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Local Gastro Pubs - Andy (25th Jan 2012 - 16:46:07) We moved to the area from Bedfordshire 5 years ago and I have to say, we are extremely disappointed in the number and quality of Gastro pubs in this area. In Bedfordshire we had 6 lovely pubs serving real quality food (and ale) within a 10 minute radius of our house. Within a 10 minute radius of Liphook, there is not one pub that could compete with those 6 in Bedfordshire and I'm really surprised that this is the case. I'm not critcicising specific establishments here, nor am I fishing for recommendations. In fact, it's the only disappointment in moving to this area that I have. The reason for the thread really is to point out that it's something I find very surprising as this is a wealthier area than where we moved from and I would have thought standards would actually be higher as a result.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - helen (25th Jan 2012 - 17:21:01) What is your definition of a gastro pub? I can recommend several pubs in the area which serve food which I think is very good -The Hollist Arms nr Midhurst, the Rising Sun Milland, The Black Fox Liphook, the Blue bell Dockenfield, the Noahs ark Lurgashall. It depends what you mean by gastro pub?

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Andy (25th Jan 2012 - 18:48:40) Thanks Helen but, as I said, I was not fishing for recommendations. However, I have been to nearly all those you mention and, whilst not bad, they don't enter my top 6! A gastro pub in my book is a pub that's still a pub and retains that atmosphere yet has a dining room serving really good quality food at reasonable (£15 to £20 for a main course) prices. So you can have a great pint of proper beer and a good meal and bottle of wine as well.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Lisa (25th Jan 2012 - 22:24:01) Andy, I completely agree. I moved from London and find it impossible to find comparable food in and around Liphook. Granted, you can travel miles and find a gem, but on the whole, it's all decidedly average or worse. Don't even get me started on the local Indian or Chinese...

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - lily (25th Jan 2012 - 22:47:50) You could try Wheelers, Marco Pierre White's restaurant in Fernhurst. I think it used to be called The Kings arms. Obviously MPW does not work there, however he does own it, and liase with the managers, so I think if youre looking for good quality food in this area, this is probably the place to go. Check out the website. I know you say you are not looking for reccomendations, but how will you know if us locals dont tell you the little gems in the area? The French Horn in Alton is very good, only if there is not a driver, the taxi fare return is quite steep! Annie Jones in Petersfield is simply wonderful, JSW in Petersfield is above my price range, but apparently very good. Please keep us posted on your findings! Welcome to Liphook!

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Andy (25th Jan 2012 - 22:59:39) Funnily enough Lisa, I'm quite happy with the local curry and chinese, although we do go to Haslemere for Chinese Takeaway. I also don't mind the Royal Anchor - you know what you're going to get there and it is reasonably consistent and always good value. However, gastro it ain't as I'm sure they would admit themselves.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - helen (26th Jan 2012 - 02:12:15) How about the 3 horseshoes thursley? The Hawkley arms? The pub with no name? The trooper at froxfield? You can see I like my food! As I do not drink beer I cannot judge beer, just food, the and the interior decoration is not that important to me, just food! Also the Inn on the Hill Haslemere does a good carvery , and so does the devils punchbowl . The white horse haslemere does good food also. I would have to know what sort of thing you like to see on the menu to tell you some more pubs! You cannot compare local pubs to London Pubs, in the same way that you cannot compare local house prices to London House prices.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Andy (26th Jan 2012 - 09:30:05) I'm not going to get into reviewing all the pubs I've been too but I have been to Wheeler's along with most of the others. It was OK, but disappointing given the name over the door. For instance, there was not a pint brewed within a 100 mile radius available there, when Langhams brewery is a few miles down the road. Food was good, nothing more than that. I guess what I am saying is some of you don't know what you're missing and the pub food in these parts could be SOOOOOOO much better. It's OK, but nothing special. There were also plenty of OK pubs in Bedfordshire but 5 or 6 really special ones. For example, where's our "Hinds Head" equivalent? Or Le Manoir? We do live in a bit of a gastronomic black hole people I'm afraid!

