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Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Waterloo Arms, Southampton
Southampton
SO15 3AQ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
paulof horsham left this review about Waterloo Arms
In these post-Covid times, some pubs are reducing the active hand pumps, and that's the case here, with just Summer Lightning, GFB & Crop Circle from the Hop Back range, plus one from Downton.
Internally, the pub is pretty much L-shaped, with the main room carpeted throughout, and there are several substantial, well-spaced, wooden tables, giving a traditional old-school feel.
My pint of the Crop Circle was reasonable, but one seemed to be enough.
On 13th May 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 554 recommendations about 516 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about Waterloo Arms
A busy pub just 15 minutes after opening on a Sunday lunchtime,a classic pub as described below, eight handpumps with a good mix of beers from Hopback, Downton, Woodfordes, Exile and Tiny Rebel,a good mix of breweries in a really good pub.
On 26th April 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2151 recommendations about 2118 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about Waterloo Arms
A 1930's Hop Back pub just outside Southampton's town centre.
The pub is lived in and has a large brick 1930's fireplace as a centre piece in front of which is the oche and dart board. The fireplace is decorated with an array of trophies, darts related I assume.
There's a small garden at the back and a few benches at the front for alfresco quaffing.
The welcome here was very friendly and there a few regulars enjoying the beer with chat being general. It made for a very convivial atmosphere.
Beers on were predominantly Hop Back: Summer Lightening, Crop Circle, GFB and Entire Stout and Downton: New Forest Ale and Chimera IPA with B & T Black Dragon Mild and Shefford Dunstable Stout on as guests. The Chimera IPA and Summer Lightening were outstanding.
An excellent and reliable beer range make this a must visit in Southampton.
On 3rd June 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 683 recommendations about 682 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Waterloo Arms
A Hop Back pub with eight pumps, featuring a mix of Hop Back, Downton and Adnams ales as well as proper cider (Westons). My Entire Stout was in good nick. The interior is an L-shaped open room with comfy light pine-style furnishings. A fairly genteel atmosphere on my visit, complemented by Jools Hollandesque honky tonk piped music. To the rear is a long conservatory for dining and basic smoking patio with gravel, a few benches and an unused industrial-sized BBQ machine. Other pub features included a dart board and a ‘child friendly until 9pm’ policy; indeed there were a few nippers out back with their folks. A nice (if a little bland) watering hole and worth a visit.
On 24th September 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nigel Sheppard left this review about Waterloo Arms
A nice local pub with a good selection of Hopback ales. Quite a way from Southampton centre, but worth a look if you like Hopback otherwise don't bother. When we went the beer was a little 'Lack-Luster', we bought a half of every beer and left them all except the 'Entire Stout' which was nice. I'm not saying it was off, just not very special, perhaps a bit off form? I found out that the staff that used to run it have moved to the Guide Dog Free-house on the other side of town and this has won pub of the year 2005, 2007, 2008 & 2009.
On 20th October 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 192 recommendations about 192 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Chris 87 left this review about Waterloo Arms
I thought this was a very pleasant pub with an excellent largely Hop Back ale selection but also encompassing guests from Brains and Ringwood breweries. Prices started at as little as £2.25 for a pint of GFB, and although it was a friday afternoon the pub was moderately busy. I'd certainly make the effort to return and would include this in a mini-crawl with the Wellington Arms.
On 29th May 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 179 recommendations about 179 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about Waterloo Arms
A great traditional pub about a mile from the city centre.L shaped bar with 2 distinct drinking areas.Conservatory at the back with a very secluded outdoor drinking area.A good range of Hopback beers on tap all of which were in excellent condition.A must when in Southampton.
On 28th March 2007
- rating: 10
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]