The White Star Tavern takes its name from the White Star Line, the Southampton-based shipping company that operated the Titanic and Olympic. The maritime connection is genuine – the building and the area have real links to the city’s shipping heritage, and the interior design reflects this without descending into museum-piece earnestness. It is a proper pub and restaurant that happens to have hotel rooms upstairs.
The hotel rooms are boutique in scale and approach – individually styled, with quality beds and linens, and the kind of attention to detail that reflects the standard set by the food and drink operation below. Not a large property; not trying to be. The number of rooms is small enough that every stay feels personal.
The gastropub below is the main draw for many guests. The kitchen runs a seasonal British menu with serious technique and good local sourcing. The Sunday roast is among the most recommended in the city. The bar keeps a proper real ale selection alongside the standard offer. Weekend evenings book up quickly – residents have the advantage of not needing to go anywhere when dinner is over.
Oxford Street is in the heart of Southampton’s independent restaurant and bar district. The location is walkable to the Old Town, the main city centre, and the waterfront. For travellers who want to stay somewhere with genuine local character rather than a chain product, the White Star Tavern is one of the best options in Southampton. Rates from £100-£160 per night.