Hampshire Tourist Guide - Articles
Pubs, Bars and Clubs in Hampshire
Visitors to the area cannot fail to be impressed by the vast choice of venues in Hampshire, from trendy city centre bars and clubs to quiet, character country pubs, this cosmopolitan county certainly knows how to please the discerning punter!
Now, it comes as no surprise to the compilers of statistics that the huge variety of pubs, bars and clubs in Hampshire is dictated to a degree by the social demographics of this generally affluent county. According to the Office for National Statistics, Hampshire has the sixth largest GDP economy in England and, excluding London and Manchester, Hampshire is the second largest ‘shire’ county economy in England, after only Surrey. In other words, there’s a fair bit of disposable income available for spending on socialising - and this may go some towards explaining why there are so many great pubs, bars and clubs in Hampshire, not to mention gastro pubs; it’s all down to supply and demand.
City Pubs, Bars and Clubs
Variety is key to Hampshire’s urban pub, bar and club scene, from Portsmouth’s vibrant student pubs and clubs and local music venues (e.g. Bullfrog Blues Club for classic Blues and Time and Envy for its great Indie music) and Winchester’s more traditional, buzzing city watering holes, to the eclectic pubs, bars and clubs of Southampton.
Southampton Pubs, Bars & Clubs
For a slice of the action, head for Southampton. This city has pubs, bars and clubs to suit all ages and preferences. Southampton’s vibrant club scene attracts clientele from far and wide. Enduringly popular club venues include The Rhino Club, 5 - 6 Waterloo Terrace, Southampton, renowned for its great drinks’ deals and its 70s night on Thursdays and Tusk, 55 London Road, Southampton for a spot of lap-dancing. If you’re looking for a funky Southampton bar, then The Orange Rooms, 1 - 2 Vernon Walk, known for its up-market, retro-cool, should appeal.
Those in search of live music in Southampton’s pubs, bars and clubs will be spoilt for choice. The Hobbit, 134 Bevois Valley Road; The Joiners, 141 St Marys Street; Soul Cellar, 78 West Marlands Road and Talking Heads, 320 Portswood Road, Portswood, just outside Southampton are all worth a visit for live music lovers.
Southampton Student Venues
Southampton is also well known for its lively student scene. So, if you fancy a student pub crawl you could pop into a few of the following popular student venues: Academy, 17 Lower Banister Street, Southampton, (crowded, music - R&B, Hip-Hop, Rock nights, etc., cheap drinks); Avondale, 33 Carlton Crescent, Southampton (cheap pub grub and drinks, projection screens for sporting events); The Chambers, 74 - 76 London Road, Southampton, (bar and pizzeria, 2 for 1 cocktails); Cricketers Free House, 34 Carlton Place, Southampton, (traditional pub atmosphere, late licence weekends, occasional live music); Kelly’s, 35 London Road, Southampton, (pre-club bar, small dance floor); The Lizard Lounge, 28A Bedford Place, Southampton, (trendy, lively, good pub grub); Mono, 3 - 4 Vernon Walk, Southampton, (modern, plush, happy hour 4pm to 8pm); The Pensioner’s Arms, 29 Carlton Place, Southampton, (traditional ‘local’); The Red Lion, 1 - 2 Bedford Place, Southampton, (all-day grub, Sky Sports, live entertainment Saturday, Sunday, real ale); Seymour’s Wine Bar, 1 Carlton Place, Southampton (modern, late licence, loud music); Varsity, 67 - 75 London Road, Southampton (a favourite student bar, student discounts, live sport screens); The Wine Bar, 29 Bedford Place, Southampton (café / wine bar, great mix of clientele).
Character Town & Country Pubs in Hampshire
With so many picturesque villages and historic towns all boasting picture-postcards old inns, traditional pubs and characterful rural hide-aways dotted throughout the Hampshire countryside, it’s difficult to know where to start. The following are just a few suggestions: The Hurstbourne Inn, in the heart of the Hampshire countryside, in the village of Hurstbourne Priors, situated between Andover and Basingstoke, which is renowned for its hospitality; The Crown Inn, Old Basing, near Basingstoke, a charming sixteenth century pub, serving real ales and traditional pub grub; The Wyvern, Aldershot Road, Church Crookham, a delightful family-friendly village pub with a beer garden in a picturesque location; and The Star Inn, a seventeenth century traditional coaching inn, situated in the lovely village of East Tytherley, in the Test Valley, near Lockerley.
