THEY say laughter can be contagious.

And I’ve never seen greater evidence of that than inside this Southampton pub.

Dougie Thompson and his partner, Carole Whitford, only took the reins of the Humble Plumb, in Bitterne, in November last year.

But already their passion for the job and their infectious personalities have seen them become a hit with punters.

Every local you speak to at the bar mentions the same word – atmosphere.

That is what Dougie and Carole have brought to the pub in abundance, a warm, friendly, happy atmosphere that people clearly feel comfortable in.

But that’s not enough for the chirpy couple, who ran another Wadworth-owned pub, the Avon Causeway, in Christchurch, before moving to Southampton.

That’s because, despite the pub celebrating its 200th anniversary last month, Dougie and Carole are eagerly looking ahead to the future.

They have already hired a new chef, Neil Stewart, who has completely revamped the food menu, to offer home cooked dishes including sausage and mash, fish and chips and chilli con carne.

And with main meals starting from just £4.95, they hardly break the bank either.

It’s a trend that is followed behind the bar, which still has two old wooden casks on show, as a reminder of the pub’s illustrious past.

Ales are on offer from £3 a pint, with lagers starting at £3.45 and the cheapest wine available for £2.15 a glass.

They also offer a unique taster option on their 11 ales, with three smaller glasses measuring a third of a pint available for £3 – perfect for the alcohol connoisseur.

Dougie and Carole have also installed a new darts board and aim to start their own team in the coming months, while murder mystery nights could also be on the agenda in the near future.

It may be two centuries old, but this couple have certainly breathed new life into this pub.

The Humble Plumb,
Commercial Street,
Bitterne, Southampton,
SO18 6LY.
humbleplumb.co.uk

Tel: 023 8043 7577.