The Plough, Southampton

A roadside pub currently owned by Hall and Woodhouse. On arriving the location and traffic made it feel uninviting, and the pile of soggy fag ends by the door wasn’t a good sign. Inside, however, it was pleasantly spacious, convivial and comfortable. It’s a large open-plan pub, with various areas demarked by rugs on the tiled floor and subtle changes to the décor. One end feels like a cosy drawing room, the other is larger and mainly laid to table. The central area, just to the left of the bar as you enter, has a two-sided hearth with a welcoming fire and plenty of comfy seating, and the ceiling is decorated with a collection of pewter mugs. It is frequented by ladies wot lunch, passers-by and a few others. They run special events, such as the forthcoming Oktoberfest, and there is a reasonable menu available. Dogs are welcome and there are free treats on the bar. They only accept card payments. Ales on were Badger Best Bitter, Tanglefoot and Fursty Ferret; the Badger Best I tried was in good condition. I actually quite liked it here once I got used to the idea.