Home > Hampshire > Southampton > London Arms London Arms
Picture source: Philip Carter
The London Arms was situated at 4 Victoria Road.
In a fit of madness the 'boy's' and I went there on a Wednesday night. There were two bouncers outside (this is a Wednesday) dressed in bomber jackets and wearing Doc Martin's. In the middle of the room was a large packing case and we just had to ask what it was? Without flinching the barmaid said it was motorbike waiting to be put together. We never went back and because of the door staff and the fact that it had union flags flying outside we always called it 'The National Front Pub'. It looks like it was an old Victorian pub at some time but the modern building must have come from 1950's. Woolston took severe bombing during the war around this area, so maybe the pub took a direct hit? This is backed up by a statement "My Uncle Howard 1940. He was nineteen and a member of the Home Guard. He was not called up to the regular forces because he had a reserved job. He was a draughtsman, alongside his father, my grandfather, in Thorneycrofts, a local shipyard. They were building minesweepers and destroyers. He was helping to pull the dead and wounded from the rubble of a pub in Southampton, called The London Arms, when another bomb hit them". At some stage it was supplied by Whitbread Romsey but when we went in I don't remember any real ale being on.
Barry Taylor (April 2012)
Do you have any anecdotes, historical information, updates or photos of this pub? Become a contributor by submitting them here. Like this site? Follow us on Make email contact with other ex-customers and landlords of this pub by adding your details to this page.
Other Photos
Date of photo: 1960	Picture source: Barry Taylor
Picture source: Brian Living