The White Star Tavern

“Authentic Tavern Experience”

Stayed here 2 nights pre-cruise. It’s an original authentic old tavern with rooms above it & a great outdoor patio for coffee, snacks & people watching. There is a designated smoking area on 1 side of the patio. It but may not be for everyone but I loved it. This not a 5 star experience. The inte… more

Stayed here 2 nights pre-cruise. It’s an original authentic old tavern with rooms above it & a great outdoor patio for coffee, snacks & people watching. There is a designated smoking area on 1 side of the patio. It but may not be for everyone but I loved it. This not a 5 star experience. The interior is original, it’s not modern, no elevator, the rooms are small, but clean and comfy. But that is its appeal, it has SO much character. The history is 3rd class passengers on the Titanic stayed here, hence the name: from the White Star line. Lots of Titanic memorabilia throughout the hotel. A very nice breakfast (buffet and menu options) was included in a beautiful dining area off the bar. The original bar is pretty cool too. It’s on a quiet pedestrian cobblestone street with lots of outdoor restaurants and cafés & there is a casino 1 block away. Not a touristy area - seems more like a local neighborhood. There is no shopping close, but it’s an easy 1 mile walk (or taxi ride) to the main WestQuay shopping area. They will store your luggage if you arrive early, & there are small sitting rooms off the lobby to relax until your room is ready. The front desk arranged for a taxi to the cruise port. If you are a low maintenance, relaxed, go-with-the-flow kinda traveler, and want an authentic European experience, not a sterile hotel chain, this is the place for you. I Ioved it, & would def stay here again before a cruise.

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“Fantastic place to stay but eat elsewhere in the evening.”

Positives: Really comfortable. Great location. Fantastic breakfast. Thoughtful extras. Negatives: Poor evening meal. Noise at night. Stairs if you are disabled. The White Star is a great place to stay a few days in Southampton whether for a break or a few days before/after a cruise (which seems … more

Positives: Really comfortable. Great location. Fantastic breakfast. Thoughtful extras. Negatives: Poor evening meal. Noise at night. Stairs if you are disabled. The White Star is a great place to stay a few days in Southampton whether for a break or a few days before/after a cruise (which seems to be popular). The rooms are small but clean, comfortable and well appointed. Tea and coffee making is improved on the general fare by the provision of real milk in the fridge in the room and a pod coffee machine. The location is perfect for exploring Southampton on foot with a short stroll to museums or to explore the Old town and walls. Oxford Street itself is vibrant and lively but that does mean you will have noise at night. You may need to use earplugs. There were some thoughtfully provided. It is a listed building so that means stairs. Rooms over three floors of narrow staircases it is not a good choice for the disabled. If you can manage them though it just adds to the charm. Check in was welcoming and simple with friendly staff. Breakfast was excellent, plentiful and great quality. The morning staff were really friendly and helpful. I cannot however recommend the evening meals. We only tried it once to see food go back to the kitchen for not being warm enough and then have it returned with a statement from the chef that it was. Not much fun for the woman young involved especially as it was a burger she asked to be cooked through - yes rare in the middle burgers are a thing but some prefer them better cooked and this can be essential if you are pregnant. My own fish that evening was translucent and grey but apparently this was properly cooked too according to the chef. I know nothing about fish clearly and must be growing senile in my mid sixties. The fact I first learned to fillet and prepare cod on the docks at Grimsby more almost fifty years ago shows how out of touch I am. That’s by the by though. Most establishments would simply have tried to please the customer but sometimes arrogance is king.

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“The Oxford street scene entices you in but the music soon drives you out”

Now i like the pub and the oxford street area but the sound system simply makes it too hard to talk to one another and i like loud music but you have to be able to talk to you better half without having to shout crowded pub will draw you in but too loud music will soon empty it. sorry but just tone… more

Now i like the pub and the oxford street area but the sound system simply makes it too hard to talk to one another and i like loud music but you have to be able to talk to you better half without having to shout crowded pub will draw you in but too loud music will soon empty it. sorry but just tone it back a little

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“Tavern is PK for food and drink, Hotel doesn't meet the standard expected for the price”

Hotel is located in a small street full of bars, taverns and venues, with loud music very late at night; Romms are not enougn insulated ans worst they are aging, hardly comfortable, not very neat and need being refurbished urgently. Onthe other hand food is good and plenty and it is pleasant to hav… more

Hotel is located in a small street full of bars, taverns and venues, with loud music very late at night; Romms are not enougn insulated ans worst they are aging, hardly comfortable, not very neat and need being refurbished urgently. Onthe other hand food is good and plenty and it is pleasant to have a drink there outdoor, just beneath the hotel windows but noise and rumor arise from everywhere in the street.

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