saints_is_the_south Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 Heading to Winch for a night out this coming Saturday for the first time. So what pubs in the City Centre would you recommend? I'm an old fashioned traditional pubs sort of guy. Wine bars and crap like that are a no no. Thanks in advance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 Heading to Winch for a night out this coming Saturday for the first time. So what pubs in the City Centre would you recommend? I'm an old fashioned traditional pubs sort of guy. Wine bars and crap like that are a no no. Thanks in advance! The Exchange isn't bad. Worth a pint in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonManager Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 (edited) A typical late 1970s Winchester pub crawl on a balmy summer's Saturday eve. Starting at The Roebuck, then downhill into town, calling at - The South Western The Eagle Hotel Hyde Tavern Theatre Bar Then along Jewry Street to - The Dolphin The Green Man (buy take-outs for sojourn in the Cathedral Grounds until first copper/DS sighted) The Willow Tree The Fighting Cocks The Cricketers The Rising Sun (more take outs) Drunken stroll to the meadows and all night session with bonfire in the copse on top of St. Catherine's Hill (fire built and food stashed earlier). Start following morning with swim in the meadows. Gentle stroll to The Cricketer's for lunchtime session. If still alive and not been arrested then home to bed. Happy Days. Edited 30 July, 2012 by RonManager Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chorlton Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 The Exchange is OK for a beer, and normally my Friday after work pub, but for a more traditional pub, it is worth checking out The Hyde Tavern, The Wykeham Arms (very posh and pretentious, but with reason to be I guess) and most of all, go to the Black Boy. Really is one of the best pubs in the country (with all sorts of such awards). So you really need to go out of the city centre a bit, but it is a small city so that isn't too bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 Old Fashioned? The Eclipse, my local when I travel home. Just off the cathedral grounds. Honourable mentions for the Black Boy and Wykeham Arms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 The Vine used to be decent, not been in there for ages though. Used to love Louisianas BITD, long since gone though sadly. Many a good night in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fitzhugh Fella Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 The Black Boy - about half a mile out of town going towards Highcliffe is a must. Great real ale/cider and a fascinating pub to look around. The Hyde Tavern is also superb, laid back, brilliant beer quirky but friendly landlady. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Channon's Windmill Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 The Black Boy - about half a mile out of town going towards Highcliffe is a must. Great real ale/cider and a fascinating pub to look around. The Hyde Tavern is also superb, laid back, brilliant beer quirky but friendly landlady. ^^ This.... The Black Boy is just brilliant. A good old fashioned pub with quirks and nooks and crannys. The barmaids are nice too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 The Vine used to be decent, not been in there for ages though. Used to love Louisianas BITD, long since gone though sadly. Many a good night in there. Use to love a good night in the Vine nothing like going out in the middle of winter to **** out a few pints in a frezzing cold shed pretending to be the toilets. Louisianas was a bit of a dive in my day the Gulidhall tavern was much prefered. Don't really go out drinking much these days but the Royal Oak was/is alright and I got food poisoning from the Exchange years ago:lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special K Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 Black Boy is a good pub and worth the short walk from the City. The Bishop on the Bridge is worth popping in on the way back/there especially if you can get a seat in the garden by the river. Always liked the White Swan and the Railway. The Eclipse is a nice little pub too. The Royal Oak, just off the high street is good. The William Walker (used to be the old Market Inn) is just about passable. The Wykeham Arms and the Green Man are very good though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
