please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Unfortunately all the preceding reviews are now long out-of-date. We visit the area in the autumn every year and the reviews were correct but, for the last 2 years, it has been changed back to a pub that serves food.
I can't comment on the food as we have not eaten there, but it's now great as a pub. The bar has been moved back to it's original position and there are now traditional pub activities like quiz nights etc.
the only reason I didn't rate it 10 out of 10 was because it's now owned by a chain so the range of beers is limited. You can't even get Ringwood brews there any more. That aside, it's great ant there is usually a reasonable choice of real ales.
We are off to the area again on Saturday and look forward to a week of frequenting the Old Beams.
|
As others have said, more restaurant than pub. The 'beams' are obviously fake, but I like the vastness of the place, the number of semi-private partioned corners to sit in, the warm open fire in the centre and also - curiously - another one in the small entrance lobby. Extensive menu ranging from full meals to lightish snacks. As I'm from Surrey, to me the prices seemed average - but maybe they're high for Hampshire I don't know. The food was delicious, and good portions; but there were only two ales on: Speckled Hen and Greene King IPA. The Ruddles County had run out and couldn't be replaced quickly enough for us to be offered it.
|
For those that knew it as privately owned which was superb value to what it is now ..... Umm just keep driving !
|
not very impressed,staff wernt very helpfull,they were more interested in talking about there previous weekend out,food seemed over priced,although we didnt eat, the food we saw smelt wonderfull and looked teriffic,shame about the lack of character though!
|
A few years back this was a family run pub that took a great deal of pride in quality of food and value. You could always be assured of a decent meal, excellent service and a good pint of real ale. What a difference in those few years! The interior of the thatched pub has been modernised and has only suceeded in losing its charm and atmosphere. The bar has been moved, the only character remaining is the open fire, centrally positioned. All except 2 real ales were off and it only took a glance at the prices on the menu to ensure the car engine roared back into life.
|
This is a difficult one. The pub has been well converted and mixes the traditional and modern very well.
My partner and I won a free meal to eat there a few weeks ago. The staff are all very young and could benefit with more training. The food was not great, my partner ordered a mixed grill which was ok however they had obviously run out of a few things and had made substitutions - which is fine if they mentioned it but they did not.
I had a jacket potato which was cold and most of the potato was bad.
The salad bar is its redeeming feature - there was a lot of variety and it was very fresh.
The deserts were well presented but the apple pie had been made using tinned apples which were tasteless and soggy.
Overall an average experience and I would have complained had i been paying!
booty - 20 May 2005 17:13 |
Agreed,it is more like a restaurant than a pub, but we found the staff very helpful & friendly we only had a snack and it was delicious (our son ate everything)!!
Gill Taberner - 17 Apr 2004 17:58 |
this pub is one of the best pubs in dorset but one thing is the vegatables are hard .
|
I agree with everything said before. I made the mistake of visiting with my girlfriend for lunch. She ordered off the menu and I chose a carvery, but had to queue for 30 minutes to get it, by which time her food had arrived and got cold. Mine was also lukewarm by the time I got back to the table, so we had a go at the manager and walked out without paying. Don't go there. It's crap.
|
Some people do not fit into a place. When we entered we saw that it was really a restaurant, and they did not really like those who only wanted a pint. Anyway this place is for the smartly dressed gentry, and not for us scruffy peasants.
|
Good location - once apon a time it had good food! Not been there since '99 when it was known for it's quality. The bird has flown the nest though, as the quality has been replaced by 'mone, money', as that;s the impression myself and family receoved on our visit. Will not go there again, too costly for the amount you get on your plate. Shame, as the old 'old beams' was real good!! Make your own mind up when you visit and then go to the Red Shoot or the High Corner,ok?
Peter & Julie Mitchell - 5 Sep 2003 08:30 |
From a cast of hundreds, I was the only person not eating on my visit. Call this place what it really is. A restaurant.
|
