Reviews of The Cowherds. (Pub) in Southampton (Hampshire).

The Cowherds

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340 Comments

Pub

Pub

Hampshire, The Common, Southampton SO15 7NN, United Kingdom

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Information of The Cowherds, Pub in Southampton (Hampshire)

On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.

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Open hours of The Cowherds

Popular times

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Friday

Saturday

Reviews of The Cowherds

H. J.

Visited today for a roast dinner. Food was incredible. We had starter, main and pudding and everything was fantastic! The service was brilliant, food came out quickly and the staff were really on it. We had a lovely table near the window at the front with our little doggy . They have doggy treats, water bowls and blankets for the dogs! We will definitely be returning soon.

A. M.

Quite liked the new menu, had the beef rib which was good. The potatoes lyonnaise were excellent. Mushroom and cheese side was not cheesy enough for my taste, quite indifferent. Overall, nice experience and service.

S. C.

Love visiting this place. A short walk away for us, but often lots of parking round the back. The service is really friendly and fast. The food is always delicious with decent portion sizing Personally I love the atmosphere in here. Nice and relaxed, and away from the business of the city. Also recommend a short stroll into the common after to let your food go down.

S. B.

Stayed 5 minutes walk up the road so this was the obvious venue to eat & have a few Drinx with an old mate, just on the edge of the common. Nice outside seating, and inside has a lovely decor. Nice menu choices & very impressed with the Hunter's Chicken Schnitzel that I had. Complimented with a few pints of Aspalls cider. Staff were polite, attentive & efficient, a really nice bunch of peeps. I can imagine this place gets really busy on a warm day, so booking is probably advised. Only slight downside, from what I could see, is that parking is limited

G. F.

A 19th birthday celebration meal eaten in beautiful surroundings. Wonderful food and friendly service by Katie. I would highly recommend it and will comeback again. Thank you, Katie, for your smile and extra spoon 😉

P. K.

A really lovely pub/restaurant, good British hospitality. We were travelling in the area and needed some refreshment, we decided to stop here. We received a very warm welcome and shown were we could sit. We ordered a small breakfast with coffee. It arrived very quickly and was excellent. Served hot and fresh & very tasty. We will be in the area again in a couple of weeks and will be sure to call in.

A. R.

First time I've been in here in years. Place didn't disappoint. Nice beer, friendly staff, lovely décor and atmosphere. Certainly will be back again

R. C.

A warm and friendly welcome. Good menu and reasonably priced. Service was good, speedy and efficient. Drinks were served quickly and the food was well cooked, well presented and above all hot! especially the apple crumble. Delicious. Good parking and plenty of reminders to register your vehicle for the duration of your stay.

M. T.

Not great, my husband's steak was rare instead of medium/rare, also it was slightly tough. My granddaughter's salad was not as described in the menu. Rather disappointing. However my roasted salmon was delicious and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Our waitress, Jasmine, was excellent and very understanding with regard to the steak by offering my husband a free pudding.

D. W.

Was my first time visiting. Had food and drinks. Everyone was so polite and friendly and didn’t make us wait long to come and serve us. The food and drinks came quickly and was amazing. One of the best pub foods I have had. Will definitely come here again and definitely recommend to anyone who is thinking about coming here.

C. H.

Very busy on a Saturday lunchtime, all tables were fully booked for dining, not easy to pop in for a drink and ended up 4 of us sitting on 2 chairs in the bar area. Drinks prices are about average, £18 for 2 pints of lager, single G & T and half a pint of Peroni alcohol free. Lively pub with lots of dog walkers! Staff were friendly and polite.

T. C.

Got told about this place by the landlord where I am staying, food was beautiful had the chicken and mushroom pie the flavour was spot on the veg cooked to perfection cooked right through with out being hard, full of flavour. The beer was chilled and very well come, the place is beautiful with attentive staff keen that you enjoyed the food and drink. Well worth a visit

S. E.

Lovely meal & good service. The steaks were a little fatty, but overall, very nice. It was a birthday treat from friends, but I don't think I could warrant paying the prices, for just an evening meal out, ideal for a special occasion.

C. S.

Despite being on the Cask Marque Ale Trail the only ale offering on this reviewers visit, was the ubiquitous Doombar - and even that, pleasant enough on the palate, was a tad lively. Those who qualify for the Certificate of Accreditation ought really to proffer a wider selection. Otherwise, this is a popular well established gastropub, with an excellent reputation for fine dining. There is adequate free parking but one must register ones licence plate inside, to prevent undesirable repercussions.

P. P.

One of my favourite pubs in Hampshire. Friendly staff, delicious food and a super cozy environment.

A. W.

The food was very good and excellently presented. The reason I did not give the 5 stars is that we were kind of pressured to leave as the waitress kept coming back asking whether we wanted anything else and even offered to bring us the bill even though one of us had just ordered yet another drink and had over half a pint left to drink up. I did not see the reason for rushing us, as it was a very quiet Monday night, with ample other tables available should other patrons arrive. Kind of spoiled what was otherwise a very pleasant evening.

m. b.

Very delicious dinner out with the wife and our friend dan 😊... Had a vegetarian burger with sweet potato fries, Dan had the house burger with thick cut chips, and the wife had an outside burger? Probably said that wrong? But they were all amazing!! Great atmosphere, with really good lighting and decor! Hadn't been there for a long time has changed alot has a retro feel with all the modern features! Usual rules apply no need to explain those now? 😊...parking out the front and rear if you park at the rear just pop your car reg plate in there computer so they know your dinning with them, disabled friendly lots of space, easy to manoeuvre around 👍...large menu and drinks galore! Definitely will be coming back again!! 5*

C. R.

Excellent meal, service, atmosphere 10/10 Roast dinner reminded me of a lovely home cooked roast my nan used to cook, highly recommended 👌

V. W.

We had a lovely Sunday dinner in the bar area with our dog. Staff were friendly. Despite being short staffed - I think ordering & paying at the bar worked well. The table was a little small for 4 of us with Roasts & cauliflower cheese - but certainly didn’t stop us enjoying our meal!

T. M.

Brilliant homely feeling pub, well placed for walks on the common. I love this place and would love it give it 5 stars but I’ve found the service to be a little slow at times. All worth it though!

P. P.

Very disappointed. Service was great, fast and friendly. Lots of people eating lunch. I ordered the vegetarian Candied Veg Roast, it looked dreadful, presentation was a lump of brown mush. The roast potatoes were hard. My husband had roast beef Both meals were tepid. The server was very helpful and I was not charged for my meal . We were looking for somewhere to take 16 people for a special lunch in April, unfortunately it won't be The Cowherds

A. K.

We both had 3 courses, all delicious: Prawn & Scallops were heavenly 😍 Duo Lamb dish sublime (perfectly cooked lamb) 😋 The SCRUMMIEST Sticky Toffee Pud & The Beautifully Presented Eton Mess. Great Service too! Will definitely be dining there again! Chef & Team, you should be proud 👏

S. B.

We had Sunday Roast and the food was amazing and the service was great. Our waitress Meghan was brilliant. The decor is stunning and the prices are reasonable. Will definitely go there again on our next visit.

b. d.

Always get good food here, remember to register your car if you park at the back of the building. Helpful friendly staff. Advisable to book a table as it is very popular.

V. B.

I went for my birthday. All staff were friendly and polite. The meal was delicious! I also enjoyed my free bottle of prosecco, thank you!

B. J.

Quaint chain pub on the corner of Southampton Common. Plenty of seating outdoors as well as in, although the focus is very much on dining nowadays. Fairly expensive for drinks, but food is excellent and reasonably priced

s. k.

