George, Altonback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
It's been over 10 years since I was last in Alton and that was before I started recording my visits on BITE. But yesterday, I was back to do a couple of pubs I'd missed previously. The George was my first stop and it is seemingly a favourite of the local CAMRA group and with good reason too. This was my favourite pub of the day in Hampshire. It's a lively place, popular with drinkers, diners and families. The interior is quite modern. But with the gents being outside, there are a few clues to the fact that this is a much older establishment. The ale range was the most diverse we found during the day. Sharp's Sea Fury is a rather unusual beer to have as a mainstay. But here it is the regular ale. Guests on yesterday were Itchen Valley Pure Gold & Guy PA, Brains Café Phoenix & Marston's Saddle Tank. I opted for the Café Phoenix, which was also my favourite beer of the day. Just one small criticism - there is no real cider on draught (I didn't check the fridges for bottles as I was happy enough with my beer selection). But seemingly very few pubs serve real cider in this part of Hampshire.
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Early supper. Staff friendly and attentive. Good beer and excellent food. Nice atmosphere with great music playing
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Now in the Good Beer Guide
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Nice traditional pub - so traditional that it's frequented by several dogs, and the loos are outside! But a good selection of ales, and excellent food reasonably priced, so we stayed for a second round...
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Spent a few days in Alton last month. The George was recommended to us by the owner of our b and b. We were not disappointed, returning twice more. Dinner was delicious with the wild mushroom pie for me, the chicken, bacon and avocado salad for my wife. We sat in the back garden while the sun went down enjoying our meal, our pints of St. Austell Tribute and the idyllic locale. When I went in for another round, the gent behind the bar offered me a small pour of a local brew - Itchen Valley's Belgarum, several of which then put the exclamation point on a great meal. We were so pleased that we returned for lunch the next day (sausages and mash; slider trio -more Belgarum) and a farewell pint the day after that just before catching the train back to London. The service was fine, the staff very friendly, the atmosphere a very nice mix of hip, traditional and comfortable. Highly recommended.
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Looks like there is a new landlord here. Cant wait to see what he is going to do with the place. Fingers crossed it is all good.
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Nice modern take on Altons pubs. Beer good - tried Tribute recently. Nice and airy. Catches evening sun in summer.
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We ate at the George one lunchtime just after Christmas and loved it. The young female server was polite, friendly and very helpful. Unlike many pubs, she was happy to take our orders at the table; nothing was too much trouble. OK, food is not that varied but I had an 8 ounce burger which was excellent. My wife enjoyed her fishcake and our party also ate a chibatta sandwich and a veggie mushroom burger, which were all very good. The chips are fantastic, like proper Belgian twice-fried fries. We could also have had lamp chops, Cajun chicken, ribeye steak, various other sandwiches etc. You can choose many dishes as a Main Course or Starter (small appetite) size. Only 3 draught ales on the bar and limited bottled beers but all the usuals. Great to see an espresso machine on the bar which confirms this is more than just a pub. Atmosphere is modern and sophisticated without being stifling. I loved the modern decor (pale painted tongue-and-groove panelling). Men's toilets don't quite live up to expectations though. Close proximity to Alton high street make this a good choice for morning coffee too. If you are looking for traditional English pub with dark heavy beams, horse-brasses and old men telling stories this is not for you but I�ll certainly go again.
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It is no more. It has been reborn as the George. Good friendly pub, with good food and beer.
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if you are looking for a GOOD pint and a friendly place then I can recomend this place. The locals are always in good sprits and everytime I have visited I was meet with a smile and felt welcome. Very strict rules concerning under aged drinking (nice to see)and a good Pool table and two dartboards.
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My legs couldn't carry me fast enough out of this pitiful place. On thinking it would be a good idea to go for a quiet drink with some friends in this place we went in. Oh dear! Having been there 2 minutes my friend ordered the drinks and was asked for identification. He produced a valid drivers licence. The landlord grunted, deemed it a "fake", and after my friend assured him it was real, he told us to f**k off, and when my friend refused to pay for the drinks, the landlord came around the bar- fists clenched. Needless to say my friend paid, we left and never went again.
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