IT'S THE spit and sawdust pub where older students return with their grown-up children, and everyone remembers dancing on tables.
The Frog and Frigate - known affectionately as the Frog - is known for its friendly atmosphere and live music.
The pub is in one of the last wharf buildings left in Canute Road dating back to the 1800s, opposite the city's old docks.
In its colourful history, the establishment has been a brothel frequented by American sailors, among many other things.
It was known as the Frog and Frigate & Dock Brewery Co in 1981, and three years later the current landlord, Southampton guitarist Derek Gardener, started playing and singing at the venue.
He then bought the pub in 1993, running it for 10 years before selling it in 2003.
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The next owner sadly passed away five years later.
After sitting empty for six years, the popular nighttime spot was brought back to life in 2015, when Derek took it over again and it reopened.
"It had such a large following," Derek said.
"A very loyal following back in the 80s, when it was just a pub. It was the most popular student venue in Southampton.
"Now we have parents in their 50s who came in the 80s bringing their kids back. It is quite amazing."
Derek and Lorraine Gardener were hard at work getting the place ready for its reopening in 2015, and 'Froggers' travelled from as far as Hong Kong, Toronto and Rome to attend.
They repainted virtually every wall and ceiling in preparation.
He said that tickets for the opening night in 2015 crashed the ticket site.
He said: "People came from Austria, one came and camped outside the pub to be there for its opening."
The pub then had to close for 18 months in the pandemic due to Covid regulations.
"We couldn't operate a live music venue where people danced on the tables and sang," Derek said.
"It is still that kind of place, still going strong."
Derek added that people make friends in the venue, and that customers are "very friendly" which gives the pub "such a great vibe".
Free entry before 11pm. It is open from 10pm-2am with live music and DJ sets every Friday and Saturday.
- The Frog and Frigate is our pub of the week. We love featuring Hampshire watering holes, whether they are back street boozers or country inns set in acres. If you'd like us to write about yours, click on the link below, visit dailyecho.co.uk/pub-of-the-week or email lorelei.reddin@dailyecho.co.uk
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