The Daily Echo were among those invited to the pub, located in the old ticket office, for its grand opening.
Construction workers laboured through Saturday night to ensure the pub could open for custom at 1pm on Sunday before the first bookings arrived at 4pm.
The interior of the pub is classy. Lighting fixtures are suspended from the ceiling, with exposed brick walls and several items of Saints memorabilia hanging around the watering hole.
Photo of the 1976 FA Cup winning squad on the wall at The Dell pubPhoto of the 1976 FA Cup winning squad on the wall at The Dell pub. (Image: SDE).In one section, situated near the toilets, four retro shirts behind plastic casing adorn the wall. Old pictures from The Dell, Southampton's former home, are plastered in other locations.
Saints CEO Phil Parsons hopes the pub, which is accessible to paying fans on a matchday who have booked a table, but anyone on non-matchdays, will become a fans' favourite throughout the week and diversify their income compared with rivals.
Speaking at the grand opening, he said: "Why did we want to do this? What we are trying to do is give this club and our fans a few more places to socialise. I was here on Wednesday and it was completely upside down.
"I think the brief for this place changes about 50 times. It kept getting bigger. We have a team of 20 staff who will be joining us every day.
"We get a lot of talk around Southampton of 'just go and sign a player.' It's really difficult. We are up against teams with five times our revenue.
Saints CEO Phil Parsons spoke at the opening of The Dell.Saints CEO Phil Parsons spoke at the opening of The Dell. (Image: SDE) "That is what we are up against. Projects like this, new lounges, projects around the stadium are really, really important. We would like to bring an entertainment zone.
"All of these things can help us. It's not often you go to one city where you get all the fans behind it. That's what I love about here, you feel like a part of something a lot wider."
Brilliant coasters. #SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/Jcmk1aUwar
— George Rees-Julian (@rees_julian) December 15, 2024
Saints hope to make The Dell pub a location that supporters and Southampton residents will frequent regularly.
A food menu comprised of local produce has been put in place, which on match days will include a signature burger, fish and chips and sausage and mash. And going by the small tasters we received, the food is good.
A wide selection of beers, ciders, and spirits is available, extending beyond the offerings on the concourse.
The drink selection at The Dell pub at St Mary's.The drink selection at The Dell pub at St Mary's. (Image: SDE) Peroni, Asahi, Grolsch, Guinness, Neck Oil, Meantime Cutty Haze IPA and Cornish Orchards are all available on tap.
We were not given an official price list but were told that the price of pints would be competitive with other pubs - between £5.80 and £6.50.
That is before taking into account the 10 per cent discount available for season ticket holders.
On the entertainment front, two dartboards and two shuffleboards are in place, however, they are out of action on match days.
The club have more plans for The Dell, including hopes to host quiz nights among other such evenings to ensure the pub becomes a hub for local fans.