so22saint Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 The Black Boy is bloody superb, great beer and excellent bar staff. The Fulflood is full of Winchester tossers but near the station and brews it's own beer now. a pub that has recently been turned right around is the Albion next to the station. The new landlord keeps a good pint of Tim Taylor and a range of single malts including my favourite, Oban. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 Another vote for the Black Boy. Hyde Tavern and White Swan are nice and close to each other on Hyde Street, and the King Alfred is just a few minutes from them, so makes for a nice crawl without too far to go. All of the above wipe the floor with just about any pub in Southampton IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 31 July, 2012 Share Posted 31 July, 2012 Use to love a good night in the Vine nothing like going out in the middle of winter to **** out a few pints in a frezzing cold shed pretending to be the toilets. Louisianas was a bit of a dive in my day the Gulidhall tavern was much prefered. Don't really go out drinking much these days but the Royal Oak was/is alright and I got food poisoning from the Exchange years ago:lol: Pleased to hear it. I used to work behind the bar from 1994 to 1997. Met my wife in there. Whats it like now ? What was the name of the pub directly opposite run by a bit of a dodgy Skate? Friendly enough, but I wouldnt have f*cked with him. Think he was in the Crew. When off-duty I used to frequent the Bakers Arms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPTCount Posted 31 July, 2012 Share Posted 31 July, 2012 go the the black boy, get bladdered, talk to the stuffed donkey and spin out when u see the xmas tree /thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chorlton Posted 31 July, 2012 Share Posted 31 July, 2012 Pleased to hear it. I used to work behind the bar from 1994 to 1997. Met my wife in there. Whats it like now ? What was the name of the pub directly opposite run by a bit of a dodgy Skate? Friendly enough, but I wouldnt have f*cked with him. Think he was in the Crew. When off-duty I used to frequent the Bakers Arms. That was The India Arms, now Alfie's, which is run by the same guy who runs The Exchange. It is a totally different bar to what it was. There was an infamous night in Winch when pompey had played at Reading and a load of their tosspot fans were invited to Winch, apparently by that landlord. Remember some 16 year old Saints fan getting half strangled by his scarf. Fulflood is bottom of my road, but have only been in there a couple of times. Nice enough pub but full of the Winch types who wear mustard cords with a pastel sweater tied over their shoulders. Glad King Alfred has been mentioned. I forgot about that one. Well worth a visit (but make sure you go to The Black Boy!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tpbury Posted 31 July, 2012 Share Posted 31 July, 2012 Mash Tun has sadly gone, as I understand. The Willow, though poshed up, has (had?) the best garden for the summer evenings. Cricketers likewise. Bringing a tear to my eye of many nights out 25-20 years ago (sniff). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 31 July, 2012 Share Posted 31 July, 2012 Another vote for the Black Boy. Hyde Tavern and White Swan are nice and close to each other on Hyde Street, and the King Alfred is just a few minutes from them, so makes for a nice crawl without too far to go. All of the above wipe the floor with just about any pub in Southampton IMO. I walk past it a few times a week on my way to the office, and The White Swan has been relabelled "The Mucky Duck" as of last week, which is one of the crappest examples of late 90s-style kooky corporate desperate rebranding I can think of since... the late 90s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COMEONYOUREDS Posted 31 July, 2012 Share Posted 31 July, 2012 exchange is w@nk, full of students drinking vodka mars bars and too loud for a conversation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty Posted 31 July, 2012 Share Posted 31 July, 2012 I walk past it a few times a week on my way to the office, and The White Swan has been relabelled "The Mucky Duck" as of last week, which is one of the crappest examples of late 90s-style kooky corporate desperate rebranding I can think of since... the late 90s. Did not know that. Scratch that one then, until I've been and had a look, but doesn't sound promising. Just go to Hyde Tavern and King Alfred then. (And Black Boy, obviously.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 31 July, 2012 Share Posted 31 July, 2012 Did not know that. Scratch that one then, until I've been and had a look, but doesn't sound promising. Just go to Hyde Tavern and King Alfred then. (And Black Boy, obviously.) I've been to the KA once (after a 5-a-side at River Park) and never been to the others. The White Swan (as it was) has been toying with "amusing" A-boards ourside with "jokes" and "witticisms" on it for months, smacked of the horrendous enforced jollity of some kind of religious love-in and despite the obvious temptation of collapsing into the pub after work, I've always managed to avoid it. Then again I haven't been in Hyde Tavern either and that looks pretty nice. I actually have no idea where the Black Boy is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty Posted 31 July, 2012 Share Posted 31 July, 2012 I actually have no idea where the Black Boy is. Sort that out then. T'other end of town on Wharf Hill, off Chesil Street. