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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


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Moby Duck left this review about The Old Vine

A small classy gastro pub well described below,visited briefly for a pre- beer festival drink, the four beers on were Purity Mad Goose, Botley- Mill, Alfreds Saxon Bronze and Long Man APA, a nice selection I thought and my APA was in good nick,worth popping in for a pint and I imagine the food would be good too.

On 21st March 2015 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1868 recommendations about 1841 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Thuck Phat left this review about The Old Vine

Again, there are some thorough and accurate reviews below which I'll try not to replicate.
The appeal of the Old Vine is instant as an attractive building overlooking the cathedral close.
Inside you have a dedicated restaurant behind a heavy velvet curtain to the left and you walk into the bar, which is where we based ourselves. As others have highlighted it's furnished in contemporary fashion with soft brown seats and odd squares of textiles on the walls amongst the traditional fabric of the building with wooden floors and beams. It's very much the metropolitan gastro bar.
But don't let all this modernism put you off. The welcome is warm and the bar staff are efficient and friendly.
We visited at lunchtime so inevitably many were taking advantage of the well thought out menu. Lunchtimes see a selection of imaginative smaller dishes available as well as sandwiches. Our brie and grape sandwich and chorizo, pepper and potatoes went down very well and were each around the fiver mark.
The real highlight here though has to be the beer. The four handumps had on: Hogs Back TEA, Flowerpots Perridge Ale, Ringwood Best and Hop Back Lightening. An interesting selection of fairly local beers and everything I went for in very good nick.
A really nice spot to enjoy a decent pint and I'll certainly be back if in Winchester.

On 12th November 2013 - rating: 8
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Steve of N21 left this review about The Old Vine

This very smart Gastro pub has been well described by previous reviewers so nothing to add in that respect, except to say that it continues as a very popular eating place in the centre of Winchester. So much so that it was fully booked over the weekend we visited and we were unable to use it for an evening meal.
Did use it for a pint in the right hand bar section though as the beer choice was decent and the bar section is fairly comfortable. Ringwood Bitter, Flacks double Drop, Skinners Cornish Knocker and Brakespears Gold were on for our visit and the couple we tried were well kept.

On 9th May 2013 - rating: 7
[User has posted 2094 recommendations about 1985 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Danny O'Revey left this review about The Old Vine

Opposite the cathedral gardens in a quiet spot off the High Street. Its a very pleasant pub, beams, brick, nicely laid out and Olde Worlde charm, with a central bar.

Its expensive due to its location but you do get quality (at least for the beer - didn't try the food), so you don't mind the cost so much.

Beer is served in the Southern style (no head) and/but is very good and there is a choice of 4 locally sourced ales. There is a terrace at the rear and some small table on the quiet street at the front of the pub. A bit twee but altogether a fine place. Appropriately there is an old vine growing on the outside of the building.

On 25th June 2012 - rating: 8
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


. Wittenden left this review about The Old Vine

Architectural details having been addressed by an earlier contributor, suffice it to say that the pub presents a picturesque façade to the Cathedral Green:eponymous vine and a Georgian pillared doorway. Through the door, the pub divides:to the left, behind a tempting heavy curtain, lies a comfortable looking dining room, to the right, a long and narrow bar with comfy seating. Behind, up some steps are more tables and chairs and I think a terrace.Flagstone floors, oak beams coupled with a selection of contemporary artworks contrive to create a slightly Central European bohemian air.
Released from the Christmas Market on a bright and cold December Saturday late afternoon, I sat in here with my hat, enjoying an excellent pint of Flowerpots Cheriton Porter. Indeed, it was so good, I fetched the ladies, diverting them from the Cathedral Tea Rooms, so I could have another. Other real ales were Ringwood Best, Tim Taylor Landlord, and Adnams’ Lighthouse.
To a terminal nostalgic, there is something magically English about a good pub in a Cathedral Close, indeed something fairly unusual,as I cannot think of many others. Good pub.

