Live Sports — Pubs in Southampton

Alexandra

6 Bellevue Road, Southampton SO15 2AY

The Alexandra Beer Emporium describes itself as 'the only traditional pub in Southampton' may be a little bold, but it is probably not too far from the truth in the city centre. It is conveniently located just off the busy London Road. Intrenally it is bare boarded. A raised stage area to the left as you enter hosts frequent live music, and near the is the pool table & food servery. It has a lively atmosphere and the walls are covered with an impressive collection of cult film memorabilia. An enclosed, largely paved garden can be found at the rear of the pub. Food is home-made and cooked to order (please note food hours above). Sport is shown from seven TVs, including one in the garden. There is also a large selection of board games and retro 1980s gaming machines to play.

Banana Wharf

Ocean Village, Southampton SO14 3JF

A modern bar and restaurant in Ocean Village, next to the marina in what used to be Southampton's Eastern Docks.

Bedford

23 Bedford Place, Southampton SO15 2DB

A large pub in the centre of Bedford Place's 'night-time economy' area. A polished wood floor bar area spilt is up with pillars & tall tables. To the front left is padded bench seating and tables and further to the left up a small step is an annex with more dining tables, a pool table and access to the front patio area. Families are welcome up to 6pm after which it is strictly over 18s only. Sports fans are well catered for with plenty of TVs.

Bellemoor Tavern

250 Hill Lane, Southampton SO15 7NU

Reopened 31/10/2016 after a two week refurbishment. Some of the following may be out of date: Large pub opposite Southampton Common in a commanding position on the corner of Hill Lane and Bellemoor Road. Inside, décor is plenty of wood and mostly carpeted. Pillars and part walls separate it into slightly more cosy areas but all served from the same L-shaped bar, which has six handpumps on its central corner. It has fairly traditional pub furniture with a couple of armchairs thrown in. To the left end there's an area with a more 'public' bar feel with high bar tables, fruit machines and dartboard. During the quiet part of the week two real ales are available, with an extra one Friday to Sunday, and perhaps a fourth in high season. Usually 2 hand-pulled ciders. There may be an Ale & Pie in March & a cider festival in June.

Mbuntu Cocktail Bar & Bistro

2-4 Cobden Avenue, Southampton SO18 1FX

Reopened as a Cocktail Bar & Bistro 17/05/2021. Apart from contact details and opening/food times, the information here refers to the pub when it was the Bitterne Park Hotel. This huge pub dominates the views east from Cobden Bridge. The original three bars have been merged into one but with enough of the interior walls left intact to give the feeling of separate areas. The high ceilings give a feeling of size and airiness, while still retaining a bit of cosiness. The long bar has two handpumps in the middle, but as of March 2019 neither were in use. One of the three areas is a games area with pool, darts and slot machines.

Brass Monkey

358 Shirley Road, Southampton SO15 3HY

A large pub on the main A3057 Shirley Road. The front is carpeted and with sofas in the front window alcoves. Further in is a wood boarded bar area with tables & chairs to the side and a spacious lower carpeted area with more seating and the pool table & darts board. A small patio is to the front and a larger paved area is at the rear with good shelter for those who need it. Future plans are to triple the size of the rear outside area to cater for families and introduce food service (April 2017).

Cricketers Arms

Portsmouth Road, Southampton SO19 9AF

Current Photo ID is required for entry to this pub. Large pub next to the Itchen Bridge roundabout. Starting off as the Woolston Hotel in Victorian times the pub has had a variety of names reflecting local changes but it now commemorates the long gone Hampshire Cricket Club ground that used to be behind the pub on land leased to the club by renowned 19th century cricketer Daniel Day. The large pub is now a single bar inside with a pool table, two dartboards and several TVs. The pub is a popular haunt for football fans on Southampton home match days. At the front outside are bench tables and a covered drinking area is to the side. A function room is attached to the rear of the pub.

