Good restaurant in Southampton

[marnie2005]

Will be arriving in Southampton the day before our cruise in May and looking for a recommendation for a nice, reasonable restaurant to hav dinner . We are staying at Jurys Inn so if anyone has stayed there, and has eaten at a good restaurant within walking distance, would love to hear from you😊

[John Bull]

Jury's Inn is in the centre of a gyratory road system with traffic lights at each junction but no pedestrian lights at the main entrance. 

Ask at reception which is the shortest safe route to cross to Brunswick Place.

 

From Jury's Inn it's a 5-minute walk along Brunswick Place to cross London Road / Above Bar Street at lights then first right into Bedford Place. Eateries in Bedford Place, turn right into Carlton Place (more eateries) & right again into London Road (a few more), bringing you back to the lights.

It's years since we last ate in that part of town but there are a couple of dozen eateries in that block. They're nearly all small independent traditional restaurants - some are cheap eats, some are fast-food, various Asian & European options, a couple of pubs, you'll probably find something to suit.

If you want to check them out, zoom in on this map for the names and check reviews.

https://goo.gl/maps/v9BXdS8ZhJA2

Or just  browse & go back to the one that you rate best.

 

Or there's a wide choice of national & international chain restaurants in a fairly new block (with cinemas, etc) between West Quay Mall and the old city wall at

https://www.west-quay.co.uk/dining#

Excluding coffee shops etc there are about 20 evening dining establishments, most with indoor & outdoor dining. A more pleasant area than Bedford Place and we've eaten well at Bill's and All-Bar-One, altho modern chain restaurants aren't our scene.

About a 15-minute walk from Jury's Inn - cut across East Park and walk down Above Bar Street, there are a few restaurants en-route.

https://goo.gl/maps/6coxsNt1wwS2

 

When we eat in town it's usually past the Bargate and down by the waterfront - La Regata, Ennio's, Gatehouse 1833,  and Dancing Man & Duke of Wellington pubs.  But now we're a good 20 minutes from Jury's Inn. Mebbe walk one way & taxi the other way ?

https://goo.gl/maps/H6cabUEazw72

 

Folk tend not to eat out before about 6.30pm, most places close their kitchens around 9pm.

If it's a saurday (sometimes friday as well) it's best to book popular places, though you're still not short of options if you don't.

There's a growing trend to add a service charge (must by law be noted on menus). If there is, that's plenty. If not, most folk tip up to 10% for good service - tip zilch if service isn't up-to-scratch..

 

JB 

 

 

[marnie2005]

Thank you so much! Really appreciate your reply 😊

[Alaskanb]

TripAdvisor has been helpful for us with Southampton restaurants but like JB we have only eaten closer to the seafront in the older part of Southampton. 

[piemom9397]

Might I ask for recommendations for restaurants around the hotel my DH booked - Room2 Southampton? Plus, any thoughts or feedback on the hotel itself? I’ve read reviews and it seems nice, but I’d be curious as to its location, safety, etc. We will be there the night before our cruise departs Sunday, September 1 of this year. 

 

Many thanks!

[John Bull]

1 hour ago, piemom9397 said:

Might I ask for recommendations for restaurants around the hotel my DH booked - Room2 Southampton? Plus, any thoughts or feedback on the hotel itself? I’ve read reviews and it seems nice, but I’d be curious as to its location, safety, etc. We will be there the night before our cruise departs Sunday, September 1 of this year. 

 

Many thanks!

 

Your hotel is on Queen's Terrace, which overlooks Queen's Park, and the "old docks" main gate is on the opposite side of the park on Platform Road 

Up until just a few years ago Queen's Terrace and Platform Road were part of a gyratory traffic system with Queen's Park a bit of a no-man's-land in the inaccessible middle. Not a great place for a hotel.

But now Platform Road has been widened & re-designed to carry traffic in both directions, and Queen's Terrace is now a blind road - no through traffic. 

 

You're only a five minute walk from the waterside restaurants & pubs (and old-town sights) in my earlier post.

And only a two-minute walk in the other direction to another clutch of restaurants & pubs in Oxford Street.

