Mailmans Arms, Lyndhurstback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
As previously posted by ''ferend'', the place looks inviting on the outside but is a soulless, void inside. Usual Greene King offerings so not much going for the place in the beer department either. Give it a miss.
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Looks good from the outside, unfortunately the bar is pretty soulless. There's a small garden out back with benches & tables or you can sit out front and watch the world go by.
Only called in for a beer which was around 20p a pint dearer than other local pubs.
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As others have said, this pub unfortunately does not live up to it�s promise. Very attractive from the outside with flowers liberally adoring the pub, and even troughs at the end of many of the tables. Inside it�s pretty soulless, and like Gristy says the fact that they still have original windows with Saloon Bar and Public Bar on then leading you through to single L-shaped room is very disappointing. There was a plasma on the wall that was on too loudly, and a typical pub grub menu, although this appeared rather on the pricey side.
Nonetheless, in spite of all that it�s a pleasant place to sit out the front and watch the world go by, or just drool at some of the cars parked on the forecourt of the Ferrari dealership next door.
Beers on this occasion were Westgate Sun Dance, Greene King APA and Abbot Ale. The only cider was Strongbow unfortunately.
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Had a meal and pint both excellent. The welcome from the lady behind the bar was as warm as the weather outside, even though she was on her own. It was nice to be in an estblishment that still retains the charms of pubs from days gone by and not pandered to the demand of trying to entice the lager generation. Keep it traditional, there are people out there who still like that way, for those that don`t there are plenty of places for them.
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We popped into the Mailmans Arms on Saturday to have lunch and watch the FA cup final, we were down from London for the weekend and had cycled from Ashurst so we were looking forward to ice cold drink and 'a smiling face behind the bar' (says the website). We were also drawn in by the �2.50 pint offer during the game.
Firstly, the pub itself is quite nice with a sunny beer garden, however the landlady/manager should seriously consider a change in career. For some reason she took a instant disliking to my boyfriend who had asked if we could take our bikes through to the garden as the hire place had not provided us with bike locks but to this she just responded that was not allowed and that was 'the rules', end of that. Her tone of voice was extremely blunt and offered us no alternative but to buy a bike lock at a local shop.
We had lunch in the back garden, which was was pretty much third rate and if that was a 'seafood' baguette then our oceans really must be in a sorry state.
We returned to the bar area to watch the game and participate in the �2.50 per pint offer which we assumed would have restrictions so whilst the national anthem was being sung around Wembley my boyfriend went to the bar and asked the landlady for 2 @ �2.50 each to be told abruptly it wasn't KO time yet so no beer till 3pm and that was 'the rules'. Yes Miss.
When the clock did strike 3pm my boyfriend went back to order she then raised her eyebrow and puffed 'what of?' at which point my boyfriend remained calm and asked what was available in the offer.
Such a shame that this one individual spoiled what was a glorious day in Lyndhurst, I am only consoled by the fact that Cheslea lifted the cup at the end of it.
PS: I recommend the charming lady in question takes a career change into Teaching.
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Echoing the couple of comments already made, this looks from the outside to be everything a fine old English pub should be. However, the multi-room layout that you might expect from various doors and signage is now nothing more than a knocked-through L shape room around the bar, with bistro type floor wooden flooring and big soft leather sofas.The Greene King range is never going to be that exciting...and it wasn't.
Soulless. It needn't be this way.
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Real Ale shouldn't be kept this cold. My pint of Abbot was rendered almost tasteless, the flavour of the malt and hops having been obliterated. Could've been a pint of John Smith's it was that bland. Tables aren't cleared frequently enough either. As 'blamm' says 'the outside looks very welcoming' but.......
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From the outside this place looks very welcoming, old style beams, flowers, tourists taking snaps of it. Greene King range of beer but a pity about the decor - dull wood panelling and leather chairs/sofas. Not what I expected from the outside. Nonetheless a decent pub.
blamm - 24 Aug 2006 15:52 |
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