Whilst considering a pre match venue for a few drinks and discussions on X Factor etc it became apparent that Southampton is sadly lacking in quality hostelry in the City Centre.

Our small but select band that gathers tofgether before a home game for a few drinks and a chat dont ask for much, a decent pub with fair prices, within reasonable walking distane of both St Mary's and the train station, that admits kids and has Sky TV so we can keep an eye on the live game as well as the after match scores.

After the landlord announced his departure from the pub we have used for the last 18 months or so, we considered our options should the place cha nge drastically and it became very apparent that in Southampton City Centre at least there are very very few options that meet all the criteria.

Around the London Road/Bedford place area, our preferred area, there are virtually none, most of the pubs that do have Sky dont admit kids and vice versa, a walk up the high street is even more depressing, where are the old long established traditional type of boozers ? all you have is the Yeates style chain pubs, a visit to Liverpool for the Everton match revealed a City Centre that although has its fair share of chain pubs, sees them outnumbered by old stle type pubs and all thriving, around Goodison Park, within a five minute walk of the ground you had a choice of around 20 pubs, at St Mary's you have 2.

So whats happened to all these pubs, OK we perhaps dont have the drinking culture that still thrives on Merseyside and up North, but surely there must be a niche in our City Centre for those that want to go out and have a pint without loud music blaring out.

The anser it seems is no, in the City Centre itself there are no traditional pubs left, only a few on the fringes that in the main dont seem well patronised, a look at the excellent book Southampton's Inns & Taverns published in 1995, makes interesting reading, it reveals a large number of pubs in the region of the City Centre that are no longer with us, but back then the stretch of the High Street from the Bargate to London Road only had one "pub" that was actually on the main drag, the then named Bogarts, fast forward to now and there are well over a dozen, sadly all of them chain pubs and even during this period there are perhaps six or so that have opened and shut during the period, the City Centre has been abandoned as a haven for the discerning drinker and over run with fun pubs aimed at the 20-25 age group with the odd exception.

Sitting in Liverpool City Centre a fortnight ago we could walk in any direction and find a dozen pubs within a 5 minute walk in each of those directions, you would need to walk a mile or more to do that in Southampton and thats rather sad, in the South at least the age of the Pub seems to be gone.

So if anyone has any ideas about a good pre match pub in Southampton City Centre then we are open to suggestions.

Photo: Action Images

VeloSaint added 11:32 - Oct 11 My old man and I used to regularly use Goblets, went there a couple of times last season and its still okay.
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slynch added 11:39 - Oct 11 I went to Goodison and had to go to a traditional old pub before the game: The answer to your question is no doubt that they have all closed down cos not many people in Southampton want to go to a grubby old pub that's sells tasteless warm beer and is populated by villians and people coughing in ya beer.
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SaintNick added 11:41 - Oct 11 Thats a bit of a glib answer, I went to several around Goodison and they were packed, but the beer was fine
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sholingred added 12:02 - Oct 11 Try the royal oak down by Debenams sky tv and shows saints games home and away and 5 mins from st marys.
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slynch added 12:04 - Oct 11 StNick Always is after several! LOL
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SaintNick added 12:16 - Oct 11 agreed slynch :-)
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1teeminants added 12:16 - Oct 11 Nick as you may or may not know we now go in the Varsity and Alex before games. The Alex is a great pub imo, It has sky tv, Large beer garden and is fine for kids as i quite often take my nipper in there but the varsity doesnt allow kids. We have been using The Alex for a while now but 3.30 for a pint of fosters is just too much now thats why we now use the varsity on the card scheme where Carslsberg is cheap but they've now taken the fosters out of it ffs. Luckily my missus sometimes drops my nipper off later on so i can go in the Varsity. pubs seem to be fighting for business at the moment. the other day we were in the varsity and the landlord OF The Alex called in and plaeaded with us to go back and gave us all free loyalty cards, but again theres only stella 4 on there for me which you can buy cheap. I agree its not easy to find a boozer to accomodate your group and at the right price.

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winchesterbob added 12:29 - Oct 11 In title was traditional pub sadly that descended into modernity with the mention of sky tv..........make your mind up..!! either you want a traditional pub with some decent beer and the chance to exchange your own opinion or you want freezing cold larger and have some pundits opinion shoved down your throat from Murdoch's money tree. If you want the former the Guide Dog in Earls rd or the Giddy Bridge , if it’s the later then Goblets, Royal Oak, etc. etc Personally I try all the above from time to time. Now what is the pub of choice after the game??

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lockseaf77 added 12:30 - Oct 11 The Pensioners was always busy on match days, even that place has been ruined now.
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SaintNick added 12:35 - Oct 11 1teem, the Red Lion has changed landlords and may be ok now if they get the sky, i though the laex only allowed kids in the back not in the main bar
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simmo400 added 12:54 - Oct 11 THE ROYAL OAK.......nick. Kids 6 tv`s good beer what else do you need ? even pretty barmaids....enjot :))
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1teeminants added 12:57 - Oct 11 I soooo did not like that landlord Nick as you know lol. The Alex has always been fine for kids mate no problems. Ive taken my nipper in there loads of times. I asked the landlord a while ago if it was ok for kids and he said " As long as they dont drink beer they can go where they like "
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SaintNick added 13:28 - Oct 11 They just stick to spirits then ?
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Whatsforpud added 15:04 - Oct 11 Some of us would think it a plus if kids are not allowed!
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SaintNick added 15:33 - Oct 11 thats fair enough, i agree some pubs shouldnt let them in all pubs should be different
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pap added 18:27 - Oct 11 It's not just Southampton. I know that there are quite a few boozers on the County Road in Liverpool, but a ton of pubs have shut down. Ten years ago, I could go out on a pub crawl involving six or seven bars, all within 1000 metres of my house. Today, they're all gone. Some of the buildings remain. Some were just bulldozed, including a very nice Victorian pub. It's a cliche to say that the smoking ban was a major factor in pubs disappearing, but that doesn't stop it from being true. Greedy breweries pushing their tenants to financial oblivion didn't help either. Finally, very much a luxury - a pint costs £3. You can get almost three times that from the offy.

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Zambucco added 19:13 - Oct 12 Nick we use the Waterfront, Shamrock Quay, Sky TV, offers on beers, kids allowed, large covered area outside, BBQ for fantastic beefburgers, close to the ground too. Used fairly regularly by visiting supporters so the banter's good. Although The Villa fans got a bit carried away! There's a big contingent use The Joshua Tree, and The Prince of Wales
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Jesus_02 added 12:35 - Oct 17 Traditional Pubs with Sky and allow Kids? Not sure how traditional Sky is? Decent beer is my only real concern appart from Saints. The following in my view are all walkable St Denys: South Western, Dolphin, Guide Dog, Town: Alex, Pensioners Bottom End of Shirley: Wellington, Osborne (with bus to the ground) Below Bar im not sure about so much but there are a couple around Bugle Street I think . But if i was that way Id probably go to the Platform or the Wetherspoons in Ocean village. If you want to take kids to the pub before football you could always go to Northem Social

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