please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Still has a decent, if expensive, range of beers. Certainly worth a visit but now the poorest of the three pubs near the station. I just feel far more welcome in the other two (Junction & Dolphin). I used to regard this as the best pub in Southampton but it seems to have lost it's way or maybe the competition has just improved.
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Outside it looks like a traditional railway station pub, inside it’s a bit like a Hobgoblin pub - lots of wood, painted walls, leather sofas, and a modern student feel. There’s an upstairs room with pool and football tables. Lots of focus on the beers with around 10 on offer, including a house ale, Nellie’s Nob, which is a rebadge of Bowman’s Yumi. Holds beer festivals. Friendly customers, which on our Friday afternoon visit were mostly young males. This has a lot more life, character, and interest than the Guide Dog. As it’s almost next door to the Junction Inn, the two can be visited together. I am more inclined to the Junction Inn as it does food, is more family orientated, and has more of a traditional pub look and feel, but there will be those who prefer this place. Considered together these two make one of the best beer destinations in Southampton, second only to the Platform Tavern (which has its own brewpub).
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Visited here on 12/02/2015.
good selection of beers well worth a visit and just outside the St Denys station
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Still very expensive - like for like 80p per pint dearer than the Guide Dog and 70p dearer than Talking Heads.
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Paid long overdue return visit and enjoyed the atmosphere and a terrific Arundel beer. Football crowd meant custom was very mixed and felt less like the beer ticker experience I remember from a decade ago. Having said that, loved the brewerania, less impressed with the flaky sausage roll !
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Lovely to see some changes to the pub décor since recently being taken over. Again prices not the cheapest, but this can't be helped due to being an Enterprise Inns, not a freehouse!! Still a fantastic selection of ales.
Was not impressed, however, by the dog poo in the garden that everyone was walking round but no-one removed, it was there all night!! If dogs are to be allowed off leads then their owners should be more responsible on checking up after them.
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Best of 9 pubs we sampled in Southampton yesterday. It's well located next to St Denys station. But I believe trains only stop here once an hour. The interior seems more reminiscent of a wild western saloon. Two dogs were busily chasing one another around the room and wrestling with one another. If there had been a cockfight in the middle of the bar, I doubt anybody would have raised an eyelid. The beer selection is good. Yesterday, it was Cottage Golden Arrow, Hobdens Wessex Weasel, Sunny Republic Beach Blonde, Island Wight Gold, Itchen Valley Russian Winter, Triple fff Moondance, Ringwood Old Thumper & Downton Quadhop. The cider was Old Rosie. Definitely recommended. Whilst here, you might as well try the Dolphin across the railway footbridge. We did!
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Beer was good but as has been said a bit pricey (I heard about the "hike" in beer prices when the Junction closed but that was only pub gossip so perhaps somebody can confirm/deny?) �3.50 for a pint of Swift One sounds a lot but it is probably the going rate in many pubs in my area (Thames Vallley) Anyway, I think the SWA is a bit tired and the old Alehouse theme is a bit old hat now (no - I don't want it changed into a bistro/gastro venue bar but perhaps a change of decor?) Anyway we will use it again as the range is quite good and it is so handy for the station.
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This is a great pub with great beer. However, it has recently become VERY expensive with the cheapest pint (Swift One) at �3.50 and others at �3.60 or �3.70. This is 80 or 90p more expensive than the Guide Dog. I think they may lose a lot of custom when the Junction reopens at the end of the month.
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"please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously."
No that's not correct we are customers of these establishments, and our views need to be taken account of, why else have reviews?
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Have been using this place on and off for years but it has just become ridiculously expensive for what is on offer and seems to have lost its way a bit. The landlord seems pretty complacent, perhaps thinking there is little competition now the Junction has closed, and shows little interest in looking after his customers or improving the place. It does have a reasonable selection of beers but service and facilities have stagnated while the prices are constantly rising to the point where I, and most of the people I know, have just about given up on it - shame really as it does have the potential to be a decent neighbourhood pub in the right hands.
