Today's most viewed
The Shield and Dagger, Shirley
From the front it looks a little rough around the edges and its name leaves a sharp cut on the tongue. However, when you venture inside you find a world of interesting characters and a true community spirit.
The Shield and Dagger is situated just some 200 yards from the local park and it is no surprise the management have instilled a real family-orientated atmosphere.
A bouncy castle will be up in the beer
garden at the end of the month for the rest of the summer when the pub will host a number of children's parties and functions.
The pub provides prizes for every child at their parties to ensure that no youngster is left out.
The management, Charlie and Christine Coleman have been at the pub for just over a year running the bar and kitchen for owner Tony Cookson.
In February staff and customers at the pub raised £1,200 for Casey Burns, a girl from Millbrook suffering from Flathead Syndrome to pay for specialist headgear she needed.
Food seems to be a common theme at the Shirley haunt and from the end of this month they will be serving from midday until 8pm.
The Shield and Dagger is also a keen sporting venue - pub sports that is, with a darts team, two pool tables, a poker night and even a racing syndicate for those fancying a tipple on a Saturday.
Christine said: "The owner, Tony has turned this pub into a real family orientated venue. The kids are allowed in until 8pm every night and we don't tolerate anti-social behaviour or drugs in here.
"We have a zero-tolerance policy and if you're caught with drugs in here you'll be barred.
"We've got a big event planned for St George's day, probably the only one in Shirley, we're going to have flags everywhere and English food all day."
In short, entering the Shield and Dagger
reminds you of being in the Queen Vic
in Albert Square or the Rovers Return of Coronation Street, if you're feeling lonely get down to the Shield and Dagger and you'll soon find yourself a whole new family.
5:25pm Friday 18th April 2008
Print 
Email this 
CommentPosted by: stevie steve, shoing on 3:35pm Sat 19 Apr 08
hhmm..... staff member wrote this blantent!
hhmm..... staff member wrote this blantent!
Posted by: Jen, southampton on 5:59pm Sun 20 Apr 08
O yes lets remember cause the staff vote for the pub, the truth is its a fighting venue for all the shirlwy warren lads barred from the high street, gipseys travellers and yes may have had a face lift with new signs etc, but spots never change... trashy pub and will always be that in shirley. rename the pub change the entire interior remove the 70 style seating and give shirley something different until then shirley polce love there wekkend nights kicking out the fights - unofficial lock in yes charie and tony you will get caught one day for lock in til early hours without permission
O yes lets remember cause the staff vote for the pub, the truth is its a fighting venue for all the shirlwy warren lads barred from the high street, gipseys travellers and yes may have had a face lift with new signs etc, but spots never change... trashy pub and will always be that in shirley. rename the pub change the entire interior remove the 70 style seating and give shirley something different until then shirley polce love there wekkend nights kicking out the fights - unofficial lock in yes charie and tony you will get caught one day for lock in til early hours without permission
Posted by: paul, shirley on 10:03am Mon 21 Apr 08
the name says it all? the sheild and dagger
in a small corner of shirley estate run by inexperience staff. mostly kids pubs - wounder if there is any under age dinking going on there???
lets face a 70's dated pub
the name says it all? the sheild and dagger
in a small corner of shirley estate run by inexperience staff. mostly kids pubs - wounder if there is any under age dinking going on there???
lets face a 70's dated pub
Posted by: paul, shirley on 10:03am Mon 21 Apr 08
the name says it all? the sheild and dagger
in a small corner of shirley estate run by inexperience staff. mostly kids pubs - wounder if there is any under age dinking going on there???
lets face a 70's dated pub
the name says it all? the sheild and dagger
in a small corner of shirley estate run by inexperience staff. mostly kids pubs - wounder if there is any under age dinking going on there???