Bright Water Inn

370 Shirley Road, Southampton SO15 3HY

As with many early Wetherspoon pubs a small frontage disguises a long deep pub inside. The bar is halfway down on the left and beyond that and down a couple of steps is the family area (families welcome up to 9pm). The patio area at the front is segregated for smokers & non-smokers. Three TVs, but the sound is off apart from main sports matches. A total of 10 handpumps, normally with 8 beers on at any one time. One cider displayed on handpump but is served from a bag-in-box from the fridge along with one or two others.

Cricketers

34 Carlton Place, Southampton SO15 2DX

Unpretentious city pub with newly exposed exterior tiling, U-shaped traditional bar inside, and welcoming bar staff. Up to five locally sourced ales and two real ciders available. Home-cooked food is served everyday. Outside is a courtyard beer garden which also hosts cider & beer festivals, usually May & July. The pub may become somewhat louder with a DJ in the evenings. Southampton's Night Buses can get you home on Fridays & Saturdays.

Drummond Arms

56 Somerset Road, Southampton SO17 3AA

A proper pub with a clientele of local regulars & students where everyone is always welcome. Good home-made pub food is served, and the outstanding Sunday roast is good value. 3 HD screens show as much live sport as possible including FA Premier League, rugby & internationals. Architecturally there are some nice touches with oval arches through to the games area and matching window lattices. Food hours will be extended again, planned later in 2019.

Robin Hood

20 South East Road, Southampton SO19 8TQ

Lively large street corner pub. Steps lead up to a large L shape bar that is the focus in the main seating area. At the rear is a separate room with a stage for live music (Fridays & Saturdays, and the last Sunday of the month), plus pool table, darts and a large screen TV. There is pub garden with a covered smoking area as well as bench tables. Food consists of simple pub grub plus pizzas.

Mayflower Village

22 Commercial Road, Southampton SO15 1GE

Modern pub almost next door to the Mayflower Theatre, and the closest to Southampton Railway Station. Reopened 09/05/2018 after being closed for about seven weeks while the pub was transferred from Greene King to Urban Village Pub Co. As of August 20th the pub closed again for a full refurbishment which included adopting the Urban Village house style and renaming the pub from the 'Encore' to 'Mayflower Village'. Officially reopened on Sunday 23rd September 2018. The main bar features much light wood, three handpumps on the bar, and a games area with a table tennis table (behind a sliding glass door to prevent errant ping pong balls escaping to the bar). A new feature is a new staircase leading down to a cellar bar & function room.

O'Neill's

130-132 Above Bar Street, Southampton SO14 7DU

In its short life this pub has had many names, the most recent, from 29th November 2019, O'Neill's, a chain of 'Irish' pubs own by Mitchells & Butlers. On opening day three handpumps were present; it's not known if this particular beer range will be regulars or not.

Fleming Arms

High Road, Southampton SO18 2QN

One of Greene King's Hungry Horse chain; a modest public bar area is complemented by much more extensive dining areas, including a mezzanine upstairs and a patio overlooking Monks Brook.

Fox & Hounds

106 Pound Street, Southampton SO18 6BP

Traditional 2 bar Victorian pub tucked away off the main Bitterne roads. Originally built as a house, it became a pub around 1860, then called the Coopers Arms, and owned by Coopers Brewery. It was renamed in the 1880s to the Fox & Hounds as the local hunt met outside. Both the public and lounge bars are quite small; the lounge has three steps down to a games area which has the landlady's own bar billiards table and a few more seats, and this in turn leads to quite a large garden with plenty of seating, some of it covered. The pub has an excellent community feel and supports darts & dominoes teams. Several handpumps but beer is served on gravity from the cellar and may be just Goodens Gold except for busy times.

Freemantle Arms

31 Albany Road, Southampton SO15 3EF

Somewhat hidden in the back streets, this classic pub started life as a cider house and only became an ale house at the start of the 20th century. The lounge and public bars were combined into one around the turn of the millennium but the pub maintains much of its Victorian charm. A lovely community ambience where accompanied children are welcome up until 8.30pm. Plentiful buses are about 330m away on Shirley Road, or the S2 on Foundry Lane. The garden is an urban oasis to enjoy a pint of real ale, and also hosts the pub's beer festival. The pub has two cribbage teams and a fortnightly quiz.

