Southampton Arms Pub – A to Z of Things to do & Places to Visit in London

London’s best pub… I have heard those words uttered numerous times from various sources. A friend was harping on about a pub that he said was the best, but the whole place smelled like a fucking toilet and the bar tender was a fucking idiot? He is a comedian in his spare time! The Southampton Arms Ale and Cider House located at 139 Highgate Road is most definitely a contender for the title of best pub in London.

I had just finished a wee wander around Hampstead Heath on New Year’s eve when I took a wrong turning looking for Gospel Oak station and inadvertently stumbled upon the Southampton Arms. I couldn’t resist not going in… I instantly felt right at home, in what was my kinda bar. They have 18 handpulls featuring an ever changing selection of ale and cider from independent breweries.

On Sunday afternoon after enjoying another walk around a snow covered Hampstead Heath I headed back to Highgate Road and the Southampton Arms just to make sure I wasn’t dreaming during my last visit. It looked the same from the outside… which was good sign! As soon as I pushed the door open and walked inside, it was busy and the atmosphere instantly felt good… which was exactly the same as on my last visit.

Even though bar was busy. The bar staff who are all real gems, friendly and knowledgeable don’t fuck around. They know who is next in the queue, even thought the whole bar counter was full of people standing drinking or waiting to be served! Within 5 minutes I had real pint jug, full of Avalanche cask ale from bonny Scotland – a golden coloured, deliciously tasting fruity and very smooth beer. The only negative aspect of my visit was when the cask of Avalanche ran oot! I was going to have third pint… at least it was a fellow Scot who got the last pint!

It may have been cold outside but the roaring real coal fire made sure the pub was nice and warm. The décor is kinda war time 1940′s. The old vinyl records playing on the record player in the corner, the old pictures on the walls and the white tiles on the wall behind the bar just adds to the atmosphere. And oh they only accept cash! I heard a guy whine on about the outside toilets to his partner, who said you should have peed quicker…yes indeed!

The Southampton Arms are renowned for their bar snacks. The hot roasted pork baps were a big seller and I could see and smell why! Once I managed to procure a seat at the bar I ordered up hearty slab of pork pie and pickle for a mere 3 quid. And it was tasty, very tasty. I can assure you that the so called cool and trendy bars of London would be charging you double for the same pie!

Pubs are seemingly dying out in London. I have been in enough half empty pubs and see plenty of boarded up old school bars every day in London. Yet a simple old school, no frill’s pub like the Southampton Arms is constantly packed out the door… I wonder why that is? I would like to add they have only been open for a couple of years in its present form! It was seemingly a real dive before!

A combination of factors make the Southampton Arms a great pub… the range of quality well kept real cask ales which are constantly changing, the old school décor, the infectious and friendly atmosphere, decent bar snacks, great bar staff and value for money. It cost me £3.10 for the pint of Avalanche… need I say more! Those big pub chains and breweries deserve to die out, they are all about making money…they just don’t get it! Pubs like the Southampton Arms are the future…

P = Pub, the Southampton Arms. For more from the A to Z of Things to do & Places to Visit in London

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