A lovely pub situated next to acres of green space with a kids sand park right next door. Lovely food menu and plenty of outdoor seating. Car park at the rear and friendly faces inside

J. H.

Lunch with my Grandchildren, children's menu was a great price with lots of different choices, they really enjoyed the pizza and burger, service also very good, sat outside as it was sunny, I will be back thats for sure. Parking eye in place so make sure you put your number plate in the machine inside the pub.

A.

I had the Sunday Roast - Turkey. Disappointed that no cranberry was available which I thought was odd. The amount of meat was not a lot but tasted nice in any event but a few of the potatoes were hard inside.

V. H.

Good service. Pleasant service. Welcoming and friendly staff There were 16 of us and we were impressed that we all received the food together

R. P.

It was really tasty and well presented food. Absolutely melt in the mouth pork belly, with a stick of crackling...delicious, shame they don't have a rear garden or eating area.

P. Q.

After a 5 hour drive from Lancashire we ate at the Cowherds, staff were great and the food and service was excellent, very dog friendly dishes and water provided also right on the edge of the common so plenty of good walks Highly recommended 👌

g. t.

Very nice place, excellent customer service 👏

D. L.

Great food at a great price! We were going to a concert so booked a table early - 17.45. We both ordered the steak and ale pie with mash - delicious and accompanied by cabbage and carrots. The service was quick and the waitress was friendly and helpful. We had time to spare so ordered puddings: I had the Belgian chocolate brownie with Irish whisky ice cream.

L. G.

Lovely menu, yummy food. Drink service could have been a little quicker as arrived at same time as food

J. L.

Had Sunday lunch. They kindly squeezed us into the bar area when my online booking somehow didn't work. Service was excellent.

K. T.

Really good food and drinks. Very good value for money. Covid secure venue and extremely good service from Megan. I have a nut and shellfish allergy and the service was really good and was made to feel very welcome and safe here. Really nice place. Definitely worth a visit if you nearby/visiting.

B. P.

Great place, great food and good service. We are a group of five or six who meet regularly and the Cowherds is one of our favourite places for lunch.

R. B.

Love this pub .. stopped of on way to port .. great beer and food with a amazing park next to it .. parking and outside seating .. will return when back in southhamton

N. W.

Lovely interior. Good food. Staff didn't hover round. Attentive when needed.

B. J.

I love it here the staff are amazing, as is the vegan food and Wine. check out the South African Merlot. you won't be disappointed.The new renovations have completely changed the ambiance for the better. what a great pub

m. s.

We had new years Eve dinner there and food is amazing. Staff are great, helpful and knowledgeable. We have numerous allergies and they had no problems in looking at ingredients, they even changed the menu slightly for one of us. Definitely recommendable!

A. S.

Excellent local pub, next to the park. Good atmosphere and friendly staff. Food was ok, waiter lady speaks some basic Russian. Overall recommended, pub food for lunch. Enjoy Southampton

K. B.

A historical long standing pub and restaurant in Southampton close to the Common. Very popular with easy access for walk ins or parking. Pet friendly too. Nicely decorated with high back and scooped armchairs together with a log fireplace. Good choice of menu options and drinks. Good levels of cleanliness although at busy times tables take longer to clear I noticed. Parking is available at the front and rear of the building. Outside seating is plentiful especially in summer months. Prices are reasonable for the quality of food on offer. Would recommend this place but can get busy at times so book ahead.

A. E.

Nice selection of gin. We had baked camembert and veggie pizza, both were delicious. Overall comfortable pub with a fire place.

M. G.

Great venue with good standard of food. Only criticism is the lone wait for dessert. Will be back.

R. A.

Truly wonderful experience. Then menu had some interesting choices and all six of us agreed that the food was delicious (and much better than we expected given its a chain). The waitress was polite and attentive, and genuinely wanted to make the experience a great one. Plenty of parking too! We will be back soon!

S. J.

This is a really old pub on the edge of the wooded common. There are photographs of the place going back over a hundred years. Log fires, great food and drink. Brilliant friend n a Winters day.

K.

Food good and arrived at table hot.Staff looked busy and rushed but pleasant and helpful

S. G.

Lovely service by our waitress who was Tabi. Food was really nice deff coming back

N. L.

A well situated pub which should always hopefully do well with extensive inside & outside areas. When visited limited cask ales but rev James was in excellent condition food not tried but very busy!

K. P.

Nice breakfast on our stop off to cruise terminal. Comfortable surroundings and dog friendly. Nice open fire

G. V.

Had a Sunday roast with my mom yesterday. Place was busy so I was glad I booked a table because they had to turn someone away just before us! The trio of roasts was delicious, combined with the New Zealand Sauvignon! Place was busy but despite the business Tabi (I hope I wrote her name correctly!) was very nice to us and always finding time to check on us! The Creme brulee was a nice finish to our meal too! Thank you for caring for us, Tabi! :) We will be back soon!

R. B.

Delicious, traditional pub with high capacity and friendly servicie.

R. B.

Lots of vegan options. They have a separate menu for vegan food. Very tasty. Best thing about this place is the ambience, very relaxing and nice place to enjoy meal.

R. O.

Lovely pub. Went for breakfast after a run this morning. Friendly staff, good food, good beer.

L. B.

Took my neice out for lunch. It was busy but the service was quick and the waiter checked in. Burger was enjoyed very much, fish finger sandwich was ok but I've had nicer.

C. H.

Lovely place to sit down have a few drinks and talk to friends and family

F. H.

Nice atmosphere and lovely food. Only 4 stars due to slow service, not all the tables were taken either.

S. S.

Good food, nice outdoor area on a sunny day.

L. C.

Nice pub, ok drinks prices, great staff. Not a fan of the orders being done by app tho.

M. H.

Waiter was great, food was great! Atmosphere was great! My favourite place to eat.

A. S.

Really nice, cosy place. The stuff was polite, the inside it's really nicely decorated and they have tables outside too. They have water bowls for dogs and even blankets for them so it's a great place to bring your dog at after a walk in the park. The bathroom was really cosy ans clean too which surprised me, pubs are usually a bit messy. However i didn't quite enjoy my cider that much but I've heard the food was great so i will definitely visit again to test that!

R. S.

It's a nice pub and restaurant. Could do with a few local or decent craft style beers. Food is nice but perhaps a little bit expensive. The bar and fire area is nice after a walk on The Common

K. C.

Every time I go on a cruise this is where we stop to grab a drink. Friendly atmosphere great pub

P. W.

Service a bit slow but nice food and friendly staff. Lovely interior as well.

J. M.

We ordered food from the Cowherds via Deliveroo, and were absolutely blown away. Right from the quality of the packaging to the care taken with cooking the food, it was really well done, and still piping hot when it reached us after about 35-40 minutes. Can thoroughly recommend - especially the Hunter's Chicken Schnitzel - delicious! Thanks very much guys!

C. D.

I would summit up in one word, meh. Not great beer, not great food but service excellent. No ambience but it's covid and unfair to judge. So very average time resulting in middle of the road stars, nothing excellent but nothing bad.

D. F.

Lovely pub with excellent food and perfect service, it’s perfect location next to Southampton common makes it the best place to go for a spot of lunch after a mornings walk in the park or an evening meal and drink in the lovely bar. The Sunday lunch menu is another gem! If good quality food and atmosphere is what you’re looking for then this is a good place to find it, would recommend booking a table through open table however as it is busy!

J. C.

The food was hot, beautifully presented and cooked, the staff were friendly & informative,

L. S.

This pub is a gem. Food is amazing, the staff are welcoming and dog friendly too

P. S.

An old school pub...very nice calming interior. Wait staff were very attentive and polite. Choice of Lagers was disappointingly low but loved the batter fried squid to go with them.

I. M.

Its hard to find places to eat out where you can get quality food, excellent service and value for money so a big thank you to The Cowherds. Went for an evening meal with my wife as I'm going away for a few days. Had a 3 course meal none of which I could fault. The Waitress was helpful, smiling and very quick service 100% recommended to anyone wanting good food with a smile. Thank you.

s. d.

