BITE user comments - rgb
Comments by rgb
Went back again on the 30th of January 2010 (I've been a few of times in between that visit and the visit in March, probably about 5 visits in 2009)
Great food, a really good beef, mushroom and Guinness pie. Very nice scampi, fantastic open chicken pie. Dunno if the kitchen is doing pre-prepared meals or cooking to order but it's all very good.
Tonic water in G&T was fizzy, Sharp's Doombar was very well presented and the wine was declared good too.
Service with a smile. This pub has the same faces as a year ago. Same manager, same bar staff and same waiting staff. They are friendly without exception. It's dog friendly to boot and it's good value for money.
Well worth a 9. Great example of what a chain pub can do, when it's run properly.
1 Feb 2010 18:18
Nice pub. Beer good, wine good, food good. Service with a smile, not a long wait and it's cosy as well. Loos are clean.
Not a pub to take the kids but there's The Fish Inn down the road for them.
1 Feb 2010 17:29
Drovers Inn, Gussage all Saints
Let me get this straight lil_wine drinker and jamie_potty_mouth. I've written a few facts about my three visits to this pub in 2009 and they accurately describe my experiences.
I've been a irregular visitor to this pub since 2005, going a few times a year. But because you presumably both know the tenants, you think it accepatable to take umbrage with my comments, because I've failed to gush about how great I think the place is?
This is a place for people to report their experiences in pubs not a fan-club.
I've always been happy with the drinks here, I've always been happy with the staff. I've had three poor meals in 2009, paying between �60 �90 each time and I'm reporting what I experienced.
I expect my food to come on plates that are hot. I expect the food to be hot and I expect all meals to arrive at the same time. You two might not, I do. Clear? Your personal abuse is unwarranted and slanderous.
1 Feb 2010 16:51
Drovers Inn, Gussage all Saints
Thought I'd add another review, as my last was 3 years ago.
I like this pub, it has very good beer. All it lacks is someone in the kitchen who can cook. My last 3 visits in 2009 have all been spoiled by poor cooking.
I don't believe the reviews immediately prior to this one. There's no way that i could've been so unlucky, three times running. #
The hot-rock idea doesn't work, bin it.
If you don't know how how to cook venison or beef, then either remove it from the menu, or change your meat supplier.
When 4 people order food, it's important to know how long each dish takes to cook, in order to ensure all meals finish cooking at the same time.
Plates should be warmed, before food is put on them.
Beer is still excellent, wine range has increased in price and decreased in choice.
I've moved my rating down to a 7, for the pub and it's a 1 for food. I really don't want to pay for food, that I could cook better at home.
25 Nov 2009 19:38
The FC is one of those pubs that I pass regularly but rarely visit.
I've neve been impressed enough by the menu or the food I've seen being served, to actually eat here, so my comments are strictly as a boozer.
They've got a good range of beers, TT Landlord and Ringwood stand out for me, plus 3 other real ales.
However it's a pub for grockles, with prices to match. �12.50 for a pint of Landlord, a glass of very average dry white wine and 2 x small lemonades and 2 x packets of crisps, is highway robbery.
Pleasant enough staff but I'm not rushing back.
3 Aug 2009 10:41
Stopped here for a very late Sunday lunch. Had pre-booked and we ran late but a call to the pub sorted that out and they told us to get there when we could.
Dog friendly, child friendly, good food, very good beer, somewhat cramped and parking limited.
I went in early December and it was very busy.
23 Mar 2009 18:22
Still good food and drink. Was in there 14th of March 09 and the place was packed.
Excellent couple of pints of Ringwood.
23 Mar 2009 18:10
...is now a pile of rubble and soon to be a block of flats (apparently)
23 Mar 2009 18:07
Hard one to call this, a real mix on my only visit to date. The food is not expensive. The beer - TT Landlord - was very good. Average beer prices for region. Wine was expensive, a large glass costing more than a bottle of the same stuff (�6.80 for a rather average Sancerre)
A good selection of meals but a lot of the food is obviously out of the freezer (Yorkshire puds were awful and the spuds were past their best) roast beef however, was excellent. Portions were enormous, so I'd give it a 9 for value for money.
