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Detail Pages
Haunch of Venison, Salisbury
Salisbury
SP1 1TB
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The Haunch Of Venison
The Haunch is probably Salisbury’s best known pub and naturally a big hit for visitors. Unfortunately the prices are designed to maximize on its popularity which does take the shine off what is a fabulous pub soaked in several century’s worth of stories and atmosphere.
The pub is listed in CAMRA’s National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors and there are several treats in store for anyone interested in such heritage. The main bar has chessboard flooring lifted direct from the Cathedral where it had past its sell by date. The walls are oak paneled and contain a superb fireplace and be sure not to take a look at the “horsebox” a tiny snug by the bar originally for ladies use only and probably just enough room for 4 or 5 people. It is claimed that Churchill and Eisenhower used to meet here. The bar itself contains a rare spirits dispenser, only the second I have ever seen in a pub.
The staircase to the rear lead to a small room on the left known as the House Of Lords, a throwback to the days when people of importance and status were offered seating in the higher areas of the pub. This characterful room has a low ceiling, bare floors, dark paneled walls, basic furniture and at the end, a large beamed fireplace with a stove and a small bread oven. It is in the oven behind a glazed and barred panel that you will find infamous mummified hand said to belong to a card player caught cheating. If you carry on up the stairs you get to the restaurant. I took a quick peek but compared to the rest of the building it didn’t seem to be as interesting as the rest of the building.
The ales are not immediately obvious as the pumps are tucked away at the rear and side of the bar but there are generally 4 available, Hop Back GFB, Hop Back Summer Lightning, Greene King IPA and Courage Best being the options on my latest visit.
This is one of the country’s most interesting and appealing pubs although it can be quite uncomfortable when busy and despite the prices, it is worth the extra few pence for the experience.
On 7th November 2011
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Haunch Of Venison
One of Salisbury's oldest pubs, the Haunch has a mixed and colourful history. It is a notable Salisbury landmark, it was built as the church house for St Thomas's just around the corner and is thought to be aroud 600 years old. It has been a pub (and at times a brothel) for a couple of centuries or more and is on CAMRA's inventory of pub interiors. It has 3 bars, known among the locals as The Horsebox, Death Row and The House of Lords. he story of the hand is well documented. The restaurant upstairs is a separate business which also varies in quality and was once run by local chef Rupert Wilcox (RIP) as "One" (ie One Minster Street).
Its beer quality is inconsistent, so it rarely makes it into GBG. The last couple of pints I had - Hopback and Ringwood - were good. Recommended for its history and general interest, so I would drop in on a crawl then move somewhere else to enjoy better beer.
On 13th August 2010
- rating: 4
[User has posted 3735 recommendations about 3696 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about The Haunch Of Venison
A narrow terraced multi-level pub and restaurant in brick and white render
The reviews Roger's, OB's and Maldenman's reviews below have already covered pretty much of what i would say, but I will still throw my 'tuppence' in. The interior has a nesting of rooms really - three bar areas and a restuarant on the top floor. I saw two of the bar rooms - the small 'Horse Box' room i didn't see. We made for the 'House of Lords', a small room, wood panelled, which is up a small flight of steps en route to the restaurant. It houses the hand in a what i assume was a bread oven within a large brick fireplace - a photo has been supplied. The main bar had a chessboard floor and was in white and wood beam, with etched windows and a real fire (it was peeing it down outside). The service i found fine and the clientele deduced were locals on two accounts. 1. They all knew each other well enough to trump loudly (and often) 2. The piano player stopped when we walked in - but saying that, we were sent on our way with a a friendly goodbye.
Beer; tap stuff with Courage Best (decent) and Directors - but i think, like Roger, i missed a couple of taps.
I think i agree with what the other reviewers feel - as in, this place is more an experience - there are lots of other places in Salisbury that are as good, indeed better for beer choice - but this has something about it.
On 23rd May 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3120 recommendations about 3115 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Haunch Of Venison
A venerable old pub, fortunately no longer under the dead hand of Courage but the real mumified hand is of course not to be missed. It lurks in a dusty glass fronted hole by the fireplace in a small room on a mezzanine floor. A tourist destination with beer prices to match but well enough kept. Always seems busy even when nearly empty due to the cramped conditions. As well as the Summer Lightning, Ringwood Old Thumper, Courage Best and GK IPA, on handpumps at the back of the servery there are keg taps even more discreetly tucked away out of sight. Worth a visit if you love interesting old pubs, or mumified hands. It describes itself as an old english chop house as there is a restaurant on the first floor.
On 21st November 2009
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3988 recommendations about 3651 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
train man left this review about Haunch of Venison
By the time we reached the Haunch I'd forgotten my intention to read up about ghosts & stolen/returned severed hands, oh well. We managed to secure the ‘priest hole' tiny room (see image5, tight for 5 + 1 standing) at the end of the bar to the front of the pub, and Summer Lightning saved us from the awful alternative choices of Courage, Directors or GKipa. Downstairs is small, woody, old & rickety with a reconditioned inglenook, an upper room to the right (so say my notes?), and a posher restaurant upstairs although image4 makes it look rather nice. Fabulous pewter bar counter is worthy of comment.
On 25th February 2008
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 413 recommendations about 412 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Haunch Of Venison
Interesting for the antiquity of the place, some of the pumps are situated directly over the cellar steps which lead from the bar. Noted the chequered stone floor around the bar, and we managed to get seated in a tiny snug with room only to swing the smallest of cats. Wood panelled walls and an attractive large fireplace. Only Courage Best on offer as cask ale yesterday which was a shame given the availability of more interesting beers locally. There is a restaurant upstairs but not visited.
On 14th October 2007
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1711 recommendations about 1684 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The Haunch Of Venison
A very old city centre pub with a very small bar and several drinking areas upstairs.Look out for the Mummified Hand. 3 real ales on tap
On 6th September 2007
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]