please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Lovely pub, nice grounds, excellent walks from. HOWEVER, the food is very expensive and not good value for money. Example 1. Whitebait as a starter over �6. About 15 small whitebait served in a half pint mug mostly filled with the faux fish and chip type paper, half a tomato cut into two pieces, Two tiny shreds of lettuce and a pot of mayo on a tiny 'chopping board'. Example 2. About two pieces of ham, EGG and chips, �11.95. I rest my case! Pimms well over �4 a glass.
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Nice pub/hotel. It's typical Fuller's once you get into the bar area. As you'd expect, a good choice of beer, and the food was very good- we were served very quickly even on a very busy Bank Holiday Sunday.
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Visited on the May Day bank holiday. Was going to pop into the Queens Head to see if it had improved, but as Burley was packed with tourists and day-trippers, decided to go here.
It looks more hotel than pub, but once you get past the lobby area and turn left into the main bar it looks more familiar. It has an Edwardian feel to it, with plenty of brass, large mirrors and drapes over the windows. Plenty of choice on tap for ale drinkers like me with Fullers' London Pride, ESB, and Discovery on tap as well as Gales' HSB and also Seafairers. I had a pint of HSB, which went down very nicely. The pub was busy but we were served quickly, and there was plenty of food coming in and out of the kitchen, but can't comment on it's quality as we were only drinking. There was an array of various breeds of dogs lying around the tables, as the place is 'dog friendly', and most were being well behaved. There is a large patio and garden area out the back with plenty of seating, and on a hot day (not on mine unfortunately) it would be a good place to get a tan. On the whole a nice place to drop into when in the New Forest, and I would visit again.
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Competes very well with the Tuns in Bransgore, I would say food at the Tuns is better and cheaper. Love the site here and can see the attraction with gardens etc, beer was OK, little disappointed in the service - took 50 mins to get Sunday lunch, when it arrived it was so this could see daylight through the beef. Cant argue the venue, lovely gardens, bit crowded Sunday
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We were on holiday in the area and the main reason we stopped here was because we were told it was dog friendly. I was a bit doubtful when we arrived as it looks a bit posh from the outside. Can confirm they allow dogs;you can eat with your pooch in the bar area but not the restaurant,which is fair enough. Food was good and they do proper puddings like Spotted Dick!Nice pub feel.Staff were friendly enough and the draught Honeydew was excellent. Water bowl provided for the dog
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Great pub for a Sunday lunch, especially after a good walk. It's the kind of place you can dress up for or turn up in jodhpurs and boots. Better still, you can take the dog.
Coming from Bournemouth, where there are so few pubs that do their own cookingm, it's always a treat to come here, especially for the local fish dishes
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was at this pub at the weekend great place to go when walking but not this time bad service bad food hsb was quite nice but that was it
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Visited pub on a Saturday evening around 6pm, food was exceptional and staff were genuinely polite & friendly - lovely environment. Don't know if pub changed hands since all bad reviews on here were written but I'd def recommend it - around 8pm it was getting rather crowded which is always a good sign so would suggest going early to secure a table.
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Gales HSB very good - well kept.
Strangely, kitchen was closed at 2pm (Saturday)so we missed the food - looked like lots of others arrived in anticipation of a meal but were disappointed. Staff did not appear to be all that interested, good location - probably do not have to try very hard as a result.
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Visited over the Bank Holiday weekend. Pleasant pub with a large garden (and a car park to match!).
The Gales HSB was well kept, they also had the usual range of Fullers/Gales beer. Staff were efficent and the prices were average.
We didn't eat, but the menu was extensive and there were a lot of people eating. The portions were good and few plates were going backed uncleared.
There is a small but good older childrens play area, plenty of space for younger children to let off steam without getting under other peoples feet.
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its a shame they seem to have let it go a bit any i am sure it will be busy as ever by the summer
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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.
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Unfortunately, can't agree with the previous comments. Terrible bar staff, with no attention paid to the order at the bar, scruffy gardens with old crisp packets everywhere, leftover cutlery on the floor, and week old newspapers underneath tables. Gales HSB is great, however. Definitely NOT the best pub in the New Forest - try the Royal Oak, or the Foresters...
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food times are weird for summer time
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Very busy at weekends. Good food and beer (expensive).
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I hope that the Fullers buy out of Gales doesn't affect this pub. It's truely superb. The whole range of Gales beer plus Ringwood bitter and local food that's excellant. It's what a pub should be. There's even a hitching rail for your horse. Arrive early for a table unless you've booked.
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This is without a doubt the best pub in the New Forest, yes it may be a drive to get too, but it is seriously worth it. Good selection of drinks including fine wines and real ales, and the food is amazing, I have been going in here for 6 years and never once been dissapointed. You may wait a while for your food as it is freshly prepared and cooked, but when there is over 200 people in there, who do you know can cook meals for 200 in less than 1/2 hour.
Would highly reccommend this pub, to any visitor to the New Forest.
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Beer quality is excellant and the food is better. It's not cheap, but it's not in a cheap area. The food is usually local produce including excellant fish (Have you ever tasted brill?)
I have written to Gales more than once, to compliment them on the quality of this pub. It's not in the Good Beer Guide because it's already packed out by customers brought in by word of mouth. If you want a table for Sunday lunch, get there before the bar opens.
It's our favourite pub in the area.
Jeffrey - 22 Sep 2004 21:17 |
Was here on the day the temperatures topped 100F, listening to jazz in the back garden. Very nice.
Rob - 12 Sep 2003 09:02 |
One of the better beer gardens. Hope that the weather is alright when I get home in a few days time from Saudi as I fancy a few pints from the well kept range of real ales whilst sitting in the beer garden with my wife. Food is pricy but excellent and plentiful. By far and away the best of the three pubs in Burley although there's not much competition in truth
John - 13 Apr 2003 19:18 |
