- home to the Boat Show.
Contributing £990 million to the UK economy through it's Container Port & Cruise Ships. Voted 'Best UK Departure Port' from the 1.5 million passengers that pass through Southampton's Ocean Terminus
And celebrating 50 years of being a city – without a cathedral.
During the chillier months it's good to take the boat out for a short run, fire the engines, flap the sails, but with something hot at the end to make it all worthwhile. I have a soft spot for Southampton, as I spent my formative years down on the Beaulieu River (see April issue of All at Sea) and if you are Solent based it makes a good day trip to take in a movie, do some shopping or stay over and do it all, plus dinner and a light flutter maybe?
I'm thinking steam up to Ocean Village where Picture House's Harbour Lights has a great view over the marina. The staff are fun, the wine list well researched and the pizzas not bad at all. Film quiz once a month on Tuesday nights is great fun and their cakes and cookies go down well with a nice cup of tea.
Harbour Lights, great wine list and you can take it in to the movie
I was working in Southampton when Ocean Village was born, we built the Royal Southampton Yacht Club and the traditional townhouses on the pier. I now look on with admiration and incredulity at the high rise apartments that thrust an 'I told you so' digit skywards. According to the Sunday Times, Southampton boasts one of the best returns in buy-to-let in the country, and Ocean Village is the top earner.
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| Skyscrapers & Solent racing |
Once you’re tied up there are many choices: the afore mentioned Harbour Lights, the waterfront bars of Banana Wharf and Pitcher & Piano – the latter being my favourite; a clean, fun place to watch the sun go down and enjoy happy hour or something more nourishing..
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| Cosy interior of Pitcher and Piano |
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| Lunch deal at Pitcher and Piano |
No 4 Canute Road is my absolute favourite in this area and I would head here for a great coffee (Anvil for those who notice) or perhaps their range of nibbles and drinks before heading off to the cinema; but my top tip is to get up early on a bright morning and do Jane Austen’s walking trail that takes you around the more interesting buildings of old Southampton, then have brunch here at No 4. All you can eat from the buffet, the teen made short work of it and returned…
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| No 4 Canute Road |
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This area is seeing some dramatic building and the area around Queen’s Square some pleasant gentrifying – I approve.
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| Elegant Queen's Square |
The choice of restaurants found along Oxford Street has always been good but my favourites remain The White Star and Simon’s at Oxfords (used to be simply Oxfords)
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| Simon's at Oxfords |
If you stay at Town Quay you have the ever buzzing Margharitas on-site, but can step over the road to Regatta for tapas or to Ennios for one of the best value Sunday roasts cooked by an Italian restaurant – cosy and friendly. Further you have the Pig in the Wall – mentioned in our Southampton Boat Show round-up – just piggy bits here (cold meats & cheeses) and a decent drink from the bar, nice surroundings, quite like the afternoon tea and slice of cake but they have competition with Harbour Lights chocolate and chilli cake and No 4’s fresh pastries ….
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| La Regata – Spanish olé and tapas |
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| Ennios Sunday lunch |
If you want a more sheltered night, then a quieter destination can be found at Shamrock Quay, tucked up the River Itchen, where the Yellow Welly Café and new kid on the block Quay 15 are based. I worked at Shamrock Quay back in the day when Dean & Dyball's development wing was based here and it was an unexpected oasis of productivity in the ugly docklands area that now is home to Saints Stadium.
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| Saints stadium at St Mary’s |
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| Shamrock Quay and Quay 15 |
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| The Waterfront Bar at Shamrock Quay |
Quay 15 is rated No 1 on Trip Adviser, and I know we need to read reviews with intelligence and a pinch of coarsely ground, locally sourced rock salt, but Quay 15 is worth booking. If you can wait for a free Saturday and try their taster menu then you are in for a treat. Some serious young chef’s here that know what they are doing and enjoy working with seasonal, quality produce. Here’s the menu for their next taster menu: http://www.quayfifteen.co.uk/menus/thursday-12th-feb-quay-fifteens-1st-birthday/
Full review will be on the blog later in Spring – as I can’t get in yet either.
hopshikesandbites.blogspot.co.uk
Look out for - New micro brewery opening at the Wool Museum, this fabulous building will open its doors on the 27th Feb so do give it a go and try their home crafted beers, which you may have already tried at the Dancing Man bar, down the road. The building is worth a visit on its own!
Also, if you have time on your hands there is an interesting photo exhibition on at Southampton Solent University showing the City celebrating 50 years since it was awarded City status by the Queen – it took five years for the petition to succeed. Ends 28th Feb
Hike or bike?
More info on http://www.discoversouthampton.co.uk
Bike - Join Route 2 and head on to Portsmouth, but maybe stop at Warsash for refreshment?
http://www.gps-routes.co.uk/routes/home.nsf/RoutesLinksCycle/southampton-to-portsmouth-cycle-route
And if you fancy a brief walk round the Old Town before heading to No 4 for the 'all you can eat' brunch then pick up a leaflet on Jane Austen’s trail or do the Old Town walk
Or the Titanic trail
http://www.discoversouthampton.co.uk/uploads/media_items/titanic-trail-map.original.pdf
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