The South Downs Social — Restaurant in Winchester

This was my go to café in Winchester until today. Always bought a coffee and a nice little treat or lunch. Raved to everyone how inviting the atmosphere was, how the café seemed to be trying to build a space for the community with the seating and workshops in the upstairs area. And it seems despite wanting to create a space where locals will constantly visit, who will stay and spend time at the business, sitting in their empty/half-empty upstairs area for 4 hours twice a week is taking up too much space. Today, 2 and a half hours after having bought lunch and coffee and seating myself in the half-empty upstairs area, I was required to buy something else to be allowed to continue sitting in their now empty upstairs seating. I was accused of using too much free wi-fi, and after explaining I use my own data and had purchased lunch, I was still told I was taking up "much needed" seating in the now empty upstairs and told to purchase something else. I've worked in a number of cafes in 3 countries, visited many cafes around the world, and can't recall seeing an individual be asked to leave a place that is half-empty, or payment be demanded from them. Also, the bathrooms are always in a state, half the time without toilet paper, and most of the time dirty dishes are left on tables for 30-60 minutes. All of this has been politely mentioned to staff before. Lastly, the café can keep the £2 pen I left behind. They can think of it as the purchase they needed from me...

Very decent cafe for a light bite. We came in out of the rain yesterday, a family of four. We started with a couple of lattes which were top notch and then we each had a sandwich. I had pastrami and emmental, and my wife had a mediterranean salad sandwich on sourdough. My daughter wanted a chicken ceasar sandwich without the ceasar sauce, the kitchen were completely unfazed, and asked if we'd like anything in its place or just butter. With a child that is allergic to eggs, it is a refreshing change to find a cafe that is happy to bespoke a sandwich for you, rather than take it or leave it. All very reasonably priced considering the quality. Two coffees, three sandwiches and a sausage roll for £33. The staff were very friendly and...

Real shame. Been here before and had a nice meal. Unfortunately this time it was rubbish. We ordered "The Big Bacon Sandwich" which was a massive disappointment. It was two slices of hard Sourdough Bread with one rasher of bacon between them. No butter, no accompaniments. Cold bacon as well. Coffee was OK, but like warm cappuccino. Just to top it off the male toilet wasn't great either. Toilet seat broken and nothing to dry your hands with. As a keen cyclist and really impressed with all the Handmade Cyclist art around its normally a nice place to visit. Won't be going...