This has to be in the top 5 best pubs in the UK!…read more Truly exceptional drink, food and service. I would be going here more often if I lived more local to it. It's a little tricky to get to, narrow country roads, etc, but we'll worth it. If you wanting to eat I would advise booking and this place gets busy from the second it opens. Caters to all, especially families and has a wonderful garden and patio. Tim Gray is the landlord of this gem and is hands-on and welcoming. You will not regret visit this amazing pub.

The food was excellent. We had the fish & chips and the grilled pork chop. Service was quick and…read morefriendly. Parking could be a bit of a challenge at busy times.

Definitely a cut above other pubs in this area. Lovely service and very good food. We ate there…read moreon a Saturday lunchtime and chose from the main menu. The baked camembert was served with a generous amount of toast which in turn was generously buttered with garlic. The fillet steak was perfectly cooked and a great cut, it was served with plenty of good chips. There is plenty of parking at the side of the pub. I look forward to another visit.

Truly my dream pub/restaurant; open, bright dining room, large outdoor patio area and traditional…read morepub garden. Bar room at the front has been tastefully restored and updated, local brews on tap, decent wine, fantastic food and prompt, efficient and really pleasant serving and front of house team. Garden with fresh veg and some fruit, with a couple of outdoor games and covered outdoor pub tables and benches, all sit on the raised 150 yard garden platform above the haha. An infinity garden concept that rises just above the Hampshire countryside with fresh water stream and farm fields. Just excellent and what any city dweller that grew up in the country needs to reset their soul.

This a very cute thatched pub. There has been a pub on this site for over 400 years and although…read morethe last one burnt down this one has been around for a good while too It is full of character and charm. And is the centre of the village life. They have various dart events usually in memory of a villager who has since passed away and funds are then raised for a charity close to that persons heart. ie. Recently they had a darts match in memory of my cousin who died some years ago at an early age. There is usually a good turn out for such events. The locals love it and the walkers and beaters are always welcome when they pass by. The food is expensive though that is it's only downfall.

Shambolic service and a rather hit and miss menu, sour wine by the glass, plus lots of rather rude…read moreand over privileged "locals" holding court. Decent fish and chips.

This seriously 'gastro' and fashionable pub in a tiny Wiltshire village on the Test above…read moreStockbridge has as many Range-Rovers outside as Daphne's and some of the same clientele. Dedicated to the fishing community on the finest chalk stream in the world, there also are plenty of nods to the shooting brigade who also come here in droves in the winter months. Chef Andrew Clark who with Lucy Townsend used to cook at the Hotel du Vin in Winchester, opened at the 'Spade' only four years ago and now produce classic English fare based on local produce while also managing this comfortable sporting inn. My only criticism is that the pub is now almost completely taken over by diners and there is only one small bar area for simply lounging and talking or reading the papers; the rest is tables. That said, it's all done perfectly, down to the wi-fi, picnic hampers and high-class wine list.

There are way too many good quality pubs that have been taken over and corporatised, or worse…read morefolded and I'm grateful The Bush Inn isn't one of them. This traditional old country pub and restaurant is nestled in the Hampshire countryside by a stream near Alresford. Good dark local beers, from clean beer lines, great quality food and a dark, wooden interior make this a wonderful place for a date or an intimate catch up with a small group of family and friends. Service is always helpful without being overly fussy and I haven't had a bad experience in the 30+ years I've been visiting.

Off the Winchester / Alresford road there's a lane leading to the little village of Ovington. Pass…read morethe church and go on down to the river (the Itchen) to find a wonderful gem of a pub hidden among the trees, beside an ancient Pilgrim Way. Long the haunt of local groups like the Young Farmers' and a favourite of fishermen - as the Itchen is one of the best trout streams in the country - it's a traditional dark and cosy pub, with roaring fires in winter and many nooks and crannies in which to settle for a long lunch. In summer there's a well-kept garden and food and drink are served under the shady trees beside one of the Itchen's streams. On recent winter's day, we had a table in one of the windows and our dog was allowed to sleep under it while we had an excellent meal that surpassed even previous visits. There was a first rate vegetable broth with crusty bread to warm one up, followed by the best, largest, plumpest plaice (and full of roe) I have ever eaten. There's a photo attached. A plate of traditional Eton Mess ended the meal with a touch of summer. There are two sittings for lunch - at 12.00 and 14.00 - and it's tempting to overstay if one takes the first, but the staff are charming and a gentle reminder is not given until long after the time has passed. There is free wi-fi (as there's hardly a phone signal let alone 3G!)

