The Black Boy Pub in Winchester

Without doubt, the strangest pub we have ever visited. On every visit there is something else to see. You can't stop looking around the place with stuffed animals popping up in the strangest places and the most bizarre collection of random items in every possible space available. When the fire is on it is a great place to sit and have a drink although when it's not on it felt a little less welcoming. I can imagine the outside terrace would be great fun in the summer. However, not really a great choice of beers.

Attended a quiz night, great fun! Great service! Apparently the quiz night is held on the first Tuesday of each month. Will go again.

The best experience in Winchester, we are from Chile and we hope return soon. Thanks a lot for all today, my father is good now 🫶

Disappointing experience as its such a Quirky Pub but the price of the real ale at £6 a pint for a 3.8% ale and no food on a Tuesday lunch time, there are plenty of other pubs in Winchester

If you like quirky, interesting pubs full of oddities look no further! Well kept beers in this free house. On my Sunday evening visit it was very quiet but glad I found it.

Having been given very short shrift by another Winchester pub, our group of retired friends received yet another open welcome from the Black Boy. A weekday afternoon in December is maybe not the busiest time, but we had ample space to enjoy a relaxing drink or several, in very convivial surroundings. The bar staff were efficient and friendly, the beer (whilst maybe considered at the upper end of reasonable expense), well kept and served. We have called in the Black Boy for the last 15 years, as part of a Winchester winter 'tour'. It never fails to disappoint, for all of the positive reasons from other reviewers, and will become a focal point for our 2024 visit.

Fantastical pub full of quirky curiosities, great service from the bar staff and general Lou wonderful atmosphere. Super cool, loved it.

My husband and I stayed at the Black Hole, next door and we LOVED this pub! The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming. The eclectic mix of "stuff" in the pub is interesting and fun. Service was super as well. I had shandy's and my husband had a bitter then a cider. We sat here for over an hour, just taking in the atmosphere. We fully recommend trying this pub out...they serve food outside in the garden on certain days but we did not try the food...had already eaten dinner earlier. Lots of seating and easily accessible toilets.

It’s really improved! Came here with friends, and although the soft drinks were expensive, the staff were absolutely fantastic, the barman even helped me to my table with some drinks. That definitely makes a difference, as the last time my we were there my wife thought the barmaid was truly rude and pretentious.

You will be hard pressed to discover such all round great pub as the Black Boy. A great selection of expertly kept ales, newspapers, open fires, comfy tables inside and out provides gorgeous relaxation in a wonderfully decorated setting. A gem.

Popped in today for a lunchtime drink. Very friendly, excellent beer and throughly enjoyable experience in these times of COVID. Well done to all. We will be back.

This is unquestionably a great pub. The pub has some COVID measures in place, like a good one way system and lots of hand sanitizer around. However, I’m pretty sure it’s breaking the law! As people can just queue and get served at the bar like before COVID and it didn’t feel very safe with people all near each other waiting to be served! There was no table service which every other pub has to do by law! The staff are friendly, however maybe some glass handling training should be offered, as I received my drinks whilst the bar servers hands were over the top of the glass on a few occasions. Other than that, is a great place.

Great pub. Too much to see! Will definitely be coming back....Welcoming fire and friendly staff. Look out for the eyes

Funny (check the toilets "eyes"), super cosy and nice atmosphere on a Saturday eve, staff are quick to serve and friendly also. Great fun place to go with friends, good local beer variety.

Lovely staff, interesting pub to have a walk around in. Lots of things to look at. Wasn’t doing food due to COVID but we popped in a few times whilst staying in the area for a few pints. One way system well thought out for social distancing. Their hand sanitizers labelled COVID killer gave us a laugh. Good place to go to with a dog, or if you just love dogs in general

Horrible food, cold and obviously came from frozen. Do not recommend this place and you should change the name of this place as its racially insensitive

Nipped into this pub on a recommendation for a quick drink in the day time whilst visiting winchester. Such an awesome quirky bar. The owners are very friendly and we are now back in the eve for a drink.

£3.80 for a pint of coke, seriously!!! Thanks for the one time rip off as I won’t ever be going back and so won’t any of my friends. Trying to support local pubs on reopening and they blatantly ripping you off. Good luck with that strategy.

Usually best Sunday lunch in Winchester by far for both quantity, quality and price. New chef apparently, prices up, and no chicken on menu. Definitely not up to previous standards and nut roast was just a solid slab. Nothing stays forever, but I felt underwhelmed and will sadly not be returning for lunch. Beer and ambiance remain, so still the best pub in Winchester for a pint, but will not be eating there. Personally, very disappointed.

