The White Hart, Southampton

A low two storey gabled building located on the old roads from Romsey and Southampton towards Ringwood with the end of the M27 at its junction 1 near the rear and the A31 near the front. A Bruning and Price establishment so the emphasis is on food but a couple of the front rooms, beside the old Southampton road and main car park, there’s a smaller one at the back on Old Romsey Rd, have the counter and a few seating areas, the rest of the building is quite heavily sub divided into dining areas. A mix of quarry tile and board floors along with old print and maps decor make a pleasant atmosphere typical of B&P dining pubs. Tongue & groove may have survived the admittedly fairly light conversion of the original pub and some banquette seating has been put in. Toilets are a trek upstairs from the main front entrance, the staff were friendly and not too slow for a food oriented place. Three beers on the six pulls, the house beer brewed by St Austell, a blonde from the local Downton Brewery and Summer Lightning from the only slightly more distant Hop Back. Keg choice on a couple of low T -Bars very standard, Yorkshire brew Madri, Guinness and Peroni will give you the gist. My Summer Lightning was on the turn but not far enough to make a fuss, the Downton was cloudy and tasted a lot worse, visiting on a Wednesday I suspect these were the weekend’s leftovers.

Attractive Brunning & Price pub, set back from the road by some way to leave a large beer garden beside the front car park. Fully refurbished in a semi-traditional style, with various dining rooms set around the central counter (with the bar having a few tables not laid up for those eating). Five beers - a 'house' bitter, Double Drop and Romsey Gold from Flack Manor, Itchen Valley New Hampshire APA (£4.10) and Summer Lightning - plus a cider on handpump.