Day 5

First day of December and the last day of our trip will see us depart Southampton for Manchester, via Reading and Birmingham. However we are booked on the 19:15 departure so there is plenty of time to kill. We are faced with a slight problem. During our trip we have been lucky with the weather but now at the most southerly stage of our journey we are faced with strong winds and driving rain! The only thing for it is to get wet on the inside to counter balance being wet on the outside.

After spending an hour or so exploring Southampton city and its environs we decided to spend an extended lunch back at the Platform Tavern as the menu looked appetising when perused yesterday evening. As already mentioned the Platform Tavern has a great deal of history behind it and the name is interesting as well. The Platform Tavern does not derive it's name from some long lost railway station but is named after the country's first 'gun battery'. Constructed after the French raids of 1338 as part of Southampton's South Shore fortifications. The guns were later moved out behind a substantial bulwark which became known as the 'Platform'  

Our final pub was to prove the trickiest to find. The Crown, Hightown Street is back in the student part of town. Just minutes from Southampton Common and Southampton University's main Highfield campus. It is however tucked in a side street of a minor road and the most direct approach is provided by a road with no vehicular access. The intrepid explorer is rewarded with a popular, open plan pub frequented by locals and students. The Crown offers good value meals alongside half a dozen real ales from locals Hampshire Brewery and Ringwood as well as Fuller London Pride, Draught Bass and other 'national' brews. One feature which was most appreciated was the covered patio at the rear, even as the rain continued to lash down outside we were cosy under our gas burner which was doing a grand job of drying out our sodden clothes.

This was to be our last pub of the trip and a fine place to end. The Crown sums up what an English pub should be. It was Friday teatime and the place was buzzing with the sound of people actually talking. Many were enjoying an evening meal in friendly surroundings and with the covered patio the pub also has a pleasant space for people with children or dogs. The only sad thing was the interior had been opened out to create one large space but as already mentioned the atmosphere was warm and friendly so all was not lost.

We all too soon had to make our way to Southampton Central station for our 19:15 Virgin Cross Country train back to Manchester. An uneventful journey gave time to reflect on the past week. Rail travel is a most wonderful way to travel. No breathalysers, no road rage and using the power of the internet it can be an economical way to travel also. We've seen snow in Scotland, horizontal rain in Southampton, Edinburgh Castle and Big Ben. We've consumed great real ales and excellent food and hopefully this report will encourage you to try a 'Round Robin' of your own!