The Vine Inn, Southampton

Very much a locals’ pub, we were initially treated with suspicion and a rather frosty welcome from the landlord, though things did settle down once e’d been there for a while. It’s off the beaten track and there is very limited parking. It’s a Victorian house with little by way of outside areas, and the 3 ground floor rooms have been knocked into a single bar shaped irregularly, with a snug area in one corner by an original fireplace with a modern woodburner. There’s room for vertical drinking as well as several tables. There is a dartboard and a selection of board games. There was a range of age groups present, and there was a meat raffle ongoing, giving it a proper pub feel. Ales on were Potts Bitter and Butcombe Original. Also available were Aspalls Cider, Moretti, Madri, and San Miguel. There were also free nibbles on the bar. A decent enough local but it doesn’t justify the hassle of visiting if you’re not already in the area.

Facebook page of The Vine Inn - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Vine Inn - www.facebook.com

Official site of The Vine Inn - www.thevinepub.co.uk

Official site of The Vine Inn - www.thevinepub.co.uk

Great to have this classic back. Seems like the Landlord may only be temporary but he's making a go of it with his good wife serving up some traditional pub grub in defined areas. All of the old locals are back and Ringwood, Doombar and Butcombe brewery on hand pump. At last they have clear opening hours on the chalk board. Lets hope that the pub chain keeps up the renewed service. Again, the village local.

This place has just gone to being damn weird with its opening hours. As far as I can make out from the 'locals' who now drink in the 'Linden' it only opens on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday!! Now call me picky, but if I go to a boozer the first thing I want is for it to be open and I shouldn't have to check that it will be serving if the cricket team are playing (true). This is a great pub, but just how it's making money on these limited opening times amazes me.

Ray and Margaret have gone and so now has Craig. The New team are already making a go of it with 'dog areas' clearly defined. 'doombar' & 'Ringwood' on handpump and a big play on 'John Smiths smooth'@2.95. Now very tidy and if it wasn't for the 'Linden' this would be my regular. Again it's set up for the 'locals' and a real village boozer. Still working hard with food but prices seem a little high. Don't park at the pub!! Try the road near the phone box.

Splendid village pub where you feel a world away from the nearby Southampton conurbation. Compact, irregularly-shaped bar with several seating areas featuring traditional furniture and decor. Very small, split-level, beer garden to rear. Real community feel, with plenty of events advertised. Three handpumps, featuring Doom Bar, Old Speckled Hen and Ringwood BB in particularly good condition. Better still, on Boxing Day, there were two Itchen Valley beers - Rudolph (£3.20) and Father Christmas (£3.50) - being served direct from the cask at the outside cellar door whilst the King John's Morris were dancing and then performing their mummers play. NB - Only a couple of parking spaces at the pub and very tricky on the nearby roads.

'Greene King IPA & Abbot straight from the cask, limited opening hours: 5.30-11 Mon-Sat, plus 12-2 Fri, and 12-4 & 7.30-10.30 Sun., B&B, 'phone: 02380 403836) As the sign on the pub wall says, "this is the village pub". Indeed it is: run by Ray & Margaret for the village and sad to hear they're moving on in January. Whenever I have visited I have enjoyed the friendliness of both the Landlord and the customers. It has the atmosphere of a social club looking for new members. The beer is exceptional too, served straight from the 'wood'. Tuesday is Sid the Quiz night. Don't miss the Sunday meat draw when the locals bring their dogs along including the famous 'Blind Morris'. Occasional music nights and themed evenings are something to look out for. A true village pub! '