Nice pub. But the staff can't seem to wait to get rid of you. Turned of music at 10.30. Kept looking at us. Came over at 10.46 and told us we had 5 minutes to leave. More welcoming pubs to give your money to.

P. B.

Friendly service, meals arrived very quickly, lovely food

R. V. b. D.

Great food & drink. Quality service.

a. t.

Great food, lovely warm atmosphere, friendly staff and reasonably priced

h.

Would go back for a drink but not for food, expected more quality for the prices charged. Pub itself is lovely but food left a lot to be desired and I only expected pub grub. Service was fast and friendly though.

a. p.

Stopped off on way to cruise terminal, had a lovely breakfast and coffee, very comfortable and dog friendly

J. P.

As always ,Cowherds by far best pub in Southampton. Food lovely , service good and nice atmosphere. Can't beat it !

S. H.

Amazing place, literally one of the best places to eat in Hampshire! Been twice in a month and will become a regular! Only fault this evening is we booked a window table as elderly family member gets warm and we didn’t get one :( apart from that wow!!

P. S.

Food is good, service is good location is great. Book to ensure a table.

D. L.

Good pub in The Common. Lots of outdoor seating for when it's sunny and a nice indoor space with real fire for when its not! Good pub food. Definitely worth a visit for a drink or something to eat after a trip to The Common. Predictably it can be extremely busy and therefore hard to get a seat on sunny days and at weekends.

J. M.

The food and service was great - all-in-all a very pleasant lunch

S. B.

Went for Brunch at The Cowherds today. Thought we were taking a bit of a punt, but how wrong can you be! It was excellent! I don't often leave a review but the food, drinks, and service were all excellent, and good value for money too.

L. W.

Absolutely perfect. Nice friendly welcome. Good service and fabulous food 👍

m. S.

Great service from our waitress and the food was excellent.

B. R.

Friendly welcome from pleasant staff and good food and drinks at reasonable prices.

D.

Food was delicious, nice little spot. App ordering was good, just a bit disappointed in the limited Sunday menu, the menu on the app seemed a lot better than the one we were offered. Staff very friendly and helpful.

J. H.

The place is gorgeous and the staff are lovely. They make a fantastic Vegan roast and the Vegan burger was pretty good as well, especially the burger relish. The Soup of the day was a butternut squash & sage soup and it was wonderful. Megan, our server, was lovely, friendly and brilliantly attentive. I would 100% recommend visiting here.

K.

The food and reputation of Cowherds, Southampton has definitely improved over the years. Back in 2013, I experienced lack luster roasts and slow service but a recent experience in 2021 has changed my perspective on this pub. I visited on a Saturday evening with an old friend and we decided to share two mains and a camembert as a starter. The margarita pizza was fantastic with fresh basil and flavoursome tomatoes throughout. The Super Green Salad though ... Wowzers. It came with fresh veg, balsamic watermelon and an amazing pineapple dressing. We opted for a halloumi topping on the salad and it was fab! Only downside? Took a while to get the bill and being shown to a table, but otherwise ... I'll be back!

S. W.

Food great , service fantastic and a very warm welcome on entry. Enjoyed a fantastic family Sunday lunch, recommend the additional bacon wrapped stuffing.

S. K.

Great place to wine and dine with family, friends and pets.

E. H.

Dog friendly, excellent food, quick service. Very happy.

d. c.

Great pub with great food and friendly staff, right on the edge of Southampton common

J. E.

Great food and drink selection conveniently next to Southampton common.

E.

Really good vegan options, the curried vegetable wellington on the seasonal menu was delicious. And the mulled wine was lovely!

J. M.

Lovely pub. Lovely food. Good selection of drinks. Friendly staff. And the park next door is probably one of the best little play parks we've ever visited. Spotlessly clean, well worth a visit.

D. B.

Booked for Mother’s Day food & service was excellent would definitely return

A. W.

Good service, food was very good but not cheap. Worth it for the quality.

K. W.

The food quality is great, with a wide range of decent whisky too only negative is good service can be a bit slow sometimes

A. M.

Lovely pub, nice atmosphere. Staff are friendly and welcoming, food is okay if a bit expensive. Tea was served in a latte glass which bugged wife and myself more than it should!

M. M.

Alistair and Katie were amazing! Fabulous atmosphere and service! Thank you

D. C.

Great food, clean, polite and welcoming staff. Very nice pub indeed. The kids play area is about 100m away so ideal to bring the family.

m. b.

Loved the restaurant, bar dining is questionable due to dog's in the area. Don't mind the dogs, it's their bodily functions that are not conducive with dining, in a closed atmosphere.

G.

Staff are friendly enough. The food was not that good though. Burger was dry, steak and mushroom pie was bitter, chips were oversalted.

D. B.

A lovely, traditional pub with a relaxed, friendly ambiance. Would definitely return.

E. T.

A great cosy pub. Food was amazing and staff very friendly with great service.

D. “. R.

My only criticism was finding out about needing to enter my car reg as I was about to leave. Made me worry that I might be fined for parking. Meal and staff very good.

J. B.

Fantastic pub, my second visit in a month. I love the feel of the place, lovely open fires built into the dividing walls to make it cosy in the winter (exactly the sort of thing I'm looking for in December) Service was very accommodating even though my friend was late arriving the second time I visited. The food here is excellent, I've had the Christmas Dinner with a lovely bottle of red and the pork belly with a pint and both occasions had a cracking meal. Would definitely come again.

D. F.

Friendly m,ok food 1 meal was cold but replaced quickly. So efficient

R. B.

Good food. Nice atmosphere and very dog friendly!

s.

A Southampton gem....they say you get what you pay for. This isnt a 2 for 1 place. It's brilliant food, amazing service and a first class place to eat and drink. Duck salad amazing well worth a visit

K. M.

Lovely food and great customer service 👌

D. C.

Just stopped for a quick drink after a walk on the common. Attentive, polite staff and quick service. Saw the meals that others had brought out and they looked to be good portions. Hope to return to try the food another day.

A. W.

Lovely pub. I have only been at lunch time with family and kids so its not been too busy, the staff are nice and helpful and the service is good. I come down from London as the playground next door is amazing and its a great day afternoon out. The menu is pretty varied and a few vegan options too-cooked to a very good standard, My toddlers food came out quite hot but I'd prefer that to too cold!

G. A.

Still here but very happy with service food, price and atmosphere.

P. A.

Good food and selection of beers. Friendly staff. Very busy and would suggest booking tables (especially outdoor tables in the summer). Plenty of parking. Ability to go and sit on the grass to eat/drink in the good weather.

J.

Food was great especially the shared platter

M. H.

Prompt service, excellent food & easy parking.

X. L.

Lovely location and cosy ambience. Good value for money.

j. m.

Beautiful setting, lovely building, car park for access off the avenue. Food looked amazing although we did not eat, good choice of beers, wines and spirits

G. G.

Freshly cooked food and polite service. Has changed a lot since the 60's !!

P. H.

Had a great pizza. Good fast service

S. H.

Met up with friends near Southampton, nice and clean with a friendly atmosphere.

S. P.

The food was delicious and the service was excellent. The staff were friendly and helpful. Would highly recommend.

J. M.

Booked a table for 2 for lunch on a Thursday. Great service from start to finish, very Covid safe. The food was good, the BEST baked camembert I think I've ever had. Definitely recommend, even just for a pint close to the common. Thank you to the team at Cowherds!

K. O.

lovely meal good prices and a lovely young girl looking after us very funny and cheerful. Only thing i would say is maybe a bit bigger serving of mint sauce /cranberry sauce but no real issues as lady got us more when asked. Well cooked meat in roast and very very good size portion we didnt need starter or pudding, NO complaints at all .