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OK it was �3.50 for a pint of Bowman's Quick One (3.8%) and �3.60 for Wye Valley HPA but both were in very good condition; the barmaid was friendly;they do food;have a games room upstairs;have newspapers and CAMRA magazines and boxed games; a smoking/seating area out the back; it's right outside the station and not far from other good pubs in the Bevois Valley area. There were about 6 beers on tap when we went so the choice was pretty good (Loddon and Hop Back featuring). By the way - The Junction down the road had a serious fire recently and is closed for re-building.
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sorry BM1, I agree about the Enterprise bit, but don't you nowadays mean, second best beer festivals in it's own street, because the Junction is brilliant(even though it's owned by the even bigger bandits, Greede Kerchink)
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I think some people (hillsidepaul & saintmaryssaint) forget that this pub is unfortunately ultimately owned by Enterprise Inns (that massive, money grabbing 'property' company). If it were free of tie (like the guide dog) of course you would then be able to sit there and compare the prices like for like. But it isn't, so you can't. This pub has excellent ale choice all year round, and the beer festivals are second to none in the southampton area, that is why people should 'use it or lose it'!
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This was at one time an old railway pub, up until back in the 1970s, sometime during the eighties it was gutted on the inside and turned into your typical "yuppie" pub. Although that happened, it still sold good beers at reasonable prices, sadly this isn't the case anymore, the current Landlord as of now (April 2012), doesn't seem to care much about his customers, and just raises prices as he pleases, believing I guess, that we will all continue to cough up, well not me and not anymore. If I have to go there I'll buy a half and make it last, until I can persuade the people I've met to depart to another Pub, such as the Guide Dog, 12 minutes walk away, and that doesn't try and rob one blind!
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Well kept beer with a reasonable range tending towards the stronger end. Friendly service and a relaxed atmosphere.
But and it's a big but a transparent desire to rip the customer off. The cheapest beer costs �3.50 a pint! One of The beers (swift One) is avalable half a mile away in the Guide Dog for �2.80.
London prices for a pub that takes its customers and their wallets for mugs.
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Great pub- think there has been a recent revamp of interior? but not sure...been a while- 12 or so ales, plenty of comfortable space and options from sofa to chairs and stools....80s table top emulated arcade machine nice touch- but doesn't work! Please do not use brasso to clean pump handles whilst punters are in- this ruined the flavour of the pint I had so had to leave...still- top boozer- scores an 8
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Great beer selection and quality. Seven Itchen Valley beers on when I was there last, plus a mini-festival of interesting and well-kept ales. The atmosphere is fantastic and the pub is right across from St Denys station.
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Very nice freindly pub. Beer was on good form when we visited on Saturday, can't say the same thing about our football team later on in the afternoon at St Mary's. Pleasant beer garden that was warm enough to use even on 29 October. The food served from the horse box in the car park was very good.
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If, on the rare occassion, i have found my pint not to be at it's best at the South Western, a quick word with the staff and they are only too happy to exchange my beer. (They are, after all, not blessed with x-ray vision and do not always know when a beer is about to finish Snarling Mallard!)
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My first choice wasn't on... so as was in a bit of a rush asked the barmaid to give me something similar which turned out to be Botley Golden Gringo. This was not at all nice and a struggle to drink and as I had a train to catch or be stuck there an hour I left it. Noticed she had turned the pump clip round after serving me that pint of dross.
anonymous - 10 Apr 2011 11:33 |
'A classic! This place has won so many awards I think they stopped putting them up. You can't get any closer to a railway line and you can sit in the beer garden and hear the trains as they go to London & Portsmouth past St Deny's. In the garden is an old pub sign for 'Nellies Nob' which gives the pub its local nick name. The selection of beer is almost unrivaled. There are 12 pumps, and at its peak, each one served a different beer, Now there are seven beers and if you go to one of their beer festivals you're in for a delight. Add to this an area upstairs with Pool and a TV and you're in pub 'heaven'. Very much the locals bozzer for this small area of Southampton, let the train take the strain and give yourself a treat.'
