Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Random news of the day with Real Ale Ray
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Hyde Tavern, Winchester
Winchester
SO23 7DY
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Hyde Tavern
We left this pub to the end of our days crawl as it opened at 6pm. We arrived here at 4 mins to six and a small queue had accumulated, luckily there were only two people in front of us for the dash to the bar. The beer choice was Bowman Hop Hearted, Flower Pots Bitter, Renegade Mister Chubb's session bitter and Hogs Back Surrey Nirvana Session IPA.
The beer quality in here was sublime, open fire lit in the front room and friendly and chatty like minded customers.
On 27th December 2023
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Hyde Tavern
Another Winchester classic where things tick along year-in, year-out. Four cask pumps with one on stillage. I went for a Triple FFF Pressed Rat (NBSS 3) which just made the grade towards the end of a hot day. The welcome at the bar was friendly and it’s the kind of place you can easily session in.
July 2017
Tried this one again after continuing to hear positive reviews. Visited in a winter’s evening and I must admit that this place really came into its own - very homely with a busy and bustling atmosphere plus a proper fire on the go. Five ales in total with three on pump and two on stillage; I noted Harvey's Best, Flowerpots and Titanic Stout (excellent shape). They also had some homemade elderflower cordial which went down well with Mrs Quinno. Other features (per my garbled notes) included “pub dog, pissy peanuts, free glasses, humbugs”. Regardless, I really enjoyed my visit and have bumped up the score accordingly. Rated 8
July 2011
A characterful aged pub with low beams and a lack of right angles that apparently was a GK pub they bought from Marstons and subsequently flogged off. Six ales were on (with room for seven) served via a mix of pump and stillage - Ballards Mild, Flowerpots Bitter, Harveys Sussex Best, Bowmans Swift One, Flack Manor Cathcher, Andwell Resolute and Flowerpots Perridge. A nice choice though if I’m brutally honest the condition of the three I tried was uninspiring, flat and tired. Not helped by being a bit expensive in some cases. There was also a real cider of a name I failed to recognise (or subsequently note). Watch out for the steps down into the building, the street has been built up from the original level by the looks of it. The interior has two rooms, the front area (low beamed ceilings etc) has the most character whilst the rear area is a bit of an eclectic mish-mash, with some nice (and some jarringly awful) modern art on the walls. Most of the punters had decamped to the rear garden in order to catch the last few rays of the day’s sunshine. Pub is dog friendly and board games were available. Apparently you can bring your own food in and pay a quid for cutlery and crockery so you can eat it with your pint. Overall, the atmosphere was good and the staff were friendly – it felt like a really nice little local. Shame about the beer though. Note: Beware of opening times early in the week as it tends to be post 5pm most days. Rated 7
On 9th August 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5089 recommendations about 5072 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Hyde Tavern
Slightly odd-looking old building, with its distinctive twin-gable roof standing out from its more conventional neighbours. Characterful front bar and rear room, separated by the compact servery in the middle, and all under a low ceiling (although I just managed to fit in a flying visit between its 18:00 weekday opening time and catching my train, so didn't have much time to look around). Hophead, Flower Pots Bitter (£2.50, half), Twisted Urban Legend and Triple fff Pressed Rat & Warthog on handpump, with Buster's Best from Flower Pots on gravity.
On 27th July 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Hyde Tavern
Very much as described by others, below, including the caveats on restricted opening hours and high prices. This pub has long been a well-known venue for ale drinkers and diners, so maybe they're exploiting that reputation, and while it is a good pub by most standards, it does have some serious competition for the top slot in Winchester. Ales on were Pressed Rat and Warthog, Twisted Urban Legend, Flowerpots Bitter and Buster's Best, and Dark Start Hophead. Ciders were Rosie's Pig and Old Rosie on pump plus 3 boxed ciders from Meon Valley. My Pressed Rat and Warthog was at the end of its life and getting flat, but it was otherwise OK. The barmaid was chatty and welcoming,and the locals were civilised. Entertainment was had when a grumpy looking lady pulled up in an immaculate VW beetle and whisked away one of our companions, though she did smile as she drove away. Worth a revisit, subject to opening times.
On 25th July 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3284 recommendations about 3249 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Hyde Tavern
This is a grade II-listed building with a low-ceilinged interior, the ensemble oozing charm and character. However, it’s not as old as some believe, with Historic England citing an origin of the 19th century, though it may have a history dating back a lot earlier.
I went for a half of Hophead at a very pricey £2.50 which was very fine, served by friendly, charming staff.
This is a must-visit if in Winchester, despite the slog to get here, but as mentioned, the limited opening hours don’t help when planning a trip.