Super friendly. When the owners saw we were foreigners, he took special care to bring us a menu…read moreand ask after where we are from. He spent a bit of time chatting. We were even offered free tastes of local beers. Service is amazing. Food is great. Large vegan menu. Superb local atmosphere. Sweet! ! They even offer Spotted Dick on the menu. It's a special today! !

From the owner: We're a small village pub situated right next to the historical, Stonehenge…read more Our staff are extremely friendly and always ensure that the customers are satisfied with their experience.

Terrible place don't come if you're a tourist. You'll hate the lovingly prepared local beers with…read moreguest beers on tap. It's a brewery too and doesn't make wine so have to bring good wine in. You'll hate to sit in the picturesque and quiet beer garden because the sun will hurt you. In late summer the trees surrounding the beer garden will be full of ripe apples that might fall on you! Oh and the service is just boring - they're kind and helpful and just serve what you need without overcharging or giving the attitude you're likely to used to in the city. Stay at home. Let this pub survive for the locals and those visiting home. Definitely don't visit the brewery and buy t-shirts, beer in bottles to take home and share with friends.

The Flower Pots Inn in the village of Cheriton, near Alresford, is one of the best-preserved…read morecountry pubs I've seen. Forget fruit machines, it's just a couple of rooms of raw wood and - in winter - a large open fireplace that fills the place with the sweet smell of real logs burning (so much better than a pub full of cigarette smoke!). Cheriton brewery is right on the premises so you can try several of their own beers right from the cask. I had a delicious stout when I was there and the missus had the Cheriton Pots Ale (I managed to get a sip of this too, very tasty). Lunch was simple but delicious - a lamb and apricot hotpot for me, with the biggest chunk of homemade bread I'd ever seen. The pub soon filled with walkers on the Saturday we were there, so it's obviously a local favourite. They've got rooms if you fancy staying. They have outdoor tables and even a large tented outdoor area if you really need to smoke. There's plenty of parking, as most country pubs do. The Flower Pots has been in Camra's Good Beer Guide since 2005.

Excellent food and drink. Friendly staff. Great atmosphere. Very popular place so book early!read more

Just terrific. Located in an almost 300 year old building, rooms have been lovingly restored with…read moregreat care. Staff was very friendly and helpful. The restaurant was wonderful--clearly the chef takes pride in his work!

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?!

Wow, what a place! Quirky, fun, crazy are just a few words to describe it…read more My friend took me here on our little adventure to Winchester. After getting over the initial shock (this place would never fly in the US, nope!) I began to explore the many rooms filled to the brim with antiques, knick-knacks, and oddities. Lots of oddities!! It is much bigger inside than it looks outside, and there seems to be a resident bar dog (who doesn't love a bar dog!!?). There are countless photo ops throughout this fantastic pub. The bathrooms are somewhat hidden within the fake bookcase. The ladies room was clean enough. However, I made the mistake of reading the writing on the wall and looked up. Don't look up. It is an image that will live forever in my mind! All part of the charm ;) Drinks were reasonably priced and they had a decent selection of holiday beers. I haven't stopped talking about this place and highly recommend for visitors. I hope to return to Winchester soon and introduce others to this gem. I would also like to visit the sister pubs (The Black Rat and The Black Bottle, though I think the Black Rat has closed).

We had a great little lunch on the dog-filled patio. The sandwiches were enjoyed by all, as was the…read morefriendly ambiance. Service was very good aside from one woman who was rather curt. Bathrooms were clean-ish. It's worth the pleasant little hike from the town center to have a meal here.