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - liz (26th Jan 2012 - 09:32:10) If you moved to the area hoping for 'Gastro pubs' then in general you got it very wrong and deserve to be disappointed! Not one of this areas key selling points. That said you could try the Duke of Cumberland Arms in Fernhurst. Personally I wouldn't recommend Wheelers.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Andy (26th Jan 2012 - 09:42:15) Good grief Liz, who has said anything about moving to an area specifically for decent gastro pubs? However, it does seem that we are completely in agreement on the dearth of decent ones in this area. I'm not in that line of business but if someone is, I'd be happy to make a few suggestions as to where to visit in Bedfordshire to see how it should, and can, be done! Has to be an opportunity out there for someone and once one person ups the ante, others will follow...

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - helen (26th Jan 2012 - 09:43:48) I agree Wheelers and Annie Jones are good but they are restaurants not pubs, I am interested in the definition of gastro though? surely even all gastro pubs have differences so if you can tel me of any you do like then I may know what you are looking for. How about the Mill tavern Haslemere?

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - helen (26th Jan 2012 - 10:30:01) If you are referring to le Manoir, Raymond Blanc, that is in Oxfordshire and about 100 pounds per head per meal, is that a gastro pub I think not. I do not know what you think local people would support but it would not be prices such as those!

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - liz (26th Jan 2012 - 11:46:15) I suppose there must be some good things in Bedfordshire as a sense of humour doesn't appear to be one of them..... (!) Someone has mentioned the Mill Tavern in Haslemere - the restaurant was excellent but I haven't been there for a while. Also the Noah's Ark at Lurgashall and the Bat and Ball near Farnham are good.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Stephen D (26th Jan 2012 - 11:57:27) Andy's got it spot on and it helps to have some comparison. I've been in Liphook 7 years and have noticed there many adequate pubs (mostly those mentioned by other posters) and few that you'd drive more than few miles for. I know plenty further afield (e.g. Anchor at Lower Froyle) that are more attractive than the ones around Liphook but I don't want to drive 20 minutes. My main complaint about the local ones is lack of imagination and inconsistancy of service (why is waiting over 1 hour acceptable in a pub when it wouldn't be in a restaurant). There isn't even a particularly good selection of restaurants in the area. Most are budget/generic (Ask) or fancy (JSW). NB: I don't find JSW expensive (try the set price lunch manu and wine by the glass for an absolute baragin) but its too posh to bring kids to. While I'm on the subject, the take-aways could do with more variety (the exception being the Gurka). I'm so glad there's a decent Thai opened in Whitehill.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Andy (26th Jan 2012 - 11:58:45) Thanks Helen, I\'m well aware of where Le Manoir is thank you very much indeed. I merely used it as an example of why I think this area is a gastronomic black hole - and I\'m not suggesting it is a gastro pub either before someone decides to point out that it\'s not. There are pubs doing pub grub aplenty but no decent gastro pubs - have you been to the Mulberry in Chiddingfold, that\'s a gastro pub? - and no top-notch restaurants either.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Andy (26th Jan 2012 - 12:01:21) Interesting sense of humour you've got there Liz.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - liz (26th Jan 2012 - 12:14:24) I think that too!!

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - liz (26th Jan 2012 - 12:19:11) The Mulberry is good but its a restaurant....

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Lisa (26th Jan 2012 - 12:20:37) Funnily enough, all the decent pubs being mentioned here are NOT in Liphook and all involve a fair journey, just proving Andys point. Using London/Liphook house prices as an analogy doesnt make sense...there should be no reason why we can't have comparable quality pubs serving decent food in this immediate area.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - liz (26th Jan 2012 - 12:38:04) OK. The only one I would call a decent gastro pub is the Duke of Cumberland but that's not within Andy's specified 10 minutes. Scope for the Deers Hut then? (I know many will think it shouldn't change but it appears inevitable).

