Jolly Sailor Pub & Restaurant, Southampton in Eastleigh

Great atmosphere and great food. Good pub vibe with log fire. Nice views of the marina. Service was spot on. Choice of food was good. Catered for vegan and gluten free.

Amazing pub, great service and fabulous location. A real gem but food was distinctly average. I was really expecting more, especially for the price.

Had a lovely meal with friends on Monday evening - staff were very welcoming and attentive without being too intense. I struggled to choose from the menu as there was lots of tempting options. We all thoroughly enjoyed our food and all said we'd come back. Would recommend!

Busy, but that's a good sign. Food good staff as we're the staff. Parking is a problem so is accessing the pub.

Lovely location with very good food and service. The climb up the steps is demanding for on oap. The top of the climb requires lighting as there is a step down which one cannot see in the dark. Fortunately a young man flagged this danger for us otherwise I may have stumbled. Whilst not the responsibility of the pub landlord, it is difficult to understand why there is no street lighting along the road until one reaches the path to the station. The road is narrow and with cars parked on one side one has to walk in the middle of the road and run the risk of not being seen soon enough by cars.

A stunning location, and well decorated pub to suit the area. The staff were warm, friendly and accommodating to my family, which including a very challenging 2 year old. We were well looked after and the food was amazing. We ordered the Fish & Chips which did not disappoint! Overall we enjoyed the whole experience.

Staff were friendly and helpful. Great atmosphere The food was really good, good choice for vegetarian and meat eaters alike. Tge wine choice was good too. The portions were good size and very tasty. We will definitely be back again.

Been here multiple times for a drink and some food over the years, but first time this year. Well the service has gone out the window. Having made the mistake previously of not booking I always make sure we book now. Well we (group size of 2) turned up early confirmed the booking and had a drink whilst we waited. 3 groups, 1 of 4 people and another of 2 people came in with the same time slot as us and were seated almost immediately (there was another 2 groups but they were late for there reservations but were sat immediately), then a couple came in with no reservation and was seated immediately as they knew the staff. I then go and speak to the gentleman who told me where to sit and "I'll get you as soon as your table is ready" and ask him about our table. He then asks if we have a reservation again and I confirm it all and point out he had been waiting he replies saying yes you reservation was for 5 minutes ago and takes us to a table which has been unoccupied for over 15minutes as we watched the people leave from where we were sat. Food has gone down hill the chips here used to be an amazing addition to your plate now they are so skinny and oil soaked they make McDonalds chips look like a thick healthier option. Also the size of the beef paties has decreased which is a shame as paying almost £20 for a burger and chips is only ok in my opinion when either the size of the food is large or the quality is high and they have neither now. My wife left all her chips due to them being so oily. The moment we were done eating, I asked for the check. Before the plates had even been taken, most people in the service industry, see this as a flag when the foods left and people want to leave immediately they normally ask if everything was ok at this point. Understandably we were served by three different people so consistency doesn't seem to be Jolly Sailors thing anymore. Finally just a pet peeve to finish off the meal including a service charge in the small font you list items on the receipt then have the bottom half of the receipt taken up by block large font saying the total then tip then the space for total amount after tip is misleading. I know people are happy to tip or pay a service charge normally but not both together when it's almost like your trying to hide one. It's a long review because I'm truly disappointed used to love coming here with my family and my wife. All little things which together warranted the bad review which is a shame.

Really disappointing Sunday roast. Roast beef was over cooked (menu said beef would be pink, it wasn't), not very warm and tough. Left most of it uneaten as too chewy. Hardly any gravy, roast potatoes were not very warm. Vegetables tasted nice but again not very warm.

Bit pricey on food & drink, but a nice comfy pub. Winter is nice when the fires are still lit. Good views outside in summer, if you can get a table. Lovely staff. Parking is at the station & a walk up a short hill. Unless you're selfish & try to park in limited spaces outside it.

Without doubt the Jolly Sailor may be my favourite Pub in the UK. The views are great, service is always top notch and the selection of food is really good. The new zany décor is starting to run against the vibe that it has always had but small issue compared to the above positives.