A. W.

Excellent food, very friendly and helpful staff, quick service, reasonable prices and most important dog friendly 🙂

M.

Excellent food and service and the waitress was lovely!

G. V.

Stylish, nice coffee and friendly staff. Dog friendly and accommodating with plenty of water bowls. Also great for kids as there is a large play park next door

H. C.

Love it there, nice staff and they love dogs

S. B.

Lovely staff, lovely meal, lovely evening could ask for more .

M. C.

Very accomodating for husband's allergy issues,downside was it seems to take ages and there was other customers the poor waitress had to deal with also not staff just my husband being fussy but glad waitress took all in stride and apologised to everyone else . Food was very good. 99 out of 100 .

V. p.

Handy location and nice environment but the food is lacking

A. B.

Good food And friendly staff

S. A. W.

Best pub in Southampton! Lovely interior and perfect location situated right on the edge of the Common. Staff are attentive and polite, drinks are great and the food is delicious. Great!

D.

The place is nice,the staff was welcoming,location wise all was good. However the food portions were extremely small. I had some calamari,for 6.25£ i got less than 20-30grams of food. And it looked like it was cooked some time ago,as it was dry.

C. D.

Only popped in for a quick drink. Was busy. One table free for us and staff instantly cleaned it down for us. Service quick and friendly

A. d. H.

Was amazing took my 4 children. was great service great food the waitress was so friendly forgot to get her name to give her a mention will defiantly come again ☺

B. C.

Excellent food, friendly service staff and a pleasant environment. It certainly feels more refined than a lot of other places and you'd look under-dressed if you went in anything less than smart-casual.

D. W.

Lovely food, very efficient staff.

k. k.

Surprisingly very nice. I last used the place years ago, it very much went downhill so we ignored it for many years. But it's back to full strength with a good menu comfy bar and nice decor. Staff were absolutely lovely and the food very good.

C. F.

Great atmosphere for Sunday lunch or even a few pints. Lovely location especially in the summer. Food is delicious however it is expensive. I adore their attitude to dogs they feel very welcomed. Its suitable for romantic dates too. In the summer it is usually busy so I'd get there early to get a seat outside.

S. P.

Great Pub and great food ….

G. “.

The meal from the Christmas menu was very expensive (£21 for a small main and dessert, no drink) and we had a long wait for our food. Would not recommend the butternut squash tart as the sauce was very overpowering and unpleasant. However, the other meals ordered seemed pleasant and restaurant is nice inside and the staff were friendly.

T. N.

Booked fairly last minute recently and they managed to accommodate us. Quick service and food was lovely. Should really visit more often considering it's around the corner!

A. S.

Amazing food and amazing service as always

M. D.

Shocking really. The pub and staff were fine, their drinks policy was another matter. Its was the England/Germany game and as they have no TV its was virtually dead. I scanned the Covid bar code to enter the pub and then ask do I order here or outside, the barman says you need to download the app if you are outside. I say I dont want to (I'm not convinced the data is secure on these apps, having had a spate of spam emails and phone calls since first using them a few months age) is there an alternative? Barman - if sit at a table I can serve you without the app, Me, can I then take that outside then. He says No. I thought pub were struggling and they have a silly policy like this, they dont really deserve any business. Needless to say I went to another pub close by and got served ok.

D. G.

Christmas lunch, very tasty. Busy place with very good service. Reasonably priced.

M. R. G.

Sunday roasts were excellent, burger really nice, puds yummy and good coffees. Nice atmo and really good service

B. M.

The location is great and the pub is welcoming to dogs in the bar area. The ambiance is lovely and most of the staff are friendly. Beware of the owner/manager who is quite rude and will interrogate you on your intentions for parking in the pub car park if you haven't ordered something within 0.02s of switching your engine off.

L. B.

Booked a table online was quick and easy to do. Arrived, staff were friendly we were seating immediately. Food was excellent as always! Even had some of the Christmas Menu as a special which was nice. Would highly recommend if you want something that is reasonably priced, great atmosphere, friendly staff! Warm and inviting, log fore was lit which was nice.

F. D.

Great pub great food last Saturday

R. C.

Feels like one of the safest places to eat with the covid measures in place and adhered to. The team have done a great job!! Tasty mains and great service. Will be back often!!

S. R.

Had a fabulous meal, great staff, lovely atmosphere and reasonable prices. Lauren was a perfect host. The precautions and hygiene are clearly taken very seriously ensuring everyone’s safety. Will be back soon

S. N.

Friendly staff and very accommodating. Would go again for sure.

J. P.

It's always fine I guess, fun to have a pub at the common entrance but it's never that great. Food is fairly lackluster, no atmosphere and you can't grantee your pint will be cold. Mad lucky with the location through.

J. R.

The place was very popular but warming and welcoming. The menu is very typical pub food (Hunters chicken, pies etc) but done nicely. The parking can be a challenge given its location next to Southampton Common. Sunday roasts were high on quality however portion size was a minor grumble - I left feeling a bit hungry afterwards. Service very smooth but can't say it was exceptional.

v. w.

A nice tidy pub inside. Seems quite cosy. A few outside tables facing the car park and quick service using the app. Just had a sandwich but very nice.

S. B.

Came in for a Sunday Roast, roast was lovely. Terry looked after us and was very friendly and professional. Track and trace in place, asked to use hand sanitiser as we entered and tables well spaced out. Lovely setting, was a nice afternoon.

H. H.

Worth a visit with your hungry student as a parent with one in the Uni. Great range of meals and variety on the menu. Worth booking as fills up quickly. Medium range price and all meals were really tasty and looked well laid out. Staff attentive. Dog friendly discreetly segregated to one side of bar away from food area. Really warm welcome and nice feel to the place which was clean and toilets were spotless. 4 stars due to floor was uneven and customers with difficult sight would struggle, car park too small for the number of tables.

K. J.

We had a nice meal there.

L. C.

Friendly staff with a warm welcome. Had breakfast and it was good. Coffee was freshly made . Virus protection good. Love the place stop here when going to P&O cruises.

S. H.

Booked a table for ten with absolutely no hassle. Turned out we had more people than expected and The Cowherds were very accomodating. The food was spectacular, the ambience was excellent. But, most prominently, the service from all members of staff was second to none. 10/10. One of the best restaurants, if not the best place to eat in Southampton.

G. W.

Great to visit again after the lock down. They have lots of nice outdoor dining and you can order using an app, which worked great.

M. W.

Nice meal. good choice. Well priced.

b. s.

Brilliant..dog friendly. Fab food lovely atmosphere. To be recommended!

D. C.

Really nice atmosphere and great coffee 👍

P. R.

We had lunch here after dropping my son off to start university. It was packed, but the staff were lovely and we were found a table for 4. A lovely waitress called Kate took our order, and though the wait for food was understandably long, our roast dinners were delicious. My beef was beautifully pink and tender, and the turkey and beef pie were also enjoyed. This is definitely somewhere we would be happy to visit again.

S. A.

Great atmosphere! A good definition of a lovely traditional english pub and the best thing about this place was the outstanding service. The staff were kind and eager to help! I'm sure I will be visiting again soon!

J. E.

Much better than it was. Dog friendly.

A. P.

Much better than the last time we went here food was much better and the service was great

S. W.

The waiter needs to wait until an unknown customer has a chance to look at the menu. Also the wine list is totally unreadable on A5, it needs to be on a A4 sheet. The beef roast was not very good this Sunday 11th October. The chicken Schnitzel was very nice, but the change of chips to potato should not have been changed.