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Andy (26th Jan 2012 - 12:40:46) That's very much my point Lisa - House prices in Bedfordshire are much lower than here - but the gastro pubs are much better! And Liz, I'd say the Mulberry was a gastro pub - neither a pub nor a restaurant.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - liz (26th Jan 2012 - 13:21:21) The Mulberry describes itself as a restaurant - whatever we may think.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Andy (26th Jan 2012 - 13:38:26) Not wishing to be a pedant, but I'm going to anyway, the Mulberry does indeed describe itself as a restaurant, formerly a pub, but it also describes itself variously as a pub and an Inn elsewhere on its website. They also serve cask conditioned ales which surely has to be a pub thing rather than a restaurant thing? And they do music nights so I'd say whilst the website seems very confused, it is very much a gastro pub. And I've had a couple of very nice meals in there too. Chris Evans was there at the time - not that he did the cooking!

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Andy (26th Jan 2012 - 13:55:37) www.dogandbadgerbedford.co.uk www.whitehorsesouthill.co.uk www.blackhorseireland.com www.whitehartmaulden.com All of which are superb. Although I much prefer Hampshire life (and have lived here longer for what it's worth).

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - liz (26th Jan 2012 - 14:22:29) So a 'Gastro Pub' is a 'Gastro Pub' when Andy says it is. Ok, well the Mulberry is a good place to eat whatever it is. Bad luck Chris Evans being there but you can't have it all. - Which reminds me, perhaps someone could revive the Lickfold Inn? I would suggest it is property prices, business rates and general overheads (i.e. cost of staff) which potentially make gastro pubs less viable in Hampshire when you work out the margins vs higher volume business models. House/property prices may be higher but people won't pay that much more for food to make up the differential.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - liz (26th Jan 2012 - 14:29:36) The menus for the first two on the list look like pretty average 'pub grub' to me, hardly 'gastro' even if well executed. And karaoke? Are you sure you are not looking backwards through rose tinted specs?

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - helen (26th Jan 2012 - 14:44:18) It might be worth a trip to Bedfordshire! I have eaten at the Mulbery and was very dissapointed, I was charged way over the odds for only ordinary food. My favourites are the Hollist Arms and the duke of cumberland but they are not very close and probably not gastro pubs. There is a business opportunity at the Prince of Wales now's your chance Andy to bring us up to standard!

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - liz (26th Jan 2012 - 14:51:37) If the Duke of Cumberland is not a gastro pub then I have no idea what is!

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - liz (26th Jan 2012 - 14:58:22) Wow! The Hollist Arms looks good - don't think I've been there. If I have then certainly not recently. Bouillabaisse! - Will definitely give this one a try. I would also like to know of somewhere that didn't focus on roasts on Sunday..(however good they may be!)

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Andy (26th Jan 2012 - 15:49:24) Liz - I think we can agree that you do have no idea what a Gastro Pub actually is.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Andy (26th Jan 2012 - 15:52:58) For you Liz: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastropub

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - g renouf (26th Jan 2012 - 15:58:00) Spread Eagle Liss Excellent food and a real pub

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - liz (26th Jan 2012 - 15:59:59) Andy Just going by your own post of the 25th. (And without having to resort to Wikipedia!!). In what way is the Duke of Cumberland not a gastro pub?!

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - helen (26th Jan 2012 - 16:32:48) Had a Christmas set meal at the Hollist arms and recieved goose which was fantastic and also home made crepe suzette. The chef is from the Marsaille area and makes his own hummous and baba ganoush please give the food there a try, serves good wine and coffee, he has a normal menu available for sunday lunch, my friend had whole filleted sea bass for her sunday lunch as she does not like meat.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Andy (26th Jan 2012 - 16:49:47) Liz. I've been there once and they were only serving roasts which had to be pre-ordered. There wasn't a seperate dining area with an a-la-carte menu. Seemed to me like a pub serving food (very nice looking roasts I have to say) as opposed to a pub with a restaurant facility. But that's just my view - does it REALLY matter? You seem to be taking categorisation thing very seriously. If it helps, I can revisit everything I've said and replace "Gastro Pub" with "Pub that serves a-la-carte food in a seperate dining area) or somesuch. Would that satisfy you?

