The Mucky Duck, Winchester

The Hyde Tavern (our original destination) was closed further up the road (doesn't open until 7pm), so stopped in here for a breather. All went a bit Sam Tyler in here, patrons, jukebox and television were all stuck in a 1996 timewarp. Knew I'd had a few but thought someone had spiked my last pint. Well actually it turned out that the landlords ipod was on playlist Britpop, the patrons looked like they got their Britpop clothes on for the day and the TV was showing a re-run of the England vs India Test match from 1996. This was Oasis-style Britpop, lots of beered-up mooing, grunting and unintelligible conversations. Get the feeling a lot of these punters think they're too good for the Rising Sun, or too pissed to find it. The interior was in fairly good shape, with a small beer garden out back. A Greene King pub with only a couple of ales on - my Speckled Hen was fine, to be fair. Not sure I'd bother this place again unless I had a copy of Loaded and a packet of 20 B&H in my pocket

Very big pub with a tap room to the left and a huge lounge straight ahead. Tap room has a pool table, darts and a quiz machine. Lounge has banquette seating round the outside and dining tables/chairs in the middle. Does very reasonably priced food every day. Six handpumps on the bar but only 4 beers on tap, Banks’s Bitter and Original plus Jennings Snecklifter and Marston’s “John Marston’s Golden Ale”. Had a pint of the Golden Ale which was very good, better than on previous visits when the beer quality was only OK. It’s always been almost empty when I’ve been in on a midweek evening, it may be busier at weekends, if it’s not it’ll be in trouble soon.

Formerly the brewery tap of the now defunct (and bought out by Marstons) Winchester brewery, the building next door was the offices and the etched windows say “Counting House”. The pub has an open plan design although the etched windows and door signs still say Bar and Lounge. The bar, to the left, still has its tongue and groove bar counter and lower walls, bare board floor, settles and darts board although there are a few trendy armchairs and a big screen. The lounge is carpeted and has more armchairs and tall tables and stools, the walls here are plain cream with some pleasant mouldings. Strangely at the front of the lounge is a pool table and another darts board. Although Marstons bought the Winchester brewery they sold a number of Winchester pubs to Greene King who own this one, their IPA and Old Speckled Hen were being served from two of the three handpumps. Very standard keg line up with Carling, 1664, Becks, Fosters, Guinness and Strongbow.