D. S.

Amazing, Recently refurbed, country style pub/restaurant located near the heart of Southampton. Has the best of both in that respect. The food is fantastic, we both tried calamari starter, then sirloin steak, done medium (melts like butter in the mouth, it's that tender) and sea bass. We both loved our respective meals. The staff are most welcoming, kind and attentive and service was timely. Many people have commented and reviewed the Cowherds and I would add to and echo those extremely positive comments. It is quite simply a lovely place to eat and socialise (distantly, of course).

R. g.

Excellent food not badly priced

L. K.

Great Sunday Roast as always keeping up the tradition pre COVID & feels safe as maintains distance ete. Staff excellent.

p. b.

Megan ,Katie, Tilly ,Shannon ,And all of the Staff & Management many thanks

M. M.

Superb location with free parking and great park next door. The atmosphere is of a country pub / restaurant with informal and formal dining areas. The staff are very friendly and welcoming with a good menu. Dog walkers are welcome. Small outdoor seating area also available.

K. H.

Good overall but a few disappointing details-a few friends and I booked in for a mini Christmas get together meal, had prebooked the festive menu only to be greeted with a sign on the bar saying 'no roasts' and several other things on the menu were off too. Well, considering this was the first weekend of December, people had started booking Christmas meals and it was the start of the evening dinner service (not the end of the night) -I find it ridiculous that they hadn't estimated enough food to accommodate an above average intake of requests for roasts..... The food we ended up having was nice and the service was good but this detail was unbelievable to me.

A. G.

Order & pay from the table was really convenient. Food well presented and really tasty. Great with the outside seating

Μ. Ζ.

Easy online booking. Pet friendly. Busy, croudy but easy going, smooth running atmosphere. Good pub food with some gourmet choices available. Cheep drinks, slightly overpriced mains. Order and drinks arrived on time. Vanilla cheese cake seemed tasteless.

J. K.

Easily one of the best pubs in Southampton. Their Sunday roast is excellent, when available. The dining room is warm and cozy, the selection of beers and cider is excellent and the staff are generally very quick, polite and friendly. Have been multiple times and will definitely be back. Have a sit in the dining room, you won’t regret it.

M. L.

We attended a Christmas meal on a cold Sunday evening with about thirty other people. The place was warm and comfortable, but under-ventilated. Parking was easy. Toilets were clean and smart. Given the large number of people and the nature of the event, the food was good and the service as prompt and efficient as you'd want. However, only two real ales were on offer (the other two being off). Both the ales that were available were very sharp, and so I had the Aspall cider, which is at least not too sweet and not full of berries. If you were put off this place in the Eighties (when one memorable review said "carpet tiles masquerading as food"), give it another visit now; you'll be pleasantly surprised.

N. P.

Very nice food ,lovely friendly staff also do very reasonable accommodation.

M. T.

An unusual presentation of a roast but it works well in the main. Not the greatest of food, but more than acceptable. Service was fast and competent.

L. V.

Spent a few lovely hours in this comfortable pub. Good selection of drinks and friendly staff. Very good food at a reasonable price. Some outside seating which is nice and would have been lovely had the sun been out. Limited parking but a taxi wasn't expensive from the city centre. It would have been a nice walk (about 20 min) but the weather was really bad. I would recommend this pub and will certainly be back.

K.

The food was spot on. Really good quality and well cooked. The service was a bit hit and miss. We sat outside at the front which was surprisingly quiet and pleasant bearing in mind it overlooks the car park and road. I think this is because there are plenty of large trees about.

M. K.

Good food, great service!

M. R.

Food and service was fine. Social distancing from other tables was less so. People were placed at an adjoining table close enough to touch without stretching

J. W.

Extensive menu choices. Lots of tables, some of which are separated by glass screens, so whilst it's often busy, it's pleasant and you don't feel overcrowded. The waiters are students from the university and are always pleasant, patient, helpful and friendly. A relaxing place to enjoy a delicious meal, and not forgetting the cool drinks and delicious coffee.

A. V.

Great atmosphere, so would definitely advice to go for a pint, but the food is hit and miss. There's some really good dishes that I've eaten here but also poor ones. In all fairness you shouldn't order a burger in a place like this anyways, but I felt like burger so I did. The burger was disappointing. Heated deep-frozen patty, probably <1£ worth. It is served with a sad bun and a disappointing garnish. Chips are good though. Sets you back about 11£ but the burger at weatherspoon is better. Go for dishes that you can be sure of are home made. I've had success with more traditional dishes.

J. Y.

Very good menu and very good service

W.

Such a welcoming place. We'd arrive wet and soggy after a long dog walk and they welcomed us all. Even biscuits for the woofs. The menu was varied from lite bites to main meals. It was freshly cooked and arrived quickly. The puds and coffee were delicious too. Plenty of room inside so no one was on top of each other. We will be going back.

J. J.

Just finishing a meal in a very sensible pub that the only requirement is hand sanitiser at the door No other nonsense 👏 Dog friendly, pleasant Staff I will return again to The Cowherds, The Avenue, Southampton

N. T.

Super accommodating staff for a birthday party of 12 with one wheelchair user, really attentive and 12 clear plates! fantastic evening out!

M. S.

Really good food, especially the roast, nice atmosphere inside, drinks are a little expensive but probably not far from what you'd expect given the location, and could do with more outdoor seating, but overall great pub

P. P.

First time there, went without booking and although very busy staff were very accommodating and found us a table for 5. Food very good and it was nice to see that they were very dog friendly even supplying bowls for them. As there were still fireworks being let off around, one of our dogs was scared so it was reassuring for her to come in with us.

J. M.

Great place for food and drink. Part of the Vintage Inn chain, first time to this pub and chain. Will look for more locations to visit. Good choice on real Ales Also a good choice on larger as well. Very good selection on food, see today's menu. It has a good location on the common just off the main road. Catches the sun on one side early evening. They have lots of tables outside. Very friendly and helpful staff.

J. B.

Had a family dinner Christmas eve. Hadn't been there in a while, we weren't disappointed. Although it was very busy we didn't have to wait. The food was excellent and the waitresses were lovely all very friendly. The pub has had a make over since we last went, it's now very cosy and welcoming

A. B.

Lovely friendly family pub . Good food.

J. S.

Went for a lovely meal for my anniversary with my fiance, food and service both outstanding. Great experience.

I. V.

The atmosphere is really lovely and we were lucky enough to be seated as it's a busy boxing day. Really enjoyed the drinks although didn't get what we wanted originally (run out of pinneaple juice and no replacement for dairy milk) 🤔 Other than that pretty happy with the place!

K. M.

Large pub with different areas for sitting, good service, good food. Need to watch the cleanliness of their lounge tables, must be cleared after someone leaves. Just got a coffee and it wasn't served with sugar and I was not asked if I wanted any and it was served not on the saucer but beside it. Attention to detail.

B. T. W. W.

The food served here were very well prepared and tasted delicious. I especially like the lamb shank and the curried cauliflower soup. The Eton mess dessert was good too. Prices are reasonable and I love the ambiance of the place, so traditionally English.

N. B.

This was our third visit. Everything about this establishment is very nice.

S. S. N.

Food and drinks. Uite a large pub with an old feel. Service can be slow when busy and prices aren't very competitive

A. M.

Great food and nice staff, just remember to enter car registration on terminal!

p. r.

Nicely set near the common. Food was great. Sat outside with drinks and inside for food. Sunday roast was perfect

P. C.

Friendly service with a smile for a group of 9

J. N.

Lovely pub at the edge of Southampton Common, nice to sit outside in summer and gorgeous open fires in winter. Menues are being regularly updated to suit seasonal tastes and there's good selection for most dietary requirements. Can get quite busy at times due to its popularity and convenient location.

A.

Nice kids menu. They have a restaurant area and bar area. Dogs are allowed in the bar area. The wait can sometimes be a little long and occasionally they get orders wrong but the staff are friendly. The decor is classic and cosy and the environment is very clean. There is a nice choice of seating.