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - liz (26th Jan 2012 - 17:06:48) Its not me being the pedant.... Anyway I'm off to the Hollist Arms soon because it sounds great! Andy I suggest you go to the Duke of Cumberland and have a proper look - well you could start with their website... (Admittedly it is mostly roasts on Sunday but they are excellent - and no karaoke!). There is a separate restaurant area.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Andy (26th Jan 2012 - 22:22:33) Liz 1. Nobody called you a pedant. 2. What on earth has karaoke got to do with any of this?

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Dave (aka egon ronay) (27th Jan 2012 - 07:21:49) Andy, i've got just the place for you! Go south on the a3 past the ham barn roundabout! in the layby, parking is limited and theres no heating but the bacon sarnies are to die for, go al fresco for a change! ps. they are not licensed.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Andy (27th Jan 2012 - 08:32:48) Egon Bacon & Egg on generously buttered white bloomer toast for me please. Tea white, no sugar. And none of that half-cooked bacon nonsense please, nice and crispy for me.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Sudha (27th Jan 2012 - 08:33:46) Hello Andy and welcome to Liphook. Whilst I appreciate that you love Gastro pubs may I suggest you try out the local eateries (all types)...one to support the local business in these hard times, two to show an interest in the area you have chosen to move to and three as " variety is the spice of Life". Somewhere in the thread the Gurkha Chautari Nepalese Restaurant in Station Road got a mention.We have been there several years and welcome new Liphookians. Failing that,I know that the Fox and Pelican in Grayshott is popular as is the Pride of the Valley along Jumps Road,Churt. Please do be adventurous and try some authentic food of the Gurkhas,those brave soldiers...unless of course you cannot tolerate light curries,so delicious and full of flavour....quoted from our visitors book. Hope to see you perhaps? Sudha (Gurkha Chautari)

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - liz (27th Jan 2012 - 09:24:40) I notice the Ghurka got a (well deserved) positive mention!

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Andy (27th Jan 2012 - 10:48:01) Thanks Sudha. This thread is specific to Gastro Pubs as I think we are well served in the area for other types of cuisine, including your fine establishment. It is only the local pubs that have proved a disappointment from a food persepctive. We have found tremendous fish and chips and chinese takeaways locally and the curries are good too. Pizza Time pizzas are good. The Anchor is great for what it is but, if you happen to want a really nice steak and triple cooked chips or lamb shank or whatever, I haven't found anywhere I really rate.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Helen (27th Jan 2012 - 12:43:10) Try the Grey Hound in Midhurst on the way to Chichester. A good steak served up there.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - peter (28th Jan 2012 - 00:27:30) Well Andy,Here at Whiteley's were not a gastro Pub,but we are a restaurant with home cooked good food set in a picturess forested conservation area.We offer some of the best Steak and Seafood.We also serve Ales from Hampshire Breweries(seasonal)We are offering great value deals.We do not use Brakes or 3663 frozen food suppliers like so many around here.Local Butchers,local fresh vegetables and all home made and cooked produce.We only buy fresh Cod,Lemon Sole,Salmon,Mussels and many more.We have an extensive quality menu which is proving more and more popular as people get to know of what were doing.To top all this we are only 10 mins by car from liphook,just past Passfield in a little place called Standford.hope to see you here soon? www.whiteleysfamilyrestaurant.co.uk

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Hungry (28th Jan 2012 - 01:10:27) Hi Andy, You mentioned Le Manoir in your posting. Not a gastro pub, whatever your expectation of that is. Raymond Blanc has branched out, somewhat, and opened a brasserie style restaurant in Chichester called simply Blanc. You should try it. The decor is tasteful and modern. the food is expensive for what it is and the portions are miniscule, albeit tasty, but take a sandwich! There are numerous establishments within your striking distance that can honestly eclipse the above without bending your card too much and I think you are inappropriately dismissive of them

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Andy (28th Jan 2012 - 09:45:02) Peter - Please see my response to Sudha - this is about pubs, not restaurants. Do you serve cask conditioned ale? Hungry - I appreciate this thread is getting long but I think it's fairly clear from my posts that I'm fully aware Le Manoir is NOT a gastro pub, for goodness sake! People (and this is not just aimed at you) do appear not to bother reading threads fully before posting and end up getting the wrong end of the stick. But thanks for the tip in Chi!