Opposite the far end of Oxford Street is the Gentling Casino, in what was Southampton terminus station. And next-door to that, in the former South Western Hotel (built by the railway company to serve liner passengers), are "Dock Gate 4" restaurant / club & Grand Cafe, known for its traditional "afternoon teas".

The Bargate (where the old walled part meets the post-war heart), and the West Quay Mall and dining complex are a 10 - 15 min walk. 

 

I don't know the hotel itself, it only opened a year or two ago (probably after the re-design of the roads).

But its location is convenient & safe.

Can I suggest that you ask for a room on Queen's Terrace (quiet blind road overlooking the park) rather than on Orchard Place (a through-road)

 

JB 

  

Edited April 6, 2019 by John Bull

[piemom9397]

JB, you have my gratitude for your thoughtful response and guidance—thank you. Even though it seems like the visit and cruise are so far away (we arrive in London August 27), I am tremendously excited! I cannot wait to visit your lovely country (and cruise the Norwegian fjords, too!)

 

Have a blessed day!

[shippmates]

We are staying at the Holiday Inn on Herbert Walker Rd for 2 nights before our cruise and are looking for good restaurants within walking distance of this hotel.  We would like to dine in a pub at least once.   Thank you for any help you can give.

 

[John Bull]

55 minutes ago, shippmates said:

We are staying at the Holiday Inn on Herbert Walker Rd for 2 nights before our cruise and are looking for good restaurants within walking distance of this hotel.  We would like to dine in a pub at least once.   Thank you for any help you can give.

 

 

Flip back thro' my previous posts for details of .........

 

- Dancing Man pub along Town Quay, a five minute walk. Historic stone building, converted to a pub/micro-brewery a few years ago. Dining on the upper floor.

- alongside the Dancing Man is Bugle Street. 100 yards up Bugle Street is the historic Duke of Wellington pub.

My preference would be Duke of Wellington for dinner, Dancing Man for a drink or lunch.

 

Continue along Town Quay (Hol Inn behind you & Dancing Man on your left)

In a few yards yards. Ennio's (Italian) and La Regata (Spanish) on your left. 

IMHO both are quite expensive but good, La Regata probably better value.

Opposite the Dancing Man are Kuti's (Thai) and Gatehouse 1833 (mainly steaks) both of which are in the Royal Pier, an attractive white domed building constructed 1922. Kuti's occupies the ground floor, Gatehouse 1833 on the first (American second) floor has a large waterfront balcony.

This is an historic part of Southampton, with much of of the city walls and gates and the few historic buildings which survived the WW2 blitz.

 

Or a 10-minute walk from the Hol Inn & behind the Grand Harbour Hotel is a large fairly new leisure complex adjacent a corner of the city wall, in part of the West Quay complex & known locally as the Forty Steps. A long row of restaurants, most with outside as well as inside dining. Mainly national and international chain restaurants.

 

JB 

[Turtles06]

2 hours ago, shippmates said:

We are staying at the Holiday Inn on Herbert Walker Rd for 2 nights before our cruise and are looking for good restaurants within walking distance of this hotel.  We would like to dine in a pub at least once.   Thank you for any help you can give.

 

 

39 minutes ago, John Bull said:

 

My preference would be Duke of Wellington for dinner

 

I second that recommendation for the Duke of Wellington.    Shippmates: if you do decide to have dinner there, I would suggest a reservation.   We hadn't thought to do that the last time we were in Southampton, and they were full for dinner.  Maybe because it was a Friday, I'm not sure.  (John Bull might have a better sense of that.)

[shippmates]

Thank you for the helpful information.

[Tripmaven]

Though far from an expert on this subject, I will give a vote for the Duke of Wellington.    We had dinner on a Saturday evening last year.   The food was good, but the hospitality was terrific.   We did make a reservation and they gave us a very nice table near the bar and fireplace.   We later found out it was a special table for regulars, but everyone said "out of towners" deserved the best.   Very nice people.

[John Bull]

3 hours ago, Turtles06 said:

 

 

I second that recommendation for the Duke of Wellington.    Shippmates: if you do decide to have dinner there, I would suggest a reservation.   We hadn't thought to do that the last time we were in Southampton, and they were full for dinner.  Maybe because it was a Friday, I'm not sure.  (John Bull might have a better sense of that.)