Staff varied immensely. I suspect a lot of them were either new or just in for Mothering Sunday, so service was erratic. Starters arrived quickly, main course took three-quarters of an hour.
Parking is a bit tight, as noted elsewhere and the garden was a mecca for smokers but it's a dog-friendly pub, it's clean, it's spacious and we will be returning, to see what it's like on a 'normal' day.
23 Mar 2009 18:02
Visited for the first time yesterday. Lovely place, I'll definitely go again. Very close to A303 but not so close that traffic noise is a problem. Nice pint of Ringwood, great roast beef.
Very clean, beer garden, dogs welcome in the bar. Car parking is a tad limited.
11 Feb 2008 11:02
Sadly, it's just not the same old Monmouth. It's not packed in the way it always used to be - could be the smoking ban, there was always a few of those in the front corner - could be the 'new' landlord and his wife (who are very friendly but not so child friendly I suspect) but the food service is a bit on the slow side and the food quality is down slightly.
Same range of beers/wines menu, just ambience is now lacking somewhat.
4 Dec 2007 11:08
Visited with my kids early Sep. '07. First time for 3 years. Last time, I stayed in the old Post Office which adjoins the pub and the then landlord operated a policy of closing when we left - 3 a.m. - seems to be slightly different now. Beers were good, didn't eat but those who did seemed more than happy. Great location, a pub worth stopping by.
11 Oct 2007 15:08
Re-visited this pub in September 2007. First time I'd been in the area for 3 years and it was good to return.
They keep a good selection of beers, which were all good (yep tried 'em all) and they had some pretty good wines too.
Food was excellent and of course the pub is in a fantastic setting.
It is quite pricey but they're catering for a holiday set who happily stump up �2000 p.w. to hire a house in the village, so it's no more than to be expected.
11 Oct 2007 15:05
Bankes Arms Hotel and Country Inn, Studland
Zofloya, you must be easily pleased.
Good points: great location; good range of beers; pretty quick service for food, even when busy and quite organised in that dept too.
Bad points: loos stink to high-heaven and are filthy; food is mediocre (but edible and no delhi-belly); staff behind bar (when I was there on the 9th of Sep) were not very helpful; pub is generally shabby.
Lizlibation and twiglet100 have summed up quite accurately.
Park in National Trust car park behind pub (pay �1 unless NT member) and it's okay for a stopping point whilst doing the 'walk' but I wouldn't go out of my way to go here.
17 Sep 2007 18:00
Delightful dump - if you only look at the decor - far more if you're going here for a pub as in the traditional sense.
Yes the interior is shabby and the loos stink to high-heaven but the landlord is smartly turned out and very professional. The beer was good (my first pint of HSB since Fullers bought them)
18 Aug 2007 17:54
Definitely a pub to go to if you've got kids and the weather is good.
It's nothing special but the landlord does magic shows for children in the garden, it has a decent size garden, including a 'no kids' area (that is largely ignored as an instruction), and a kids play area with climbing frames etc. pleasant views, average beer, average wine, average food and average prices.
Parking can be a bit cramped as it always attracts large numbers of families so usually full.
Mildly off the beaten track, seems to be popular with campers.
So you've got that yes? When it's a pub experience you want, don't go here on a Sunday in the summer.
31 Jul 2007 20:39
The New Queen Inn, Christchurch
Visited for the first time ever on the 29th July. It's a Hall & Woodhouse and I've been avoiding their beer since 1977 (so Badger and Brock lager may taste nice now)
Pub has same menu and beers/wines/decor as Monmouth Ash in Verwood. However chef is not so good. One customer complaining about his child's pudding when I arrived, my steak pie was good, mash potato was pretty average, veg. was poor, service somewhat slow.