Wonderful experience. Right from the moment we walked in . Such a charming well run pub

Visited this place before the New Year. Had the black and blue burger and was left a little underwhelmed. Burger was great but seemed to lack in flavour the evening we went. Shame as everything else was perfect. The service was excellent and the site is in an excellent location. Food was good, not bad but was lacking in taste for me. Probably would visit again.

This is the perfect pub, old, cosy, and on the water, love it

Awesome pub on the water’s edge..

Not over whelmed by today's visit.

Had a wonderful Christmas Day lunch at the Jolly Sailor again this year. The staff was so accommodating and cheerful and the food was delicious!

A great welcome and lovely table. Service was excellent as was the food.

We had spent Christmas Day here for lunch. The whole experience was outstanding from the intial booking to the day itself. The staff were great food amazing.Well done to all involved.See you nexr year.Steve and Sharon.

Lovely place. There for my wife’s 50th. Great food and service just parking lets it down and access for people with walking difficulties

Had a great evening last night, great food, delightful staff and superb atmosphere. I been here loads of times but in the last few weeks I’ve been to some similar pubs and none of them came anywhere near to this place, it made me appreciate how good this place is.

Great food friendly staff Chloe our server was excellent she needs a pay rise.

Visited a few weeks ago after being overseas for several years. Very disappointing. Poor service and average food. Neither of the two bar staff knew what a "Scotch & Soda" was. When I pointed to a bottle of Scotch the lady who said she was the manager said "that's not scotch because it quite clearly says whiskey on the bottle". Brilliant! 😂 🤣

Good as usual. The quiet table requested still had loud music, a noisy table of young women and a noisy coffee machine. Apart from that, good. Just a note, the rail down the steps on the left hand side is completely overgrown, so is hopeless for anyone to use. It would offer a better customer experience of this could be rectified.

Great place for a mulled wine 🍷 cosy atmosphere 👌

Bit pricey but stunning food. Friendly staff. Shame they close so early.

Lovely atmosphere, delicious food and warm and friendly service.

Great spot ! Food, service and atmosphere all excellent. (Lots of steps down from the road , doesn't seem to be wheelchair accessible.)

The only reason for one star is the stuff was very rude (particularly the girl by the entrance she’s putting people off) so I was not even able to try the food. I walked in with two kids one four year-old and one nine month. I was told to do wherever so that’s what I’m doing. There is no reason to call you guys. The simple thing is not everybody should work with people After getting to your place With two little kids, passing all the steps leading to it. I was treated like unwanted guest. That’s not the treatment you would expect.

Went here for a meal with my family as went here a few years ago with my friends and the food was great, unfortunately things appear to of taken a uturn.. we ordered 2 steak and ale pies and the crust was rock hard and very little meat inside just a lot of gravy, we also had 2 beef shin which resembled dog food with gravy put on a plate with a couple of carrots on top, probably the worse meal we've had this year and not good value for money. On a plus side my son enjoyed his kids burger but 1 out of 5 is not acceptable when you consider the price not far off 20 pounds each for the adult meals which were nearly unedable. Will not be coming again and will advise my friends to stay well clear. The food used to be great here.. what happened. The atmosphere was great and staff were very friendly and professional. Just the food that ruined our evening.

What a lovely place! Really attractive location overlooking marina, with equally appealing, cosy interior. The food was delicious (except the stake, so it’s not the right place for stake lovers!) and the service was excellent. I will definitely come again when back in Southampton.

First visit for some of us, definitely come again Very young staff. Very nice, very professional..... refreshing..... Fabulous service Fabulous meal... Thank you

Great food and good prices, speedy service with a smile, free mooring on pontoon, would highly recommend

Friendly staff great food and lovely beer

A bit cold, staff a bit miserable and food more than a bit average. Sauces come from jars, portions a bit small etc etc. Come for a drink, enjoy the view and give the food a miss

Iconic pub on the river hamble. Fabulous service and great unpretentious food.

Nice food with a fairly standard menu. Location is what sells the place.

Lovely pub by the water, quirky decor, decent menu and tasty food. Dog friendly too which is always nice.

Excellent spot for food, drinks and the view. Definitely worth checking out!

