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Bookshop Alehouse, Southampton

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21 Portswood Road, Southampton, SO17 2ES (View on Google Map)
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Micropub.

Southern Hampshire CAMRA Pub of the Year and Wessex Region runner up for 2018. The former bookshop was converted into a pub in 2016. It comprises of the front room with two wide steps up to the bar area where there are four handpumps serving beers from a range of breweries, as well as four taps serving kegs, and a display fridge stores the 'bag-in-box' ciders. Its relaxing character has been kept; along one wall there is a bookcase full of books and the room has several tables and chairs. No food, but they will be happy for you to collect from the local takeaways, they supply plates and cutlery but not sauces etc. This and the adjoining buildings were built in 1901 and the frontage, restored after war damage, has local listing so it will continue to look like a shop. Once inside a ramp enables full wheelchair access though outside there is a small step to the pavement - a portable ramp for this is available in the bar.

Unfined / Vegan-Friendly beers are clearly marked on the pump clips and blackboard with the letters 'V.F.' to the bottom-right, which is great for assisting customers to ensure that they choose a beer to their liking.

Historic Interest

Locally listed shop front

Information for this venue is provided by the Southern Hampshire Branch of CAMRA
Previous Names
Local Authority
City of Southampton (B)
Last updated
10/03/2025
Last surveyed
15/02/2025
Leasehold owner
unknown
Freehold owner
individual
Pub ID
HAS/00842
Asset of Community Value
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Monday
Closed
Tuesday
3:00pm - 11:00pm
Wednesday
3:00pm - 11:00pm
Thursday
Noon - 11:00pm
Friday
Noon - 11:00pm
Saturday
Noon - 11:00pm
Sunday
Noon - 9:00pm

TasteMatch

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Current beers

This Pub serves 4 changing beers (Ever changing, but normally includes 1 dark beer and 1 session beer.) and 0 regular beers.

Regular and recently seen

Triple fff - Alton's Pride TasteMatch Prediction

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Triple fff - Alton's Pride
Triple fff - Alton's Pride Session Bitter • 3.8% Spotted twice.
Triple fff - Alton's Pride
Triple fff - Alton's Pride

Spotted twice. recently. Last spotted 2 days ago at Bookshop Alehouse, Southampton.

ABV 3.8%
Style Session Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Flower Pots - Cheriton Porter TasteMatch Prediction

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Cheriton Porter
Flower Pots - Cheriton Porter Session Porter • 4.2% Spotted 3 times.
Cheriton Porter
Flower Pots - Cheriton Porter

Spotted 3 times. recently. Last spotted 1 week ago at Bookshop Alehouse, Southampton.

ABV 4.2%
Style Session Porter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Brew York - Tonkoko TasteMatch Prediction

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Brew York - Tonkoko
Brew York - Tonkoko Flavoured Speciality Beers • 4.3% Spotted twice.
Brew York - Tonkoko
Brew York - Tonkoko

Spotted twice. recently. Last spotted 4 days ago at Bookshop Alehouse, Southampton.

ABV 4.3%
Style Flavoured Speciality Beers
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free Yes

New Bristol - Joy of Sesh TasteMatch Prediction

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New Bristol - Joy of Sesh
New Bristol - Joy of Sesh Session Pale Ale • 4.2% Spotted once.
New Bristol - Joy of Sesh
New Bristol - Joy of Sesh

Spotted once. recently. Last spotted 1 week ago at Bookshop Alehouse, Southampton.

ABV 4.2%
Style Session Pale Ale
Colour
Vegan Yes
Gluten Free No

Elusive - Oregon Trail TasteMatch Prediction

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Elusive - Oregon Trail
Elusive - Oregon Trail New World IPA • 5.8% Spotted 7 times.
Elusive - Oregon Trail
Gold Award
Elusive - Oregon Trail

Spotted 7 times. recently. Last spotted 1 week ago at Bookshop Alehouse, Southampton.

ABV 5.8%
Style New World IPA
Colour
Vegan Yes
Gluten Free No

Verdant - Miniature Cymbals TasteMatch Prediction

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Verdant - Miniature Cymbals
Verdant - Miniature Cymbals Session Pale Ale • 3.4% Spotted 10 times.
Verdant - Miniature Cymbals
Verdant - Miniature Cymbals

Spotted 10 times. recently. Last spotted 4 days ago at Bookshop Alehouse, Southampton.

ABV 3.4%
Style Session Pale Ale
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Source: Regional


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Champion Beer Of Britain Award

The Champion Beer of Britain is one of the most prestigious beer competitions in the world. It is the ultimate honour for UK brewers and has helped put many into the national spotlight.

Nominations are now Open

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Judging for the competition takes around a year, starting with individual nominations from CAMRA members and tasting panel nominations, leading to a series of rigorous regional heats adhering to a strict blind tasting policy.


Facilities
Disabled Access Disabled Access
Small external step, but a ramp is available from the bar. Disabled access toilets and ramp to bar area. No disabled access to basement
Dog Friendly Dog Friendly
Very, always water and sometime dog treats
Events Events
Including a quiz on Sundays.
Function Room Function Room
Basement which has 25+ seats. Used for range of functions including CAMRA meetings, book clubs, university societies, poetry evenings and CAMRA meetings
Games Games
A very good selection of board games.
Wi Fi Wi Fi
Features
Cask Ale Cask Ale
Real Cider Real Cider
3 available (bag-in-box)
Quiet Quiet
Transport
Close to bus routes (80m)
Bluestar: 2, 20; Unilink: U6
Nearby Station (680m)
St Denys
Directions
60m north from the Lodge Road traffic lights

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