Ketch Rigger, Southampton

A rather scruffy marina bar which does the same formulaic menu as its sister business just up the river. It’s on the ground floor of an admin block and consist of a single room. Being the only public bar in the area it’s mainly used by local youths rather than the yachting fraternity. It wasn’t at all friendly, and the food was pretty stodgy and expensive. Given the large portion size it would have been better to have smaller portions at a lower price. One ale on, Doombar, which was not the greatest. Unless staying in the marina I shouldn’t bother in future.

Accessed up a narrow, winding road from Hamble village, this is a small bar-cum-eatery that serves the marina complex and which served Sharp's Atlantic on a single handpump and Sharp's Pilsner on keg tap - I had a bottle of the local Suthwyk Old Dick for £4.20. This place seemed primarily focussed on food (the barman was wearing an apron), so you're going to have to ask where to sit if the tall table by the bar is occupied. Overloud muzak and the above means there's little need for you to extricate yourself from the centre of Hamble if on a crawl.

Official site of Ketch Rigger - www.ketchrigger.co.uk

Official site of Ketch Rigger - www.ketchrigger.co.uk

Now I'm sure this is called the 'Ketch Rigger', because on some sites it's called the 'Square Rigger'. You can't go any further South on the Hamble peninsula than this as the next thing is Southampton water and the Solent. Their sign saying "whatever the weather" says it all as it's rather exposed. It's the 'yellow welly' crowd who get in here, but as it's a working port, I guess you'd expect that. One real ale on, Hancock's HB and is a traditional Cask Ale described as "aroma full of crystal toffee and pear drops, with a hint of liquorice. A touch drying, it's soft and smooth malty palate has a faintly sharp finish". I'm sure they served it with a bit of top pressure, but as they say "any port in storm". Food and beer is expensive, but I'm sure the clientele can afford it. My brother uses it as it's got FREE wi-fi. Worth a vist if only just to 'people watch'.