On 17th July 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Hyde Tavern
A proper old school boozer away from the circuit drinkers in town,this is a locals pub but strangers are made welcome.There is a very low ceiling ,bar to the right but as you move away from the bar,the wooden floor slopes significantly,so beware if this is at the end of a crawl.There is a back room ,which adds to the character.
The barman was quick to engage in banter,and was helpful with the ale choice,interesting to see a barrel on stillage.Mr Coombs lists the ale choices and there is a lot of real cider offered. I enjoyed my Twisted Urban Legend (NBSS 3.5),and this pub really should be included on any crawl.Not too far from the station either.
On 16th July 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Hyde Tavern
A cosy low-ceilinged local, oozing with character, with a reliable selection of ales kept in good condition. On this occasion on handpump there were Triple Fff Pressed Rat & Warthog, Flower Pots Bitter and Twisted Urban Legend, with a firkin of Flower Pots Buster's Best behind the bar. My only grumble is that the restricted opening hours make it tricky to visit, but perhaps that's part of its success.
On 16th July 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Hyde Tavern
Certainly one of the best pubs in Winchester,It's well chronicled below so I won't go over old ground but it was as good as my previous visits. Beers on this time were Harveys Sussex Bitter,Longdog Lamplight Porter , Flowerpots Bitter and Ballards Golden Bine. A classic pub.
On 21st February 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Hyde Tavern
Fortunately for me when visiting Winchester the Hyde Tavern was the closest pub to our accommodation, as it is the type of old school boozer I really feel comfortable in.
A cosy old pub with two rooms with open fires, sloping floors, low beamed ceilings with hops hung over the door frames, contemporary modern art hung on the walls that aren’t covered by local notices, and specialising in local cask ales, both on pump and on barrels behind the bar.
There are free magazines and newspapers and board games available, but no music (unless it spontaneously erupts from some of the eclectic locals this place attracts), and this place does attract some colourful characters.
It is very dog friendly, especially as the resident pub dog with beer mat in mouth has the run of the place and has a party piece of throwing said beer mat in the air and catching it again.
For me, next to the Black Boy, the best pub we visited in Winchester.
However I am conscious that sometimes I am blinded by seeing a decent beer choice, especially when some of it is on gravity. So in the fairness of balance I should report the review my wife would give it. As when on the third evening on our way back to the hotel I suggested we should pop into the Hyde Tavern again for a last one the reply was “Not that grotty place that smells of beer and damp dogs and where the locals stare at you and listen in to your conversations, no lets go somewhere else”.
For the record it does not serve food (which is probably a good thing because it would come with accompanying dog hairs), but encourages you to bring your own by having takeaway menus available and provides real plates and cutlery.
And on the ale front, there are four handpumps on the bar which were dispensing Harveys Sussex best, Titanic Stout and Flowerpots Bitter with the fourth one off. And then for our visits Quad Hop from Downton Brewery and White Horse Village Idiot and one other were on stillage behind the bar. All the ones we tried were in very good nick and I could have got through them all if it wasn’t for the damp dog and the staring eavesdropping locals.
On 10th May 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The Hyde Tavern
The Hyde Tavern is a small 15th century timber framed building, about 15 minutes walk away from the city centre. As we approach the pub, we immediately notice the impressive double gabled frontage.
Descending down a few steps below street level, we enter a small low ceilinged room with a slightly uneven floor and walls, and dark beams along the length of the ceiling. The bar area is decorated with hops. In one corner is a fine warming fireplace.
A rear room is equally small. Notably, here is a collection of sweets in large bottles on a high shelf behind the bar. The room has its own bar counter, but the handpumps and casks on stillage are in the front bar. Apparently, there’s a delightful garden at the rear which I missed out on seeing as darkness had fallen.
On my recent early evening visit, the pub appeared to have recently had new furniture delivered ( new owners presumably ) as most of the chairs and tables still had price tags on them. I didn’t want to say anything to Her Ladyship, but some of the patterned chair covers didn’t really sit comfortably with the age and traditional feel of the interior.
No food is served, but you’re evidently allowed to bring in food from local takeaways. On my visit, a group of 4 were devouring with gusto large pizzas that looked large enough to feed the whole pub. Unfortunately, the food smell did rather dominate the small room for a while.
3 beers were on handpumps and 2 further beers on gravity direct from the barrel. The Flowerpot Bitter was fine. Harveys Best was also on. The pub is listed in the 2012 CAMRA Good Beer Guide.
It’s well worth the short walk from the city centre to find this one, but do note the restricted opening hours, particularly in the first half of the week
On 21st March 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]