South Western Arms, St Denys, Southampton

Quinno _ left this review about South Western Arms

A revisit (11 years!) and thankfully little has changed. A cross between a Wild West saloon and Rrrrock pub with plenty of atmosphere. Another Xmas beer chugged, this time from Bowman's and in great shape (NBSS 4); all cask were fresh as they were drunk dry the previous night! Friendly old fraggle behind the bar doing the serves. 8.5

September 2013
A fairly run-of-the-mill exterior gives way to an interior that is quite unexpected, a higgledy-piggledy place that is done up somewhere between a hunting lodge and Wild West tavern. Stripped wood, exposed brickwork and a wooden gantry mezzanine feature. Seemingly staffed by a pair of affable eccentrics who looked like they'd be at home backstage at the Glastonbury festival (and given the live music advertised, maybe that’s no coincidence). Items of note included darts, a feature wall painting, bookshelves, board games, free Wi-Fi and general ephemera. Classic rock music through the speakers which suited the vibe nicely. Best surprise was the wonderful rear garden with well-tended wall beds and a water feature. Beer-wise there were six available over nine pumps (I think). Moorhouse Blonde and Goddards were both in good nick. Also available was an impressive selection of bottled world beers. Bar snacks included pickled eggs and onions at very reasonable prices. A very enjoyable visit and I’d make a beeline for this one next time I’m in Southampton. With the sublime Guide Dog only ten minutes away, a crawl in this area is a sure-fire winner. Rated 8.5

On 22^nd April 2025 - rating: 8
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