On 31st December 2011 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 283 recommendations about 282 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


BARRY TAYLOR left this review about The Old Vine

First the architecture bit. 18th century, 2 storeys. Red brick. Old tile roof . with 5 contemporary sash windows in moulded frames on 1st floor. Good doorcase with brackets and moulded open dentil pediment. The 19th century public house frontage has Gothic fenestration. Panelled door with fanlight. Two dormers. Rearwing with lattice casements in gable. OK! It looks great and it's a grade 2 listed building across from the Cathedral Green.

Now lets go inside! It's that 'Gastropub' thing but done in a good way. Don't be afraid! It's split into well defined areas with the restaurant (you'll need to book) to the left as you enter and the bar area to the right with no reservations for the bar or patio, where seating is available on a first come, first served basis only. Sandwich menu (available lunchtimes only. Please note that sandwiches are only available in the bar and on the terrace, and are not available in the restaurant)
Sandwiches on thick-cut granary or white bread, served with a salad garnish. Tuna with chive mayonnaise & salad £4.95 - Warm French brie & grape £5.50 - Premium Hampshire pork sausages, red onion relish £5.75 - Falafel with chickpea houmous, roasted sweet peppers, fresh coriander & salad in a flour tortilla £5.50 - Thinly sliced Hampshire-cured ham, emmental cheese & tomato £5.75 - Cod fillet fish finger sandwich with home-made tartare sauce, sliced tomato and little gem lettuce, garnish of fries £5.50 - Traditional mature Welsh cheddar ploughman’s £5.95 V
Coronation chicken: free-range English chicken in a creamy curry-spiced mayo, mango & sultana dressing £5.75
Pub classics (available lunchtimes only; bar, restaurant and terrace) - Premium Hampshire pork sausages & creamy mashed potato, rich onion gravy £9.50 - Crispy wholetail scampi in breadcrumbs, fries and salad £10.50 - Thickly sliced Hampshire-cured ham, two free-range fried eggs, fries and side salad £11.50 - Home-made pie of the day, mashed potatoes and peas £10.90. Sorry if that's too much detail but it is a 'Gastropub'.

It was the first pub in Winchester to phase out smoking (in March 2005), and now they're delighted to offer non-smoking customers an outdoor glazed space that's 100% smoke-free.

Their policy on children is: "CHILDREN AT LUNCHTIME: Well-behaved children of six and over are welcome in the bar and restaurant at lunchtime, provided they are accompanied by an adult – however, please remember that the Old Vine is first and foremost a space for adults to relax in. We're sorry, but we cannot accommodate pushchairs inside the building – however, pushchairs and kids under six may be accommodated on the patio, weather permitting. CHILDREN IN THE EVENING: Children are not allowed in the bar past 6pm – however, children of eight years and over may eat in the restaurant in the evening, provided they are accompanied by an adult.

Very attractive bar staff (both men and women) who served up some cracking pints. Itchen Valley, Hambledon Bitter 4.0% and Flack Manor Romsey, Flack's Double 3.7% on handpump.

It was great sitting at the bar on our Winchester crawl and watching the clientele with their Apple lap tops in the comfy Chesterfield's and although this is not really my sort of pub it's all done so very well done that I must give it a good 7.

On 25th July 2011 - rating: 7
[User has posted 42 recommendations about 35 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Pub SignMan left this review about The Old Vine

Located opposite the Cathedral Green, this is a modernised gastro-style pub which still offers something worthwhile for drinkers. The entrance takes you straight to the bar, with the room opening out to the right whilst a curtained doorway to the left hides the restaurant room. The main bar has a wooden floor, lots of padded benches and a pleasing wood beamed ceiling. Distractions are kept to a minimum although there was a selection of board games near the front door. The room extends to the back of the pub where there is an outdoor patio area with some seating. The restaurant side has standards tables and chairs in an otherwise similar room with a brick fireplace on the far wall.
There weren't too many customers in when we visited, which perhaps helped make us feel more comfortable just having a drink, but a decent ale selection of Ringwood Best, Flack Manor Double Drop, Timothy Taylor Landlord and Itchen Valley Hambledon Bitter was provided nonetheless.
I think the pub suits the gastro style it has chosen and I'm sure it does an excellent trade thanks to its location. I thought there was quite a nice ambiance in here and would suggest that as long as you avoid peak dining times, it would be a good contender for a quick pint of well kept beer.