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Hungry (28th Jan 2012 - 15:53:32) Andy, Not a tip; a warning!

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Andy (28th Jan 2012 - 16:34:59) Hungry - how can I be "inappropriately dismissive" of them when I've been there, paid good money and not had the quality I have experienced elsewhere? Plus I'm not being dismissive, I'm suggesting standards could be much higher. These things are obviously subjective and, whilst I can honestly say I've not had a bad meal at any of them, the point I am making here is that I've not had the really good / exceptional experiences I've had previously and that is, frankly, disappointing. If you read some of the other comments in the thread I'm not alone in this view. A colleague of mine lives in Guildford - a particularly affluent area - and he is not overly impressed with the gastro pubs there either but has had really good pub meals elsewhere in the country. In my experience, this part of Hampshire is devoid of a really good gastro pub. It has OK ones, but nothing significantly better than average.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - daveaka egon ronay (28th Jan 2012 - 18:54:02) andy mate, you don't happen to own an anorak do you?

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Paul (28th Jan 2012 - 23:47:08) Hi all, An amusing thread I presume? Try and compare parts to other areas of the country , i think is not correct, as there are so many things are not the same. As for " Gastro pubs", how sorry I feel for the heritige and history of our pubs for centuries to be called "Gastro" appalling! If some one wants fine dining with a glass of ale beer?. Find a top-end eating house in the bright lights not here. Please find some "city or town establishment" which is not real, and just playing with the idea of country life. Liphook is a fine rural area of Hampshire, not a posh table in the sticks! Good luck.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - helen (29th Jan 2012 - 02:23:45) yes I think you are hung up on gastro pubs? There are lots of us who do not drink beer and think that good food can come in all establishments, perhaps if you relaxed your attitude you would enjoy your evenings out more! It was you who mentioned le manoir in the first place, and so people assumed that was the sort of level you think we should find around every corner. I have not been there, but friends have and told me it was not worth the high prices they had to pay. A lot of places, pubs and restaurants are struggling at the moment, I have heard that restaurants in Grayshott are closing?

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Andy (29th Jan 2012 - 08:52:19) So many assumptions are now being made in this thread along with people jumping to conclusions and reading what they want to read rather than responding sensibly and objectively to what I (and clearly several others) think is a valid point that any further sensible discussion on the topic is clearly over. I'm outta here - point made to those prepared to listen and WUMs - feel free to carry on the entirely unnecessary bickering and point scoring you've started should the editor be happy for you to do so. Assume what you want to assume, read into things what you want to read into things and I give you joy of it.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - liz (29th Jan 2012 - 17:21:58) All the toys out of the pram. Even Teddy! I have picked up one or two good suggestions for places to eat (or otherwise) from this thread and I'm sure others have too. Hopefully Andy and his friend in Guildford will find somewhere to their satisfaction.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - dave (29th Jan 2012 - 19:57:51) Liz - typical woman, always insisting on the last word.andy has a valid point but your welcome to disagree. Just less of the unnecesary sniping pls.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - dave ( aka egon ronay) (30th Jan 2012 - 07:13:06) that wasn't me by the way!

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - liz (30th Jan 2012 - 08:18:28) Andy/non- 'Egon Ronay' Dave Don't you think you might be taking things just a tad too seriously? non-'Egon Ronay' Dave You don't live in Guildford by any chance do you?

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - matt (30th Jan 2012 - 08:29:31) Thank you all for entertaining me on the commute this morning. I have some sympathy for Andy, there's nothing wrong with moving to Liphook and still expecting a pub, gastro or otherwise that meets his expectations. We all have our own image of what a good pub should contain and you snipers out there might just find you share Andy's vision... :)

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - liz (30th Jan 2012 - 08:57:12) Matt Perhaps somewhere will open soon that fulfils Andy's vision of steak and triple cooked chips!

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Andy (30th Jan 2012 - 11:00:14) Liz Before you suggest it, I do not know Matt. Nor do I know "dave" - more assumption on your part! However, "dave" is absolutely spot on, you really do need to have the last word don't you.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - liz (30th Jan 2012 - 15:19:00) There's nothing wrong with having the last word!

