King Canute, Southampton

The pub closed as Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis in June 2023 and reopened as King Canute September 2023. The following description dates from before this time.

Built c.1870 as Ferry House (shipping offices, not a pub!) in the heart of Southampton's docklands, the building achieved Grade II Listed status in 1989 and was shortly after converted to a pub - the Cork & Bottle. Wetherspoon took it on in September 2007 and named it after Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis who laid the foundation stone for Southampton's first modern dock 12th October 1838. Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis was later appointed Admiral of the Fleet. Ferry House was built later, overlooking the since filled in Inner Dock. Wetherspoon disposed of the pub in June 2023 and it reopened as 'King Canute' September 2023.

The main room is high ceilinged with a couple of sturdy pillars in the middle and raised areas either end; the bar itself, with 10 hand-pumps, takes up the whole west side between these two platforms. The entrance corridor is substantial enough to accommodate tables and seating and off this is a another 'land-locked' room with some alcove seating. Decoration has been done in period style including designer ceiling paper. Pictures on the walls celebrate Southampton's shipping past.

Arguably, the side of the pub that used to face the Inner Dock (now car parking) could be taken as the front of the building, but in our notes we refer to this as the back and the side fronting Canute Road as the front.