The Gate, Park Gate, Southampton

Previously an estate agent's premises, this busy micro has the feel of a high street cafe as you go in, with its sterile laminate flooring and school dining room-style tables and chairs, but the similarity ends there. There is outside seating at the front next to the pedestrianised road, which has the feel of a disaster movie with zombies in it. The atmosphere inside is certainly convivial, with a friendly barman and a decent mixed crowd enjoying decent music from the HiFi, plus some board games for those so inclined on quieter evenings. There is an electronic screen listing the beers on offer: Steam Town Reefer and Barton, plus Dark Revolution's Cloud Nine were on cask, while the keg choices were Guinness, Budvar, Powder Monkey's Embrace and Mary Rose, Anspach and Hobday's London Black, Unity's Conflux, Double-Barrelled Scenic Route, Overtone Splur and Ascension's Wrath. Cider was Sandford Orchard's Devon Red. There was also a selection of gins and a list of cocktails. Definitely worth a look if you're in the area.

Facebook page of The Gate - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Gate - www.facebook.com