Was recommended and it didn’t disappoint! Amazing views accompanied by great food and back by brilliant service… will be adding and recommending highly myself to all. 👌🏻

Fantastic little spot, managed to get seats out on the decking with a stunning view of the marina. Food was really good, will definitely come back

A lovely location and really friendly staff, but the Sunday roast chicken lunch was disappointing, considering they are charging London prices. At the end of the meal the Waitress asked if all was OK, but clearly as one plate was hardly touched, all was not OK. Free drinks, a small discount on the bill or a free desert would have made up for it (expected from somewhere with these prices), but what we got was a "thank you for the feedback". Had the main been better we would have had a dessert. I think we would go again, as it's a great location, but I wouldn't recommend the chicken roast lunch. UPDATE: a great response to my comment, thank you!

First time I've been there for 10 years; excellent sums it up. Food really good, atmosphere friendly and staff helpful and attentive, Views not bad either!

We went as a family of 3 for my partner's birthday. Firstly, an absolutely stunning location over looking the river and boats. Our daughter loved the view! The food was fantastic. Superb service. The only reason I voted 4 star on atmosphere was it was a midweek lunch and quiet (which we didn't mind with an active 2 year old. Plus service was extra fast!)

Always a good experience. Quality food at reasonable prices with great setvice. Lovely location to view the river from whilst you relax but not always easy to park so get there early in case you have to walk up from the station.

Over priced and the selection didn't impress.

Stopped off here for a quick lunch and it was lovely. We had a nice table overlooking the river. The lunch menu was varied with some good options. The staff were welcoming and the atmosphere was pleasant. Would definitely recommend a visit. Only downside, parking is very limited.

Went there on a Monday evening. It is divided into two parts. An area with tables and dartboard. Another area where we sat with just tables. Waited 15 minutes with three staff members seeing us sitting there but no service. We left.

This place was highly recommended by our friends, whom we hadn't seen in years. They live locally, so we made a reservation on the same day and had a lovely catch-up over delicious food and a few bottles of wine. This is a great pub but a bit difficult to find if you did know the area. Parking is limited to on-street spots towards the end of narrow lanes. Alternatively, you can park at Bursledon Station car park (free) or arrive by boat. From the street, head down a long outdoor staircase, turn left, go down more stairs, and enter the pub. All this effort is definitely worth it. There are several large rooms with views of the River Hamble, as well as outdoor seating unfortunately a bit cold and wet for that today. The menu is slightly upscale but not overly expensive. There was a variety of beer on offer, as well as a long list of fancy cocktails. The servers were friendly, efficient, and attentive. Can't wait for a return visit especially for Sunday lunch

Beautiful location, a 'steep' climb with a special descent to get there, but really worth it

The location is fantastic, right on the river Hamble. The menu is not so big but it is a very good menu. The food was excellent. The service was very good except the waitress asked if we wanted to see the dessert menu and then never came back with it. I'm sure she was just very busy and it slipped her mind. I'm a person that likes to pay cash. I was only told it was card only when I was about to pay. Maybe this could be mentioned at the time of booking. Still 9/10 though

Absolute gem of a pub, we turned up on a bank holiday Monday - breakfast wasn’t on as it’s a weekend thing, but they kindly served us off menu anyway! Staff are lovely, super friendly. It’s actually the pub featured in 80s hit BBC yacht drama Howard’s Way - so anyone who vaguely remembers that will enjoy the nostalgia - will definitely go back when in the location

The Jolly Sailor has always been a summer time pub for me and I have to admit due to it's popularity I have avoided it for years. A Saturday afternoon in the sun, a good ale and the menu was a draw for us to recapture our youth. The pub was heaving with customers but a table was found quickly by the polite and courteous front of house staff member, the menu was good for pub grub and of course there is a good selection to drink. The waiting staff were as to be expected friendly and attentive, food and drink ordered then the wait which was average for our meals. One of us ordered fish and chips and the Eton Mess and I ordered just Caesar salad. I have to admit a pub that can serve a good Caesar salad is a sign of a good chef and their team. Many are rather bland and unappealing but the chef prepared the best Caesar Salad I have had in a long while. Mountains of crisp lettuce, chicken, croutons, anchovies, bacon, cheese and just the right amount of dressing with black pepper evenly distributed throughout made the humble Caesar salad a feast of pure pleasure. I have to award the chef and his team a gold star for creating this delight. I would like to praise all the staff at the Jolly Sailor for making our visit a pleasurable one and you are all a credit to this establishment. Thank you.

