Southampton sports pub and fringe theatre venue to close at new year

The team behind The Painted Wagon and The Stage Door are instead launching a production company taking shows on the road across the region.

Since opening in 2015, The Stage Door has built a reputation as the city's home for fringe theatre including cabaret, adult pantomime and Manford’s Comedy Club.

Some of the impressive Saints memorabilia on display at The Painted Wagon

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It has continued a legacy of live performance at the site that stretches back to 2001, when the building first opened as the Soul Cellar. Names to have graced the stage at the 170 capacity venue include comedians Jason Manford and Richard Blackwood, West End star Kerry Ellis and Sean Ryder of Happy Mondays fame.

In 2021, the space downstairs was converted into an intimate sports pub filled with Saints memorabilia. The Painted Wagon, honouring its iconic namesake which closed decades before in the same location, has proved a popular spot for fans heading to St Mary's on matchdays.

But now founders Julianne and Jason Watling-McCarthy say they are stepping back from operating the venues to focus on writing, casting and producing shows.

Julianne Watling-McCarthy of The Stage Door (Image: Chris Moorhouse)

Julianne explained: "Running a physical venue takes a lot of time and energy. We've spent way too much time focusing on building maintenance and admin, which has been draining the creative juices right out of what we actually live for: making brilliant, unforgettable theatre and shows.

"This is not the final curtain — it's a new beginning. We are pouring 100 per cent of our passion, drama and energy exactly where it belongs: into the scripts, the casting and the shows themselves. The building might be closing as a performance venue, but the show must go on."

Inside The Stage Door (Image: The Stage Door)

The Stage Door will continue to present shows for the rest of 2026 with audiences encouraged to contribute to a special memory book.

The final official event at The Stage Door will be a celebratory New Year's Eve Bash hosted by drag performers. The Painted Wagon will close after the home game against Cardiff on New Year’s Day.

Owner Jason Watling-McCarthy behind the bar

The building will remain in use for day-to-day operations and workshops, but productions will move to other venues, including nearby Mayflower Studios.

The Stage Door team will continue to run Southampton Pride.