ANOTHER Hampshire pub has suddenly shut its doors and appears to have pulled its last pint.
The Royal Oak in Southampton’s Houndwell Place has closed, leaving the county with one less boozer.
A sign pinned up on the venue’s door informs punters that the Royal Oak has closed, stating: “It is with regret that the Royal Oak will be closed for the foreseeable future. Regards.”
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The establishment had been open just a few weeks ago, advertising events at the pub in December on their Facebook page, including the screening of Leicester vs Chelsea in December.
Billing itself as the “ultimate student local” on Facebook and the “number one student pub”, the Royal Oak often pulled in crowds to watch football matches as well as having a weekly quiz night.
In 2007, the pub was at the centre of a bizarre theft after someone stole one of their urinals from the bathroom.
A man was seen on CCTV entering the men’s toilets and leaving with a bulging backpack.
He handed himself into the police less than a week later and was cautioned for the un-loo-usual theft.
But the Royal Oak is now one of more than 50 boozers that have closed in Hampshire over the years, including The Varsity in London Road.
Southampton City Councillor for Bittern ward, John Noon, Labour, said: “It is quite sad that it has shut, it was a good student pub and there was a good atmosphere down there.
“It is always sad when a local pub closes, but we have quite a lot of micro breweries opening and the Dancing Man has recently opened so there are still places where pubs are expanding.
“But is it sad that the pub has closed, it served students and locals well.”
Deric Payne, chairman of the Southern Hampshire Campaign for Real Ales, CAMRA, said: “It must have closed very recently and it is very disappointing.
“It is depressing that another pub has gone, all the little pubs are going.
“There is always someone that uses theses pubs, unfortunately there aren’t enough to keep them open.
“It is such as shame because we lose the character of little pubs if we only have the big main pubs that can stay open.”
No one from the Royal Oak could be reached to discuss the pub and it is unclear if the closure is permanent.
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