Lovely location. particularly when the sun is shining. Helpful friendly staff, good food and wide range of wines available. Will return

Generous portion of fish. Added scraps without asking! Attentive service and comfy decor.

lovely views of the harbour, but the sunday roast was cold, and you could tell it had been sitting around since lunchtime. (as we arrived we heard another customer sending back theirs because it was also cold.) we were there at 4pm so i dont think its too much to ask to have some fresh roast potatoes. 2 stars because the pudding was very nice.

Very nice, excalant staff, pleasent atmosphere food if a very high standard, will defiantly go again

Good pub, but busy at weekend with yacht and paddle people 😂

Love this please, view, staff and pub is amazing ❤️

Lovely pub, good selection of local beers, great food and service. Smashing views over the marina.

Great location, good service, but quality of the food is average at best.

Had a lovely Sunday roast sat on the pontoon on a beautiful sunny day. Table service was attentive without being overbearing and the food was of a good standard. It was busy though so I would advise booking to avoid disappointment

Lovely leisurely lunch outside over the water (with shade on a hot sunny day) with plenty of menu options. Excellent, attentive service.

Busy, but we didn't have to shout at each other, and it's a great location.

Amazing riverside pub best reached by water taxi and there is scarce parking and the neighbouring inhabitants really dislike car based visitors to the village. Food fantastic, great service.

Lovely restaurant, a hidden gem which is a must visit. Views are breathtaking.

Always a beautiful view of the harbour from the Jolly Sailor, food and drink was great, service can be a little slow at busy times

To celebrate our anniversary we chose well, beautiful pub with river view, awesome staff and really delicious food

Kind staff, lovely atmosphere but terrible roast. Dry, tough and generally pretty flavourless. For the price, I was really disappointed.

Refusal to give information about ingredients as my intolerances are not covered by law. I've never had a restaurant refuse to ask the kitchen staff on my behalf before about ingredients. Fab waitress but this couldn't make up for the fact I didn't have the info I needed to ensure I wouldn't become ill after eating there. Won't return.

This is a very quaint and charming semi rural pub restaurant that is set in a great waterside location right next to the Hamble River and which offers great views of the bustling Swanwick Marina. Moreover, this waterside location with its jetty, means that it is just as easy to get there by boat as it is by car. Incidentally I have been there a few times very recently and the cappuccinos/lattes that I had there have always been very rich and creamy. In addition, the staff are always very friendly and welcoming as well.

Jolly sailor was an incredible location with superb service from Jade. She was kind, polite and quite perceptive.

Fabulous location, enhanced by great food & great service.....& Dog friendly. Highly recommended

Nice setting, but very disappointed with the "Moules" .. 2 x covers, both were served almost cold. The accompanying wine & garlic sauce was very gritty. There were more empty shells with the contents at the bottom of the bowl (certainly not freshly cooked) I had to ask for a finger bowl! For £17.95, I was very disappointed.

Not a single bad word against this place or the staff what a gem to find, we paddle boarded out on the river and came across it. They had a mooring point and somewhere to store the boards! Proceeded to enjoy a beverage and the views !

Excellent, riverside pub with extensive menu and beer selection It's the best pub on the Hamble

Excellent spot with great views

Lovely visit sitting by the water watching the water world go by

Tide was in , just needed a bit more sun.

This is a really quaint little pub with fab decor and lovely staff. I wasdisappointed with the gravy on my roast dinner and dessert would've benefited with a scoop of ice cream for the price you're paying for it. That is reflected in the one star drop. Would come back as it was a lovely place but probably not for a Sunday roast.

We had a great meal at The Jolly Sailor. The food was excellent, the service good and they have a wide selection of beers and wines.