S. K.

Really enjoyed the food here, we were able to get a table in the walk in section having not booked before. Drink selection was nothing special in terms of taps but still drinkable. Lovely interior and friendly staff always make places more inviting

J. J.

Had to wait ages for our meals to arrive. OK not entirely there fault as they had an audit going on in the kitchen, but nothing was said to pre warn us of the delay. My steak was all sinuous and inedible. Wont be going back there.

L. W.

A pub that is full of character, serves a nice pint, has lovely food on offer and all of this is supported by wonderful and friendly staff. Really enjoyable visit and would strongly recommend (the House Burger in particular too!)

D.

We've seen The Cowherds go through many different phases over the decades that we've lived in Southampton. We reckon it's in a really good phase at the moment; good food and good service. They were busy on Sunday, but the service was slick without making us feel rushed.

v. p.

Pre-lockdown meal yesterday with my son. Superb food and lovely waitress. Looking forward to repeat visit in 4 weeks - all being well, So enjoy the atmosphere at this pub.

E. C.

Exceptional breakfast at a decent price. Friendly staff and a nice setting where you can take a stroll in the park after grub.

A. K.

Really nice lunch and reasonably priced. We love having Saturday lunches with kids in there after fun in Southampton Common.

A. S.

The place is great however the food is expensive for the quality, although it tasted great. The desert is perfect, if a little rich in taste but the layout of the food on the plate is very pretty though, very original and clean

J. S.

Lovely clean and tidy pub

P. H.

a smaller portion for young persons but bigger than the child portion

B. H.

Really nice food and friendly staff.

N. B.

A nice pub that can be very busy on a sunny day because it is located right in the middle of the Southampton Common. It's often a good idea to book a table if you are planning to eat there. The food is decent pub fare at a reasonable price.

P. T.

Had lovely Wedding lunch with new wife and parents. Thoroughly enjoyed Vegan main and handmade veggie burger for my other half. Delicious Vegan Bramley Apple pie and custard. Service exceptional. Lovely atmosphere.

R. W.

Popular pub on Southampton Common, right next to the new play area. Ample seating inside & outside. Full menu available online with facility to book a table online also. Car park is fairly large & if its full, parking is available across the road in the residential streets (off The Avenue). Food is cooked to a good standard & there are also some vegetarian & vegan options. Table staff were extremely friendly & accommodating & did their absolute best to assist us & make our stay a comfortable one. Bar staff were also very good. This is a charming pub that never fails to impress & is in an excellent location. The closest "forest vibe" you'll get being so close to town.

S. H.

Easy to reach, plenty of parking.

C. B.

Nice food. Easy to find and plenty of parking.👍

B. C.

I visited this pub/restaurant a week ago, took my family there for Sunday lunch. The vegetables were cold, the roast potatoes pale and not cooked enough, the roast beef very nice, tender and plenty of it. Been a few times in the past and I vowed I wouldn't go again. Gave it another chance and was very disappointed. Not likely to go again any time soon.

J. g.

Good Xmas meal with good company I would recommend the cowards

S.

Arrived today at a quiet time. Ordered the hunters chicken and was not overly impressed. We then ordered dessert and it seemed to take ages to come out. I asked when it was going to be brought out and I think they had forgotten about it. When the desert finally came out they had forgotten to bring our little one's ice cream out so we cut our losses and left. We won't be rushing back to this pub.

J. W.

Amazing building with fantastic placement on the common, not cheap but then that is what you would expect, not so expensive either. Atmosphere inside is amazing, free parking for customers but make sure to use the little self check-in machines for parking. Rustic and cosy definitely describe this place well.

S. S.

Nice location , however expensive Sunday lunch ( £14.95 non carvery ) and the Eton mess was basically cream , hardly any meringue

R. S.

Popped in mob handed on a hot busy day. We ordered food in dribs and drabs (awkward for them) and it all came quickly and was really tasty. Had fish and chips, batter was crispy and the fish tender. Chips nicely seasoned and mushy peas were great. Good cider and beer too.

N. H.

Well located on the edge of the Common in Southampton. Always found it easy to park in their car park out the back of the pub. Large amount of seating inside and out so always found a table but it is popular so worth a phone call/booking. Standard pub menu with a good range though and well priced. Always had a good service.

M. D.

Friendly staff, good food and comfortable

S. G.

The only place to go for post Common fun.

c. l.

Nice friendly staff. Bright clean warm pub. Just remember to put your car reg number into the machine.

R. M.

Had a wonderful Christmas meal today at Cowherds served by Megan. She was very attentive and gave us plenty of time between courses so we could chat with our friends. Happy Christmas every one.

V. M.

Unusually disappointing. Visited at 6pm on a Sunday and they had already run out or roasts meaning the menu was very limited. We didn't get our food until just before 7pm which led to a very stressful wait with 2 toddlers. When the meals came my asparagus, green bean, broccoli and baby spinach tagliatelle turned out to be broccoli and pea tagliatelle so very disappointed and perhaps the reason we waited about 50 minutes for our food. Sadly we didn't get to have dessert as then needed to get my toddler to sleep. Visited several times along with many other vintage inns and have never had such a problem.

A. H.

Decent food dog friendly place

N. R.

Not great but not bad either. If you want simple food pub, it’s not a bad option. Good place to stop via the common but I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit. Dog friendly and family orientated. Reasonably priced food, will definitely fill a hole! A few parking spots nearby and more car parking spaces a short walk away if you’re driving. Can get very busy at weekends.

L. S.

The Cowards has a great country pub atmosphere. It has one of the best Vegan menu s in Southampton. Terry made our experience extra special. We had a great evening!

L. W.

Great meal. Good service.

L. W.

This was the first pub I ever went to in Southampton (when I moved here 6 years ago) and it's still my favourite! Can sit outside if there's sun, or there's a log fire if it's cold. Great food, great beer and gray customer service. Definitely worth a visit

F. C.

Super located pub literally on Southampton common. Great for walks with the family and then lunch after. Good choice on menu, kids menu and lots of alcohol free options if you're driving. Dogs are allowed but in BAR ONLY so if booking a table, make sure you're there. We didbt and doggo had to stay in the car. Service friendly. 2puld go again.

S. W.

Very very nice restaurant, decor is really well done, service and food great!

C. S.

Lovely location next to the common although the road is a bit naff to look at if you want to sit outside. Nice atmosphere inside although while the staff are excellent there's just not enough of them. The place seems permanently under staffed. Food is OK, not much variety, especially if your a vegetarian and your more or less screwed if you're vegan. Not much of an ale selection, oh and its all bit pricey. All that being said; I keep going back so it can't be that bad.

S. G.

Go here for Boxing day meal, very pet friendly pub so be prepared to see lots of breeds of dogs. Eating area separated in sections. Always busy every time I have been.

n. c.

We have been here many times, the setting is ideal being on the edge of Southampton Common and the service is fast and friendly, though it can get extremely busy when the sun comes out. They have a good selection of drinks and the food is also very good. We have taken my young son here to eat and he was made welcome and enjoyed the experience. The Chicken Ceasar Salad here is the best I've had, would strongly recommend.

R. P.

Beautiful location, decent car parking and very friendly and welcoming staff. Does get busy and sometimes the queues are pretty abysmal, but the staff work hard to serve you promptly. As usual, my biggest problem is the dogs in the bar. My girlfriend was attacked by 3 dogs, as an 8yo...and bears the mental and physical scars to this day...and whilst platitudes, about 'don't worry, she/he doesn't bite' may work for some...for her it really does nothing. Surely dogs can be left at home for the 2-3 hours that you are having a meal or drink? Quirky little corners, interesting, local historical pictures and free WiFi. Certainly worth a visit, but maybe not with someone who is scared of dogs?

