The Dirty Barrel
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About The Dirty Barrel
The Dirty Barrel is a pub and restaurant on Bedford Place in Southampton, with a kitchen added in a converted rear seating area that lets it run food alongside the bar. The drinks list covers craft and cask ales, porters, ciders and gin, with ales and ciders drawn from breweries between Germany and Totness, and the staff steer choices by flavour profile and strength. Food runs from toasted ciabatta burgers and sauced wings to fries, fried mushrooms and other deep-fried plates, with vegan options on the menu and a Thursday deal of two portions of wings for the price of one. Picnic bench seating sits outside with table service, board games fill out the casual room, and dogs are welcome inside. A weekly quiz and run events bring regulars through the door, and a nearby pizza place delivers into the pub at a discount. Walk-ins set the pace.
Good to know
- ParkingPaid street parking
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance
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Menu & Prices
30 dishes · mains £5–11- BELLY£6.90
- STRINGS£4.90
- BUFFALO WINGS£5.90
- SQUID£6.90
- STEAK£8.50
- MAC£6.50
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention craft beer selection, thursday wings deal, fries and fried mushrooms.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention craft beer selection, thursday wings deal, fries and fried mushrooms.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers come mainly for the craft beer selection, which several call wide and eclectic, with ales, porters, ciders and even gin on offer, and one singles out a Tiny Rebel NEIPA as a fabulous pint. The food runs close behind, since the former rear seating was turned into a proper kitchen. Diners praise a toasted ciabatta burger called a hobie, the fries, the fried mushrooms and the wings with spicy sauces, and one mentions vegan options. A Thursday deal of two portions of wings for the price of one with a side of fries is a regular draw for one regular. Staff get repeated credit for banter and for recommending beers by taste, whether malty, citrus or hoppy. Others mention board games, a quiz, picnic benches outside with table service, and a nearby pizza place that delivers to the pub with a discount. A few note the welcoming, informal feel and the skateboard iconography inside. No complaints appear, and one reviewer who says they spend about as much time here as at home sums up the local feel.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers come mainly for the craft beer selection, which several call wide and eclectic, with ales, porters, ciders and even gin on offer, and one singles out a Tiny Rebel NEIPA as a fabulous pint. The food runs close behind, since the former rear seating was turned into a proper kitchen. Diners praise a toasted ciabatta burger called a hobie, the fries, the fried mushrooms and the wings with spicy sauces, and one mentions vegan options. A Thursday deal of two portions of wings for the price of one with a side of fries is a regular draw for one regular. Staff get repeated credit for banter and for recommending beers by taste, whether malty, citrus or hoppy. Others mention board games, a quiz, picnic benches outside with table service, and a nearby pizza place that delivers to the pub with a discount. A few note the welcoming, informal feel and the skateboard iconography inside. No complaints appear, and one reviewer who says they spend about as much time here as at home sums up the local feel.
Featured reviews
- Kev Conroy
“UPDATED FOR dirty barrel They basically converted their unloved rear seating into a proper kitchen and now do EXCELLENT FOOD. Beer selection is still wide and eclectic, from Germany to Totness and even some Flower Pots. Their knowledge is first rate - like it malty? Citrus? Hoppy? Session or Caution? They can recommend. But the food. The Food is really great. I had a hobie(?) which is toasted ciabatta but soft meets dirty burger, oozing with flavour. My new go-to beer nosh! The fries are out of this world good too. The wings are tasty and the sauces bang on. Honestly, the food offer is worth the visit on its own, and not too pricey. Writing this makes me wish I was there today! A must visit Friendly with a great range of ales, porters, ciders, even gin. Love being able to sit on the picnic benches outside and have table service complete with a chat about the drinks on offer. Great pizza place a few doors down complete with a discount if you order from there, delivered to the pub, so beer and pizza - what’s not to like? Inside is welcoming, informal with some neat skateboard iconography. I’d recommend the Tiny Rebel 505 NEIPA which is a fabulous pint - if it’s on when you go, have and have a pint - or maybe just the half 💪”
- Chloe Cruse
“Great local watering hole with amazing food, drink options and the staff are amazing.”
- Arjun Nair
“Great board games and really nice craft beer choices. Definitely my favourite craft beer place in Southampton”
- Duncan Power
“Great little craft beer bar, lovely local feel with a good selection of craft beers. The food is very good too, a selection of deep fried items with spicy sauces.”
- Mark Middleton
“A little gem of of a place, great choice of craft beers and amazing food.”
Highlights
- Bar games
- Great beer selection
- Live music
- Live performances
Amenities
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Paid street parking
- Outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed
- Dine-in
- Bar games
Show more amenities
- Cozy
- Onsite services
- Beer
- Dancing
- Food
- Free water refills
- Offerings· 3
- Alcohol
- Hard liquor
- Wine
- Dining options· 1
- Seating
- Highlights· 3
- Great beer selection
- Live music
- Live performances
- Crowd· 1
- Groups
- Facilities· 2
- Gender-neutral restroom
- Restroom
- Atmosphere· 2
- Casual
- Trendy
Location
Bars near The Dirty Barrel
- The Cricketers4.57790.1 mi£10–20ReservationsWheelchair accessibleOutdoor seating
sunday roast, live music, vegan nachos
- 0.1 mi£20–30ReservationsOutdoor seating
bottomless brunch, weak cocktail jugs, pizza
- O'neill's Southampton4.53,3070.4 miWheelchair accessible
craft ale on tap, air conditioned venue
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Dirty BarrelWheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.8399 | — | £10–20 | craft beer selection, thursday wings deal, fries |
| The CricketersReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.5779 | 0.1 mi | £10–20 | sunday roast, live music, vegan nachos |
| Funky Flamingo Southampton - Lounge & Roof GardenReservations · Outdoor seating | 4.93,815 | 0.1 mi | £20–30 | bottomless brunch, weak cocktail jugs, pizza |
| O'neill's SouthamptonWheelchair accessible | 4.53,307 | 0.4 mi | — | craft ale on tap, air conditioned venue |
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