A thirsty Friday 5

Friday August 26th 2021.

This week: coffee in the sun, spooky surroundings, pit-stops and Cathedral views.

I decided to devote this weeks Friday 5 to our glorious City. I've been in the City a lot this week and this weeks Friday five is largely about places to refresh.

Winchester is a fantastic City to visit at any time of the year. I have many friends who spend weekends, or even just a day, here in Winchester and are always delighted they visited. As a Winchester City dweller I'm often asked for recommendations for places to eat and drink. There are so many wonderful pubs, coffee shops and bars, I really should put together a City tour. Perhaps a comprehensive list of things to do as there are some wonderful hidden gems and brilliant tucked away establishments. I'll put that on the list of things to do and in the meantime this week's Friday 5 is simply five glorious places I visited this week. All equally good and all perfect for day, evening, weekend, weekday, coffee or drinks. These are in no particular order, other than the order I visited in.

Number 1 - Coffee Lab, The Square. There are two coffee Lab's in town, one is tucked behind the Hambledon (you'll see a little pathway to the side), and can also be accessed from the high street (turn where Joules is). This one is in The Square. It gets busy and if the front is full there's a covered garden to the rear.

Number 2 - The Old Vine, also in the Square. Worth hanging around for the bay window seat, perfect for Cathedral views or grab one of the tables outside. Always lovely, whatever the weather.

Number 3 - The Wykeham Arms, Canon Street (near Jane Austins house) is Wintonianly-wonderful. There's a great garden, a bar bursting with character, quirky furniture and an intimate restaurant.

Number 4 - The Eclipse, also in the Square. Loads of outside tables and super friendly. If you get a moment google Lady Alicia Lisle to find out about the pubs spooky history.

Number 5 - Brasserie Blanc, this is where we pit stop when heading home. Whilst it's a restaurant it's perfectly ok to stop and have a seat for a while. The wine is superb and the coffee great.

I've put links to the websites below. I promise I will do a top 10 (or top 50) places to go, as I write there are so many great places I'd sincerely recommend. In the 13 years I've lived here I've probably been in all of them and I'd love to share the great Winchester haunts.

See you next week, links below. xxxx