The Wykeham Arms, Winchester

This doesn't look much from the outside, but is very pleasant and quite unexpected once you do venture in. Quite a large pub, with the first bar you get to geared more towards drinking with the rest of the pub being more food orientated. There's plenty to look at with the walls being literally plastered with photographs. Staff were friendly and helpful even to the extent of apologising profusely when a customer's dog ran from the bar in to the restaurart area - hardly their fault. Food was very good and of a restuarant quality, and I understand it was recently awarded the Hampshire Dining pub of the year award. To be honest I find this slightly surprising - the food was good and I'd recomend it, but I can't believe it was the best in the county. If so, Hampshire is a long way behind Somerset. Beers were Gales HSB and Seafarers, plus Fuller's Chiswik Ale and London Pride. Unfortunately the only cider was Strongbow.

A corner V-shaped pub of exposed brick, with beer patio, which also does accommodation and has a restaurant. In GBG 2010. The interior had a nesting of rooms, a couple of which i couldn't see as we were shephered back as they were for diners only. The bar room was in red ood panel, nornal wood panel, exposed brick and a mustard colour. As my interior photo shows, there is a plethora of ephemera; tankards, brass, paintings, photographs cover the walls and shelves to the point that it looks like an episode from the Antiques Roadshow - and, as the previous reviwer says, you can even sit at an old school desk complete with inkwell. There was no music or TV. The service was really good, and the place was busy with a real mix of clientele. Beer; tap stuff with Fullers London Pride and Bengal Lancer, as well as decent Gale's HSB and Seafarers. It is fun to visit this ecelectic place, but it is very busy, which being miserable like me, is a drawback - hence i was please i got in during the day!

Strong associations with Winchester College. Quirky interior decor (you can sit at school desks to drink your pint). Once supplied by George Gales, now Fullers. Beer kept well with good range of hand pump real ale. Larger selection of specially sourced wines (you should read the wine menu!) Emphasis on food in the evenings, with limited interior seating. Large courtyard garden. Very easy to find and justifies its glowing review in other publications. Downside - meals can be expensive and you need to book well in advance. Limited and not too flexible area to sit and drink beer in the evening. Does B&B accomodation which is nice for a treat, but don't expect big rooms.