoot, Caledonian Deuchars IPA, Frog Island Shoemaker, Fuller’s London Pride, St. Peters Best Bitter, Tanglewood Harvest, Three Rivers Summer Rays, Wychwood Hobgoblin, Ushers Summer Madness
BWV 6.1.06: Caledonian Deuchars IPA, Elgood’s Snickelmas, Fuller’s London Pride, Hop Back Entire Stout, Summer Lightning, Ringwood Bitter, Sharp’s Doom Bar, Weymouth Jurassic Durdle, Whitestar Crafty Shag, Weston’s Old Rosie, Perry
UPDATE
BWV 30.1.10: Andwell - King John; Ballards Midhurst Mild; Bowmans - Swift One & Quiver; Great Orme Penryhyn; Keystone Porter; Loddon Ferryman's Gold; Oakleaf -Pompey Royal; Otter – Bright; Westerns Old Rosie Cider
Presumably the gaffer is not a Saints supporter!
Graham Privett | | | SOUTH HAMPSHIRE CAMRA | | 
St MARY'S STADIUM | | LOCAL BREWERY
Hengsting Brewery
Hill View Farm,
Hensting Lane,
Owslebury
Winchester
SO21 1LE
www.henstingbrewery.co.uk
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