Leaving night-time Southampton for quirky residential Southampton takes me past a mere 127 takeaways, and the famous “Portsmouth Child Turned To Stone” exhibit,
arriving at the Bookshop Alehouse just in time to claim a seat (a bit of a rarity for a micro on a Friday).
As per usual, I walked past it twice, mistaking it for a bookshop for some reason.
Well, I could have been in Beerwolf Books in Falmouth, albeit a version with less students.
“You’ll want a photo of these as well“, said young bar bloke, pointing at the beer board. And he was right, I know you can’t wait to scream “How much !” or “How strong !” depending on your particular prejudices.
I must have asked for a recommendation, and I know I said “Oh yes, I love murky beers, me“, which is just as well.
Actually, I do like these fruity, hazy beers like this Tapstone example and pretty much anything in Bristol’s King Street. It worked for me (NBSS 4), enhanced by that classic Flowers beer mat.
Other folk seemed content to drink halves of clear looking pale beer. Ugghh.
The actual books (a quirky selection) will win the retiredmartin award for “Best Reading Matter” anyway. How I resisted the Roundabouts classic, I’ll never know.
Lots of weird banter about hats and hat stands from a goodly mix of Portwood folk.
Loved it, Simon will too. Perhaps he’ll understand the mysterious message at the bottom of this sinister pump clip…
retiredmartin 
Pets need clean ears too?
Either way, glad I’m not a pet owner…
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Oh, is it clean ears ? That makes sense then. I think.
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Top post!!!! Those beards are old school non-hipster, which is always a good sign…Flowers beermats are impressive…has it actually served a pint?
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I made quite a few notes and took some photos I can’t use, unfortunately ! Very old-school, lovely feel. Flowers not seen by me for a decade or more !
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Looks tremendous
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Do you find there’s a fine line between really liking a place and really not ?
Did a micro today where I felt owner disinterested, locals on long tables resented me perching on the end and no banter. But if I’d had a welcome or kindly word I might have warmed to it.
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Yes couldn’t agree more…those fine details where someone actually cares enough to make you welcome always colour my view positively
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Always a good welcome in TBA. If I lived around the corner it would probably be my local, but I don’t.
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I thought tba stood for “Totton Bookswappers Army” till I just realised.
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Ginger+Chilli Cider, not bloody likely, great micro though.
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Oh go on, it’s craft cider.
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Ah memories of the Hemel roundabout.. Did my minibus driving test on that one.
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By choice ?
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All for the joy of taking scouts on summer camps.
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Good man.
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If responsible bloggers stopped drawing distinctions, pointing out, or otherwise highlighting so called ‘murky’ beers, then they would become accepted much quicker by the proletariat who can’t tell the difference between a pint of (insert beer brand as appropriate) made in Wolverhampton with one made where it originated.
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Where would be the fun in that Richard ?
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Thought you were in the provisional wing of pub bloggers.a
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I’m pro-murk, me (if it tastes nice). I’m anti tasters, jam jars, people with “preferred beer styles”, “authenticity” and the like.
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It’s not FUN. It’s SERIOUS!
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Martin – as world cup fever grips the nation I offer you an interesting stat to lob into conversation should you find yourself in another micro with uncommunicative locals.
Harry Kane,who has only played in a single world cup game has already scored more goals than Wayne Rooney who played in 11 over three world cups.
You’ll thank me.
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Wayne Rooney ? Never heard of him.
Sadly, the days of hearing locals saying ” ‘arry Kane, ‘ees no good” seem long past.
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Did they run out of paint for the window slogan before they could add “customers” after “Antiquarian”?
Perhaps you could start a business as an itinerant pet ear cleaner? All the necessary supplies would fit nicely on the trailer behind your mobility scooter. It would make a nice change from pop up hipster barber/beard stylists.
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“Pet ear cleaner and cereal bowl embroiderer” – go for the niche markets.
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Bespoke mobility scooter pimper?
Wouldn’t Ace Face be about the right age for a proper scooter now?
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Your Hampshire reflects the glories of Pompey and the improving beer scene in Southampton. Impressive hops between Prestonpans and Leeds in the space of a week or so too. Very professional!
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It’s a great micro that one – Portswood is slowly reinventing itself as part of Southampton University-land..
…not too many students in by the looks of it (couple of lecturers maybe)…
…I think I remember seeing that Roundabout book too – must have been a best seller and probably a collector’s item now…
…there are a few of those ‘statue children’ on footpaths outside school gates in Southampton – I assume to frighten motorists into slowing down… (somebody will know the proper story)…
Congratulations on the glass full of craft murk by the way…
As chief Leonburger ear cleaner in our house – I thought you mike like to know how it’s done (with photos)…
…then again perhaps not…
😉
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I remember the story about the statue children now. Surely not in Pompey kit though !
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It’s a mystery…perhaps that makes them more frightening – though I’m not an expert on football matters…
😉
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Not so much “to frighten motorists into slowing down” as to remind pupils arriving that they are to be seen and not heard while on school premises.
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If you didn’t have a photo to prove it, I’d have honestly thought “Roundabouts of Great Britain” was a joke title you’d invented!
Is there really a brewery called “Tutts Clump”??
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I think it makes cider ! A cidery ?
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“and the famous “Portsmouth Child Turned To Stone” exhibit,”
You sure that’s not from an episode of Torchwood?
“Bikes replacing mobility scooters”
So, more upscale then?
“Craft innit ?”
So why does the 8% Tiki go for 7 quid while the 7% Yarlington Mill is over 30% cheaper?
“How I resisted the Roundabouts classic, I’ll never know.”
That would have been my choice but I find it a bit ironic the book next to it titled “Lesser Spotted Britain” has a sign for “Happy Bottom”. 😉
“Pets need cleaners too… ?!”
No, “clean ears”. Evidently one is supposed to take their used Q-tip and apply it to their cat and/or dog. (doubt it would work on goldfish).
Cheers
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I prefer pet cleaners. Mini vacuum cleaners and dusters.
Don’t question craft pricing, Russ.
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