The Cricketers has changed many times over the years I began frequenting the pub on the outskirts…read moreof New Alresford. Potentially because of its location it didn't always maintain a high enough traffic to maintain profitability... however if the standards of the roast dinner with crisp Yorkshire puddings is anything to go by - it should in good shape under the current management. Good selection of beers, a large garden for the children or those seeking fresh air, football on the TV - what more could you need for a change of scenery.

9 of us - 6 adults and 3 children - ate here on Sunday evening. Delicious food, generous portions…read moreand good service.

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!)

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.

Great food! Great room! Great atmosphere! Reasonable price and if you want to get a jump on traffic…read moreheading to Stonehenge, the perfect stop.

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!

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.

This is a pub, a gastropub, and a bed and breakfast all rolled into a beautifully restored grade 1…read morelisted building in the rolling Hamspshire countryside. The accomodation is superb - 13 rooms, most suites - mine even had its own office, equipped with wifi. In addition to the good food, its also a free house, so a wide choice of ale and lager. And the cost - £60 per night. Unbelieveable. If you need to stay in Hampshire, its located just off the M3 - have a look at the website.

REALLY good food. Let down by REALLY amateurish service…read more We sat in the table service garden (there's a traditional pub style service-at-the-bar side of the pub where the car park is). It took us a while to even get menus and then another 20 minutes to have our drinks orders taken - by then half our party had walked round the to pub, into the bar and brought their drinks back thru the pub instead of waiting for the 'table service'. Once our order was taken food was pretty quick and was really good - good generous portions, great flavours. We were all up for desert but having not seen a waitress in half an hour we decided to hunt one down and get the cheque and just leave. When we went inside to pay we expected to see all the tables occupied - there were FOUR waitresses working the shift - there was no one inside - these four waitresses were doing the worst job ever of serving 3 tables (Us being one) outside. Would recommend for the food but just order at the bar and save yourself the hassle of waiting for LITERALLY everything!

Serene, peaceful and magical. Great views, swans, friendly…read morestaff, amazing food (try the mussels!), good drinks choice. Great family day out. Just don't tell too many people!

How cute! A friend brought me here...wondering where we were going and found this cozy little…read moreplace. Cozy and thank goodness the weather was beautiful today so we could eat outside.

Close to London's Heathrow airport, this place absolutely rocks!! The ambiance service and foos are…read moreall epic. I had the slow roasted Lamb and it was truly delicious. The meat was fall off the bone tender and has a great flavor. The curly fries were also great. Besides the great food and service, you get a sense that they truly appreciate their customers. What a great concept. If you are in London UK area, this is a must visit. Enjoy

One of my favourite little getaways when i go home. Situated in the middle of some of the most…read morepicturesque Hampshire countryside it makes an excellent lunch stop for cyclists walkers and anyone just out whiling away the hours. They recently went through a heavy makeover of the restaurant and now the look really matches the food. They've kept the comforting pub bar and quiet corners but also installed a family friendly restaurant area that opens onto an impressive beer garden with a two story Wendy house! But to return to the more important aspects of having a restaurant, the food is really good. The service is fast and every time i've gone they've been incredibly friendly. I've even blundered into a quiz night by total chance which was really well run (though i might be saying that as i won a bottle of wine!). Friendly, affordable, good quality, i forgot to mention the beer but there are some fine ales and bitters as well as the standard fair on tap. Good for families but also a really nice place to just sit and take your ease for a while. a real country retreat of a pub.

Delicious menu, with specials each night…read more The interior is lovely, and all freshly done up, with beautiful tables, upholstered chairs and interesting things on the walls. Staff are super friendly and knowledgeable and the service is brilliant. I love the wine list, but I'm being torn away from making my way through that to try their excellent range of spirits!! They have a green and relaxing beer garden with a cool looking hut for kids (no more salt and vinegar crisps and cola by a fireplace! ), and even their own veggie patch where they grow a few herbs for the kitchen. I wish I lived closer!