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 31 July, 2012 Share Posted 31 July, 2012 Pleased to hear it. I used to work behind the bar from 1994 to 1997. Met my wife in there. Whats it like now ? What was the name of the pub directly opposite run by a bit of a dodgy Skate? Friendly enough, but I wouldnt have f*cked with him. Think he was in the Crew. When off-duty I used to frequent the Bakers Arms. No idea haven't been on the serious **** in Winchester since the late 90s mostly the odd pint in the county arms these days as it's close to work. Wasn't the place opposite called the ship? Only remember ever going in there once used to prefer the Rising Sun on the corner of Chesil street. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 31 July, 2012 Share Posted 31 July, 2012 No idea haven't been on the serious **** in Winchester since the late 90s mostly the odd pint in the county arms these days as it's close to work. Wasn't the place opposite called the ship? Only remember ever going in there once used to prefer the Rising Sun on the corner of Chesil street. Chorlton posted that opposite was the India Arms - does ring a bell. I think The Ship was the chippy next door. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 31 July, 2012 Share Posted 31 July, 2012 That was The India Arms, now Alfie's, which is run by the same guy who runs The Exchange. It is a totally different bar to what it was. There was an infamous night in Winch when pompey had played at Reading and a load of their tosspot fans were invited to Winch, apparently by that landlord. Remember some 16 year old Saints fan getting half strangled by his scarf. Fulflood is bottom of my road, but have only been in there a couple of times. Nice enough pub but full of the Winch types who wear mustard cords with a pastel sweater tied over their shoulders. Glad King Alfred has been mentioned. I forgot about that one. Well worth a visit (but make sure you go to The Black Boy!) LOL sounds like my old boss...winchester does have more than it's fair share of academics..thanks to the boys school and university most of who seem to think they're a character in an inspector Morse/Lewis story.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericofarabia Posted 31 July, 2012 Share Posted 31 July, 2012 Late 70's early 80's we used to do a Winch Pub crawl about once every 3 months. Can't remember the names of most of the pubs we frequented but they included The South Western where we'd treat the locals to us singing along to the guitar bits in Easy by The Commodores, The Theatre Bar, Bakers, The Vine, The Sexchange, The Eclipse plus about 6 others including The India Arms, which we renamed The Biafarans Stomach as it was always empty. It was our sole intention of not getting served and banned asap by asking for pints of Watneys Red P!ss Water and generally being total plonkers. If we were in there long enough My Way by Sid Vicious would get an airing on the juke box. We would never finish our pints and leave slagging off Watneys. Bloody students huh!! Happy Daze indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 31 July, 2012 Share Posted 31 July, 2012 Chorlton posted that opposite was the India Arms - does ring a bell. I think The Ship was the chippy next door. No the chippy was the blue dolphin now a posh cake shop. The India Arms was the one next to the bus station ..the Ship was a bit further down opposite the Alfred the Great statue. The India arms had the slightly dodgy reputation so no doubt that was the one run by the skate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special K Posted 31 July, 2012 Share Posted 31 July, 2012 No the chippy was the blue dolphin now a posh cake shop. The India Arms was the one next to the bus station ..the Ship was a bit further down opposite the Alfred the Great statue. The India arms had the slightly dodgy reputation so no doubt that was the one run by the skate Twas / Is the Crown and Anchor that is by the Bus Station. The Ship is up Wales Street, towards Winnall Industrial Estate. You pass the Willow Tree on the way, which is also an alright pub. The India was further towards town from the Bus Station, but was indeed run by a skate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintbletch Posted 31 July, 2012 Share Posted 31 July, 2012 I've been to the KA once (after a 5-a-side at River Park) and never been to the others. The White Swan (as it was) has been toying with "amusing" A-boards ourside with "jokes" and "witticisms" on it for months, smacked of the horrendous enforced jollity of some