IT’S one of Southampton’s hidden gems, tucked away near St Mary’s Stadium at the Shamrock Quay marina.

Bernie and Kath Harrigan have been landlord and lady of the Waterfront bar for nine years, pouring pints for dog walkers and boat owners, but they do particularly well when Saints are playing at home.

Bernie said: “It’s a very friendly pub and it has a good atmosphere. We get nice people in here, even on football days, but we’ve had no bother in here for football.

“It’s been here 30 or 40 years, this pub. It was busier when the TV station was here.

“Fred Dinenage still sometimes pops in for poached eggs on toast. We have a little bit of banter because he’s a Portsmouth supporter.

“We used to get a lot of the Saints players ages ago when they were in the premier division last time around.

“We get a few regulars but we get a lot of different people here too, mainly at weekends.

“We get people who own dogs staying at the marina and a lot of them bring their dogs and children in here.”

Bernie, who worked in catering in the Merchant Navy for 12 years including on the Queen Mary and QE2, runs the pub with his wife, Kath and a team of six full time members of staff.

They pride themselves on being family and dog friendly, with a good atmosphere and often host parties, A typical pint costs £3.40 and a range of hearty pub meals are served from breakfast through to dinner, both indoors and in the covered outside seating area.