I'll not visit again but if you go here, then parking is very good, they have a decent sized garden with children's play area (and winged beasties to chew on you)
31 Jul 2007 20:23
The Langton Arms, Tarrant Monkton
Ate there at beginning of March. Food was good but quite pricey. Menu offered a good choice. There's not a lot in the way of atmosphere in the restaurant (conservatory) probably need to get rid of those blinds.
Bar was quiet (we went in there after the meal) although the function room was busy. Beer was good.
Dunno about this place, it's not The Museum (Farnham) but similar prices, so I doubt we'll rush back.
12 Mar 2007 12:49
Nice pub. Stopped here on the way home from Winchester on Valentines night.
Very friendly staff, jolly nice couple of pints of Old Hooky (they had at least three others on hand-pumps too)
Girlfriend said her wine was nice.
Seemed quite busy, very friendly staff. All those eating seemed happy enough.
17 Feb 2007 17:09
Fantastic place. Really great pint of Sharps, my partner loved the glass of Cava and a wonderful bottle of Cloudy Bay to go with our meal.
I called them at about 6 p.m. and they found a table for 2 x adults, a 5 y.o an 8 y.o and a 16 y.o for 6.45.
Superb food, they chopped things around to suit the childrens' tastes and the place was packed to the rafters.
Parking okay, garden at the back, pleasant views. Amazingly friendly landlord and landlady and their staff were extremely courteous and helpful too.
Up there in the top three this one, it's no surprise they've won so many awards, customer service at it's peak.
29 Jan 2007 19:58
The Dartmoor Inn At Lydford., Lydford
Very good food and very good drinks, beer and wine.
Went in for lunch and again for supper. Both meals were excellent.
Very friendly staff, some nice quirks about the pub, i.e. a little shop at the back.
It's a dining pub it must be said, it's a little on the pricey side - although the quality of the food, more than justifys the cost - and it's a little off the beaten track, unless you're staying in, or visiting Lydford, then you'll be stopping en route through I suspect, that said, if you stay in Okehampton or Tavistock, it's well worth a visit.
29 Jan 2007 19:47
Rather average drinks, crips okay.
Stonking place to visit though, if you're in the area, it's worth going for the novelty alone.
How do you rate it? Can' rate it as a pub, I made a flying visit whilst cycling from Lydford Gorge to Okehampton and had a unrememarable beer and the others had soft drinks served from a supermarket own brand bottle.
I'll give it a 10 for fascintating place to visit, a 3 for the drinks and settle on 8 overall.
29 Jan 2007 19:28
Good food, wine and beer. Bar for locals and restaurant next door (expensive) spit&sawdust bar, great fish.
29 Jan 2007 18:07
I first went into this pub as a 6 year old in 1969 in the company of my Dad and Uncles. This in the days of no-kids in pubs.
These days, it's best avoided, ever since Trevor left and went to work at The Pilgrim in Marchwood (he's retired now) it's gone downhill.
29 Jan 2007 18:01
You see what Grossy has written below? This is the Nellie in a nutshell.
It's a bit of a dodgy dive but I like it. Nice little garden at the back overlooking Southampton Water. Guiness is nearly always excellent in here. Live music nights are a gas. Clientele is most definitely eclectic.
Food, no idea! Beer great. 4 bars (and they ain't big)
29 Jan 2007 17:59
Big pub, good garden (play area for kids) poor parking for size of pub.
It's smoky, has a good selection of beer and wine, sells reasonably-priced food and has a non-smoking conservatory, away from Sky TV off of lounge bar.
Geoff the landlord is often to be found drinking in The Pilgrim in Marchwood and his golf handicap is disgustly low for a man of his advancing years and restricted mobility.
If you want a 'decent-pint, solid-grub' type pub, then you'll be fine here.
Put the live bands back on for Thursday Geoff, you know it makes sense.
29 Jan 2007 17:55
No mobile coverage (not a bad thing).