I’m no pub connoisseur, but the Black Boy so fits the bill that the place seems almost archetypical. It’s most definitely cozy and funky inside, filled with lots of natives swilling their local brews. The hostess suggested I try the fish fingers sandwich — calling it a “classic English dish — and so I did, and it was fried fish sticks tucked in between white bread slices and slathered with tartar sauce ... and it was delicious. Absolutely so. The local lager was nice and bitter, and I just sat in this place for some time enjoying the warmth and purely English ambiance. Recommended.

Really enjoyed our visit to this pub on our pub crawl in Winchester. Very interesting. Great beer great service.

Sat by the op e fire and enjoyed a couple of gins while the storms raged outside. Friendly staff, ambience wonderful within an old very quirky pub with families and dogs around. Much more than your average chain and well worth the visit to see the interior of collections.

Glad to see it continues to excel in what makes a great pub: range of well-kept beers, filling snacks & bar food, obliging staff & quirky ambiance. Go & see for yourself!

What a fascinating venue...you MUST just walk around before you sit down! There’s so much quirky stuff all over the place!Light lunch of sandwiches, with the choice of soup or chips, was delivered with a smile and tasted really good. Drinks are various and a-plenty.

Visited here for drinks with friends. The pub is quite vast and has "a lot going on" in terms of decor. There are all sorts of artefacts and taxidermy. Atmosphere is second to none and the real ales on offer are superb. Even the walk to the pub from the city centre is picturesque and beautiful. Certainly this is not a pub to miss if you are exploring Winchester.

Great family pub full of interesting items and activities for all ages. We met our school friends here for a pre meal drink in the black rat. Had a fun time and the staff coped very well as a lot of people were off sick. Good value food.

Fascinating pub. Good beers, all from local breweries and a relaxed atmosphere in a rambling building, with many seating areas surrounded by an eclectic collection of bits, bobs and dead animals. I don't know whose job it is to do the dusting but it must take them forever!

Nice pub with some interesting features.Beer good. ...ladies toilets a bit grim. They smell really bad.

Wonderful atmospheric rambling pub with nooks and crannies and squashy comfortable seating. Fitted out in a really interesting way with lots of taxidermy, which may not be to everyone’s taste but I liked it. Great range of local real ales. Will return!

These are the kind of pubs we just adore - a place where you can rest your weary legs with a pint and a plate of chips, surrounded by odd knick knacks ranging from vintage movie posters to model planes to a whole load of taxidermy (including, crucially, a baboon in a kilt and a gang of red squirrels playing pool). It's endlessly entertaining being in this pub, and staff are super friendly and courteous. You can see it attracts tourists but also locals, which is always a sign of a good pub. It's dog friendly and there are 2 roaring fires - basically I can't find a single fault with this establishment. Do yourself a favour and pay it a visit!

Very eclectic interior, sat by the fire on a cold winters night, great ambience. Put it on your list if visiting Winchester.

Hilarious graffiti finds in the toilets. Favourites were too rude to post photos of. Good food and price (huge chip portion). Interesting decor. Friendly staff. Makes a great lunch spot.

An oldy worldy pub with lots of character and interesting items inside. It was a freezing cold night and inside there was a beautiful open fire. We only had a drink so I can’t comment on food.

Trevlig bar med udda inredning. Var vid ginbaren som hade väldigt många intressanta sorter. Fick en drink rekommenderad som var väldigt god. Personen i baren kunde dock ha varit lite mer entusiastisk, verkade inte gilla sitt jobb.

Made a huge assumption that being part of a group that has Michelin stars that the food here would be good. To say the menu is limited is an understatement. 15 minutes after opening 2 things were scrubbed off the board, leaving a choice of 3 hot mains and very boring sandwiches . My 3 bean chilli with tacos was a disaster ... tacos were clearly bottom of the packet.. all bits and frankly shouldn’t have been served. Tasteless chilli. Got to say worse pub food I’ve had in years. Yes it’s a quirky pub, yes drinks are well priced...

Expectations are a difficult thing. Certainly a querky pub - lots of 'stuff' about the many rooms. Other customers were friendly can't say that of the barman/landlord who was rude and abrupt when I asked him to repeat his question re my food order.lunch food limited and expensive.

Roaring fires and to try and discribe the interior would be an impossible task. Surfice to say quirky and interesting. The Saxon Bronze was a lovely beer as was The IPA enjoyed by the other half. We did not have time to enjoy the food but what we saw looked good. Will defintely be back for further explore.

