The Wow Factor

New hosts at the Phoenix pub in Romsey town centre promised a few surprises when they re-opened the pub after a lengthy closure.
The owners made a significant investment in refurbishment and the name reverted to what it used to be known as. But according to the local newspaper, the Romsey Advertiser, over the pub’s 180 year history there have been many names including Romsey Ale House, Romsey Tavern, the Phoenix and Phoenix Hotel.
So its back to the original Phoenix for the new hosts Carol Rickman and Liz Surplice.
But although they promised changes under the refurbishment, I was taken totally by surprise when I visited for the first time today. Oh yes, it has changed from a pub to more of a wine bar atmosphere with dining facilities inside and out, and a coffee bar.
But I hadn’t reckoned on meeting this big fella on the wall; so big you could not fail to miss him — the full size head of a moose, the biggest of the deer family, complete with its huge saucer like antlers and which you expect to find in the colder climes of North America, Asia or Scandinavia.
So here it is in Romsey, well the head at least, now dominating part of the pub. Carol is quoted in the local newspaper saying “We want to give the Phoenix the ‘wow’ factor and have new ideas and surprises that we hope all Romsonians will like.”
Well, if this big fella was one of those surprises intended to bring a Scandinavian flavour, it’s certainly made its mark.