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Great pub cat
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Right there on the corner, as you exit the station, welcoming you in. And what a welcome it is - friendly and helpful staff, selection of warm pasties to eat, good choice of beers (and my Harvey's Sussex was in particularly good condition), and surprisingly plenty of seats too.
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First visit to this pub in a while, and was not disppointed! 9 ales on the bar to choose from including Bowman Swift one, Flack Manor Double drop, Ballards wild, Hogsback Hop (garden gold), Hopback Summer lightning, Wye valley HPA, fff Pressed rat & warthog , Yates Blonde and Isle of Purbeck IPA. Of the ones i tried they were, as always, in good condition and served by pleasant staff. A fairly busy pub, with a chatty bunch of regulars, shouldn't be missed.
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Excellent choice of real ale- normally 8 or 9 with a bias towards Hants & Dorset plus one draught cider, always in my experience in excellent condition. Nice garden at real with fantasticly organised beer festivals. Toilets fine. That said, a deep clean of the floor and brickwork and a paint up of the woodwork wouldn't go amiss as it is looking quite tired now.
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This has got to be the best pub in Southampton. Not only does it have very friendly staff it has the best of ales including the wonderful Doombar.
It also pays host to the fantastic Pure Acoustica evenings where local musicians play their own sings with pas or microphones. We enjoyed a wonderful evening there on the 17th of june and are looking forward to the next one. Just a minutes walk from the station too!!
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Don't get to this great beer pub often enough. Have to agree with previous comment with beer prices creeping up (�3.20). On this occasion tried the Purbeck IPA (not to my taste) and Ballard's Wild 4.7% - I thought a superb full bodied (Porter) ale, well presented.
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Still a great pub with excellent beer, but getting very expensive with the cheapest ale at �3.10
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This excellent, spacious pub is ideally located next to St Denys railway station so you can sup until the very last moment before rolling onto the platform. It has a split-level layout and the interior is a mixture of original brickwork and dark wood furnishings, surrounding one bar in the corner. During my midweek, evening visit it progressively got busy with a mixture of regulars and curious punters such as our party, who after ordering our beers got stuck into the worst game of arrows in history on the well located dart board. Ale-wise you really have a generous selection here, including on my inspection Andwell Gold Muddler, Ringwood Old Thumper, Hogs Back HOP, Traditional Scottish Blonde Ale and Sharp's Doom Bar amongst others. Southampton doesn't have many truly high quality pubs but this is certainly one of them.
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In again at the weekend. 9 beers on, 8 of which from local..ish breweries.The ones I tried were, as always, in tip-top condition.It's a disgrace this pub didn't make it to the GBG. What are the local CAMRA branch on? Surely this pub is everything they stand for.
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I don't understand why this pub didn't make it into the current GBG.I was in over the weekend and the beer selection and quality was, as always, excellent. Seems particularly strange that the Junction(nice pub, but predictable Green King beers) made it into the guide but not the far superior S. Western. What's going on CAMRA?
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Excellent local pub, was in for the beer festival nov 09 wasn't let down at all by the beer , bit confused with the system but the lovely young lady (with funny hair but nice) behind the bar help me understand and she had good knowledge of ales, which is rare to see these days which she seems to be a good asset to the pub. only disappointment of the evening was loud laughing abrupt woman serving food, was stood around chatting when people when she could of lent a hand to the hard working staff good effort hope its better next year.
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Superb pub! been drinking here for years, Good beers well kept by a great Landlady. Superb atmosphere inside with a lovely beer garden with patio heaters outside. I have to say that its an absolute travesty that this pub was not considered for the Good Pub Guide this year but then again what do CAMRA know about a good pub!
If your in the area check this pub out, it definitely features in my top 3 ale pubs of Southampton.
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I frequently use this pub of an evening and have always found the range and quality of the beers to be excellent. Am looking forward to the advertised beer festival 13th-15th November, as it promises over 30 real ales, ciders and perries.
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Agree with the last post about the jukebox, but the staff have always been excellent when I've been in, and the beer is still some of the best in Southampton. Good festival last year as well.