lets face a 70's dated pub
Posted by: bex, east soton on 8:51pm Sat 10 May 08
Ive been here a few times, when my friends were singing on karaoke nights, we were invited and we thought we would be in for a rough night but actually we were wrong.The place does have a great atmosphere and the bar staff were courteous and friendly.Sometimes when you go to a pub you get looks from the locals but actually we never encounted so much as a glance from regulars.So I say, from a twenty something who is used to bars in town and all the agro, that this is a pleasant pace to spend an evening with friends.Well done shield and dagger :)
Ive been here a few times, when my friends were singing on karaoke nights, we were invited and we thought we would be in for a rough night but actually we were wrong.The place does have a great atmosphere and the bar staff were courteous and friendly.Sometimes when you go to a pub you get looks from the locals but actually we never encounted so much as a glance from regulars.So I say, from a twenty something who is used to bars in town and all the agro, that this is a pleasant pace to spend an evening with friends.Well done shield and dagger :)
Posted by: Rob, Southampton on 1:47am Sun 11 May 08
Dear Paul, Jen et al.
I'm slightly concerned about a couple of the allegations made on this forum.
Firstly, The Shield and Dagger is a member of the Southampton Pub Watch scheme, where the rule "barred from one, barred from all" applies - so nobody barred from ANY pub in the High Street is drinking in the pub.
Secondly, far from being "inexperienced", I have 13 years experience in the leisure and hospitality trade, and I, nor my staff will tolerate ANY illegal activity in the pub. We have worked very closely with Southampton City Council to gain our premises license, and fulfilled some very rigourus and expensive obigations to do so, including the installation of an acoustic lobby and other measures to ensure that disruption to the local community is minimised.
I can assure you, Paul, that underage drinking is NOT tolerated in this pub. When we have hosted 18th birthday parties, all the guests are required to produce ID, without which they will not be served. In any other circumstances, customers appearing under 21 are asked for ID.
Furthermore, in the last year, the police have attended the pub on 3 occasions, and one of those was after we were burgled. On both other occasions, THE STAFF called the police to prevent escalation of trouble, in accordnace with licensing guidelines.
If these are genuine concerns and you have evidence that these activities have been going on at The Shield and Dagger, it would be greatly appreciated if you would contact me at the pub to discuss them personally.
Best wishes,
Rob
Dear Paul, Jen et al.
I'm slightly concerned about a couple of the allegations made on this forum.
Firstly, The Shield and Dagger is a member of the Southampton Pub Watch scheme, where the rule "barred from one, barred from all" applies - so nobody barred from ANY pub in the High Street is drinking in the pub.
Secondly, far from being "inexperienced", I have 13 years experience in the leisure and hospitality trade, and I, nor my staff will tolerate ANY illegal activity in the pub. We have worked very closely with Southampton City Council to gain our premises license, and fulfilled some very rigourus and expensive obigations to do so, including the installation of an acoustic lobby and other measures to ensure that disruption to the local community is minimised.
I can assure you, Paul, that underage drinking is NOT tolerated in this pub. When we have hosted 18th birthday parties, all the guests are required to produce ID, without which they will not be served. In any other circumstances, customers appearing under 21 are asked for ID.
Furthermore, in the last year, the police have attended the pub on 3 occasions, and one of those was after we were burgled. On both other occasions, THE STAFF called the police to prevent escalation of trouble, in accordnace with licensing guidelines.
If these are genuine concerns and you have evidence that these activities have been going on at The Shield and Dagger, it would be greatly appreciated if you would contact me at the pub to discuss them personally.
Best wishes,
Rob
Posted by: christine, shirley on 9:49am Sun 11 May 08
I'm a memeber of staff at the shield and dagger and work alongside Rob and the rest of the staff, we all have worked hard to bring the pub up to the standard is at now. The customers in the pub are lovely people who respect the staff and are like one big family... As for the police being called, why dont you ring shirley police station and see how often they have been called in the last year since Mr Cookson has taken over... Anybody reading this please come up to the shield and dagger and see for yourself..
kind regards
Christine Coleman
I'm a memeber of staff at the shield and dagger and work alongside Rob and the rest of the staff, we all have worked hard to bring the pub up to the standard is at now. The customers in the pub are lovely people who respect the staff and are like one big family... As for the police being called, why dont you ring shirley police station and see how often they have been called in the last year since Mr Cookson has taken over... Anybody reading this please come up to the shield and dagger and see for yourself..
kind regards
Christine Coleman
Posted by: Hannah, Southampton on 4:23pm Sun 11 May 08
Can't say I've ever been to the pub, and the only reason I've even looked at this is because it's on "most viewed topics" and the name sounded interesting!