 

Yes, buried somewhere on my first post "If it's a saturday (sometimes friday as well) it's best to book popular places, though you're still not short of options if you don't."

But it's difficult to generalise - even for a friday or saturday - cos some places book-out regularly, some mainly only saturdays, some in the summer, and others only when they've taken a large group booking.  Plus special dates - Valentine's night, Mothering Sunday lunch, NYE, most of December (office/works lunches & dinners) , etc.

If there's a place you're particularly keen to eat then best to pre-book for any day-of-the-week. But Southampton is now over--catered for restaurants so if you don't book, you'll find somewhere decent within walking distance. 

A lot now accept bookings via their websites. Or phone or e-mail. Usually no advance payment or card number or other commitment

 

JB 

 

 

[Pacificlander]

We will be staying at the Double Tree in Brackem Place in August. Are there any good restaurants within walking distance?

[John Bull]

3 hours ago, Pacificlander said:

We will be staying at the Double Tree in Brackem Place in August. Are there any good restaurants within walking distance?

 

I'm afraid the short answer is "no".

 

The DoubleTree (still known by many as the Hilton) is out on the city's northern boundary. Attractive low-rise hotel in pleasant wooded grounds, but a bit remote from facilities like restaurants, pubs & shops.

Nearest that I'm aware of is the Chilworth Arms pub, a 25 minute walk of just over a mile, on the road to North Baddesley. I've not frequented that pub, but it has a decent reputation and menu.

https://www.chilwortharms.co.uk/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gmb

 

To give yourselves a selection of eateries you're best to take a taxi ride about 4.5 miles to the city centre

-  for a broad selection of independent places perhaps the waterfront at Town Quay

-  or for modern international chain restaurants the leisure complex between the city wall & the West Quay Mall, known locally as The Forty Steps.

All as per my earlier posts.

 

There are closer places - the city's northern neighbourhoods, and Eastleigh, Chanders Ford & North Baddesley, but nowhere of great note, no areas with a selection of  restaurants, & all requiring a taxi ride.

Hence best to aim for one of those city centre groupings and browse the premises and menus..

 

Or just one little thought.............. since it's 4.5 miles to the city centre, consider instead the same distance in the opposite direction to our favourite restaurant, Keats, in the Hampshire countryside  at Ampfield, between Romsey and Winchester.  

Italian restaurant, a little more expensive than most but equally good value - excellent menu, friendly service, superb food. And a proprietor (Davirio) who refuses to retire, but now open only wednesdays to saturdays.

Booking advised.

http://www.keatsrestaurant.co.uk/

 

JB 

Edited May 19, 2019 by John Bull

[Pacificlander]

Thank you so much for the quick reply! I wonder if I should change hotels???  Never being in England I wasn't sure what to book and the Hilton is familiar. But since my husband is Italian Keats may be the right choice.  Do you have any recommendations for hotels?

[Pacificlander]

How about the Holiday Inn by the port?

[John Bull]

2 hours ago, Pacificlander said:

Thank you so much for the quick reply! I wonder if I should change hotels???  Never being in England I wasn't sure what to book and the Hilton is familiar. But since my husband is Italian Keats may be the right choice.  Do you have any recommendations for hotels?

 

Both of the Southampton Hiltons are on the city limits  - the other, at the Ageas cricket Bowl, is even less convenient for cruisers.

 

The hotels on this website

https://www.londontoolkit.com/travel/southampton_accommodation.htm

are in the city centre / old-town / waterfront. (see the little map at the foot of the page, which also includes the cruise terminals)

None are similar to that Doubletree - they're all very acceptable, even the budget ones, but most are in rather bland modern hi-rise buildings which just aren't my scene.

Difficult to recommend, I've never stayed at any so I can only comment on location & reputation. 

Holiday Inn (Herbert Walker Ave) overlooks City Cruise Terminal (RCI, Celebrity, NCL & others), so is popular with cruisers, but I don't rate the hotel as highly as Doubletree.

Nearby also Premier Inn West Quay (Britain's most popular budget chain), Leonardo Royal (was Grand Harbour, recent change of ownership), Pig-in-the-Wall (unique boutique) and Ennios.  Again, all popular with cruisers.