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - h (29th Mar 2012 - 15:05:33) I know this is not a gastro pub, but the tenants of the Prince of Wales have changed recently, and I visited last night for a meal. I was very pleasantly surprised. The landlord is also a chef, there were fresh flowers on every table and a pleasant welcome. Although it is pub food based, I had a 6 oz very tasty perfectly cooked fresh rump steak, home made chips, perhaps not thrice cooked! and a salad for £9.99. Although the menu is not huge, the food is not expensive and the main courses seem to have been produced and cooked to order using fresh not frozen produce. I hope people will give it a try.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Tony (2nd Apr 2012 - 19:21:50) When we moved to Liphook from London several years ago we loved nothing more than driving around the countryside searching for hidden gems. We found The White Horse at Chilworth whose chef had trained at Rules in Covent Garden. They served organic lamb from the local hills, you could see them as you drove up! Sadly the brothers who ran it moved away, I think it\\\'s now a fish restaurant but we haven\\\'t been there. Several others nice ones come to mind such as the Keepers Arms in Trotton, the Mill at Elstead and a particular favourite the Three Horseshoes at Thursley to name a few (the scenery is always as important as the food I think). Just search them out, we now have young kids and are more into the likes of The Spread Eagle in Liss (great for kids and lovely family run pub with good food). Just don\\\'t need to be too pretentious and enjoy! Hey, even some of the pubs in and around Liphook are great too!

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Suzie (3rd Apr 2012 - 13:47:07) Steak & chips - lamb shank equal gastro food, don't think........so !! - just dull, lacks imagination and certainly nothing 'a la carte about that sort of food. can do better just by staying at home, using local produce from the F.M and buying beer at source- how simple is that ?!!. ...as for the The Anchor, and beer, the 2 don't go together........!!! it caters for the masses ONLY.!, prob those from Beds.......LOL.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Andy (4th Apr 2012 - 12:16:41) Thought I'd pop back in here seeing as it's been bumped up the list again. Suzie - were you on illegal substances when you posted, that's some wild punctuation you've used? Anyway, I agree with your home use of locally produced and Farmer's Markets produce. I disagree completely with your view that steak and chips and lamb shank cannot be gastro, that depends entirely on the produce used, how it's cooked and how it's served / presented. Also, don't you think it's nice to dine out once in a while? The Royal Anchor serves a very nicely kept pint of Abbot Ale I'll have you know and the food, though far from gastro standard, is in my experience consistent, well cooked and good value. I've had rump steak in there for £6.95 that would put many a restaurant charging £20.00 for the same thing to shame. I've also had a very good meal in the Duke of Cumberland recently. They have a very clever midweek menu with generous portions and you can't go wrong with a pint of Langhams. Finally, I can vouch for the chips in the Prince of Wales which are splendid, if not thrice cooked ;-).

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Suzie (4th Apr 2012 - 14:12:59) Andy, - Abbott Ale, is Greene King & should be avoided by all ' real ale ' lovers & followers, I just couldn't under any circumstances swallow that !Shame on you. As for the 'ding' dinners. & all those little people.....no, no & no.....! Now Langhams along with the wealth of local beer available here locally .......is great ! As for DOC - check out the BITE site as not everyone is so impressed...it would seem. Dining out - occasionally, but can it be reliable, [?] just too many variables, I would rather save the pennies until I get across the water, & enjoy some cuisine of a different nature.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Andy (4th Apr 2012 - 15:43:10) Suzie - What is your problem with Greene King ales - have you had a bad experience in Suffolk? I'm a member of CAMRA - have been for 24 years - and Abbott and IPA, when kept properly, are fine beers. You may not personally like them but as real ales per se, they stand up alongside many of the best. As for the rest of your post it's almost unintelligible - did you write it in another language and use an online translator? Or are you still high? Maybe you've had too much Langhams today already...

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - h (4th Apr 2012 - 16:05:18) Suzi talk about snobbish! all those "little" people? No wonder you do not eat out very often! A pub is a public House not a private club anyone can enter whether PLU or not!