Beer quality varies (not sure why) but Ringwood goes from very nice to a bit yuck. Could be slow turnover of beer. Wine is somewhat insipid. Guiness is a good alternative to duff beer/wine.
Food is reasonably priced and usually quite nice. Weekends can be quite busy.
It's got a nice garden - although as it's next to a stream, sometimes a few buzzy things annoy - in a beautiful location (says Holbury but it's actually on the forest.
Good car-parking. Clean pub/toilets, good location.
29 Jan 2007 17:49
I've been going to this pub, irregularly, for over 20 years. It's in a great location but a total tourist trap in the summer. Service is generally slow (have the carvery?) and the menu is usualy fairly uninspiring. Beer is usually okay to quite good, wine is okay.
Good garden for the kids (when weather is nice).
It's tough to rate to be honest. If you'd asked me in 1980, I'd have said 9. These days, turn the number upside down. There's nothing wrong with it as a pub, it's just somewhat uninspiring.
28 Jan 2007 20:14
So-so sort of pub. Visited on a Sunday afternoon. Average beer, average food, slow service. Smoky in bar area. Shan't be rushing back.
28 Jan 2007 20:09
I've visited a couple of times recently - Dec06/Jan07 - and have enjoyed both visits.
This is undoubtedly a very child-friendly place, with good food, beer and wine.
It's always busy (a good sign) it might be a little pricey as a boozer but it's a typical pub these days, in that it serves food. It does hthis quickly, with no fuss, from a good menu and with a very nice pint of Ringwood.
Made me laugh that the barmaid dind't know what a Chablis was although the barman/landlord did and he suggested a suitable replacement.
For me, a good place to take the kids after a morning Scalextric racing in Ringwood.
28 Jan 2007 14:04
The Old Barn Farm, Three Legged Cross
Visited in mid-Jan '07, late lunch-time. Partner's parents are moving to Ashley Heath and as we're in Verwood (5' in the car) then we really needed to visit.
First impressions, hmm, next to Ind. Est and farm. Second impression, nice building and garden - it's accessed directly off the main road but set back - and walking in, third impression was okay but smoky. Well come July that'll change.
It's got a varied food menu (too large for me) but very reasonable priced and portions were good sized.
It's clearly very child friendly, with several family groups eating lunch. Wide selection of beer and wine, I really wanted a Hen but settled for a Ringwood Best. Local beer, one I know well and can easily compare with others. I give the pint I had 9/10.
As a pub, it's not really my bag; a bit too smoky and a bit too 'pub-chainy' but there was plenty of staff, I was served by a courteous barman but some of the clientele put me off. (That'll be the bunch of 20s something, pushy and rude mob)
If you're in the area, with whiny kids and need a break, then it seems ideal for a stop off for lunch, or early supper. Garden, kids area, seperate area off to right as you enter (conservatory?) and what appeared to be rapid service, means they'll be entertained and you can relax. As a local, not much chance for me but then I'd go to The Monmouth in Verwood anyway.
28 Jan 2007 13:55
Nice pub with friendly staff. Prices are very competitive! Portions are huge. Too much for me.
I've only been once, beer was good, food was cheap, car-park was full, pub was full.
2 Dec 2006 13:30
Pleasant pub, quite busy, friendly staff.
Food was good but overpriced. Beer was Ringwood and very good. Wine was a mix but nothing special by the glass, so a bit pricey.
1 x steak (�3 extra for sauce) and 1 x starter and 1 x fish main, plus 3 x glasses of wine and a pint for �55 is a bit strong. (�15 for a steak plus �3 = �18 for a sirloin whci was too much)
Parking was tight - car park full - and I suspect we'll not go back, as these prices aren't far off those of The Museum up the road in Farnham. However the menu here doesn't justify the price in my book.
I give it a 7, which is overall, as a village pub, I'd give it a 9 but over-charging for an average menu drags down the score.
27 Nov 2006 18:12
Food is good. Beer is usually good. Location is charming and it appears to be well frequented. Interior is a bit shabby.
Parking behind pub. Garden in front. Lots of smoking in bar.