Have been here many times over the last few years and was startled to find I had never left a review

Lovely pub in heart of Winchester . Nice ales home brewed . Good service and very clean. Also great choice of music.

SO quirky and fun, brilliant consistent theme and vibe. Also super cosy, busy and nice atmosphere on a Saturday eve, staff are quick to serve and friendly also. Great fun place to go with friends, good drinks variety.

If you fancy visiting a really different and unusual pub then try the Black Pig. There are different rooms within the pub and all have a variety of different, old, bare wood tables and chairs.

I turned up at the Black Boy having completed the South Downs Way by bike over a couple of days in particularly trying conditions. My two accomplices and I were caked in mud from head to toe and yet both the customers and staff were amused and helpful, the barmaid sorting us seats by the fire to dry off. Excellent beer and a fascinating warren of little spaces, each different from the last and filled with a peculiar selection of decorations. Superb. Can't wait to go back.

I visited the Black Boy today for a drink before heading intothe centre of town. I waited for 20 minutes and even then the bar ender still didn't offer to serve me. (I know this as I had an appoitment so was watching the time).

Having booked three nights in Winchester I started researching the pubs and I came upon the website for the Black Boy Inn. On the Friday on arrival in Winchester I had to locate it. From the Bishop On The Bridge pub one needs to take the footpath along the River Itchen until the footpath turns left over the river, a few yards/metres up Wharf Hill is the pub. The pub is full of interesting things. Some people might be put off by the examples of taxidermy but there are many other interesting items. When I visited with my wife there was a good selection of local real ales, all new to me. Two, Saxon Bronze & Purple Reign brewed in Winchester. Friday lunchtime was not too busy and so we were able to sit in comfy leather arm chairs, not that I sat down much as I walked around taking in all the fascinating exhibits. On Sunday while my wife shopped I returned for a pint. Although I didn’t eat, the roasts being served looked and smelt very good. If you are in Winchester try the Black Boy Inn for the experience.

We visited here as a group of friends for a drink, such a quirky interesting pub! Drinks reasonably priced and lots of interesting things to look at! We would recommend

I go out once a week with a mate and we often visit the Black Boy in Winchester. Also had a very good Sunday lunch here with my Wife. Very old atmospheric pub usually well used by locals and visitors alike. Good choice of real ales, cider and wine with very friendly bar staff. Several rooms complete with stuffed animals and memorabilia from times gone by! Not over struck by dog friendly pubs but if the animal is well behaved not a problem. Recommend a visit.

Visited it a couple of times last week. The Pub has character and a good selection of real ales. Well worth the visit

We had a couple of drinks here whilst wondering around winchester, the building was fantastic, a real slice of history. Beer was good, friendly staff and the environment was fantastic.

So top marks for The Gin bar. 95 Gins to choose from with a description menu for every one. Also sandwiches available and freshly prepared food. If in Winchester, you have to try it.

Six rooms full of the weird and wonderful bric a brac. Just outside the centre of Winchester and well worth going to find. Local beers mainly.

Saw things we missed on both our previous visits ....... Beer range OK. Eclectic, unusual, a must. Slightly difficult to find.....but well worth the effort.

We briefly visited this pub having previously eating/drinking in the Black Rat and Black Bottle. A lovely character pub with an eclectic mix of paraphernalia throughout. The real ale we sampled was lovely and the staff pleasant. I am not sure this venue would be to everyone’s taste due to the amount of taxidermy on display, but if that doesn’t bother you then give it a whirl!

Went with people of all ages for a family supper. Really quirky interior, but great fun. Staff were lovely and polite. I had a perfectly cooked steak and chips. Would go back.

Researched Winchester for places to drink and settled on the Black Boy Pub. We needed to eat, but decided to have a drink in the pub then find somewhere after that. We were well pleased to find they did food as well - and it was spot on, really light local beer batter on a quality bit of fish and a well cooked ( less common than one would assume) rump steak. A good selection of local ales and also the wine was very good. Team that up with a quirky old pub and lovely staff and you have a brilliant evening that won’t break the bank.

Small menu but what a place. I can't do justice to the eclectic brilliance of the interior. Friendly staff too.

popped in for a drink mid evening... smelly, dirty laundry on floor by bar in a bag, the front bar area smelled really disgustingly bad, filthy carpets on floor, would not want to eat here.. staff didn't even know what glass to put a G&T; in.. poor service, sorry really not a great experience, one of the worst pubs in Winchester I would have to say.