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Smelt and looked like a pub with pub company breeding on entry,3 pretty though scatty young women behind the pumps,cackling and shrieking. Had a pint of Itchen Valley Fagins that was ok but needed a well deserved top up,and I had to ask. Ditto the 2nd pint,Keystone Solar Brew. Other ales on were from Downton,Cottage,Ballards,Batemans,Stonehenge and Cheriton,all priced between �2.90 and �3.20. A barman then appeared with a Greg the Bakers sausage roll and ALL the staff disappeared in back for some,leaving the pumps unattended,and there were folks waiting,the place being busy with a railtour leaving town the next morning. The jukebox hadn't been updated since 2003 and was inaudible. A contrast to say the least with the Guide Dog.
MUST DO BETTER!!!!
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We use this place after our home games during the Summer and are rarely let down by the quality and range of Ales. Although it's run by Enterprise Inns, it seems to have at least 7 on from local Brewers and others further afield. Last night we had 2 Bowman Ales,Swift One & Quiver,Nuptu Ale from Oakleaf,Triple fff Moondance and Andwells Resolute from Hampshire as well as Five Arrows from the Tring Brewery (pint of the night) and Old Chestnut from Dark Star. Look forward to our next visit on the 27th.
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Fantastic pub nothing else to say
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Excellent local pub with a bustling friendly atmosphere from staff and locals, always someone willing to chat and pass the time of day. Huge and ever changing range of local and national real ales on pumps as well as huge selection of spirits and liqueurs. Live music, weekly meat draws and ever changing diary of events happening. Next door to St Denys train station, makes it a great pub to visit with travel home no problem!! A Great Tradition British Pub...A must visit for all!!
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Great pub tucked away in the heart of St Denys. Fantastic choice of real ales, helpful staff, one of the best pubs i've been to in a long time will definately visit again. Many thanks.
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Have been going to this pub off and on for years, but as I live in the Bournemouth area, I have to rely on the trains. Getting there is easy enough but getting back on the train can sometimes be a bit of a challenge. Great pub, beers and people.
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An oasis in the wilderness! A proper pub serving anything up to ten real-ales in pristine condition - every time. Convivial atmosphere and pleasant staff.
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I've visited this pub many times over the years and have to say it has the biggest range of real ales i've seen in the southampton area. Friendly staff, nice garden and great tasting beer make this my number 1. The beers are always changing and there is a beer festival advertised for the weeked 7/8/9 November.
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My second visit here and, again, highly enjoyable. Butcombe Bitter, Deuchars, fff Pressed Rat & Warthog, Flowerpots Goodens Gold, Itchen Valley Fagins, Hambleton Buckaroo, Downton Chimera Dark delight, Summer Lightning, Romsey IPA, plus Old Rosie cider. Bare brick & wood downstairs, rustic feel as GDS says, from prev visit I recall a big screen & lots more seating upstairs? Small raised area to left of entrance with dartboard beyond, small book corner other side of bar. Large paved outdoor area with central fountain & many picnic sets and a prettily planted shrubbery corner with more seating beyond a small pergola. Music played thru outdoor speakers, nothing too intrusive & the soundtrack fitted with the friendly boho feel of the place. Pleasant staff, and guvnor(?) especially helpful with my map query. A definite for playing at least one joker on a crawl, especially with the nearby Dolphin closed again.
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Had a fantastic Saturday afternoon here drinking pints of Hopback Entire Stout and Yates YSD. Sublime
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Great pub with a wide selection of ales. Summer Lightning, Deuchars, Harveys Best, Atlantic IPA, Loddon Rin Tin Tin, Tower Spring Equinox, Stonehenge Sign of Spring and Ventnor Golden Bitter. Also had a Westons cider.
Bare wood rustic look, seems like a friendly local. Used to come in here over 20 years ago when it was called Nellies Nob, I think the sign is still around.
Beer festival coming up in May.
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Great local with excellent beer and a friendly atmosphere.Very handy for the station.Along with the Dolphin over the tracks and maybe the Junction down the road, makes for a great evening out. Almost makes it worth moving to St Denys.
