Mucky Duck

So, my last post noted that The White Swan had closed, it now appears to be in the process of re opening as The Mucky Duck.

Selling itself as a sports pub, not sure what that will mean, Sky Sports on full blast? We'll see! At least it's not closed down completely which is always a sad sight to see.

Another one bites the dust?

It looks like The White Swan pub in Hyde Street has closed. I have been in the pub a few times as it is not far from where I live, but I don't think it was as popular as some of the other pubs in Hyde, such as The King Alfred and the Hyde Tavern. Maybe it will re-open, as The Willow Tree has?

Trusty Servant

On my recent trip to Minstead in the New Forest I came across The Trusty Servant inn. I know this 'creature' is the emblem of Winchester College and read on a plaque next to the pub a 16th century saying believed to have originated from Winchester College in the days when pupils at the college had personal servants

"A trusty servants portrait you would see
This emblematic figure well survey
The porkers snout not nice in diet shows
The padlock shut no secret he'll disclose
Patient the Ass his masters wrath will bear
Swiftness in his errand the stags feet declare
Loaded is left hand apt to labour saith
The vest his neatness; the open hand his faith;
Girt with his sword, his shield upon his arm,
Himself and master he'll protect from harm"

Willow Tree

 

It's open, it's closed, it's opening again soon. I have featured this pub before last year and noticed at Christmas that the pub had closed down and then later a couple of the windows had been boarding up - it wasn't looking good at all. I'm not quite sure whate happened but apparently the pub is now set to reopen next month, with the 3rd set of tenants in a year.

The Green Man

Someone might be able to correct me, but I think this is the most expensive pub that I have been to in Winchester, but then I don't get out that much, maybe they are all expensive these days! It has a pleasant interior and is just opposite from the cinema.

The pub is on the corner of Southgate & St Swithun Street, the current building dating from 1881 replaced a previous older inn built in the early 1800s. Excavations opposite the pub in 1971 showed that the Roman South Gate to the city, the replacement of which was demolished in 1771.

Westgate Inn

The Westgate pub is funnily enough just across from the Westgate. The Inn was originally a private house and was converted in 1892. The pub used to be known as the Westgate Hotel until 2005 when it changed its name to the Westgate Inn to comply with EU regulations. It still has overnight accommodation and its rooms are named after famous people who have visited Winchester, such as Keats, Wren and Raleigh.

Happy New Year to everyone!

Golden Lion

Another pub I've never been in as it's on the Alresford Road on the way out of Winchester is the Golden Lion. The pub was covered in flowers and looked beautiful, and when I 'googled' them I discovered they are multiple winners of the Winchester in Bloom competition, and it looks like they're having another go this year..they'd certainly get my vote. The pub was built in 1932 to serve the local area. The original Golden Lion pub was in Jewry Street on the current site of Brasserie Blanc

**I'm away with work at the moment, for my nearest location see: This is Belgium **

The County Arms

I had never noticed this pub before! My excuse is that I don't oftern drive along the Romsey Road where it is positioned. The pub was built in 1848 and students from the nearby West Down Campus opposite the pub are regular customers.

Winchester in Bloom part 2

Just a few more of the floral displays currently around town. The winner has already been chosen and will be announced in October.

Crown and Anchor

 

Will he, won't he decide to go in?! This is the Crown & Anchor pub in the High Street. I haven't been in here myself. There has been a pub on this site since the mid 19th Century. The current building dates from the early 1930s. As you can see it's also quite floral, I have a feeling the pub is always like this rather than trying to win the Winchester in Bloom prize as I have seen other photos of it with just as many hanging baskets.

The White Swan

The White Swan pub is in Hyde Street in Winchester. Although this is geographically probably the closest pub to my house I prefer to go to the King Alfred pub in Hyde. The pub has been in existence since 1784 and was referred to at some time in the past as The Mucky Duck.

Winchester in Bloom

Winchester is looking very floral at the moment and that's because it is the Winchester in Bloom competition. The judging has now finished but the results won't be announced until October (not sure why the wait!) Here is my local pub the King Alfred look very flowery. The only thing I notice is that I think the shops, pubs & restaurants of Winchester must have bought their flowers in bulk as they all seem to be the same types shown here!

Heart in Hand

I pass by this pub every day on the way to work and it's certainly seen better days. This is the Heart in Hand pub in the Bar End area of Winchester. the pub is around 200 years old and originally served refreshments to travellers bound for Portsmouth along the old Roman Road. The premises were enlarged in 1911 and almost completely rebuilt. The pub, although I think still open has now been sold to be converted into houses.

*** I am away on holiday now for 2 weeks so have scheduled these posts to appear (hopefully!). Thanks for any comments & sorry if I don't respond straightaway. ***

St James Tavern

I have to admit that I have never actually been into this pub! It is on the Romsey Road just past Peninsula Square going into the Fulflood area of Winchester. It does food, has live music and French conversation classes.

The pub dates from at least 1860, it is named after St James Street which is what the Romsey Road used to be called.

King Alfred

This was taken in the lovely pub garden of my local 'The King Alfred' last weekend during the sunshine. It's a nice pub in the area of Hyde in Winchester. It serves good food and is also a bed and breakfast.

Dolphin Inn

On the corner of the High Street and St Thomas Street is a building currently a clothes shop called Joules. This building was built in 1883 originally as a pub, in a mock Tudor style. The pub was called the Dolphin Inn and there had been a pub of the same name on this site since medieval times. The Dolphin closed its doors in 1981 and I think has been a shop ever since. A closer look over the door you can see the name of the old pub and 2 fish-like creatures.

Queen Inn

This is the Queen Inn in the St Cross area of Winchester. It always looks lovely to sit in the garden at the front - though I haven't done it myself yet! The pub has been in existence since before 1860.

The Black Bottle

The latest edition to the 'Black' chain, it's the Black Bottle, a wine bar, that opened a couple of weeks ago. I did try to go in for a drink, but it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. The building dates from the 1800′s, and has a number of different rooms including white wine rooms and red wine rooms, I'm not sure if they segregate you depending on what you're drinking!

Wines by the glass are dispensed through machines that hold 8 bottles of wine, that are operated through a card system. You buy a card, loads it with however much money you want, insert it in the machine, grab one of the 3 different sized glasses 25ml taster, 125 ml, or 175 ml. The idea is that you can try the taster on a few different wines, then once you have found a wine that you like, go to the bar and buy a bottle. Interesting concept, but I never really trust vending machines..!

I am away for the weekend so sorry if I don't respond to any comments straight away

Black Boy

Just around the the corner from the Black Rat Restaurant is the Black Boy Pub. The building has been on this site since 1750 and has been a pub for the last 200 years. The pub has a very unique interior with different rooms with collections of stuffed animals, spindles, pipes, jars of weird things, knick knacks and general odd stuff on display. It's one of the most popular pubs in Winchester and was recently reviewed in the Telegraph newspaper

I am away for the weekend so sorry if I don't respond to any comments straight away

William Walker pub

The William Walker pub was previously known as the Old Market Inn, being that it is situated on the corner of Market Street where back in the 14th century there used to be a street market. The pub is now named after William Walker the diver who saved Winchester Cathedral from collapsing. You can see clearly from the building when it was built.