Gardener's Arms

118 Newtown Road, Southampton SO19 9HR

Gordon Arms

113 Portswood Road, Southampton SO17 2FU

Refurbished June 2017 under Enterprise's new 'Craft Union Pub Company' brand, the Gordon Arms is a drinkers' pub, on a corner just down from Portswood Broadway. Dating from Victorian times the L-shaped bar is decorated in contemporary pastel colours with a fair amount of wood panelling and some exposed beams. The bar has two handpumps and beer prices are very competitive. Sports orientated with four TV screens and a dartboard.

Grapes

41-43 Oxford Street, Southampton SO14 3DP

A large Victorian mirror-backed bar faces the door and several etched glass panels survive, particularly around what was the Private Bar. The rear bar has lounge seating, a pool table and pictures of liners and the old town on the walls. Pavement seating is available.

Guide Dog

38 Earl's Road, Southampton SO14 6SF

Set in a residential side road in Bevois Valley, the pub is a genuine free house carrying a wide range of real ales from local and national breweries, all served from handpumps. New owners took over in August 2015, giving the pub a refurbishment and opened a new back room, known as the 'Dog House', along with a patio space. Both are compact but make imaginative use of the space. Currently (2020) there are 11 hand pumps and a range of bottled beers behind the bar. The cellar has been completely re-fitted, and the beer quality across this wide range is very good indeed. A Thai curry night is held on Thursdays and pies are regularly sold on Southampton FC home match days; the pub may also open early for home games depending on kick-off time. The pub has a number of awards and was voted Southern Hampshire CAMRA Pub of the Year 2018, adding to many past awards.

Hinkler

Hinkler Road, Southampton SO19 6DF

Large mid 20th-century estate pub named after Bert Hinkler, an early Australian aviation pioneer who was the first person to fly England to Australia solo in 1928. He built a house nearby and in 1983 this was moved and rebuilt brick by brick in his Australian home town of Bundaberg. The pub itself has a large public bar with two pool tables, at least one of which can be moved to make way for live bands. The lounge bar doubles as a function room. At the back is a large patio area. Judging by the pictures on the walls and the emblems on the windows there is a strong sports following, particularly for Southampton FC.

Dhaba 59

59 Lodge Road, Southampton SO14 6RH

The new home for Dhaba59 (Sports Bar and Grill) since December 2020. Formerly The Lime Bar, this was the only pub in the area that doesn't serve real ale, though a Facebook photo from December 2020 does show a cask of Itchen Valley beer on gravity. There is a front bar, two further rooms at the back and a beer garden. It seems the pub has reopened since lockdown, but the new opening times and other details have yet to be confirmed.

Horns Inn

Romsey Road, Southampton SO16 0XA

A traditional family friendly pub in the heart of Nursling serving home made food all day until 9pm. It has a welcoming atmosphere with two log fires in the winter and a large well kept enclosed paved garden with plenty of seating, some under cover. The garden also has a cycle rack.

Browns

70 Millbank Street, Southampton SO14 5QN

Dating from the 1860s, a simple L-shaped bar refurbished & reopened February 2016. To the far left is a raised carpeted area with a few small dining tables, the rest of the bar floor is boarded. A pool table occupies the corner of the 'L', wooden stools are around the bar and to the right a Chesterfield sofa and chairs make a small lounge area. The pub was nearly demolished back in 1974 when it was hit by an articulated lorry but following expensive repairs the pub survived later closures by its pub company as it had had some money spent on it! Browns is one of the nearest pubs to Southampton FC's St Mary's Stadium and is very busy on match days. During quieter times the pub may close earlier than the above opening times.

