Publican Local Focus: Southampton
A pub in Southampton was the subject of some rather unflattering media debate in the summer when an angry bunch of mums were told their custom was not welcome.
The mothers were far from happy at being informed their prams were too big for the Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) pub the Cowherds, especially as it was advertised as 'family-friendly'.
M&B defended its manager but the general impression was that this was a pub that did not really enjoy being thrust into the spotlight.
And in some ways that is typical of Southampton itself.
Paul Roberts, a self-confessed cantankerous licensee who runs the Hobbit with his wife Stella, is a Southampton man through and through.
He proudly states: "There is everything you could want for a night out in Southampton," before adding, "you just need to know where to look."
This is a proud maritime city with a rich history, but it is not a flash place and it is unlikely to win any PR contests.
Finding where to go in South-ampton is not a straightforward task, as there are several districts rather than one central area.
While the docks will offer casinos and bars, Bedford Place and Bevois Valley are two of the popular hangouts with students. And with 50,000 of them living in the city during term-time, they are a key demographic for pubs.
Most licensees recognise their importance but many also object to the associated promotions that are designed to attract them.
When we visit the city 'Freshers' Week' is in full swing and flyers and posters offering discounts dominate the outside walls and chalkboards.
Max Emerson, who runs the website Southampton-pubs.co.uk, says that students have helped keep the pub scene fairly vibrant.
"There are quite a few pubs that have closed down unfortunately and we have seen companies converting them into different types of business," he says.
"But there are still good pubs and there is a real mix. The centre tends to attract the students and younger crowds but there are plenty of real ale houses as well."
Such places include the Junction Inn, in the St Denys area, which to the untrained eye looks like a part of town in need of some TLC.
But licensee Dawn Fildes paints a picture of a city that has thus far not been hit hard by the recession.
"New industry has been attracted to the town and there have been new hotels and supermarkets," she says.
"There are buses, trains, the docks and an airport so it is easy to get anywhere from here."
And many have arrived as well with Southampton boasting a multicultural mix of people including a large Polish population that has even opened its own pubs.
As Paul adds, this is all part of the city's appeal.
"There is a real mixture of people here, this is an immigrant town with a lot of history," he says.
This includes the opening of a museum to commemorate the Titanic next year, and the oldest medieval walls in the country.
Equally, in their own quiet way, the pubs in Southampton have a history to be proud of and a future to look forward to.
The Publican also visited: The Varsity, Avondale House, Bedfords, the Pensioners Arms, the Red Lion (Bedford Place)
• Next stop: Derby. If you would like us to visit your pub email news@thepublican.com
Dawn Fildes and Martin Gentry are tenants at Greene King pub the Junction Inn in the St Denys area of Southampton. The pub is a traditional local.
How much will a pint cost me?
We do four cask ales and these are £3.10 a pint with a deal on IPA at £2.45. You can also get Carlsberg as part of the £2.45 deal. Shorts, such as a double with a mixer, are £3.20. A Coke is £1.10 for a can.
Do you do food?
We are mainly wet-led but food is becoming more important. We have just introduced a £7.95-for-two meal deal. We do traditional home-cooked pub food.
Who are your customers?
We get some students but we are not a student pub. They come here for the real ales. We also have darts teams, a pool table and bar billiards, so we get a lot of regulars. We have thousands of locals, some of whom we only see a couple of times a year.
What attracts people?
We have been working hard to keep people coming and we run events most nights. These include the Friday night quiz and karaoke. There's always a fun atmosphere.
What are the issues affecting the trade in Southampton?
Southampton generally is doing well. Businesses such as Ikea have moved to the area, so we have not been hit too hard by the recession. However, locally there is another Greene King pub operating free-of-tie, which is providing us with tough competition.
Paul Barden is the freeholder of the Guide Dog, a backstreet ale haven that transforms into a football pub when Southampton play at home.
How much will a pint cost me?
We have eight different casks - three permanent and five on rotation - and these range in price from £2.20 to £2.60. Cask ale makes up 85 per cent of our sales but we also do Foster's at £2.80, a J20 for £1.40 and miniature bottles of wine (187ml) for £2.60. Shorts are £1.70 a double.
Do you do food?
Not really. We do a few rolls and bar snacks but we are predominantly wet-led.
Who are your customers?
'Mature' men and women would be a nice way of putting it. We mainly get real ale drinkers and the connoisseurs.
What attracts people?
The fact that we are a backstreet pub that sells cask ale. There is no jukebox, no television and there's karaoke over my dead body. We get football fans on matchdays as well, including both home and away supporters.
What are the issues affecting the trade in Southampton?
There have been quite a few closures over the last few years but the recession has not really been a problem for us. Most of our drinkers are older with more disposable income, grown up children and mortgages paid.
Jina Davis is the assistant manager of the Hobbit, a Punch Taverns lease and one of the most popular music venues in the city
How much will a pint cost me?
Foster's is £2.50 and premium lagers are £3. Our most popular drinks are Hobbit shots (£1.50) and Hobbit cocktails (around £4) and these are all named after characters from The Hobbit. Wine is £2.70 for a 175ml glass, Coke is £1.40 a pint.
Do you do food?
We don't do food as such but we have a franchise operation where we have a chef who uses a hut in the garden to make and sell Caribbean food. As we are a late-night music venue, this arrangement suits our trading style.
Who are your customers?
The crowd at the Hobbit is a very eclectic mix. You could get a barrister at the bar talking politics with a punk rocker. We have live music seven nights a week with a capacity for 1,000 people so we really get all sorts here - and that goes for the staff and customers.
What attracts people?
The music and the atmosphere. We also have one of, if not the biggest, beer garden around which gives us plenty of options for things to do outside.
What are the issues affecting the trade in Southampton?
Southampton has something for everyone, you just need to know where to find it.
Joe Khalil is the lessee of Enterprise Inns-owned pub the Alexandra. The pub offers a mixture of the traditional and the modern.
How much will a pint cost me?
We do four cask ales and they are £3.10 a pint. Lagers are the same price. A 175ml glass of wine is £3.50, spirits and a mixer £2.80, and it is £2 for a Coke.
Do you do food?
