Black Boy, Winchester

This idiosyncratic free house, taking its name from the coal heavers who worked the Navigation Wharf nearby qualified as the best pub visit during our stay in Winchester. Many other have well described the main attraction of this pub and it is true to say that it would take several visits to discover all the eclectic collections this pubs four separate room spaces contain. One that I can add to the list that most reviewers to date have missed (for obvious reasons) is the collection of dolls eyes with eyelashes that stare down at you from the ceiling of the ladies toilets (thanks to Mrs S for that one, before you ask.) All this and a keen Ale policy with five beers to choose from. Flowerpots Bitter, Ringwood Best Bitter and Summer Lightning are regularly available and Goddards Scrumdiggity was one of the two micro brewery beers available for our visit. A must do pub when visiting Winchester.

Absolutely fantastic old pub, away from the tourist area but close to the river, filled with curios, an elephant foot, various signage, clocks, stuffed animals etc. There are various seating areas, subdued lighting, beams, all very old and a real English pub, olde wordle but well off from being a tourist theme. Somehow the table top Invaders machine and the background raggae/rock seem to fit perfectly in this odd place. Great choice of 5 real ales, slightly warm for me but kept in very good condition.

This is a multi roomed large traditional pub in a residential side street just outside the city centre. A central bar serves a number of interconnected, dimly lit rooms on different levels and which feature low beamed ceilings, some flagstoned floors and wood panelling. These rooms are crammed with various items of bric a brac and artefacts that, quite correctly, could be described as eclectic. Items on display are too numerous to mention, but include various stuffed animals, a large Aga range, a collection of red fire buckets, an upside down Christmas tree, a collection of books, smokers pipes suspended from the ceiling etc. There’s also some old film posters. Various rooms appear to have different themes and, in one room which looks like it was formerly a barn, are some papier mache joints of meat and saws, as though it’s a butcher’s shop. In another room is a working table football machine. Other tables have board games painted on them. In summary, it’s a rambling, old and characterful interior and you could easily visit several times and still see things that you missed before. Probably because of its location, it’s not a tourist trap, but still a genuine back street traditional boozer with a strong and regular local trade. There’s an enterprising real ale policy with a clear emphasis on micros. Beers on were from Itchen Valley, Ringwood, Flowerpot, Andwell and Upham. The pub is a CAMRA Good Beer Guide regular. Not to be missed on any visit to Winchester