The Crown Inn, Highfield (From Daily Echo)

The Crown Inn, Highfield

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IT’S a country pub in the middle of a city.

That’s the way regulars at The Crown Inn in Highfield, Southampton describe their local boozer.

The Crown Inn, believed to have been built in the very early days of the 20th century, has a real traditional and cosy feel to it.

The long wooden bar serves a selection of beers including four real ales, one of which comes from New Forest brewer Ringwood.

The pub has two appreciation societies, one for its burgers and another for its barmaids. Oddly though, the burger group has more members than the barmaid.

Landlord Steve Grimble has run the pub for 12 years with business partner Jackie Hahyer after the drinking establishment underwent several changes decades ago.

The pub has been extended a couple of times but never lost the character its Tudor-esque beams give it.

Situated just off Highfield Avenue, the Crown inn offers food for a number of different tastes, the famous burgers, as well as fajitas, fish and a couple of Italian dishes on the menu.

Boss Steve, 59, said: “The great thing about this pub is, it has a real cross section of customers from 18 to 80 or 18 to 90 sometimes.

“It’s a very traditional pub, we don’t have any machines, the music never gets too loud, people can just come along and have a drink and a friendly chat.

“I wanted to buy the pub when I was 30 years old but lost out to another buyer and then took the chance when I was a bit older and the opportunity rose again.

“We are really just a lovely country pub – that happens to be in the middle of a city.”