Where to watch the South Coast derby in Southampton

Southampton host Portsmouth in the EFL Championship on Sunday 11 October 2026 at 12:00, and the city’s pubs will offer plenty of ways to follow the game away from St Mary’s. The South Coast derby is played twice in a regular season, home and away, and tickets for the fixture are difficult to secure. For anyone staying in Southampton, the best choice depends on whether you want to be close to the stadium, settle into a traditional pub or find a venue with plenty of screens.

Near St Mary’s, The Chapel Arms on Albert Road North is around 500 metres from the ground. It is a CAMRA pub with Saints memorabilia, Sky Sports and TNT Sports on large screens, plus darts and snooker. On football match days it opens at midday, and its match-day offer includes cask ale from the hand pump. The pub also has a beer garden and usually puts on live music on match days. Its published regular hours vary by source, so checking directly before travelling is sensible. The Scholars Arms is another option for live sport, with big screens showing football from Sky and TNT. It promotes 10% off selected drinks during the game through the Greene King app, alongside a menu that ranges from chips to more substantial meals.

For a pub with more history, The Grapes on Oxford Street has a maritime character, several screens and a small terrace. It suits anyone who wants to watch the match in a traditional setting and remain close to Oxford Street’s restaurants afterwards. In Bevois Valley, The Rockstone combines a Victorian triangular pub with a lively bar, craft beer and food from Woosabi Asian Street Kitchen. It has two beer gardens and live entertainment on selected evenings, although a January 2026 report said its handpumps were temporarily out of use. The pub’s published hours are Tuesday to Thursday from 12:00 to midnight, Friday and Saturday from 12:00 to 01:00, and Sunday from 12:00 to midnight.

City-centre supporters can also consider The Bedford on Bedford Place, a Grade II listed pub with 11 screens, Sky and BT Sport, a games room and an outdoor terrace. It has long been associated with Saints supporters, although its current audience also includes students. The venue lists food and drink offers, including a £7.45 sub-and-drink lunch deal, £3.50 craft beers and £5.30 pints of Gamma Ray or Neck Oil; offers can change, so check before ordering. The Elephant and Castle on Commercial Road is another Southampton option, around 15 minutes by car, while O’Neill’s on High Street provides a spacious Irish-bar setting with large screens for major sporting events. Whichever pub you choose, booking or arriving early is worth considering for a noon kick-off, particularly at venues with limited seating and a strong local following.