Dancing Man Brewery – 11th Anniversary Banquet

Dancing Man Brewery is somewhere I've been a fair few times over the years. It's one of those places in Southampton that feels like it belongs, It’s one of those wonderful places in Southampton that feels like a true part of the city, bringing character and value that people really appreciate. A reliable spot for a pint, good food and somewhere to bring friends when you're wandering around the Old Town.

So when I saw they were hosting an 11th anniversary banquet, it felt like the perfect excuse to go along.

Tickets were £55 per person, which included a full three-course banquet served family style: long shared tables, platters of food, a live band and a room full of people who clearly already loved the place. A proper birthday party for the brewery.

The event started promptly at 7pm, with the room already full and buzzing when we arrived. It was clear straight away this wasn't just a restaurant service. It felt like a gathering of locals, regulars, friends of the brewery and people who had been coming here for years.

If you've never been to Dancing Man before, the venue itself is worth mentioning. It's located inside the Old Wool House, a historic medieval building right on Town Quay. The ceilings are incredibly high, with exposed wooden beams and huge stone walls that feel like they've seen centuries of Southampton life pass by.

Some of those walls even still carry signatures from soldiers who passed through before leaving for World War II, which is a surreal thing to notice while sitting down for dinner. Inside it's rustic but lively. Plants everywhere, quirky artwork, a slightly chaotic charm that fits the building perfectly.

There was a live band playing throughout the evening, very much in that folk style, they gave me Mumford & Sons vibe! It suited the room perfectly. It gave the whole night a festival-like energy rather than feeling like a formal dinner.

Then came the food.

The band 'Lost Post' performing

Because the meal was served banquet style, everything arrived on large platters in the middle of the table for everyone to share. We were seated on a table of ten, with two groups of four and us as a pair, and within minutes everyone was passing dishes around and negotiating for the last piece of pork belly.

It's a really nice way to eat and speak to new people.

To start, a selection of dishes arrived together.

The crispy pork belly was excellent. Perfectly cooked with that ideal balance of crispy crackling and juicy meat, topped with a bright chimichurri and pickled fennel that cut through the richness nicely. Then there was the beetroot with labneh and confit shallot, which honestly surprised me the most. I'm not usually a huge beetroot fan, but this was excellent. Earthy roasted beetroot paired with creamy labneh, with the sweetness of the confit shallot tying everything together.

The final part of the starter was rainbow carrots tossed in pesto with toasted almonds, which added a bit of freshness and crunch to the table. A strong start.

Beetroot, Labneh, & Confit Shallot

For mains, the centrepiece was a spatchcock chicken served with classic gravy, cut in quarters and served across the table. Simple, well-seasoned and exactly what you want from a roast chicken. Alongside that came a roast Delicia squash salad, with large chunks of sweet roasted squash tossed with spinach and red onion. It worked really well as a lighter contrast to the chicken. But the real standout for me were the miso butter new potatoes, soft, fluffy potatoes coated in savoury miso butter that made them dangerously easy to keep going back to, everyone wanted more of these! A simple side done really well. Served with seasonal greens, keeping things balanced across the table.

A plate of: Spatchcock Chicken & Gravy, Roast Delicia Squash Salad, Miso Butter New Potatoes and Seasonal Greens

For dessert, we were served individual mixed berry pavlovas, topped with fresh berries, along with apple crumble to share between two.

The crumble was warm, comforting and exactly what you want to finish a meal like this, although we did wish it came with custard or a cream for pouring.

Custard & Mixed Berry Pavlova

They also teased us with some samples of new and upcoming drink, it's always interesting to see who likes what and how tastes differ. For example, I sampled a guava sour which I thought was gorgeous, whereas others on my table didn't like it, which was great for me as I got the remnants of everyone elses glasses!

Overall it felt less like dining out and more like being invited to someone's birthday celebration, it almost gave wedding vibes! One of the owners also took a moment during the evening to say a few words about the brewery reaching 11 years, which clearly meant a lot to them. And judging by the packed room of regulars, the feeling was mutual.

Events like this remind you why places like Dancing Man become local institutions, good food helps of course, but it's the atmosphere that really sticks.

A room full of people who want the place to succeed.

If they run this anniversary banquet again next year, I'll absolutely be back.