Junction Inn

21 Priory Road, Southampton SO17 2JZ

Classic Victorian pub Built in 1864, serves 8 hand-pulled beers. Until early 2019 these were 4 from Greene King, and 4 from local breweries as the pub was one of the few Greene King 'Local Hero Beer Houses' allowing locally sourced cask beer, but this scheme has been discontinued and all beers are now Greene King sourced. Quiz night on Fridays. Bar billiards table. Buses listed are in St. Denys Road; more available in Bevois Valley/Portswood Road, just a little further away (800m) but Portswood by-pass gets slightly in the way; the railway station is much more convenient.

King's Arms

8 Church Street, Southampton SO15 5LF

Located next to the Shirley BT exchange, this pub is set back a short distance from the Shirley Road shopping area and Shirley Towers estate, and caters for the local population. The pub's interior décor is dark wood, with Sports TV, Pool and Darts. There is a paved garden with many benches to the rear, which doubles as a smoking area.

Kingsland Tavern

76 St. Mary Street, Southampton SO14 1NY

The Kingsland Tavern is one of Southampton's older pubs, there having been a pub on that site since the 1820s. It appears that little has changed since then; the décor is basic, the furniture straight out of a 1960s second-hand shop and it doesn't ring out a welcome. The sole handpump is hidden by a pillar (as though they are ashamed of it). On the plus side, there is a dartboard, pool table and (loud) jukebox.

Malvern

290 Winchester Road, Southampton SO16 6TU

Large pub on one of Southampton's main roads (A35), probably converted, some time ago, from a Victorian hotel. A single large L-shaped bar serves generously sized areas surrounding it, mostly lounge bar/dining style though a single storey extension to the right has the 'public bar' accoutrements of fruit machines & dartboard. The pub has had a contemporary refurbishment which has left it with a mixture of styles to suit all sorts from diners to those who may prefer the more modern high bar tables. Four handpumps which once served a variety of beers but the range has since been restricted to just two Greene King Beers.

Miller's Pond

2 Middle Road, Southampton SO19 8FQ

This street corner pub is a Wadworth tenancy and was refurbished November 2015. It is now a sports bar with polished wooden flooring and chunky wooden tables with comfortable high backed chairs. There are six TV screens covering sport from Sky & BT; sound is low key or off except for feature events. Food is served lunchtimes & evenings. The pub has a verandah and a large garden at the rear with a climbing frame. The car park is beyond the garden on Station Road. Entry to the pub is from the rear via the verandah - access via steps down the side of the pub from Middle Road or up from the main car park and through the garden.

Mitre

200 Portswood Road, Southampton SO17 2LB

This large pub, on the corner of Portswood High Street and the road to St Denys and Cobden Bridge, was formerly adjacent to Southampton city bus depot but this has now been replaced by a massive Sainsbury's supermarket. It has an extensive food menu, most of which is reasonably priced. As well as sports TV, it also hosts regular quiz nights and has a patio at rear.

Mountbatten

Lordshill District Centre, Southampton SO16 8HY

Built in 1980 and located in the middle of Lordshill District Centre. A selection of pasties, pies, sausage rolls and cakes (all home-made) are available during the week.

Obelisk Hotel

108 Obelisk Road, Southampton SO19 9DP

Imposing street-corner local set in the quiet streets behind Woolston High Street. Under new management from mid December 2015 and undergoing a refurbishment in early 2016 whilst remaining open. Two bars; a warm and cosy lounge bar and a large sports bar offering, pool, darts and sport TV. A garden offers plenty of seating and play equipment for children.

Scholars Arms

166 Above Bar Street, Southampton SO14 7DU

Previously the Frog & Parrot, this pub became the Scholars Arms in June 2017 after a refurbishment. The cavernous pub is decorated with plenty of dark wood and a mixture of high tables & stools, and traditional tables and dining chairs & armchairs. Pictures of eminent scholars and educational artefacts decorate the walls, along with the obligatory TVs. At the back is a spacious pool table area. At the bar, five handpumps relegated to serving two Greene King beers and cider or fruit products from Lilly's

Osborne

54 Shirley Road, Southampton SO15 3EX

Victorian corner pub. Apart from now being one bar it is still fairly traditional in design & décor with lots of wood panelling. A couple of more modern bar tables blend in well. A popular venue for sports TV. Also features pool, darts & a jukebox. Food served all day.