Popped in for a post-exercise pint after the Winchester PPP mini-triathlon. Landlord was downright rude to us all, shouting angrily and then not backing down when pointed out that his rant was uncalled for. Was also moody when pointed out to him later that there was dog mess in the garden, and didn't see anybody come out to pick it out in the 30 minutes we were there. Used to love this pub and it's quirky atmosphere and eclectic clientele but it's gone downhill ;-(

Interesting building, full of weird and wonderful objects. . Good value food. Interesting selection of beers. Friendly staff

Pub is just outside the main town area and definitely worth a visit for it’s eclectic interior and range of ales. Due to the layout it can feel a bit cramped inside but there is a large outdoor area with plenty of seating, some of which is undercover with patio heaters if weather inclement. I did notice a small car park opposite but not sure if it’s for pub customers or if pay and display.

We went here today for my daughter's birthday. Had the best steak in a pub ever. Good meat perfectly cooked. The pub is wonderful, quirky and interesting. The staff are friendly and fun, what a lovely lunch time treat. I would wholeheartedly recommend to locals and visitors to Winchester

Stopped here for some lunch as was having a leisurely stroll alongside the river in Winchester. Noticed they did sausage and onion baguettes for £3 so opted to have one of those. Served as you’d expect with a choice of sauces, very tasty!

Went for lunch on Friday. Limited menu but can highly recommend the fish and chips. Will definitely return to try them again. This is an ancient pub and well worth a visit.

Popped in today for lunch (Sunday) but was disappointed to find on a Sunday it’s only roast dinners. We should had checked before hand I suppose but we’re already seated outside with a drink when we thought about looking at the menu.

How come I've never discovered this place before? What's not to like (apart from, in my case, piped music)?! Good ale, good food, nice staff - and more than anything, a traditional pub that oozes character. The myriad eclectic items which festoon it somehow seem like they've accumulated ny accident, rather than designed-in, which feels anything but artificial - and offers much to entertain!

Visited on a Sunday for roast dinner. Had the vegetarian option which included nut roast, Yorkshire pudding and vegetarian gravy. All tasted great and very generous portions.

We wanted lunch and a drink on our way to an afternoon out and stopped here. Really good fun to look at all the artifacts in the pub and a nice atmosphere. I had a really nice freshly made sandwich for lunch.

Pub à la décoration "bric à brac" très typique, on y boit de bonnes bières artisanales, l'ambiance est assez bruyante, la cuisine est plutôt bonne sans être gastronomique, l'ensemble nous a laissé un très bon souvenir !

On a pleasant day it is worth the fifteen minute walk from the city centre to try this interesting pub.

If you wanted to take a tourist to a typical English real ale pub you would pick this place.

My boyfriend and I were wandering around Winchester and came here for a drink. It's really cosy and quirky, I really liked it here. The pub goes all the way round the bar, so don't be put off if it's heaving when you walk straight in, there's seating around the back and a large outdoor seating area too. There's board games for you to use and log fires dotted around. It has an old pub feel to it which is refreshing as most pubs these days are owned by chains and just look the same, dogs are also allowed here. It seems to be a very popular destination for drinks and lunch, would recommend you visit if in the Winchester area.

This pub is a little walk out of the city centre but is worth the effort. It's a very quirky little pub and easy to spend a few hours looking at all the artifacts that adorn every wall, ceiling and surface in the pub.

We called in for a drink during a walk from Shawford to Winchester. The feel of the pub was great with many querky features on the walls. The ales were ok, but we decided not to eat after seeing the state of the toilets. I usually think the kitchen is usually to the same standard as the toilets, which were dirty and smelly.

Came in for a pre dinner drink as was staying at the black hole and eating at the black rat. Like the other 2 the pub is quirky but what a great little pub. The gin bar is great and with around 94 fins there will be something for everyone... will definitely be back

Great atmosphere on a Saturday night. Friendly, relaxed but full of conversation. Just love the separate gin bar they have here with so many gins and mixers to choose from. Nice outside area too which I will visit in better weather.

The couple of pints of winter ale were excellent. The food was OK. All badly let down by a member of staff serving food with very long hair flying lose, not tied back or covered. Makes you wonder about the validity of a 5 star hygiene rating.

We have visited this pub several times and each time it’s been enjoyable ,

Came in here for drinks prior to going to the Black Rat restaurant which is just over the road. Good selection of ales are on sale. The pub itself is really quirky inside, great place for drinks. I didn't eat there but the food I saw looked good.

What a character of a pub - well worth a visit - lots of memorabilia in small quirky rooms. The staff were very friendly.

