please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Locals will state that the Five Bells is currently owned by a car dealer called Graham Horder. He bought it in 2010. As some of the reviews below will testify, it went downhill. (It is likely that the posters "aeromed" and "DaveF" are either Horder, or someone acting on his behalf, as by Jan 2013 locals will testify that the pub was pretty much run down, similarly "countrywalkers" and "beerhunter62" who post within days of each other, using similar wording, and have never reviewed another pub, anywhere, ever!. The Five Bells was listed as an asset of community value by the people of Nether Wallop in the summer of 2013, in order to curtail its potential top be sold. After this Horder shut it. It has never been open since. The Community has sought to buy it, at its market value, but Horder isn't selling and it stays shut. One day, the community of Nether Wallop would love to see a proper pub review on this site. We wait and we wonder.....
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New licensees had just taken over when I visited today with friends.
The bar was warm and welcoming with a fire burning in the grate and several people - probably locals - were already drinking at the bar. The pub was clean and comfortable, with a short lunchtime bar menu of filled ciabattas and hot dishes, all very reasonably priced at around £5.50- £7.50. There was also a longer a la carte chalkboard menu.
We chose from the bar menu: the service was friendly and efficient, and the food was good and well presented. I can't comment on the beer as we were on soft drinks.
This was a very pleasant surprise after reading some of the other reviews, and we've booked to go back at the weekend.
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My god.What can I say. Just dreadful. Speaking to the locals , they are as dissapointed as I am.
The pub is once again in total chaos.Poor food, and a landlord who will bar you as soon as look at you.What a real pity.I will not bother again.
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We found this pub after a recommendation and had a very pleasing time there. The beer was well kept, we tried the Flacks Double Drop and the Wallops Wood both were well kept and just right. We just had a snack, the crab cakes were very tasty and huge as well as being modestly priced, as was the rest of the menu. So many of the pub/restaurants in this part of Hampshire seem to charge London prices it was good to find one that doesn't. The bar area is very clean and light, the tables had fresh flowers and the feeling of the pub is exactly what it should be, friendly and not too crowded with some amusing locals to listen to. A great local, just like they used to be, and in a village that time seems to have passed by. And we enjoyed the aviation art on the walls, some interesting stuff there. Well done!
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We stumbled across this little treasure whilst driving back from a lovely walk around the old hill fort out at Danebury. We spotted a sign on the main road and thought we would stop for a quick drink. After having a lovely chat with the young lady behind the bar we spotted the specials board and couldn't resist. Crab cake starters followed by a lovely Haddock main course. I have never seen it cooked this way before. They were poaching it in cream and watercress... My god! I would recommend this dish to anyone. We spotted the chef walking past and cheekily asked if he would mind sharing his recipe. To our delight he was more than happy to share. We are now going to try and replicate this dish at home.
I must say upon leaving the pub we both felt some what delighted by our visit. The staff were so friendly and spared a lot of time for us. The Chef was able to give us a lot of background information on the beers for sale and also had a lot of knowledge on the old hill forts.
I would highly recommend this pub to anyone wanted good home cooked food and locally brewed ales.
Everything was clean and tidy, flowers on every table, great atmosphere in a very busy pub, plenty of parking and staff who seem to really enjoy their jobs.
Will be putting our comments forward to the good food magazine.
Will be sure to return again very soon.
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Perfect Pint!!!!! Lovely local pub with a great choice of ales. Was very pleased to hear that they will be rotating a monthly guest ale... something not many people do these days. I have found my new regular. Cheers to the Five Bells, and good health. Keith Bonnie (the spaniel)
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the place is looking very clean and tidy these days. came in with a group of 5 other friends on a friday evening and think we may have intruded on a ladys curry night so decided not to eat although the specials board did look very appertising. we stopped for probably just over an hour working our way through the ales before getting our taxi back home. the staff apparently haven't been there long but were polite and friendly, still had time to chat to us even though they had a pub full of screaming woman. we will be returning to try the food in a few weeks... will be sure to book next time.
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Only visiting the pub about once a month we have noticed change in management several times, however on our last visit I was very pleased to see a selection of ales for sale rather than the same 2 they used to have every month. Wallops wood being a personal favorite. Their menu seems have changed quite a bit since our last visit as well. They have the usual suspects on the main Menu and slightly more interesting options on the specials. I myself had Home Made Crab cakes for a starter and Sue had the crispy Brie wedges, the also appear to be home made. The Crab Cakes were fantastic and Sue complimented on the light golden texture that the Brie was encased in. For mains we both had the slow roasted lamb shank that was to die for. Cooked just how it should be so that it falls straight off the bone, plates were warm and and presentation was great.
The pub itself seems to have had a face lift with fresh flowers and a single candle in a wine bottle on every table and a magnificent flower display at the end of the bar. We were also pleased to see that they are now offering several roast dinners on Sundays as before it was only ever beef and not being a big fan of beef, we have yet to try their roasts but may have to sample one Sunday.
The couple running the place at the moment seem very friendly and polite, but they couldn't advise us as to how long they will be staying for. But we commended them on their work so far. Fingers crossed they will be there on our next visit as it's getting hard to keep up with all the new faces. Any way, all in all it's definitely a step in the right direction. I just hope the new managers make use of the garden this summer as it's always been left to go to waste.