A. B.

Lovely location just at the start of Commons

F. W. (. n. L.

A great Pub near the Common, which cater for all sort of people, young, old etc.. the atmosphere is warm and relaxing and the staff is kind, efficient and professional. As for the food, there is a good choice , for all budgets, and it is delicious and hot. I love the Cowherd.

J. E.

Great variety of food at a reasonable price (the main courses vary from £9-£22). Oriented towards sit down meals. Accommodates large groups and individuals/couples. Service is mostly fast, except if you're ordering drinks at the bar. Very cosy with a working fireplace in the winter months. Provides water bowls for dogs which is a nice touch.

R. D.

Had a Sunday roast with wife and kids. Excellent food and service. Will certainly be coming back.

J. P.

Went for my partners birthday last night, the food was incredible and extremely well priced. The staff were friendly and made sure we always had drinks and our food came out really quickly which was fantastic. I will definitely be returning and recommending the food to everyone! Thanks!

S. C.

Walked in yesterday 5pm. Offered a choice of casual dining or table service. Chose table service. Haven't eaten here for a while but always been quite happy with everything over last few years. (There was no sign of the long wait at the bar for service that put us off from going any more prior to that). Menu was great 'Wednesday pie day' , special menu alongside the standard one. Food was fab, very good value, quick friendly service. Thoroughly recommend and so pleased it's a 'local' for us as alternatives are few and far between.

D.

Great spot. V good menu with plenty of options. Kids menu also. Excellent service. Has an amazing park right next to it. Defo worth the visit when in the area and especially on a summers day. I'll defo be back

M. A.

The food looks amazing, had major food envy, staff friendly and helpful

A. C.

Good food, nice atmosphere. Can get a bit noisy with kids but great for families

I. C.

Great place. Dog friendly? We booked here because it said "dogs welcome". Was disappointed to be turned away from the restaurant and banished to the bar which is the only dog friendly area. Actually this was better as the restaurant rather resembled a "happy eater" on a bank holiday in the rain.

T. H.

You register at the door before you can do anything. We sat outside. Social distancing was well managed. Over £8 for a bottle of cider and a soft drink though

A. G.

On a Very busy sat night the food was still fast to arrive despite how full restaurant was. Excellent food, hot and good service. This is second time we have been whilst visiting family and will go again next time in Southampton. The booking in process for the restaurant could be improved but despite that we recomend it. I would have given 5 stars otherwise.

D. K.

We arrived here on a visit to Southampton all the kids were hungry, this is a large Pub which does loads of great food, great selection. Once the food was ordered (at the bar) it did take some time but is was Saturday afternoon 3pm and it was pretty full. Food came and was very good, we had quite a selection from the soup to the Wagyu burger, & roast chicken all very good and decent portions. I had the Steak sandwich and got some horseradish wow it made my eye water great stuff. Really enjoyed this pub, very child & dog friendly.

B. B.

I've never been poisoned, nor had an absolutely bad beer, but service has been woefully slow and forgetful on two consecutive visits and the beer a bit past its best. Food, when it comes, is good and staff friendly when things go wrong.

D. W.

Had many a good meal here. Food is excellent, services can sometimes be a little poor but most of the time staff are very friendly and chatty. Well recommended for a nice evening meal.

N. L.

It was a busy pub but it didn't feel that way as tables are positioned nicely. Food came quickly. It was very nice food. Staff apologised for it being busy and there was a wait but they really didn't need to as it was not an unreasonable time.

J. W.

Welcoming to dogs. Pleasant atmosphere. Chicken pie tasty but mainly air with only a little filling. Fish light bites very good.

S. N.

Very pleasant place for a birthday lunch. Excellent menu and very pleasant staff.

L. W.

Nice and cosy. Good for a drink after a walk around the common and dog friendly! Usually food is quite good! Dont get the nutroast though - potatos were chewy and it was randomly served with a spoonfull of cold ratatouille...

A. M.

This is a fabulous pub in a lovely, old building. It's spacious with nooks and crannies to sit in and the food and drink is very good. Definitely my favourite place in the area. Forgot to mention that it's dog friendly too!

G. O.

Standard pub fare . However a lovely pub with friendly staff .we had a cosy meal whilst it peed down outside

S. H.

There was soooo much food when we went for Christmas and it has a real old coaching in feel to it. This place has existed in the form of a pub/inn for a couple of hundred years and it is a real taste of history when you walk in. The staff are friendly and there are a range of gins and beers available.

N. B.

Lovely pub on the edge of the common. Good food. Will be back soon

J. M.

Great food and drink. Very quick service when ordering through the app, too.

M.

Really liked it, very sensible with covid restrictions, really nice staff, enjoyed my pub meal, decent food prices, happy all round! No complaints.

D. G.

A warm welcome ,lovely food served by friendly staff. We've been here several times over the past few years and their high standards are well maintained Can rightly recommend for lunchtimes with children and or friends.

L. D. B.

Never disappointed with the food, hispitality and venue. Highly recommended and reasonably priced for high quality food.

J. M.

Superb meal at The Cowherds tonight with two friends we've missed during the lockdown. They have the social distancing down to a fine art and at no time did we feel at risk. Well done to the team at the Cowherds we really enjoyed our evening thankyou.

S. F.

Everything about the Cowherds was what you would expect friendly staff, for me a good choice of nice food the the mal that i had was really nice, but the reason I gave 4 stars instead of the full 5 stars was the wait time to be served for drinks then taking my order it was all a little slow, I'd definitely go back

P. J.

Nice cosy pub and friendly staff

G. D.

Amazing Sunday meal. A+ service. Highly recommended for a great relaxing atmosphere and amazing food

J. S.

We have just returned from lunch at the cowherds. Unfortunately the time we had to wait for our food after ordering was over 40 minutes. Not very good. And feel if there was going to be a delay we should have been told iwhen ordering. My lobster fishcakes were very nice .But unfortunately the vegetable berger was not having no flavour and was rubbery...not up to your normal standards.

G. C.

Always very friendly staff, a broad & varied menu and good value for money. And a nice (free) bottle of Prosecco as a birthday treat - if you are on their contact list.

H. M.

Nice restaurant with a very relaxed atmosphere. The food tastes great and the portion sizes are spot on. Booking online was really easy. The Common is a pleasant location to explore before or after eating too.

A. D.

Nice location for a pint during a nice day in the common. Venue is nice and well maintained however most of the staff are never happy to help when serving food or dealing with requests. Normally a long wait on food but not always.

A. L.

Good food, quick service. Little bit pricey but overall can't complain. Lovely weather to sit outside and enjoy a pint

N. M.

This is a great pub located on the edge of Southampton Common. It is a family and dog friendly pub, so it's a good stop off before or after a walk. The serve good food, but Sundays will be busy and is best to book.

P. H.

A delightful location and a very decent pub with above average food and reasonable service. The pub gets very busy on sunny weekend days but even then they seem to cope well and having eaten there several times I am impressed overall.

A. C.

Food and beer are always good, but the service can be a bit slow. Usually depends which staff are on as some are better than others. It's part of a chain - another (better) one is the Fox and Hounds and Lone Barn in Burseldon, that is a great pub. The Cowherds is also legendary in the summer for people sitting on the grass outside and enjoying a cool pint. Excellent.

p. b.

A great 3 generation Sunday lunch.

A. L. B.

Had lunch this afternoon with the Family. The food was great, we didn't to have to long between courses. The member of staff looking after us was lovely. He was clearly very busy but made time to check everything was ok with the food & we had enough drinks.

W. G.

An ideal watering hole to visit after enjoying the common. A cosy pub with a long Southampton history. Free parking and a wide choice of drinks. Comfortable seating but can get very busy at popular times.