Kayaked to the jolly sailor in 30° heat. Was served by a rude girl at the bar who wouldn't tell us our table number. After she made me walk back outside to check we then ordered our food and drink only to be told they do not accept the legal tender of the uk, CASH!!! what a joke do not accept uk sterling. Unfortunately we had did not have a card with us and had to kayak away thirsty and hungry.

Loved the views and general ambience. Good choices for people in our party who are vegan. All enjoyed our food and the Helles lager which we tried for first time. Attentive and friendly staff.

The service was fantastic though the food is rather mediocre for high end pub food prices. The main meal of mussels were in my view not fresh & straight out of a vacuum pack & my burger was pretty unremarkable too whilst the "warm apple pie" was more of an underwhelming cold spongy flan thing. The table next to us had fish & chips & the fish looked rather dry & most probably frozen rather than fresh, a fish finger sandwich with what looked like bread crumbed fish fingers straight out of the freezer (& perhaps they were/), the pork belly dish looked the best, the steak once again looked nothing greatly special for what you pay. Oh, & £11.50 for a glass of Pino in a pub really? It's been a few years since our previous visit & definitely noted a significant decline in the standard of food served & the lack of fresh ingredients used to make it. Fantastic staff & service I have to say.

So pleased to have found this treasure of a place! Quite an idyllic setting, right on the waterfront awash with 1000 boat masts! Small but excellent menu and good quality. The outside area is an all-weather 'greenhouse' setting with 360° views. The sun was shining so they opened the roof! Pork belly was delicious! Cooked to perfection.

Nice place to eat and have a pint

Food a little disappointing 😞 Falafel starter not too bad. Had the plant burger for main, worst I'd ever tasted 😫. Other half had chicken terrine which they said was OK. Expensive food for quality I thought.

First visit as was recommended. Parking is a challenge but after that everything else is great. We were sat on the pontoon which is great for watching what is happening on the river. Great menu and gluten free options too.

Beautiful historic place, which oozes lots of charm and with the possibility of a view over the water. Definitely worth a visit for anyone in the area.

Very enjoyable celebration at perfect location by river and staff really pleasant and welcoming. Like the menu selection and sure to return.

Went here with friends for lunch. The food is OK but in my opinion overpriced. We only had the sandwiches and a drink each and the bill for 4 of us was over £90. Also they add a service charge of 10% which they don't mention. Very bad policy as far as I'm concerned. The steps down to the place are a nightmare for us pensioners. However we did survive!

Very poor fish n chips. Awful fillet badly cooked. Chips were fine. Grim.

Good service and food and fantastic location, quite the trick to finding this place but we'll worth it, a lovely spot

I went to the Jolly Sailor with a friend for lunch following a walk near the river. Everything was superb: the menu, the food and the service. There are plenty of nice places to sit outside, most with a view of the Hamble. Our seats were the best: at the end of the enclosure on the pier. I highly recommend this place. Note: there are a few steps to get down to the pub from the road (there's probably a better, more accessible way, too - best to check with the pub if that might e an issue).

Few drinks during the football, good atmosphere and great views

I love this place, from location to friendly service. Great views and plenty of room to sit outside to enjoy them. The free parking is a bonus in the Bursledon station carpark with a hidden little pathway straight up to the pub.

With the walk, Table over the river Excellent service along with knowledge of menu from our server.. Food was amazing, apart from the lamb that unfortunately was very tough,needed a streak knife to try to cut it... Were very professional when me mentioned it, and happy with there response..over all would really recommend Good price, fresh and good well... One last thing, cheese board is very disappointing in presentation and selection, ( no butter or chutney etc)

Never got a chance to sample the food or drink as was told they dont accept cash. Just lost six customers .Pity as it looks so nice

One of the best pubs I've been to for food and atmosphere. Standing at the edge of the water, it is a magical secluded place for both indoors and outdoors pub dining. Food is delicious, staff lovely, and in June you can get a nice sunset to enjoy from the pontoon. Lovely place I recommend. Fish n chips was really good!

The location is beautiful, tucked away down by the river, so the ambience and views are spot on. I accept that this is a 'chain' pub, but was underwhelmed by the over+priced food. You can eat far better elsewhere, but, you could just overlook that to sit by the river in the sunshine and watch the world go by.