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Website never updated.The chef Jenny left in December, but you will only know that when you try the new menu.Revolting. chips with everthing..Yet another relief manager. We all had such high hopes when the pub was purchased and released from the brewery, but it seems the web site, is all talk.Started well, but has declined again rapidly.This seems to have just been a little adventure for the new landlord Graham, who really has no idea what he is doing, and has lost interest.A pub to avoid, how very sad.
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Having given the pub a bit of a wide birth,due to the rudeness of the landlord, I decided to chance it.Pleasantly surprised by the new relief management.Very friendly, still good beer, and great food.Sadly , I here they are leaving, and not on good terms with the landlord.What a surprise!!! I really do look forward to the day that this wonderful pub is finally in good, and safe hands.
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I came here with my parents for some lunch, however we were extremely disappointed. We all ordered beef and horseradish sandwiches, these were served promptly but with no napkins or cutlery. When eating the sandwiches we came across the string used to tie the beef, and a LOT of fat. If an elderly person or younger child had this snack, they could have easily choked on the string inside the sandwiches.
When I told the two members of staff, they seemed completely uninterested and practically ignored me.
It is such a shame that this pub did not live up to our expectations, we expected it to be a lot better than it used to be but unfortunately we will not be visiting again.
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Probably the rudest Landlord in Hampshire.
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Popped in here the other lunch time. This was the first time ever, despite the fact that I have lived in the area for a number of years, as the reputation has always been bad. Having recently changed hands I was wonderfully surprised to find a clean and airy pub rather than the dingy effort that word of mouth always said it was. The biggest and best surprise was the good local brews and the quality of the food, which I was tempted to try having seen a few locals tuck in. Would recommend heartily.
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Took my wife in on sunday, and had a fabulous sunday roast.I must say good food, and very good value The beef was cooked to perfection..Very friendly staff, though no sign of the lovely landlady.Her daughter was there with the usual smile and warm welcome.I did try to engage in conversation with the landlord, Graham, but he was quite disinterested, and seemed more intent on eating his own lunch.Oh well.Won't put us off a return visit, especially as the George Pub, a mile up the road seems to be closed, again.
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Popped in last week on my way down to Devon.Still no food on to speak of , but the landlady kindy made a most delicious fresh, and hot venison sausage sandwich.Pub looked great, fresh flowers and the fire burning.No sign of the old landlord, apparently he had gone to have lunch in another pub!!
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Pass through this village most days and had often called into the pub, had unfortunately stopped doing this for many months due to a rather depressing atmosphere. However upon hearing the news about the new ownership (not to mention no longer brewery tied pub) I called in last week. I was delighted to see the pub in a lovely redecorated state! It looks beautiful and was very welcoming. very good ales on tap also. The new landlords seem very pleasent, although not too sure about the Landlords role. He seemed to be taking a back seat and didn't seem to do much, apart from talk about aviation, bit dull? Landlady was lovely, very chatty and friendly and the other bar girl (im assuming is her daughter) seem to be running the bar themselves? Doing very good job for novices i must say! very glad to see pub up and running again and will be calling in more often!
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The pub has recently changed hands, and is finally clean!A few good beers on too.The landlord looks about 80, and is very slow, but the landlady is lovely.Very bright and bubbly,and friendly, and easy on the eye.Hope they will be doing food soon, as would go back.
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This pub has now changed hands and is now operated by a guy called 'Graham'. He's a novice but appears to have the pubs welfare at heart. I tried the 'Bowman's Brewery Wallops Ale, and I must report it was in great condition (even if Graham did serve it with his hands on top of the glass!!!) Once the decorating is completed it should be a good little boozer. Coupled with the landlords eccentric manner this place is worth seeking out.
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When I went, they had run out of oil for heating due to the cold snap but there was a warm welcome and the 6X was excellent. Food was limited but my sandwich was just right. Seemed like a good locals pub, but there needs to be a good food service.
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Pub is still struggling despite the best efforts of a dedicated and knowledgable landlord. It's a great village pub with 3 ales on - all Wadworths. I tried the 6X and Henry's and both were very well kept and served at the right temperature.
Although food is on offer, it isn't great, probably because the pub doesn't have a proper chef, but the beer does make up for it to some extent. It's a shame he's tied to Wadworths, as this could be a great drinking haunt if there were a few more ales on. It's also a pity that teh Goerge is so close - the latter does food and is right onthe main road, so people tend to stay there rather than venture the extra mile (literally) to the Bells. I for one, thouhg, intend on using this pub in preference when passing through the Wallops as its beer really is good.
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The pub has now reopened. Mrs A went there this Monday and said the food was ok (but not brilliant), but she couldn't remember what beer was on. I'll visit there myself next time I'm passing and comment properly.
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Wadworths have finally given up on this pub and the freehold is up for sale, but at �450000 it's a lot of cash unless you think you can talk the council into change of use. Another pub bites the dust.
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This pub appears to be closed. Talking to a local, it seems it's been having trouble for a while.
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Nicely situated in this lovely village. Beer was fine. Limited menu for food and expensive. We had to wait an hour on one occassion although the landlady was apologetic (large party being served before us).
Pub kept in good order so worth a visit.
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A Wadworths pub - quite small and cosy ,at present under a relief manager whilst new tenants come to take over. No food at present till it gets back on an even keel. The village was known as 'St. Mary Mead' in the BBC Miss Marple stories. The nearby church was the one in 'Murder at the vicarage' and the pub makes a good base for some attractive walks. Seems to be a true 'local'.
anonymous - 8 May 2005 22:20 |