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Suzie (4th Apr 2012 - 17:29:11) well its obviously completely lost on you Andy !.... gastro indeed.........LOL..... is as previously said certainly not steak & chips !!- not very cheffy is it - you don't need to answer that , its called rhetoric, to you ! staying true to gastro, means an assortment of beers & wines that complement...& they certainly are not available at the Anchor, or many other pubs for that matter. FYI- Pubs are drinking establishments, somewhere adults did used to frequent, however in these austere times we are enduring it seems we now must indulge adults who want to take their children to a pub, all rather peculiar. I will vote with my feet. I'm sure junior didn't choose to drink there.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - FinchieMark (6th Apr 2012 - 08:37:06) Classic ! I had to dig a little to uncover a gem, but this thread is well worth bumping !! I've missed this site ! Happy Easter Weekend. Cheers, Finchie

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - h (6th Apr 2012 - 14:20:28) Hi Suzie I apologise I did not realise you meant children by "little" people", I once had a very snobbish sister in law who referred to all tradespersons as "little people, as in " the little man round the corner who makes furniture etc. I know that the Prince of Wales is not a gastro pub but has improved a lot!

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Jan (6th Apr 2012 - 18:40:18) What has happened to the George Gale beer, my late husband used to drink it, the brewery used to be in Horndean.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Ben Govier (6th Apr 2012 - 20:21:18) George Gale was brought by Fullers who now make HSB and ESB in Chiswick. The Horndean Brewery is closed, probably flats or something now.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Jan (7th Apr 2012 - 15:14:27) Hi Ben, Thanks for the info.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Suzie (10th Apr 2012 - 16:43:41) Thanks h - apology accepted - no problem. We may give it a try, especially after the awful experience at Hawkley over the weekend. We won't ge going back there in a hurry.It seems to have become a restaurant & not a great one at that ...with managers who are clearly in need of training in customer service skills. It is always worth offering support more locally.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - david (13th Apr 2012 - 10:40:11) Please- I think you are talking about "Ghastly pubs". This is when a public house is taken over- ripped to pieces then rebuilt with fake fittings and reproduction bars to give a false feeling of tradition.These always have no character or charm. If you want "decent" ghastly pubs then, fortunately, you are in the wrong area- if you want decent traditional pubs then you are in luck. try the crown arford, the deers hut, the crossways, the sun, the flying bull, the list goes on. Decent restaurants - you have missed one of the best Indians in the country- The Medhuban in Liss (has been rated in top 5 curry houses in the country every year for the last 25 years). Good luck on your continuing hunt.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Andy (13th Apr 2012 - 12:19:32) David - No, I'm not talking about ghastly pubs. I think I know where you're coming from though - The Crown in Arford and the Deers Hut are both very good, traditional pubs and there are a few others I could add to that list. I have to disagree with you about the Madhuban though. 5 years ago, it was really very good but I honestly think the food is no better than the Chondona now, although the restaurant itself has a nicer ambience. For example, a Dupiaza should be a very dry curry and I had struggled for a while to find a dry version until I first went to the Madhuban. Unfortunately, they now seem to have pandered to general tastes and serve it with a lot more sauce which is a real shame and a bit formulaic for what is a highly rated restaurant. I've been disappointed the last 2 times I've been there.

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Andy (8th Mar 2013 - 18:55:02) Both the Deer's Hut and Links are now much more like it so all of you can relax, I'm happy now!

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - H (9th Mar 2013 - 09:27:11) I hope the prices at the Links are more reasonable than the Deers Hut? Had a really nice meal at the Duke of Cumberland in Tilford, bit expensive though but very good. They also own the Stag at Eashing

Re: Local Gastro Pubs - Lucy (10th Mar 2013 - 08:58:55) Just in case anyone is thinking of trekking all the way to Chilworth to try the Fish House (formerly the White Horse at Chilgrove) don't bother, I drive past it every Sunday (lunchtime) and it appears to have been closed since Christmas - looks terminal. The White Hart at South Harting always seems to have a good trade though, as does the Earl of March in Lavant and Royal Oak in East Lavant - all pubs that serve food. No shares in any of these businesses, not friends of any of the owners, don't use any of them - just saying....!

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