The Pump House in Winchester

After months of giving it a go, we have finally given up on this place. The attraction was the spacious stylish venue, imaginative lunch/brunch menu, (some) pleasant if rather harassed staff, dog friendly and a pleasant location on a favourite Winchester riverside walk. Plus we could generally get a table, unlike lovely Greens that gets so busy on a weekend. During the week it’s reserved for tenants of the co-working space and in the early phase there was a lot of confusion about when/if it was open to the public, with inadequate signage and staff unable to communicate the arrangements clearly. After a bit, that got sorted out and it entered a golden age that lasted for a chunk of last year. Some great food (like the warm pear salad, bubble and squeak and wedges of pear cake) and better organisation. The place seemed better organised and the staff seemed less stressed. Alas it has now taken a real dive. Food quality dipped, items served soggy or burnt, shrinkflation apparent in the bakery items, the nice fresh cakes replaced with mass-produced tasting flapjacks. ‘Large’ coffees that would be considered a regular size in most places. Overseen by a supervisor with patronising and officious manner who I saw shouting at a small child who dared venture onto an (unsigned) staircase leading to a private area.. At our last visit, the lunch menu was inexplicably unavailable at 1.30pm - only breakfast items. But we could see lunch dishes being served to a party on a nearby table. An allergy request was completely ignored and when we complained I was first offered a grudging ‘sorry-not-sorry’ by the sour-faced supervisor (sorry but not her fault that the server hadn’t passed on the message). When I said that wasn’t good enough, when you’re dealing with customers’ safety, I was then told off for being rude. So that’s it for us, not going back. Feel sorry for the better servers, it must be a tough place to work.

£21.75 for two sandwiches served in a cardboard box, with a bottle of still water and a diet coke. An absolute rip off, no wonder they were so quiet

NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, apart from sitting outside to have a beverage. (That’s why I gave it 1* - not that it’s bad but because it’s not a cafe. This is because it is a commercial let.

Just wondering how long this business will last, now Autumn house and Number 25 have gone bankrupt. Good coffee but as a non member can only sit outside. Proprietors have ditched all their other cafes in winchester leaving unpaid staff and suppliers. Not a robust business model.

The Pump House is a Victorian pump room converted into a members only work space about 20 minutes walk from Winchester town centre.There are times that non-members can utilise some of the facilities. Outside is a cafe in a shaded area that serves snacks, coffee's etc - well worth a visit

The Pump House is actually a members only work space club; however, I was pleased to learn that they have non-member times where you can enjoy the coffee lounge, restaurant or coffee to go. I had a fantastic cappuccino in the back garden seating area. The Pump House offered a lovely selection of pastries. I ordered on the side of the building (facing the front, there is a window on the left side). Please see the photo that I have attached for the current non-member hours.