About the Winchester Gate

The Winchester Gate, or “The Winnie” to its friends, is the only pub still trading in the area around the Milford Street bridge. It is the end of a terrace of houses on Rampart Road, a hundred metres or so to the north of Milford Hill. It backs onto a hill and has a sheltered back garden. The view from the front is pretty uninspiring – it looks out over Salisbury’s ring road just before it starts to climb up for the bridge.

The beer

Landlord Bill Duncan is a keen supporter of real ale, and there are usually four ales in stock. Thanks to the quality and variety the pub has more than once been voted “Pub Of The Year” by the local branch of CAMRA – the Campaign for Real Ale.

What goes on

It is a lively place. The back garden includes a pétanque terrain and teams play in the local league. It also regularly features live music. The pub has a very occasional cricket team and plays an annual game against its near neighbour the Wyndham Arms, called the “Ring Road Challenge”. From the Winnie’s point of view it is best not to spend too long looking at the results.