I love a quirky pub..I was in Winchester for work staying over..hunted this pub down...it was great loved the decor ..kept me entertained..and enjoyed a great sarnie and soup...

Loved the quirkiness of this place with all the different rooms great log fires and good beer well worth a visit

Loved the black boy, not your usual pub by a long way. Full of tucked away little rooms with amazing trinkets and decor. Although my wife thought it needed a good clean, i loved everything about it. We didn’t eat, but the menu on the blackboard looked simple and proper pub food, which is what i love.

Great old & atmospheric pub - full of quirky collections. Well kept ales (I had summer lightning). Went twice on Saturday, 2nd visit they introduced us to Brockmans gin - very nice!

We visited on a Saturday, very busy, but lovely atmosphere. A pleasant river walk to get here. But a good pint and plenty of laughter.

We popped in one cold evening and immediately felt welcomed. The staff were friendly, the fires were roaring, there was a hum of people chatting and having a good time... and there was a toilet seat with a mans head popping out of it on the ceiling! The decor is eclectic and quirky ( we sat opposite a giraffe and a box with squirrels playing snooker) but ultimately really comfortable. The gin menu is amazing and the bar staff were really very knowledgable about all that we tried. There were several! We didn’t eat this time but will return and do so. 10/10

Lovely relaxed atmosphere and dog friendly pub. Really tasty pub food and have always managed to get a seat.

Located on the outskirts of Winchester, about 10 minutes walk from the centre is the Black Boy Pub.

We were taken here by friends and were not disappointed. We stopped here for lunch before going on to the Christmas Fair. The bar area was warm and welcoming with two fires burning. We ordered a BLT sandwich with chips and sausage baguettes with onions. There was a choice of chips or soup with the sandwich. There was a good selection of real ales from the pumps which was another reason for visiting. The food turned up quite quickly and was very tasty and filling. The pub itself has some very odd items dotted around the eating area, like an elephants leg and other paraphernalia. Well worth visiting.

We called in for a drink, a sandwich and to warm up. The bar was busy but the staff were friendly and the food arrived quickly and was tasty and plentiful.

This cosy old pub has many quirky artefacts including taxidermy and kitchenalia. We were only having lunch and opted for sandwiches which came with a choice of soup or chips which made for a substantial meal.

On a cold November evening this pub was very inviting with an open log fire. There was a good selection of beers but I only had one as was driving, but was good. Food was all home cooked except for the chips which were frozen french fries which was a little disappointing. The bar staff were very friendly. For parking I would recommend the Chesil Street multi store which is just a short walk away (it’s free after 6pm).

This is a great little pub. It's filled with weird decor such as stuffed animals, dolls eyes on the ceiling of the women's toilets and bookcases full of books cut in half!

It has a nice atmosphere and the food is good. A nice place for a drink quiet and relaxing. Clean and friendly

We came here for drinks after dinner near by, the place is quirky and full of curios. The range of gin is amazing, the staff were fun and we are going back!

Small friendly bar with good choise of real ales well kept, uneven floors, comfy chairs around scrubbed pine tables, hot food in an Aga not microwaved....mmmm those bangers in a bun

One of my favourite ever pubs. Very quirky with loads of taxidermy and other oddities surrounding the comfy seats and log fires. Excellent ale selection and friendly staff.

The parking is not great for this pub but it's well worth a visit. Food is good but the decor is fantastic. Loads of small rooms full of strange collectables.

Ubicado a un corto paseo a lo largo del río desde la ciudad, este lugar es una verdadera joya que vale la pena encontrar. Eccléctico, atmosférico, bien administrado y con una buena relación calidad-precio. Tengo que decir que me decepcionó un poco la selección de cervezas de esta visita. Parecía mucho menos variedad, pero tal vez sea solo yo. La comida era buena, ordenar toma un tiempo, pero el servicio después de ese punto es rápido.

Llamé a almorzar con amigos y comí la mejor carne asada que puedo recordar en mucho tiempo. La comida fue rápida, aunque estábamos bastante temprano, como lo recomendaron algunos comentarios anteriores, porque no tardó mucho en estar muy ocupado después de la apertura de las 12 en punto. En 11 platos, no solo era delicioso, sino que también tenía una buena relación calidad-precio. Definitivamente volveremos a llamar la próxima vez que estemos en la zona.

Visited for a drink when staying overnight in Winchester. Friendly locals and a good selection of beer. Would re-visit.

What a lovely place. A quaint typical pub with excellent food. We all had a different meal