Woodies at the Junction Inn, Southampton

The Junction is a good example of how many pubs were laid out in the past. There are still a number of small rooms around a bar each separated by low timber and glass partitions – including an intact one with low headroom! Built 1876 as the Wyndham Arms and with a balustrade on the right side of the building it was remodelled internally in the late 19th century and a large portion of these fittings remain. There were further changes after Marstons bought the Winchester Brewery in 1929 – note the almost a full set of 1930's frosted windows with room names and 'Marstons Burton Beers' in Moderne-style lettering, and the parquet floors.

There is a splendid Victorian curved bar counter and a two-sided elaborate bar back with sets of drawers in both parts; also a Victorian fireplace behind the bar - a very rare survivor. Attached to the bar counter are glazed partitions that separate the Public Bar on the right (possibly two small rooms at some time in the past), the Bottle & Jug – the partition was removed and two pieces of it are now attached to the wall of the public bar; a Private Bar; and a Smoke Room on the left. The partition between the public bar and former Bottle and Jug is a very rare survivor having a door with a clearance of only 5 ft 6 ins. There are lots of old panelling around the pub and Victorian tiled fireplace. Note the port-hole windows which can still be opened in warm weather.

In the 1990s there were changes on the left hand side and the room behind the Smoke Room was created out of the former cellar. This is venue for folk nights. Also, another room was created in an extension. Another relic of the past is the old 'penny in the slot' on the door to the toilets on the left side. For the sympathetically renovation which retained most of the original fittings the pub received a CAMRA Pub Refurbishment Award.

Update 2013: The pub suffered a serious fire in February 2012 which mainly affected the upper floors. As part of the restoration a lot of the original woodwork has, sadly, been painted a pastel shade.