Room 2 (new, not on the list) and Southampton Harbour (up-market) are closer to Ocean and QE2 terminals (various Carnival brands incl Cunard & Princess) but none of the hotels on that map is more than a £10 taxi ride from any cruise terminal.

 

There are several Italian restaurants in the city, best-known is Ennio's.

Ennio's is in a converted warehouse on Town Quay - actually noted on that page as a hotel, though it's more an Italian restaurant with rooms above. I've eaten there - good, but I prefer Keats  restaurant.

But if you switch to a hotel within the city centre, Ennio's and dozens of other eateries  are in walking distance, so it doesn't make sense to take a taxi to Keats. I mentioned Keats because it's as close to Doubletree as those city centre restaurants.

 

Decisions, decisions 

 

JB 

 

Edited May 20, 2019 by John Bull

[Pacificlander]

Thanks again John!  I've changed our reservation to the Holiday Inn, close to port and I hope a few good restaurants or pubs!

I figure that staying one night really isn't going to make a big difference and getting to the port the next morning should be much easier from here.  We booked this cruise last minute so my usual months of research has dwindled to weeks.  It is so nice of you to be so helpful and informative!

[John Bull]

7 minutes ago, Pacificlander said:

Thanks again John!  I've changed our reservation to the Holiday Inn, close to port and I hope a few good restaurants or pubs!

I figure that staying one night really isn't going to make a big difference and getting to the port the next morning should be much easier from here.  We booked this cruise last minute so my usual months of research has dwindled to weeks.  It is so nice of you to be so helpful and informative!

 

Crown Princess is scheduled for berth 46 (Ocean cruise terminal). From Holiday Inn (that's Herbert Walker Avenue, not one of the HIX's) it's about 15 minutes level & pleasant walk in fine weather, or a £6 - £7 taxi hop or mebbe a freebie hotel transfer.

If you have a room at the front you can watch your ship sail in - as long as you're awake at about 4.30am 

Doubtless there'll be other CP passengers at the hotel, plus a smattering of Indy passengers (sails out of City cruise terminal behind Hol Inn next day)

You're a five minute walk from Ennio's on Town Quay, or if you prefer a pub dinner the Duke of Wellington in Bugle Street (off Town Quay)

 

JB 

[Pacificlander]

I would really like to experience an English pub so I think the Duke of Wellington may see us on the 28th of August!  A 15 minute walk sounds perfect!  If the weather isn't cooperating we will just call a taxi.  Thank you again for being so helpful.  

[Alaskanb]

14 hours ago, Pacificlander said:

I would really like to experience an English pub so I think the Duke of Wellington may see us on the 28th of August!  A 15 minute walk sounds perfect!  If the weather isn't cooperating we will just call a taxi.  Thank you again for being so helpful.  

We have decided to stay at the Pig-in-the-wall pre-cruise this year. While it is pricey they focus on local produce and in some rooms have super-king (US King) beds. The Duke of Wellington is about a 5 minute walk away --perfect if it is rainy. Will report back in November

 

https://www.thepighotel.com/in-the-wall/

[John Bull]

2 hours ago, Alaskanb said:

The Duke of Wellington is about a 5 minute walk away

 

https://www.thepighotel.com/in-the-wall/

 

That makes you a very slow walker 

Cut thro' the West Gate, right alongside the Pig and  you'll see it in front of you. 

Two minutes - one if it's raining. 

 

JB 

[Alaskanb]

6 minutes ago, John Bull said:

 

That makes you a very slow walker 

Cut thro' the West Gate, right alongside the Pig and  you'll see it in front of you. 

Two minutes - one if it's raining. 

 

JB 

Depends on the day --lousy joints! Glad it is closer than I estimated. 

 

[Turtles06]

2 hours ago, John Bull said:

 

That makes you a very slow walker 

Cut thro' the West Gate, right alongside the Pig and  you'll see it in front of you. 

Two minutes - one if it's raining. 

 

JB 

 

@Alaskanb  as JB says, they are very, very close.   I took the first photo from inside the West Gate, which we'd just walked through after having lunch at the Pig; I took the second looking back at the West Gate. 

 

 

(photos by turtles06)