Pig 'N' Whistle

108 Shirley Road, Southampton SO15 3FD

Victorian street corner pub that reopened in July 2016 as an 'Anglo-Polish' pub with a bit of a café feel. Run by a family of Polish heritage who have refurbished the pub stylishly with pastel shade colours, wood strip flooring in the old 'lounge' area and shutterboard flooring in the 'public' - which works very well and is a talking point. A nice homely feel, spacious & not over cluttered with furniture. A courtyard to the rear provides an outdoor area away from the traffic. The pub retains some of the original cut glass & etched windows - unusual & now irreplaceable. The good value food has a few Polish specialities on it. When first opened it had no real ale but otherwise it had much to commend it; since then, first one, then a second real ale has been introduced.

Prince of Wales

198 Northam Road, Southampton SO14 0QF

A traditional residential area pub run by the same family since 1981. Red and white outside and in, with the Markus Liebherr bar decorated with Saints memorabilia. The public bar has wooden floorboards and a pool table. Outside is a slabbed area with tables and a smokers shelter. Breakfasts are served from 9am and are available all day. Pub food such as chilli usually available. One of the nearest pubs to Southampton FC's St Mary's Stadium - occasional 'brewery takeover' beer festivals held in the garden on match days.

Lion

1 Bedford Place, Southampton SO15 2DB

Once a traditional 3 bar mock-tudor style pub the Lion has moved with the times with light coloured wood on its exterior façades and a single large room inside. A pair of Chesterfield sofas dominate the front part of the pub and more leather sofas on a raised platform make up cosy alcove dubbed the 'VIP' area. Plenty of modern artwork decorates the walls and even the ceiling. The art decoration also extends outside to the small courtyard. More traditionally there is a pool table & table football. Fairly quiet on weekday lunchtimes, the pub joins in with the local 'night time economy' at weekends with Karaoke Thursdays, A DJ Friday & Saturday evenings and a free jukebox on Sundays.

Red Lion

448 Bitterne Road, Southampton SO18 5EF

A pub has been on this site since 1830 and some of the original structure still survives in this much modernised & enlarged pub. Wetherspoon acquired the pub in 2016 and, after more than doubling its size, it reopened late March 2017. Downstairs is a large area with a long bar at the back. Upstairs at the front is a more modest area which leads to the outside balcony overlooking the large ground floor patio & Bitterne precinct. The walls are decorated with historic pictures that illustrate the history of the pub. Alcohol not served before 9am.

Red Lion

55 High Street, Southampton SO14 2NS

The pub has a varied menu choice, also a daily specials board, plus snacks such as steak sandwiches or jacket potatoes with (almost) anything. Interior interest includes ancient suits of armour and a not so ancient parrot (Molly).

Regents Park

35 Regents Park Road, Southampton SO15 8PF

A substantial “brewers' Tudor” building situated in a residential area between Shirley High Street and the docks. A large lounge bar has large screen TV which shows a variety of news, music and sport. A second bar is reserved as a function room, and towards the rear is a games room with pool table accessible from both bars. There are themed food offers, along with regular cabaret, karaoke and quiz nights.

Saints

Mansel Rd W, Southampton SO16 9LP

Despite having no real ale, this pub serves the local community very well. It focuses on sport and its colour scheme reflects that of the local football team, with which it shares it name. The bar host an impressive line of 13 keg fonts.

View

Sports Centre, Thornhill Road, Southampton SO16 7AY

Art deco building dating from the creation of Southampton Sport Centre, if you have trouble finding it, it is behind the bowling green pavilion. A magnificent curved bay overlooks the sports centre, and inside plumbing enthusiasts will find an equally curved 12 metre long radiator. Fully refurbished in 2013 and now in contemporary wine bar style, shrugging off the casual lager drinking sports bar image of old. A mixture of low tables & chairs & tables for dining with plenty of wood décor plus a function room. Flat access throughout. More buses (U6, W2) available 130m beyond nearest stops.