Real Ale Pubs and Bars in Hampshire
Real ale pubs are plentiful throughout Hampshire. The Hampshire town of Ringwood, for example, is famous for its real ale breweries and maltings dating back to the early 1800s, a tradition proudly perpetuated by the modern day Ringwood Brewery. To sample the delights of Ringwood beers at their best, nip into The Inn On The Furlong, Meeting House Lane, Ringwood which has a full range of Ringwood beers and guest ales.
A few more real ale pubs in Hampshire to try out include: Apsley House, Auckland Road West, Southsea, Portsmouth; Black Boy Inn, 1 Wharf Hill, Winchester; Bold Forester, Forest Road, Soberton Heath, Southampton; Brass Monkey, 358 Shirley Road, Southampton; Compass Rose, Anchorage Park, Portsmouth; Compasses Inn, East End, Damerham, Fordingbridge; The Cricketers, Commonside, Emsworth, Portsmouth; and Gate, 140 Burgess Road, Southampton.
For more information on Hampshire’s real ale pubs, visit the Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA) website at: www.camra.org.uk
Hampshire Pubs and Inns with Accommodation
What better way to experience the delights of a relaxing break in Hampshire than to stay in a traditional pub that also offers accommodation? The county has a super selection of character pubs, both town and country, to choose from, in places such as Alton, Andover, Brockenhurst, Fordingbridge, Havant, Hook, Lymington, Lyndhurst, Petersfield, Ringwood, Southampton, Tadley, Whitchurch and Winchester. Check out www.pubsulike.co.uk for a list of pubs in Hampshire with accommodation.
Family-Friendly Pubs in Hampshire
Hampshire has more than its fair share of family-friendly pubs, many with play areas and kids’ menus, where children are made to feel genuinely welcome and parents can simply relax. A couple of suggestions include The Alice Lisle, Rockford, Ringwood, (character pub, family restaurant, excellent beer garden) and the friendly, family-oriented pub, Mill House, Netley.
Pubs, Bars and Clubs in Hampshire
Now, it comes as no surprise to the compilers of statistics that the huge variety of pubs, bars and clubs in Hampshire is dictated to a degree by the social demographics of this generally affluent county. According to the Office for National Statistics, Hampshire has the sixth largest GDP economy in England and, excluding London and Manchester, Hampshire is the second largest ‘shire’ county economy in England, after only Surrey. In other words, there’s a fair bit of disposable income available for spending on socialising - and this may go some towards explaining why there are so many great pubs, bars and clubs in Hampshire, not to mention gastro pubs; it’s all down to supply and demand.
City Pubs, Bars and Clubs
Variety is key to Hampshire’s urban pub, bar and club scene, from Portsmouth’s vibrant student pubs and clubs and local music venues (e.g. Bullfrog Blues Club for classic Blues and Time and Envy for its great Indie music) and Winchester’s more traditional, buzzing city watering holes, to the eclectic pubs, bars and clubs of Southampton.
Southampton Pubs, Bars & Clubs
For a slice of the action, head for Southampton. This city has pubs, bars and clubs to suit all ages and preferences. Southampton’s vibrant club scene attracts clientele from far and wide. Enduringly popular club venues include The Rhino Club, 5 - 6 Waterloo Terrace, Southampton, renowned for its great drinks’ deals and its 70s night on Thursdays and Tusk, 55 London Road, Southampton for a spot of lap-dancing. If you’re looking for a funky Southampton bar, then The Orange Rooms, 1 - 2 Vernon Walk, known for its up-market, retro-cool, should appeal.
Those in search of live music in Southampton’s pubs, bars and clubs will be spoilt for choice. The Hobbit, 134 Bevois Valley Road; The Joiners, 141 St Marys Street; Soul Cellar, 78 West Marlands Road and Talking Heads, 320 Portswood Road, Portswood, just outside Southampton are all worth a visit for live music lovers.