I. R.

Popped in for a late lunch / snack. Had something off the light bites menu. Table we chose had only just been vacated but was quickly cleared and cleaned. Food arrived promptly as was good

m. k.

Enjoyed it. Quick service on a busy Sunday afternoon. Broccoli a bit hard on the roast. Black forest pot a good twist on tradition - and recommended

C. J.

Lovely food good service and didn't feel crowded at all.

D. M.

Food and drinks are great. It's just such a busy pub that it's quite hard to either find a table or even get to the bar sometimes. A great place to drink in the summer outside and just a brisk walk through the common so it's in a great location.

J. S.

For a pub chain it was very good. The staff were very helpful and friendly and the service was efficient. The food was reasonably priced and tasty! Would definitely go back.

L. H.

Great meal. Lovely food. I would recommend the Beef Bourginon .

D. N.

It's a kind of extension of Southampton University. It's where you must go to take DD or DS for lunch when you've come down. Very big pub/restaurant. Reasonable beer choice, but not a drinkers pub. Food menu, service, quality and value seemed fine to us.

A. K.

Had a pub dinner here with my grandparents. Pretty standard pub selection - I had the steak and ale pie which was tasty but the beef was going a touch dry, my grandad described his hunters chicken as 'okay', my fiancee complained that his veggie curry was a much smaller portion size compared to everone else's heavier meat options and my grandma liked her beer battered fish and chips.

A. S.

Despite arriving early we were swiftly seated by the friendly maitre'd. Food and drinks service was excellent from waitress Katie, good food, reasonable prices. Happy to recommend.

S. s. W.

Brilliant pub highly recommend

P. S.

Good food and friendly staff. Dog friendly too which was a plus. Food maybe slightly more pricey than I am used to but then I do live in South Wales where things are generally cheaper. Well worth a visit.

I. F.

Cowhards is a great place to chill, have a drink and a spot of lunch. It can get very busy in the summer months and when the sun is out it's very busy. Cowhards is a great location to the common so perfect for lunch before the festivals or the running events or just great location for food outside the busy city area.

S. G.

A lovely country pub atmosphere but just on the outskirts of town. Ideally placed for the bus routes too. Will definitely recommend and will visit again.

D. B.

Twice I've been here and the service is exceptional!! The food is perfect along with the wine selection. Get there early for parking as it gets busy quick. I would recommend anyone trying this place!

K. C.

Nice busy pub to go to after a dog walk in the Common. Good choice of snacks & meals. A pub we go to often. In the Winter has an open fire for cosiness.

D. C.

Fabulous food, staff very quick to help. Allowing for the fact they also had the festive rush of business party dinners to work with as well as normal diners!

T. M.

Great place, good food but the service is really really slow. We came on a public holiday but it wasn't that busy when we arrived. We waited 30 min for our starter and almost 1 hour for the food. Total unacceptable

J. F. (.

Been going here for 20 years now, never had a bad meal. Very close to the park if you take kids and you want to drink longer than their attention span would allow.

J. D.

Great food and dog friendly. You need to down load app to order in current covid times.

S. L.

There was a fit lass behind the bar. Food was a good standard and they allowed dogs in too. Nice place. Nice barmaid. Didn't catch her name

C.

Great food with friendly staff. Lovely meal.

D. P.

The food is quite good but a bit expensive. The staff isn't so nice but it's a great environment. It's so close to my house, therefore I'll come back in the future.

S. B.

Very nice place, ideal to have a drink or just sit down for a drink. Nice location close to the Commons park. Great burgers but I liked the menu in general. Loved the Pimm's here.

K. G.

Great original food. Not a typical pub food. It has a cosy country pub vibe in a city centre. Helpful and cheerful staff.

F. S.

OK pub food. On my visit the grill stopped working so my friends and I could only have a limited number of dishes off the menu. Large pub with a good feel, wooden beams etc.

C. M.

The Cowherds is a bit of a Southampton institution, it's great setting next to/on the common is good for summer drinks. The food is nice too, it's always a bit busy and the car park does get full. Recommended nevertheless!

P. W.

Tasty, well priced, attentive service, but cold. It's a cold day, but when a shepherds pie is cold in the middle, it clearly had been left too long before dishing up.

L. B.

The weekend menu was very good value, especially for 2 people as there are options to share starters, desserts as well as a bottle of wine. Always a nice atmosphere and the food is usually very good.

c. l.

Great beer and food. It’s just off the avenue which is the major road into Southampton from the M3. Well appointed and cosie pub inside with some table outside. Southampton common is just a few mtrs away as well as Southampton commons newly fitted and refurbished children’s play park. It’s a little on the expensive side

j. r.

Good food but a little overpriced. And needs to be quicker at lunchtime

J. S.

Always good food and service.

A.

Fantastic portions and the highest quality food from a local legend 💯🔥🤙🏻

R. J.

its OK for what it is, a pub that does food The service was slow even tho there seemed to be a lot of staff behind the bar. menu not very inspiring and this pub is clearly trading on its location. I'm sure at other times the service would be better but I just got the feeling the place is not trying very hard because its a prime spot, shame because it would not take much to improve the impressing it gave me.

S. W.

I love the Cowherds next to the Common. Have used this pub for atreat rather than being a local regular for donkeys years. Its always had clean toilets, good service and great food. Keep up your good standards as I shall be visiting in 2016 from Cyprus in May and August!!!

D. R. R. (. S.

I'll make this short. Large parking on which you are allowed to leave your car and take a walk through the park. Very nice service, god and warm food, not expensive at all. Great variety. Can honestly recommend this place. Great to spend whole day with family or to contemplate life alone ;)

S. G.

Nice little pub by the common good selection of alcohol and the food is very good but a little on the pricey side for pub grub but I wouldn't exactly call it a gastro-pub. The interior is cosy and it can get a bit hot if you are seated next to one of the open fires they often have lit.

J. C.

Food was variable. Some dishes ok some too rich. Second visit and a couple of raucous tables so loud you couldn't gave a conversation. That and a table who adjusted the spotlights above their table to annoy other diners all seemed beyond the ability of the staff to resolve. Shame. Had potential.

D. “. A.

Great service, location and food it's the go to pub for me on a summers day. I love the bar snacks/appetisers they have sometime I just order 3 of them for a lunch or dinner and it comes in at under 10£. Lots of parking round back as well

M. B.

Lovely pub to go for food or a drink with friends. Always serve great food and the prices are what you would expect. Seating can get a bit tight at times so just keep that in mind. Very warm by real log fires.

S. P.

I love the typical old pub style, but it's not really a place to go and grab a drink anymore - this is basically a restaurant. Food is fine, nothing wrong with it, but a bit expensive for what it is. Limited parking, so get there early if you want a space - particularly at the weekend.

S. D.

Great place to enjoy a well cooked Sunday dinner. Good prices. Book a table to avoid disappointment.On a sunny Sunday afternoon, this is perfect to place to enjoy a drink in amongst the trees of the common.

S. M.

Took my daughters for Sunday lunch. Food was OK, not fantastic. Meat was tasty but the vegetables were cold, roast potatoes soggy. Service was friendly.

J. B.

Really proud to have this as our local. Nice atmosphere, service and food.

D. G.

Had a fabulous time here. I had the feta tart and it was so tasty!. Waitress very pleasant. Nothing too much trouble.

S. W.

Nice, quick pub food. Nothing outstanding, but a good quick meal after a day shopping in Southampton. Quite an interesting old pub on the way home from Southampton City centre.

P. X.

Love this place we had our 1st date here 10 years ago, now its our tradition to go there twice a year

j. b.

Lovely welcoming pub. Friendly service with a smile on the faces. Especially our waiter Terry he was brilliant and made our time there great. Defiantly recommend this place. Would come here again. Thanks.

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