25 Nov 2006 19:21
Nice pub. Useful garden for children in the sumer.
It's friendly the food is good, served pretty quickly, even when busy, is reasonably priced and has a good selection of drinks.
Car park next to pub, which can get full quite early at the weekend, even in winter but it's unlikely anyoe will have a bad experience here.
The fish is usually very good.
25 Nov 2006 18:19
Drovers Inn, Gussage all Saints
I like this pub. Excellent beer (good range of Ringwood, 4 off) food is good, lots of it and reasonably priced; ask for olives from the big jars behind the bar, very good and reasonably priced.
It's a little austere perhaps, although I'd call it no-nonsense and unfussy.
Never seen it too busy but the staff are always friendly and polite.
Carpark at rear, dogs welcome, garden in front.
Well worth a visit.
25 Nov 2006 17:47
My regular pub (well twice a week)
Usually 3 x beers on hand pumps. Bass, Courage Best and Courage Directors.
House wine is okay, well the Aussie Shiraz usually is the French stuff is often insipid muck.
Very friendly staff, beautiful gardens, large car park, very reasonably priced food.
Menu is good, English fayre.
Gets busy on Fridays and Sundays and all the time in the summer.
25 Nov 2006 17:43
This is a great place. Please don't go here, it's busy enough and I like to go inside sometimes.
25 Nov 2006 17:32
Not been here for a couple of years (they used to do great fish) so went a couple of weeks ago for sunday lunch. Heaving so went to The Oak at Bank instead.
Went back last week for lunch during the week.
Friendly staff (not enough though) quite busy, quick service. Stuck with tomato juice, so can't comment on beer.
Looks a bit tired now and parking is a nightmare.
25 Nov 2006 17:30
Interesting post by cbutler.
The current owners, will tell you they run a restaurant, not a pub and the service here can be shocking.
Good choice of beers, packed in summer and most Sunday lunchtimes. I go here maybe half a dozen times a year, usually after cycling and I sometimes wonder why (well the beer's good)
I think it's gone backwards since the new people took over (new, in latest incumbents)
The food isn't too bad, although the crab I had the other week wasn't brilliant.
Staff appear to have a high turn-over rate, which might explain the erratic service.
Too many tables in the garden.
25 Nov 2006 17:26
Not my best pub in the forest. It's okay but it's not one I rush back too. Given the proximity of The Oak at bank and the Trusty Servant at Minstead, I'd go here for a change, rather than a regular destination.
Food is generally pretty good, good choice of beer. Looks a bit tired and can be slow service.
25 Nov 2006 17:19
Great ambience, great food and good beer and wine. Never had a duff time here. My girlfriend did once, on a girly night out earlier this year, when the place was packed and service was slow.
Well used by locals and not-so-locals alike (13 miles away for me)
Parking isn't plentiful, it's off the beaten track, it's expensive - it's a fantastic place to go, so I do, a lot.
25 Nov 2006 17:16
For beer drinkers may not be the greatest of pubs but if you like food and wine and very friendly staff, it's great.
Of the four pubs in Verwood (that I know of) this is the one I use regularly.
Would like to see Ringwood beers but I can always have a Guiness if I don't want wine.
Has car-park to rear and patios front and rear, with patio heaters. Thet'll supply water & bowls for dogs.
Remember to turn left when exiting car-park.
Will go up in ratings when smoking banned next year.
25 Nov 2006 17:11
The Olive Branch, Wimborne
Great pub. Always busy, always friendly. Good selection of well-kept beers, excellent food and wines in a pleasant location.
The tables aren't too close together and the whole place has a homely, rambling feel to it.
The pub car park gets tight but there's a car-park off Crown Mead beyond the River Allen which runs along one boundary of the garden.
Dog friendly, child friendly, large canopies in the garden with heaters, so it's possible to sit out in Autumn.
Best to book if you want to go Friday through Sunday. I've booked for Christmas already.
2 Oct 2010 12:43