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Image posted by paulof horsham
Submitted on Sunday, 20th August 2023
With picture contributions to 6104 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (6 more images)
Detail Pages
Key & Anchor, Freemantle, Southampton
Southampton
SO15 1JQ
Served areas
Reviews of Key & Anchor (Average Rating: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Moby Duck left this review about Key & Anchor
A return after a failed try in 2017 and found it open and very busy, at odds with other pubs in the area.
Very much a locals backstreet boozer, it had quite a good buzz about it and some top tunes playing on the jukebox.
Four handpumps on the semi-Island bar, Stonehenge Heelstone, St Austell Proper Job and Flowerpots Flower Power, I chose the later but unfortunately ran out halfway through the pour so opted for the Proper Job, which was excellent, a surprise because I'd had a few dodgy ones recently elsewhere. Another Flowerpots beer came on during my stay but decided to have another Proper Job, it was that good.
A great traditional pub just ten minutes walk from Southampton Central.
Original review
26th April 2017 - no rating submitted.
Unfortunately I presume the landlord had a lay in on Sunday as the pub was un-open at 12.10 on a Sunday lunchtime, I didn't hang around and moved on to the next pub on my list.
On 6th July 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2210 recommendations about 2176 pubs]
Quinno _ left this review about Key & Anchor
Four ales on, Flowerpots Goodens Gold was serviceable but not GBG quality (NBSS 2.5). Log fire on the go and friendly service, though the gloomy music on a dark and dank night didn’t really do the place any favours. I see that I was less than enamoured 11 years ago and TBH I didn’t see much to elevate the score I gave it then, feels like a weak GBG pick to me. 5.5
October 2013
Listed in the 2013 GBG so thought I’d try it out at the end of my epic crawl despite there not being much info about the pub elsewhere. I had clocked it unwittingly earlier on my way to the Wellington; it hadn’t exactly struck me a GBG pub then and it certainly didn’t strike me as a GBG pub on return. Two Ringwood beers available and mine was poor. Plenty of things in here felt uncared for, from the soft furnishings spewing their innards to the unkempt rear garden. The interior was quite dimly-lit but I did make out a dart board, a small collection of daily papers available and a few old GBGs. The over-loud music drove me out to the front drinking area which again was not overly inviting. Clientèle all seemed to be drinking lager. Quite a disappointment – I’d be intrigued to know how this gets into the Southampton CAMRAs allocation of GBG pubs based on my stop-off. Rated 5
On 27th December 2024
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5657 recommendations about 5638 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Martine van den Heuvel left this review about The Key & Anchor
Popular local at the heart of the community. One of the most inviting pubs in the area, with a comfortable and lively atmosphere. Regular entertainment, with karaoke and disco every Saturday evening from 8pm. Quiz nights, darts team, game evenings. Two original working open log-fires. Lovely south-facing beer garden, with barbeques in the summer. Real Ales. Dog friendly. Everything a real local pub should be, and more...
On 9th February 2010
- rating: 10
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]
No known official website for this pub.
- Facebook - The Key and Anchor Ale House
- CAMRA WhatPub :: Key & Anchor - whatpub.com
Millbrook (Hants), 0.51 miles, 9 min walk (show)
St Denys, 2.21 miles, 42 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 27 December 2024 by Quinno _
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 27 December 2024 by Quinno _
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 27 December 2024 by Quinno _
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 27 December 2024 by Quinno _
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 27 December 2024 by Quinno _
- Car Park : No last updated 27 April 2022 by paulof horsham
- Child Friendly : No last updated 27 December 2024 by Quinno _
- Darts : Yes last updated 27 December 2024 by Quinno _
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 27 December 2024 by Quinno _
- Function Room : No last updated 27 December 2024 by Quinno _
- Hot Food : No last updated 27 December 2024 by Quinno _
- Jukebox : Yes last updated 27 December 2024 by Quinno _
- Karaoke : Yes - Saturday - last updated 09 February 2010 by Dave McNally
- Live Music : Yes last updated 27 December 2024 by Quinno _
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 06 July 2025 by Tris C
- Micropub : No last updated 27 April 2022 by paulof horsham
- Pinball : No last updated 29 April 2014 by Quinno _
- Quiz Night : Yes - Quiz & Bingo alternate Wednesdays - last updated 27 December 2024 by Quinno _
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 27 December 2024 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : No last updated 27 December 2024 by Quinno _
- Wheelchair Access : No last updated 27 December 2024 by Quinno _
- WiFi : Yes last updated 27 December 2024 by Quinno _