On 15th July 2011 - rating: 6
[User has posted 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Ga Andrews left this review about The Old Vine

The Old Vine Winchester, 26th July 2010
Visited this on a very busy sunny day in Winchester. Pubs near the high street being very busy I decided to try this place being quieter. To me the outside looks more like a wine bar, but the staff were quick and efficient. They had 4 real ales on offer, I sampled Timothy Taylor.
The menu choice was reasonable and a good selection of local fare used, from Hampshire pork and ham to, New forest Blue (cheese) ploughmen, the special of the day. However service was rather long for me, over half an hour and I only got a quick sorry, where as a small party of three got theirs served within 10 minutes of ordering. I can only assume that the sudden influx of people and orders meant mine got mislaid!
I would say that the interior was comfortable, it's a mix of old and new, though I don’t believe the wooden ceiling joints to be original to the building.It was quite dark but not dingy, with interesting lighting, but i cant see how they illuminate the place at night. The Fabrics canvases mentioned by a previous reviewer are something a bit different and I suspect that they are in recognition of the Winchester school of art and textiles.
Would I go back, not sure it would be on my top of my list, but if I was in the vicinity and needed some refreshment, it’s preferable to the slug & lettuce nearby.

On 26th July 2010 - rating: 4
[User has posted 64 recommendations about 58 pubs]


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Soup Dragon left this review about The Old Vine

A half brick, half white terraced Georgian styled pub and restaurant that does accommodation, that has a rear patio and is in the GBG 2010

The interior has two rooms that were separated by a curtain, which rather set the tone really. The first room was a dining area in white and wood panel, with some red wallpaper and a brick fireplace. The bar/lounge was also in white and wood panel and both had wood floor and ceiling beams. The decor is that modern and rather tedious way they cut up bits of arty fabric into squares and diamond shapes and then put it on the walls. The service was good, the clientele mixed and it was well attended.

Beer; tap stuff with four handpulls; Ringwood Bitter, Timothy Taylor Landlord as well as some decent enough Oakleaf Hole Hearted and Andwell Brewery's Gold Muddler

Nice beer, but alas, just not my kind of interior. Many will like it and clearly did on my visit.

On 7th May 2010 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Old Boots left this review about The Old Vine

Transformed from a student haunt into a self confessed gastropub with matching customers, emaciated blonde women with sunglasses in their hair, air kissing on meeting their friends, grey middle aged blokes but with a sprinkling of younger customers too. Tasteful white walls, art work, obligatory candle powered tables, old beamed ceiling that I don't remember from its previous life and a bare board floor which I do although it's a lot cleaner now. Four handpumps with mainly local ales; Ringwood, Hogsback TEA, Bowmans Swiftone and Yorkshire's Timothy Taylor Landlord. Upper end of the lager range, Hoegaarden, Leffe plus San Miguel, Amstel, Guinness and Thatchers Gold. Obviously there's an extensive wine list, you may purchase a glass of Tattinger for £6.25. I chose the Hogsback, at a price not communicated to me by the supercilious barman, it was mediocre but to be fair it often is, the bottled version is normally better. A very different place now to its student days but not unwelcoming to casual drinkers, the area to the right on entering is used for this with barflys and vertical drinking, to the left is purely dining. I did eat here and the food was very good.

On 21st March 2010 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 3209 recommendations about 2920 pubs]

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