Southampton Student Venues
Southampton is also well known for its lively student scene. So, if you fancy a student pub crawl you could pop into a few of the following popular student venues: Academy, 17 Lower Banister Street, Southampton, (crowded, music - R&B, Hip-Hop, Rock nights, etc., cheap drinks); Avondale, 33 Carlton Crescent, Southampton (cheap pub grub and drinks, projection screens for sporting events); The Chambers, 74 - 76 London Road, Southampton, (bar and pizzeria, 2 for 1 cocktails); Cricketers Free House, 34 Carlton Place, Southampton, (traditional pub atmosphere, late licence weekends, occasional live music); Kelly’s, 35 London Road, Southampton, (pre-club bar, small dance floor); The Lizard Lounge, 28A Bedford Place, Southampton, (trendy, lively, good pub grub); Mono, 3 - 4 Vernon Walk, Southampton, (modern, plush, happy hour 4pm to 8pm); The Pensioner’s Arms, 29 Carlton Place, Southampton, (traditional ‘local’); The Red Lion, 1 - 2 Bedford Place, Southampton, (all-day grub, Sky Sports, live entertainment Saturday, Sunday, real ale); Seymour’s Wine Bar, 1 Carlton Place, Southampton (modern, late licence, loud music); Varsity, 67 - 75 London Road, Southampton (a favourite student bar, student discounts, live sport screens); The Wine Bar, 29 Bedford Place, Southampton (café / wine bar, great mix of clientele).
Character Town & Country Pubs in Hampshire
With so many picturesque villages and historic towns all boasting picture-postcards old inns, traditional pubs and characterful rural hide-aways dotted throughout the Hampshire countryside, it’s difficult to know where to start. The following are just a few suggestions: The Hurstbourne Inn, in the heart of the Hampshire countryside, in the village of Hurstbourne Priors, situated between Andover and Basingstoke, which is renowned for its hospitality; The Crown Inn, Old Basing, near Basingstoke, a charming sixteenth century pub, serving real ales and traditional pub grub; The Wyvern, Aldershot Road, Church Crookham, a delightful family-friendly village pub with a beer garden in a picturesque location; and The Star Inn, a seventeenth century traditional coaching inn, situated in the lovely village of East Tytherley, in the Test Valley, near Lockerley.
Real Ale Pubs and Bars in Hampshire
Real ale pubs are plentiful throughout Hampshire. The Hampshire town of Ringwood, for example, is famous for its real ale breweries and maltings dating back to the early 1800s, a tradition proudly perpetuated by the modern day Ringwood Brewery. To sample the delights of Ringwood beers at their best, nip into The Inn On The Furlong, Meeting House Lane, Ringwood which has a full range of Ringwood beers and guest ales.
A few more real ale pubs in Hampshire to try out include: Apsley House, Auckland Road West, Southsea, Portsmouth; Black Boy Inn, 1 Wharf Hill, Winchester; Bold Forester, Forest Road, Soberton Heath, Southampton; Brass Monkey, 358 Shirley Road, Southampton; Compass Rose, Anchorage Park, Portsmouth; Compasses Inn, East End, Damerham, Fordingbridge; The Cricketers, Commonside, Emsworth, Portsmouth; and Gate, 140 Burgess Road, Southampton.
For more information on Hampshire’s real ale pubs, visit the Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA) website at: www.camra.org.uk
Hampshire Pubs and Inns with Accommodation
What better way to experience the delights of a relaxing break in Hampshire than to stay in a traditional pub that also offers accommodation? The county has a super selection of character pubs, both town and country, to choose from, in places such as Alton, Andover, Brockenhurst, Fordingbridge, Havant, Hook, Lymington, Lyndhurst, Petersfield, Ringwood, Southampton, Tadley, Whitchurch and Winchester. Check out www.pubsulike.co.uk for a list of pubs in Hampshire with accommodation.
Family-Friendly Pubs in Hampshire
Hampshire has more than its fair share of family-friendly pubs, many with play areas and kids’ menus, where children are made to feel genuinely welcome and parents can simply relax. A couple of suggestions include The Alice Lisle, Rockford, Ringwood, (character pub, family restaurant, excellent beer garden) and the friendly, family-oriented pub, Mill House, Netley.
Pubs, Bars and Clubs in Hampshire
