Southampton: Rain, Rust, and Really Good Fish & Chips
okay, so southampton. it wasn’t on the ‘dream list’, you know? it just…happened. a last-minute gig fell through in bristol, and my agent (bless her chaotic soul) said, "there’s a pub in southampton that needs a drummer for a week. low pay, questionable clientele, but they have a surprisingly good sound system." i’m a session drummer, not exactly picky when the rent’s due.
and honestly? it’s grown on me. it’s…gritty. like, properly gritty. not ‘shoreditch-trying-to-be-gritty’ gritty. this is *real grit. the air smells like salt and something vaguely metallic, and the buildings look like they’ve seen a few things. i just checked and it’s…damp, perpetually, with a sort of clinging mist that makes everything look a little bit haunted. the weather report said 10.79 degrees Celsius, feels like 10.14, with a humidity level that could grow mold on steel. perfect drumming weather, actually. keeps the kit from drying out.
spent yesterday wandering around the docks. seriously, the docks. it’s like stepping back in time. rusty cranes, weathered warehouses, and the constant cry of seagulls. i overheard someone at the pub - old man reg, he’s a local legend - saying that the docks used to be the place to be, back in the day. now it’s mostly container ships and a few tourist boats. he also warned me about the seagulls. apparently, they’re not afraid of anything. he wasn’t wrong.
“Don’t make eye contact with the seagulls, lad. They’ll steal your chips and your soul.” - Old Man Reg, Southampton Pub Philosopher
speaking of chips, the fish and chips here are phenomenal. i found this tiny place, ‘the salty cod’, near the town quay. it’s nothing fancy, just a hole-in-the-wall, but the haddock is incredible. someone told me that it’s been run by the same family for three generations, and they use a secret batter recipe. i’m inclined to believe it. you can find more reviews on Yelp.
my neighbors are…interesting. mostly students and retired sailors, as far as i can tell. if you get bored, the new forest is just a short drive away, which is a nice escape from the urban sprawl. i’ve been meaning to check out the sea city museum, but the pub keeps calling my name. i heard from the barmaid that it’s really good for learning about the titanic, which had a lot of connections to southampton. you can find more info on TripAdvisor.
honestly, i’m starting to think this “questionable clientele” gig was a blessing in disguise. it’s a real place, with real people, and a surprising amount of character. plus, the sound system is* pretty good. i’m thinking of extending my stay. maybe i’ll even learn to avoid the seagulls. check out Visit Southampton for more touristy stuff, if that’s your vibe. and if you’re ever in town, hit me up - i know where to get the best fish and chips. also, i’m playing at ‘the rusty anchor’ every night this week. come say hi! you can also find some local events on Eventbrite.