Station

99 Bullar Road, Southampton SO18 1GT

Cavernous well maintained Victorian hotel. The bar areas are all one room, with a pool table in the 'public' area and couple of steps leading down to a dining area and the garden.

Two Brothers

Wessex Road, Townhill Way, Southampton SO18 3RA

Modern, though looking tired, food-led pub popular with locals. Part of the 'Sizzling' pub chain, with a wide ranging varied menu at low prices. Outside is a patio area with benches.

Pre-Bar

16 Bevois Valley Road, Southampton SO14 0JP

Medium sized open plan pub on the corner of Bevois Valley Road & Blackberry Terrace. In its latest guise it has mostly bare-board floors and the other woodwork is in various shades of green. As the name suggests the pub is aiming for the younger demographic on a night out. Sometimes the bar has tables and chairs but usually has evenings revolving around music with events such as Rock Tuesdays, Karaoke Fridays and live music nights. Their facebook entry lists upcoming events.

London Road Brew House

67-75 London Road, Southampton SO15 2AB

Another pub in the small chain of City Pub Company 'Brew Houses' opened at the end of January 2017 and the on-site 6 barrel brewing plant supplies most of the beers. It is a smart refurbishment of the former 'Varsity' pub with a split level ground floor and a spacious mezzanine all tastefully decorated in what could be called rustic industrial style. The main bar has 7 handpumps (3 supplying Brew House beers), and 7 'craft' fonts on the wall behind. Two of the handpumps have cider clips but are not actually used as both ciders are 'bag in box'. There are 2 video games machines as well as pool & table football tables. For busy times the mezzanine has its own bar with 3 handpumps. A prominently positioned gas-fired pizza oven on the ground floor provides sustenance up until 10pm. Popular with football fans pre-and post-match at St Mary's Stadium, LRBH also shows live sport across the pubs screens.

Broadway

Unit 5-6 Portswood Centre, Portswood Road, Southampton SO17 2NH

Large modern pub inside a shop unit. Contemporary décor with wood panelling, tiling & brickwork, and wood flooring with slate around the bar. Café/bar style with a mixture of low tables & high bar tables. The bar occupies most of the right hand side and did have two hand pumps but these had been removed by October 2018. One or two 'craft' keg beers may be available but nothing special. Four big screen sports TVs. Saturday evenings usually hosts a DJ & sometimes a live band.

Victoria

Victoria Road, Southampton SO19 9EF

Until 2004, The Victoria was located right by one of the gates to the Vosper Thornycroft shipyard but now the works has been demolished, the Victoria is located on the fringe of the new Centenary Quay development. A very patriotic pub, it has the cross of St George painted on the main façade and plenty of bunting inside as well. The front part of the pub is very much in 'public bar' style with bare boards while further back is a carpeted area and beyond that the pool table and a small garden/patio. At first sight there is a disappointing absence of hand pumps but a cask of beer is racked up on a small table behind the bar, usually serving CrackleRock Fire Cracker on gravity.

Bistro at Shamrock

Unit 2, Shamrock Quay, William Street, Southampton SO14 5QL

Previously 'Waterfront Bar' then 'Cove', the venue reopened as 'Bistro at Shamrock' November 2019 and open daily 11am until 'late'.

White Swan

Mansbridge Road, Southampton SO18 3HW

Originally dating from the early 1800s, this much enlarged pub sits on the banks of the River Itchen and next to the A27 - once the main road before the M27 was built. The pub relies on motorised visitors and is food orientated. On entering via the main door the large restaurant & carvery area is to the left while to the right is a good sized bar with plenty of tables to sit and have a drink at. The pub suffered several bouts of flooding from the river in 2013/14 and it was then substantially refurbished in a smart old but contemporary style; flood alleviation measures should help keep it dry next time. Outside seating is available at the back - riverside - and the front of the pub.