Best Pub in Southampton

[Ladybug18]

Hello! 
 

We will be staying at the Premier Inn West Quay in Southampton. I am looking for recommendations for the best family friendly restaurant and/or pub. Thanks 

[John Bull]

Hi, Ladybug,

 

Almost-directly opposite Premier Inn West Quay and next to the West Quay shopping mall, is the West Quay Leisure Complex, which includes about a dozen restaurants, plus coffee shops & take-aways (carry-outs in US-speak?).

Most of the restaurants also have outside dining which looks across to the city wall.

But they're (almost?) all national or international brands - not my scene, but might be yours.

They sit alongside each-other, menus are posted outside, so they're easy to browse & decide.

https://www.west-quay.co.uk/dine

 

For something more individual, it's a walk of only 10 minutes or less to three historic pubs:..........

 

https://www.theredlionpubsouthampton.co.uk/ (not to be confused with another of the same name in the suburbs). A small, narrow and atmospheric little historic pub on High Street, a locals' pub often overlooked by visitors.

On & near the old-city waterfront

https://www.dukesouthampton.co.uk/about in Bugle Street. the Duke of Wellington pub is popular with cruisers, and - by pre-booking its little function room which seats up to about 25-30 - Cruise Critic RollCall get-togethers. Sensibly-priced dinners (fish & chips is a favourite) and sunday roast lunches.

The nearby http://dancingmanbrewery.co.uk/wool-house-history/ on the corner of Bugle Street & Town Quay. Built in the 14th Century, this stone building was originally the store for exporting wool to continental Europe. It had many uses over the century, some cruisers will remember when it was Southampton's Maritime Museum before the swanky SeaCity Museum opened at the top of the town, then about 8 years ago it was converted to a pub & micro-brewery. I love their Rag & Bone short-rib.

 

Just a few yards from the Dancing Man, on the waterfront, two excellent but more expensive restaurants

https://www.ennios.co.uk/ (Italian)

and

https://www.laregata.co.uk/ (Spanish)

and a number of other pubs & restaurants.

 

Drinking age in the UK is 18+, pubs admit under 18's for dining, a few choose not to admit younger children after 6pm. The Standing Order in High Street for instance is a drinkers' pub and altho their food is excellent value IMHO it's not a suitable place for children under about 16.

 

JB 🙂

 

 

 

[tony s]

White Star Tavern

[Ladybug18]

@John Bull

thank you so much for all of the great suggestions. We will be traveling with our 11 year old son so looking for a Pub that is family friendly. We want to experience a true British Pub! Any of those places you suggested good for a family of 3? The Rag Bone and Short Rib entree sounds delicious! How far would you say that Pub is from the Premier Inn by foot?

[gumshoe958]

53 minutes ago, Ladybug18 said:

@John Bull

thank you so much for all of the great suggestions. We will be traveling with our 11 year old son so looking for a Pub that is family friendly. We want to experience a true British Pub! Any of those places you suggested good for a family of 3? The Rag Bone and Short Rib entree sounds delicious! How far would you say that Pub is from the Premier Inn by foot?

It’s about a 5-10 minute walk. Children are welcome up until 9pm.

 

You can book a table online: https://dancingmanbrewery.co.uk/table-booking/

[ssawjo]

I was looking at O'Neill's Pub (Irish Pub & Bar in Southampton | O'Neill's Southampton (oneills.co.uk).  Mainly because my last name is O'Neill.  Not far from the Premium West Quay, a short ten-minute walk, according to google maps.  I hope they sell t-shirts.  But this is in no way a recommendation because I have never been there.

[Ladybug18]

58 minutes ago, gumshoe958 said:

It’s about a 5-10 minute walk. Children are welcome up until 9pm.

 

You can book a table online: https://dancingmanbrewery.co.uk/table-booking/

Fantastic, Thank you! We will be exhausted from flying in on the red eye and taking the bus to Southampton. I’m sure we will be in bed  before 9PM

[gumshoe958]

59 minutes ago, ssawjo said:

I was looking at O'Neill's Pub (Irish Pub & Bar in Southampton | O'Neill's Southampton (oneills.co.uk).  Mainly because my last name is O'Neill.  Not far from the Premium West Quay, a short ten-minute walk, according to google maps.  I hope they sell t-shirts.  But this is in no way a recommendation because I have never been there.

They’re a big national chain, nothing wrong with them but definitely not the authentic British pub the OP desires.

[ssawjo]

2 hours ago, gumshoe958 said:

They’re a big national chain, nothing wrong with them but definitely not the authentic British pub the OP desires.

Thanks, did not know that.  We'll go anyway!

[John Bull]

1 hour ago, Ladybug18 said:

@John Bull

thank you so much for all of the great suggestions. We will be traveling with our 11 year old son so looking for a Pub that is family friendly. We want to experience a true British Pub! Any of those places you suggested good for a family of 3? The Rag Bone and Short Rib entree sounds delicious! How far would you say that Pub is from the Premier Inn by foot?

 

 

Yes, the Dancing Man will fit the bill, altho the Duke of Wellington would more closely fit "Ye Olde English Pub". They're two minutes apart & less than a 10-minute walk from Premier Inn West Quay.

https://goo.gl/maps/RxTZTt4nnN6cWh2K6

 

JB 🙂

[Ladybug18]

1 hour ago, John Bull said:

 

 

Yes, the Dancing Man will fit the bill, altho the Duke of Wellington would more closely fit "Ye Olde English Pub". They're two minutes apart & less than a 10-minute walk from Premier Inn West Quay.

https://goo.gl/maps/RxTZTt4nnN6cWh2K6

 

JB 🙂

@John Bull I’ll have to check out the menu at both places. Do they both take credit cards for payment?

[John Bull]

42 minutes ago, Ladybug18 said:

@John Bull I’ll have to check out the menu at both places. Do they both take credit cards for payment?

 

Visa & Mastercard for sure.

But Amex & D/C aren't well-supported outside London, don't rely on them..

 

JB 🙂