kind of religious love-in and despite the obvious temptation of collapsing into the pub after work, I've always managed to avoid it. Then again I haven't been in Hyde Tavern either and that looks pretty nice. I actually have no idea where the Black Boy is. As I will do tomorrow, a few times a year I spend a hazy afternoon in a Winchester pub getting slowly sozzled with a mate who lives there. We used to go to The Albion before it closed to have its interior as well as its clientèle refurbished. That was a fascinating pub - a real den of iniquity. I think many 'clients' were dependent on their beer and most had seen more than their fair share of life but they made fantastic company though. I must admit that being surrounded by life's 'characters' pouring angry juice down their heads made me shamefully less conscious about drinking in the afternoon. It usually wouldn't take long before there was some form of altercation which you end up sort of looking forward to. Although being interviewed by the Police at home some weeks after I'd witnessed the barman 'help' a client outside and onto the pavement was a little uncomfortable. When it closed we moved our meetings to the The White Swan and I have to say it's been fine for our purposes. You tend to meet a better class of loser in there. Wayne Bridge was in there last time I was there; listening to me drunkenly pontificate on this, that and the rest. But I'm not sure if that supports or contradicts my better class of loser assertion. When we first started going there it was run by a Spanish lady who had the idea of live music jamming sessions on a Friday night. She was a great host but I don't think she was making any money and she soon left. It is a little soulless now, but I've met a lot of interesting people in there when Winch office and market workers come in to quench a thirst. The last landlord was always helpful if a little distant but I haven't been in since it's changed hands. I'll be interested to see if it's changed much. I quite enjoy The Bridge on hot afternoons / early evenings. But whilst they do carry Staropramen, and watching the Itchen course its way toward the sea can be nice, it's not a real pub. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saints_is_the_south Posted 1 August, 2012 Author Share Posted 1 August, 2012 Thanks for all the responses guys, much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 1 August, 2012 Share Posted 1 August, 2012 When it closed we moved our meetings to the The White Swan and I have to say it's been fine for our purposes. You tend to meet a better class of loser in there. Wayne Bridge was in there last time I was there; listening to me drunkenly pontificate on this, that and the rest. But I'm not sure if that supports or contradicts my better class of loser assertion. When we first started going there it was run by a Spanish lady who had the idea of live music jamming sessions on a Friday night. She was a great host but I don't think she was making any money and she soon left. It is a little soulless now, but I've met a lot of interesting people in there when Winch office and market workers come in to quench a thirst. The last landlord was always helpful if a little distant but I haven't been in since it's changed hands. I'll be interested to see if it's changed much. . I paid special attention when walking past today, it's branding itself as some kind of sporting bar, though I'm not sure whether that's "sportsmen" as in themed or "sports" as in showing sport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintbletch Posted 2 August, 2012 Share Posted 2 August, 2012 I paid special attention when walking past today, it's branding itself as some kind of sporting bar, though I'm not sure whether that's "sportsmen" as in themed or "sports" as in showing sport. Yeah, a bit of both really The9. They've put three big TVs on the wall that were showing the Olympics, so I can see the sports-bar thing but it's not done out in the usual loud gaudy sports-bar colours. It's all dark greens and browns and low-lit like a gentleman's club. It also featured the formulaic carved and painted wood fly-fishing sign above the urinals and some of the most pretentiously expensive sinks and taps I've seen outside of a posh London hotel lobby bog. They've taken Strongbow off the menu and replaced it with Aspalls which wasn't quite to my taste. But they do now serve Staropramen (@£4.40 a pop, mind), which did make the afternoon very pleasant. It was very quiet in there yesterday and I'm not sure they'll have enough through-traffic to create the demand to sustain those prices. I don't know Winchester well enough to know whether there are other places showing sport after work. If not, perhaps that's the niche they're going for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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