The Wykeham Arms, Winchester

A little out of the city centre in an architecturally interesting area near Winchester College (a private boarding school) the source of the name, the College being founded by William of Wykeham and the old boys being known as Wykehamists. It's a big multi-room corner pub and restaurant with accommodation, the main bar area is in the apex of the corner and has a central servery with a room off to each side. These rooms are decorated with a number of collections; hats, walking sticks and a huge number of tankards. Flanking the drinking rooms are two dining rooms decorated in similar fashion, every wall is covered with prints, photos and mirrors and there are lists of old Wykehamists by the Gents. Furnishing in places is old school desks joined together along with chairs on a metal frame - don't try to move the chair to make space for your beer gut, they don't move separately. Five handpumps serve a range of Fullers beers plus thankfully a guest, Flowerpots on this occasion and in good condition but nothing to rave about. The punters are generally affluent and at almost £4 a pint they need to be, that's a bit above average for well-heeled Winchester. There's also a garden at the rear. A Winchester institution in many ways, that doesn't seem to change much over the decades.

Not much to get excited about on the whole. I expect they make a decent effort but the atmosphere suggested it was a locals pub.

A very nice traditional pub tucked away in the backstreet's of Winchester behind the cathedral.It has two drinking bars and further restaurant areas. There were five hand pumps in the first bar area you enter and a further three around the corner at the second the second bar, most providing a range of Fullers/Gales beers plus as mentioned a permanent guest of Flowerpots Goodens Gold,another guest beer of Itchen Valley Belgarum leaving one unclipped. I tried the Goodens Gold at a quite steep £3.95 a pint and although a nice clear pint I felt it lacked a little of the depth of flavour I know this beer possesses.We were through doors early at the opening time of 11.00 so it was a little on the quiet side but the atmosphere was good given the fantastic character of the pub.