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Excellent choice of beer. Difficult to fault this pub and so handy for the station.
anonymous - 28 Oct 2007 16:44 |
I think the SW may be up for sale.
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Wonderful pub!
Great selection of real ales on regular rotation, friendly staff and locals, some live-in cats coming to say hello every now and again...
There's a lovely beer garden for the summer, pool table, 2 dartboards and table football, plus Sky TV for big sports games.
You can't do better in the area, though the Dolphin over the road pushes it close.
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What more can I add? Since the resurrection of the Chandlers Ford station route I have revisited this pub several times and discovered The Dolphin, over the bridge. Both superb.
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Oh how lucky are the residents of St Denys what with this gem on one side of the station and the Dolphin on the other. Great selection of beers - I could stay there all day and stumble onto the train home. They used to have a German beer festival in September/October, but I don't know if that still happens. Last time I went to the festival in, I think, 2004 or 2005, there was a Hell's Angels wedding in progress, which just added nicely to the ambience.
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Cracking pub! Building looks mid-Victorian, presumably built when the railways came along - fairly open layout with another room upstairs which I didn't investigate. Ten real ales on handpump served in excellent condition, nice mix of people, good service, friendly atmosphere, decent rock music on the juke box (Led Zep, Hendrix, Metallica, Aerosmith) but not too loud for conversation. Felt really comfortable but sadly had to leave after a couple of pints to try a couple more pubs nearby. Anyone living near here or with an easy train connection to St. Denys station is well and truly spoilt. Will certainly be looking for an excuse to come back!
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Nice pub, next to St Denys railway station and near to The Dolphin, another good pub. Good range of ales and has the occasional beer festival. Relaxing and friendly.
blamm - 15 Nov 2005 18:03 |
Great Pub! Always an excellent selection of real ales & Steve & the team make you welcome. Live music and an annual beer festival - what are you waiting for?
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We love nellies! A real proper pub that's for adults, and doesn't complicate matters (yet) by attempts at gastro pubness. Excellent beers and spirits, friendly staff with good memories for what you drink and all drinks sensibly priced.
becky - 24 Aug 2004 09:25 |
its blooming marvellous but do we want to tell everyone? Sometimes there's no seats to be had as it is - lets keep it our little secret I say!
kiwi - 20 Aug 2004 11:38 |
A champion CAMRA Prize winning pub, see the certificates by the fire!!!
Regular events, big beer garden, bands, chocolate, snacks and lager and alcopops for the lads and lasses
"Nellies" is an oasis in a desert of bright fizziness that typifies beer in the town
Real Ales are regularly changed to keep them fresh and to keep us regulars excited
Within staggering distance of St Denys Station for out of towners
The Dolphin nearby offers food (Sunday Roasts in Winter) and a far more limited range of real ales
Steve and the team at The South Western Arms run a great pub and in 3 years of regular attendance we have never encountered the "trouble" assocated with some of the more rowdy hostelries in town when packed
'Nellies'is to be recommended to all, whether real ale beardie/trendy or otherwise, open area with projection telly up stairs, picnic table beer garden out the back
Revel in the range of Ales on sale after fighting your way to the bar when the SWA is busy..
Like any other pub it has 'quiet' times, if you stumble on one of these ENJOY IT, Steves pub has a well publicised and admirable reputation, expect to queue for your quaff at weekends
John "Fatbloke " Bullas - 20 Aug 2004 10:48 |
I think I must have caught this pub on an off-day. It was a Sunday in the middle of February and I was on a visit there with a mate who wanted to introduce me to one of his fave pubs. It's right by the station, just across the bridge which is really handy. This pub was the CAMRA Regional Pub of the Year last year and the beer range was certainly impresive with two showings from the new White Star Brewery. Trouble was, the beers were too cold (for cask ale, that is). So was the pub. Never removed my coat the whole time. Not many people there although there were ten or so upstairs watching the match on the wide screen TV. We left there to check out the pub on the other side of the station - the Dolphin. What a contrast. I have already commented on the Dolphin, so I won't bore you again, but it's really worth a visit.
Jim - 28 Feb 2004 12:18 |
