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Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Handle Bar
Lovely bohemian crafty type of place with terrace to busy main road. Good real ale choice
On 4th April 2022
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Handle Bar
With just time for one more pub before attempting to get back home and with beers for the train already secured from the excellent nearby Bitter Virtue off license (2022 GBG listed), I thought I'd give this fairly new micropub a try.
When researching pubs to visit in Southampton a few weeks back, it looked doubtful that I'd be able to visit this one, as it had been temporarily closed due to flood damage (from the flat above), not from any nearby watercourse. Thankfully, the pub is back open and was fairly busy on my Saturday evening vist. So much so, that I decided to prop up the bar, as I couldn't immediately see any available tables.
4 real ales were on - Box Steam Tunnel Vision, Wild Weather King St Pale, Flower Pots Stottidge Stout & Durham Magus. I'd not had that particular stout before and it was a decent choice for my last beer of the day (before the train at least).
As one of many micropubs in Southampton, I'm not sure this one necessarily stands out from the rest. But it's within easy walking distance of the Bookshop Alehouse. So, I'd like to give it another try, preferably when I'm slightly more sober.
On 20th February 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2452 recommendations about 2451 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Handle Bar
A bar that escaped my notice until a couple of days ago having opened in this guise in Feb 2020. It Describes itself as an Ale House And Kitchen which is a fair description. A fairly narrow frontage with outside seating on an decking area, inside extends back a fair way in three sections, the middle being raised a couple of steps.
Five handpumps serving five localish beers from Flowerpots,Red Cat, Steamtown and Disruption Is Brewing (Ascot), a pint from the latter, Walk Thru Eden was well cared for. The keg is just normal stuff with no craft, the Cider is Stowford Press. I also sampled the food, the main thrust being tapas, two of which went down a treat.It feels quite pubby inside with some interesting breweriana scattered around, I would say it's a hybrid between micropub/bar and proper pub.There is a northbound bus stop right outside, so presumably there is a southbound nearby to take you to the city centre should you wish and dont fancy the walk.
A great find for me in Southampton, I will return.
On 30th May 2021
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]