please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
This is a genuine, old fashioned country pub. As has been mentioned, it is owned by John Ilsley, the former Bass Player of Dire Straits. Usually a decent selection of beers on tap as well.
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Popped in for a quick pint and found a welcoming, comfortable, traditional bar, plus a smarter restaurant area. The Cottage Southern Belle was well kept and from the barrel, with a brace of (Marstons) Ringwood on handpump. Good friendly service and a certain shabby ambience contributing to a well above average pub.
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Lovely pub. Came across it on a Monday lunchtime. Very friendly service, roast beef ciabatta and fries was delicious. Will be visiting again for dinner as soon as we're next in the area.
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Although the pub website only shows a dinner menu, we went in at lunchtime on the offchance there were baguettes etc. available - there were ciabattas with various fillings. Full menu was not large but presume it was of high quality to match the lunchtime snacks. Excellent friendly and efficient service, we turned left at the entrance and went in the lounge bar which turned out to be the restaurant. Plenty of excellent pop photos from various groups on the walls. Although there was only Ringwood 49 on the one handle in the lounge bar there were other ales available - the 49 was excellent, I'm into 49 at the moment so it was ideal. Will return later!
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Trad New Forset pub. Glad to see not 'tarted up' but still retains old world charm. Small bar with large open fire blazing away when we went. Good beers on tap and friendly staff. Had meal in restaurant, John Ibsley (think thats his name) the owner and Dire Straits bass player was also having dinner at the time. Good menu, not cheap, but food was very good, Good selection of wines available. We found locals were ok and did not feel unwelcome, car parking not easy when busy as there is only a very small car park and layby over the road. Worth venturing out to when visiting the area.
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Its an old fashioned pub, a small bar with a larger dining area and a pleasant garden area. The bar had seven people in it all good natured and they made room for me to order at the bar no problem. Ringwood 49er and Bitter were on offer and tasted good.
Its isolated position means car parking can be a problem. Considering where it is I am surprised it is not aimed more at the tourist.
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Good food, but its a shame they don't get their fire lit more frequently, and also earlier - it would be nice to go for lunch on a cold winter's day in a place that felt cosy - the food is wonderful and the staff great, but its let down by the absence of firewood. Get the fire lit early and keep the logs stocked, that will take this pub to the next level.
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Visited on a quiet Monday lunchtime. Public Bar still retains a proper feel - clean and tidy but not modern. No one else in that bar when we walked in but a nice place to sit. Lounge (busier) is food orientated - still nice but not any particular character.
Beer was OK - a ropey Archers guest beer and usual Ringwood fair. Reasonable condition. The food was really good - well worth the short wait. Staff reasonably friendly. Overall 7.
It's just under an hour length easy walk along the Solent Way from Lymington Pier station with good views of the Isle of Wight.
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All I can see is if you are looking for really good food, attentive & friendly staff then you can't do much better than the East End |Arms. Pay your respects to the old landlord in the public bar. He resides in a plastic pyramid. I will leave you to find out why. Lovely pub, very good Ringwood beer. Try the mussels, brilliant grub. my rating 9 out of ten.
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'Locals pub' is often a bye word for "if we don't know you then you ain't welcome". This is precisely how I felt when visiting the locals bar after a nice cycle up from Beaulieu - as if I'd walked into someone's front room without asking.
I thought this could have been something I'd said or done, but then I spoke to a friend who runs a local business (they see a LOT of tourists, take note owners) and he said precisely the same thing as me without prompting. A group of six were made to feel very unwelcome.
Another tip for the owners: 30 somethings will be around longer than the people propping up the bar drinking a pint every three hours, we enjoy nice service and an accommodating atmosphere just like everyone else, otherwise we leave - there's a recession on and people will start to get picky!
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Good food, wine and beer. Bar for locals and restaurant next door (expensive) spit&sawdust bar, great fish.
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Nice pub, good beer and good welcome.
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One of the very few New Forest pubs that has not been completely tarted up for foodies. there is a restaurant in the upmarket right hand room but the public bar is pleasantly unspoilt and long may that continue. Good real ales too.
Robert Steel - 19 May 2004 17:00 |
Excellent food, beer, and good family atmosphere especially at the weekends. Bit of a squeeze at times but always very frendly. The range of home made pies from a local lady are very good especially the pigeon. Only place that I've had Woodcock offered from the board.
Jeff - 4 Jun 2003 12:07 |
Proper country pub - ex Whitbread and bought by the Dire Straits bassist. Mega food on one side and a proper local bar , unrefurbed for about 30 years )
darts , garden and slightly off the beaten track. Good new Forest local ales available.
Well worth a look.
adam - 17 Jun 2002 16:20 |
