This has to be one of the greatest pubs i've ever been to in terms of food…read more If you like big portions and good quality i highly recommend this small pub! Awesome would be a mild word to use!!

The Sunday lunch was superb roast beef to die for. Great service and good value.read more

Food was pretty average, service was fine, nice place, but nothing to get too excited aboutread more

I have had a most memorable meal at the Boot - a simple affair in the bar that will linger long in…read moremy memory. All we had were grouse (from the famous Stockbridge butchers, Robinson's) and a bottle of Gevrey Chambertin, but it was perfect. The wine was decanted at our request and was absolutely delicious; rich and smooth, and was the perfect accompaniment to the grouse. The grouse arrived whole in a glorious rich gravy and dressed with spinach, game chips and bread sauce, and looked as good as it tasted. It was one of the finest meals one could have. The grouse was £21.50 - very reasonable. The wine cost considerably more. The service was perfect and the ambience, surrounded by locals, everything that a good pub should be.

We found this restaurant very randomly, and we were pleasantly surprised. The classy design and…read moreambiance, along with the welcoming staff, made for a great experience for us. Their lamb stew with veggies stood out as a posh British dish, which is quite rare. They also offered some nice starters.

One of the best surprises in Hampshire, fantastic ambience, nice service and the food was just…read moreincredible. I had a lamb roast that was divide, my wife had an incredible mushroom gnocchi and my daughter had a what seemed a never end.tower of fine chicken breast, English bacon and cheese with a good portion of home made barbecue sauce. Lovely lunch in the middle of the New Forest.

This place was absolutely superb ... I had a mackerel followed by orchard crumble and custard …read more... both absolutely superb !! The staff were friendly and very efficient too ... I'd definitely come back here

Loving the Empress of Blandings! We were travelling through the area and needed a place for some…read morelunch, in no rush, we came across this pub and I'm very glad we did. Spacious and welcoming I felt instantly at home. It's part of the Hall & Woodhouse chain so I was already familiar with the drinks on offer and the menu wasn't anything unexpected either but the service we received was fantastic. Efficient, fast and SUPER friendly. Sometimes I find the food in these chains to be quite dry, but not in this one. Beautiful food in decent portions and nicely priced too. It was a nice day so we sat in the garden which to be honest wasn't majorly impressive but peaceful all the same. The pub seems like it's in the middle of nowhere but judging by the healthily filled car park that doesn't keep people away. I believe the pub is themed on a fictional pig so there's plenty of pig references to try and spot inside. If I was in the area again at some point I would definitely be tempted to come back.

WOW!! I hadn't been in here for a few years despite living nearby, but I called in for Sunday lunch…read morea few weeks ago after my dear mum said it had changed hands and things were on the up. I have to say the food was superb, at the time I think i even said it was the best sunday lunch i had ever had, I think I was a little taken a back by the quality of the food on offer. They have successfully managed to retain some of the old charm and proper pub feel, while making the dining a cosy, friendly experience that is all about locally produced food. The lamb had already sold out (turn up early or book on the phone if you don't want to miss out) so the three of us had duck, chicken and beef. Each dish was cooked pretty much to perfection and the home made yorkshire puddings were great. Sunday lunch just how it should be! This pub focusses on local, fresh produce all of which is prepared on site and served in simple, traditional dishes. The menu is short, but in my opinion that is the way it should be, as it means each dish excels. It is always so disheartening to find a pub that has 30 dishes on the menu as you can almost guarantee each one will be mediocre. Not the case with this pub. To top it all off the ales are well kept, the Bowmans "swift one" was a very refreshing pint and anything on tap from Hopback is a safe bet. All in all this pub comes very highly recommended, great food, nice atmosphere, good beers and friendly service, what more could you want?!

Sometimes when travelling you chance upon a real find - and the John Barleycorn is just that! Under…read morenew ownership, the Indian curries are a delight! Every bite was mouthwatering, with subtle flavors that ensure the customer is completely satisfied. We will be back soon!

Great place for a pub lunch on a hot sunny afternoon. Amazing food however it is a little pricey…read moreand the portion size is a little on the small size. That said, great place and I would highly recommend it to anyone!

On August 31st, my family and I were on a tour with a wonderful guide (Jill Pretorius of Windsor…read moreDay Tours)... We had already walked all over Winchester, we were on our way to Stonehenge, we were excited and hungry, but also jet lagged and exhausted! Jill brought us to The White Lion joking that, being only 400 years old, it was practically a brand new pub! We came in (mind your head), and were immediately sat down at a big, groaning, family table! Water was served, beers and ciders followed, and then meat pies and fish and chips were ordered all around! This meal was absolutely delicious in the way that only homemade country pub food can be. The cider selection was excellent, and we left refreshed, happy, and ready to take on the rest of our day (mind you, we ALL passed out cold in the van after Stonehenge and on the way back to our hotel)! Thank you so much to the ladies of The White Lion Inn & Pub for your extremely warm hospitality!! Much love! I hope to make it back one day!

We called in for lunch. A friendly staff and a pleasant ambiance welcomed us. This is an old…read morevillage pub that offers great food and beer. They also support local community events and activities. Toilets are clean and parking is available. I had the best steak and kidney pudding and all the trimmings while my daughter enjoyed the vegetarian menu, vegan options are also available. The Royal Oak is the essence of what a rural pub needs to be to survive these days. Only a mile or so off the A36 but in a beautiful old village. I heartily recommend, but do book early as this is a place sure to be popular with cyclists, tourists, locals and passing trade.