The brand new Knightwood Lounge at St Mary’s Stadium is being described by Saints as a premium venue, and you can feel the class that it oozes as soon as you walk in.

The strong green hues painted on the walls bring a sense of elegance and waiters serving cocktails on the door puts you right at ease.

There was a selection of mixed drinks available, but a particular shoutout should also go to their non-alcoholic cocktail, which somehow made a mixture of lemonade and orange juice feel fit for a king.

A non-alcoholic cocktail of lemonade and orange juice. A non-alcoholic cocktail of lemonade and orange juice. (Image: Newsquest) Once you pick up a drink, it’s the view down that strikes you.

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Overlooking the pitch from the third floor, the padded seats at the Knightwood Lounge are probably the best in the house, especially when you are sitting right next to the electric “Northam wall” stood in the new safe-standing area.

The view down to the pitch from the Knightwood Lounge at St Mary's Stadium.The view down to the pitch from the Knightwood Lounge at St Mary's Stadium. (Image: Newsquest) But matchday is not even what it feels like Saints are targeting with this new venue, they want it to be available for bookings seven days a week, and suggested that the cocktail bar could be perfect for after-conference drinks or bottomless brunches.

Four corporate boxes used to occupy this space but the Knightwood Lounge offers a premium alternative to those who would prefer a "Saints Sling" to a lager.

The Saints Sling cocktail, which contains gin, lemon juice, cherry syrup, cranberry juice and coloured sugar.The Saints Sling cocktail, which contains gin, lemon juice, cherry syrup, cranberry juice and coloured sugar. (Image: Newsquest) Free flowing food aids this experience – a far cry from the traditional football pub as canapés are served across the room.

A couple of examples of the food available at the Knightwood Lounge.A couple of examples of the food available at the Knightwood Lounge. (Image: Newsquest) The pulled pork slider was easily the highlight, but a melt-in-the-mouth pork belly square was nothing to scoff at as several dishes were rotated around the room.

The pulled pork brioche slider at the Knightwood Lounge.The pulled pork brioche slider at the Knightwood Lounge. 

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The quality is very high, even if it is a good 20-minute walk away from hotspots like Above Bar or Oxford Street.

With The Dell pub also arriving outside of St Mary’s soon, which is expected to be open seven days a week, pubgoers could bring an atmosphere which the industrial estate has never seen and the quality on offer should be enough to pull customers away from the city centre.