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Cambridge PuG Crawl, Friday 5th April 2024 with Gann on the Pub Forum

The Old Vine, Winchester

8 Great Minster Street
Winchester
SO23 9HA
Phone: 01962854616

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Real Ale Ray left this review about The Old Vine

For some reason we entered the pub from the back street and once through a small patio area and a modern looking dining area we arrived into a large two roomed pub. This section of the pub was also full of diners, we got to the end of the bar and located three handpumps. These were TT Landlord, Goddards Fuggle Dee Dum and Alfred's Saxon Bronze. The service was slow, as the barman was catering for drinks orders for table service. It was ok in here for a quick drink, and then off elsewhere.

On 13th December 2023 - rating: 6
[User has posted 3378 recommendations about 3378 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Quinno _ left this review about The Old Vine

No interior change in 11 years. Three cask on and an interesting line-up. However it fell to pieces when I got stuck-in; the Ale of Wight had to be taken off as it didn’t clear (and they'd have let me have it as well if I hadn't had said anything), leaving me with a sub-standard TT Landlord (NBSS 2) and a Saxon Alfred which I decided to swerve on the basis of the first two. Not a GBG pub on this evidence – somewhere that can’t handle its cask on a hot day.

July 2011
Located opposite the cathedral green, this pub looks to have undergone a fairly large overhaul recently. The exterior looks welcoming with its foliage and hanging baskets. The interior has two rooms separated by a heavy red curtain, the left for dining and the right for drinking. The décor is fairly restrained, given the pub’s overall pretensions, I was expecting worse than the whitewashed walls with ‘contemporary’ cheap artwork (eg squares of mounted fabric). Most surprised to see four ales and a decent selection to boot; Ringwood Best, TT Landlord, Itchin Valley Hambledon and Flack Manor Double Drop. My Flack Manor was in decent nick and prices weren’t too outrageous (for Winchester!). There’s also a paved garden to the rear which I overlooked to explore but apparently is a bit of a sun-trap at the right time of day. There was a smattering of well-to-do young women and two suits but otherwise it was fairly quiet. Overall, this was a lot better than expected and I’d give it another go - a good stab at the gastropub concept. Rated 7

On 7th August 2022 - rating: 6
[User has posted 5043 recommendations about 5026 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


E TA left this review about The Old Vine

As described by others, below, this town inn now concentrates on the boutique hotel and dining trade, though it still manages to keep some good ales on. Ales on were Summer Lightning, Landlord and Alfred Saxon Bronze; I went for the Bronze and found it average. I didn't really warm to the place but I'd be open to coming back and trying the beers again next time I'm passing.

On 21st July 2022 - rating: 6
[User has posted 3272 recommendations about 3237 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Tris C left this review about The Old Vine

The Old Vine enjoys an idyllic location, overlooking the grounds of historic Winchester Cathedral, former resting place of King Alfred and home to King Cnut.
This is a seemingly old pub, which has been gastrofied with a boutique hotel upstairs. The pictures on the website’s gallery show off the rooms along with upmarket food, eaten by expensively dressed customers.
The interior has an array of lovely old unspoilt ceiling timbers, but thereafter it looks more like a very contemporary cocktail bar, with a grey and mushroom soup colour scheme, with trendy retro-‘60s wallpaper.
The ales were as mentioned below, me plumping for a half of Alfred’s Saxon Bronze (£2.20), served by an efficient barmaid; sadly though, it was a rather dull drink.
As mentioned, the place is fine for a crawl but it’s not the sort of pub where I’d choose to linger.

On 16th July 2022 - rating: 5
[User has posted 1955 recommendations about 1922 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Bucking Fastard left this review about The Old Vine

A good looking frontage to this free house,the interior spreads around a central island bar.Some tables were set for diners and food is a draw here ,but just drinking is fine and there are a number of bench seats and traditional furniture dotted about.Friendly welcome ,and an apology about an ale that had just run out but the replacement by Hopback Summer Lightening brought good cheer.This left Alfred Saxon Bronze and TT Landlord (fine,but served southern style ,NBSS 3.5).
Worth including on a crawl,can't comment on the food but the location could be a tourist trap.

On 16th July 2022 - rating: 7
[User has posted 2709 recommendations about 2709 pubs]


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Graham Coombs left this review about The Old Vine

I knew this pub when it was a bustling Courage boozer several decades ago, but it is now a laid-back gastro sort of place. Located just opposite the cathedral, there are rooms either side of the central bar and further areas round the back including a small patio area. On handpump were Goddard's Ale of Wight (which promptly ran out to be replaced by Summer Lightning), TT Landlord and Alfred's Saxon Bronze. A bit touristy and quite expensive but what do you expect in this location.

On 16th July 2022 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3322 recommendations about 3259 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Old Vine

Attractive upmarket pub, restaurant and hotel right by the cathedral green. Comfortably furnished and traditionally decorated bar and smaller rear dining room. Four real ales on handpump: the regular Landlord plus Ringwood Razorback, Salopian Oracle and something local from Itchen Valley behind a stand-in paper 'clip'(£4.00, but in excellent shape).

On 2nd December 2018 - rating: 7
[User has posted 8061 recommendations about 8061 pubs]


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Aqualung . left this review about The Old Vine

As noted below this is very much a food orientated pub.
The four beers available were Why Not Wally's Revenge, Alfred's Saxon Bronze, Long Man Long Blonde and Landlord. I went for the Long Blonde (£3.90) which although only a cooking beer was very tasty and refreshing but like the previous two pubs visited expensive.
Despite the emphasis on food here I preferred it to some of the other Winchester pubs visited.

On 17th October 2016 - rating: 6
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]


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Malden man left this review about The Old Vine

A warm, comfortable and welcoming pub in the shadow of Winchester Cathedral, very busy on Saturday evening, I found a perch at the bar on a stool. Two main areas, the pub bit is slightly L-shaped and traditional but with a small more modern and unusual side room towards the rear, a much larger side room to the front of the pub is separated by a heavy curtain and seems to be the dining room. On looking in I got the "are you alright there?" crap from someone so I patted myself down and said "Yes, I think so". That shut her up.
The bar area has squares of material on the walls, an exposed brick fireplace, regular small tables, lots of people eating. On the bar, under glass, there were home made sausage rolls but at £3.95 a pop, hmmm.
Good beer, four on, Andwell Resolute, Alfred's Brewery Saxon Bronze, Butcombe Bitter, Taylor's Landlord. The TTL was sparlklered, the others not, to me, that shows an attention to detail. A good pub amongst good pubs in Winchester, very near the also excellent Eclipse. Accommodation available.

On 17th April 2016 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Ian Mapp left this review about The Old Vine

best pint of the night - an excellent Otter.

I wanted to eat here again, but came in at 5:30pm. They change to the evening menu at 6:30pm, but I had a train to catch.

Shame - as I had a great meal here last time.

I think I may have even been at the same table.

On 5th September 2015 - rating: 8
[User has posted 1329 recommendations about 1315 pubs]

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