The Art House is somewhere I make sure I frequent every time I'm in Southampton town centre. With…read moretheir vast selection of teas, coffees and vegan food - it's a great little place to grab something light in a pleasant atmosphere. I've never eaten a meal here however I've only heard good things, but what I will say is that their coffee is divine! You can choose from Italian and Colombian roast which comes in a cafetiere which keeps it fresher for longer. At the back of the shop you can find a small shop featuring clothes, jewellery, pins and many other kooky bits and bobs for reasonable prices. The teas, coffee, cakes and food are all reasonably priced too. Thoroughly recommended!

During a cheeky little surprise trip to Southampton last weekend, I was taken to The Art House by…read morethe birthday boy himself! This is definitely the coolest place we saw in Southampton! Nestled in the Cultural Quarter, it oozes intriguing art vibes with its quirky decor, vegan menu and vast array of teas and hot drinks. The staff are great, especially their amazing dress sense (not sure if they're just *that* cool or its part of a uniform?....) and the Southampton Fog I had was delicious! At the back of the cafe you'll find a funky little second hand shop, all you need to kit yourself out like a trendy staff member! And in the front they're turned the windows into exhibition booths for you to sit and have tea and watch the world go by (or be watched by the world!) This place is right up my street, if I lived in Southampton I'd definitely make it a regular haunt, and for those that are thinking of visiting this port city of recommended heading there as soon as you get off the train!

Lisa Mclaren-Clark's picture gallery is a lovely place, it has a warm tasteful feeling and the…read morepeople there are really nice. They are lovely to customers even if they can tell there is little chance they will buy and she is sincere about creating lovely art. Her paintings are done with care, diligence and are of an abstract style, the paintings I saw were about landscapes and some were very moving in a lovely way. Lisa Mclaren-Clark produces serious pieces of work aimed at serious collectors and at the higher end prices that such collectors pay, not silly money but they are in the hundreds of pounds. However if one of them takes your fancy I would say that they are done with great sincerity and are worth the price.

The gallery itself is a work of art and worth a look alone. The work here is totally original and…read morecomplex, I don't think there is anything like this style of art anywhere else. It was a lucky find down a street I wouldn't normally use. I'm saving my pennies for the Butterfly one. This gallery is a little bit cool and the owner is quite quirky and good for a chat if you pop in. Its new and I hope it enjoys the success that it rightly deserves.

This is a truly wonderful and eclectic collection of art and artifacts from the the Polish owner…read moreMaggie's homeland. From Ceramics, Jewellery and Sculpture to Paintings, Posters and Glass ornaments, it'll give you a real insight into the minds of Polish artists. I really had no idea how inspiring Polish art is. Most pieces in here are contemporary, bursting with colour, often quirky yet somehow simplistic at the same time, appealing to a large audience (I'm especially taken with Dominika Ruta's paintings). The space itself is homely and welcoming yet lends itself well to the frequent exhibitions, which include local artists as well.

"I love art that provokes, opens my heart and makes me laugh!"…read more As mission statements go, I think Maggie de Stroumillo's is pretty close to perfect. The owner and curator of Blue Dog Gallery, she has created a lively gallery space that celebrates and platforms a compelling mix of Polish art. Set against striking white and bright blue walls, there's a strong mix of bright and playful paintings, ceramics and glassware. The work of established and emerging Polish designers, there's also some big sculptures and a wee bio for each designer. The things I left wanting to buy however, were the kitsch Mystic Pizza and Lolita film posters.