However, I've got to say - if you're going to write things on a public forum that are potentially libellous, people will take you more seriously if you learn to spell, for a start. At least two of the comments on here sound like people who have been barred from the pub, to me.
I think the staff who have replied are being very decent in not contacting the Echo and asking for these posts to be taken down, since they are being accused of illegal activities.
As for the main article being written by staff, yes it was - the staff of the Daily Echo. You can tell, if you bother reading the top part of the article where it says that this review was published in the Daily Echo.
No intention of joining you for a beer, because I'm on the wrong side of Southampton, but good luck to the staff. You sound like you're going to need it!
Can't say I've ever been to the pub, and the only reason I've even looked at this is because it's on "most viewed topics" and the name sounded interesting!
However, I've got to say - if you're going to write things on a public forum that are potentially libellous, people will take you more seriously if you learn to spell, for a start. At least two of the comments on here sound like people who have been barred from the pub, to me.
I think the staff who have replied are being very decent in not contacting the Echo and asking for these posts to be taken down, since they are being accused of illegal activities.
As for the main article being written by staff, yes it was - the staff of the Daily Echo. You can tell, if you bother reading the top part of the article where it says that this review was published in the Daily Echo.
No intention of joining you for a beer, because I'm on the wrong side of Southampton, but good luck to the staff. You sound like you're going to need it!
Posted by: linda, southampton on 5:02pm Mon 12 May 08
iwent into this pub for the first time on sunday because i was told there dinners are the best and yes they are the staff were so nice and the mood was great i dont think i have laughed so mush in a long time everyone seem to be enjoying the day and i will be going back again keep up the good work and all the best to rob christine and the rest of the staff at the shield and dagger
iwent into this pub for the first time on sunday because i was told there dinners are the best and yes they are the staff were so nice and the mood was great i dont think i have laughed so mush in a long time everyone seem to be enjoying the day and i will be going back again keep up the good work and all the best to rob christine and the rest of the staff at the shield and dagger
Posted by: chris, shirley on 6:19pm Fri 6 Jun 08
Both myself and my partner went to the shield and dagger after someone recommended the great value sunday lunches,at first we were a bit weary,but once inside we were made welcome and there is a nice seating area outside at the back.If you haven't been there it is definately worth a try.After all how many pubs in the area can you go into without watching over your shoulder all evening ?
Both myself and my partner went to the shield and dagger after someone recommended the great value sunday lunches,at first we were a bit weary,but once inside we were made welcome and there is a nice seating area outside at the back.If you haven't been there it is definately worth a try.After all how many pubs in the area can you go into without watching over your shoulder all evening ?
Posted by: sue, shirley on 9:02pm Thu 26 Jun 08
[quote][bold]chris[/bold] wrote:
Both myself and my partner went to the shield and dagger after someone recommended the great value sunday lunches,at first we were a bit weary,but once inside we were made welcome and there is a nice seating area outside at the back.If you haven't been there it is definately worth a try.After all how many pubs in the area can you go into without watching over your shoulder all evening ?[/quote] went into the shield at the weekend heard christines gone place not the same no life in it bring back christine
chris wrote:
Both myself and my partner went to the shield and dagger after someone recommended the great value sunday lunches,at first we were a bit weary,but once inside we were made welcome and there is a nice seating area outside at the back.If you haven't been there it is definately worth a try.After all how many pubs in the area can you go into without watching over your shoulder all evening ?
went into the shield at the weekend heard christines gone place not the same no life in it bring back christine
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
