Merchants Blue Moon

Delicious food, wonderful atmosphere and great service come together remarkably at the Merchants Blue Moon in Southampton's Ocean Village, where they have consistently excelled in delighting the customers from the past ten years. Live entertainment on weekend evenings is one of the reasons why the Merchants is cheerfully crowded with locals and visitors, although it's debatable whether they've come for the music, the relaxed ambience or the appetising fare. It's probably all three of course.

Consider the starters of duck liver pate served with warm brioche toast and Cumberland sauce followed by a tender 12 hour lamb, marinated in garlic, rosemary and lemon, served with confit potatoes. Main courses could also include stuffed chicken breast with chorizo and mozzarella in cream sauce and to end, there's the homemade cheesecake topped with chocolate. The wine list is simple and concise, bringing old favourites alongside contemporary New World selections while the choice of beers and spirits is extensive.