please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Ringwood beers: Boondoggle, 49er, Best and Red Boar.
Food ok, pleasant atmosphere.
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Just a quick warning to any musicians looking to play at the Inn on the Furlong. Following two incidents of drunk audience members falling into the band and damaging equipment I stongly recommend leaving your quality equipment at home and use cheap stuff that has no value to you. From personal experience I can say that the landlord believes such damage should be accepted by the musicians as part of gigging life and any complaints will fall on deaf ears (and will probably get you barred!) A shame, as the ale is good here.
Use your Les Paul and Boogie here at your peril!
The pub rating is for landlord attitude. For a quiet weekday drink I could see the Furlong being a pleasant place to be.
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I was in the Furlong last weekend with a group of old school friends. We'd been going to this pub on and off for 15 years on trips back to Ringwood. After the take over of the little brewery by the big brewery (Ringwood-Marstons) I suppose it was to be expected that some corporate, characterless gloss would be applied to all their pubs. Bar staff in uniforms, 'offers' being advertised like its some kind of supermarket and 'policies'. It was summed up by an amazing situation after the very first round where a latecomer joining our group went to the bar to buy a coke and was then asked for ID. He's 34, so didn't have any ID on him, so the bar staff, who all looked much younger than him, then asked him to leave the pub. This then meant all 8 of us had to leave. All because he wanted to buy a coke! They must be doing better business than I thought to force a large group away that was going to sit there all evening spending money. It was unbelivable.
However this seems to be the way in pubs run by big companies where nobody uses any common-sense and people blindly follow procedures, leaving the place souless.
A shame because the Furlong could be (and was) a really good pub. None of us will be going back. I just hope the brewery doesn't go down the pan too.
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Good atmosphere, Ringwood Boondangle, Best Better, forty Niner.& old Thumper. 2x Larger Tv Screens.
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my partner and i have started to use this pub about 18 months ago, the pub is spotlessley clean, and a very attractive place to drink.The staff are always helpful, and have a great knowledge of the beers, and ales, and the Landlady and Landlord are always happy and make you feel very welcome. We have eaten here on several occasions and the food is fantastic, and amazing value for money. This pub has changed since the new couple took over, and may i say for the better,long may it continue.
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I went to the Furlong on Saturday night. General feel of the place is ok, a bit clicky and nothing special. The pub has 3 screens and I was informed that they would be showing the football the next day. I went to the pub again the next day by myself to watch the football and as I had a fairly heavy night the night before so I a pint of coke.
The first half past without incident. However, 5 minutes into the second half, I had just finished speaking to a friend on the phone and I was about to get another drink when the manager (I presume) came over to me and said in very rude and arrogant manner that 'to have just a coke and sit here and watch the football is not on mate'.
The night before I had spent over �40 in the pub. That will certainly be the last time I spend anything at the pub. I mentioned this to a friend who lives in Ringwood and he said there have been alot of people who have found the management rude and unfriendly. If you want a great pub in Ringwood, The Star is far more pleasent and friendly.
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Wouldn't bother. I was in there last Saturday, a young lady collapsed, the person who called the ambulance was asked to leave..just cos she called an ambulance!! The Star in Ringwood is a MUCH nicer pub, more adult..and a hell of a lot friendlier!
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The Furlong has had its ups and downs Its currently up with good condition beers available. Ideal for a pint before picking up a curry from Masala just a few yards away
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Nicely kept, clean, good beers from Ringwood and guests from the owners Marstons, Porter is available for an extended period due to the pub keeping several casks in their cold store, a bit pricey as the beer only comes a mile with no pub co in between, as has been the case even before the Marstons takeover, but does keep the riff raff out!
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Popped in whilst returning home from the Winter Beer Festival in Salisbury. There were four of us who were tipsy but by no means drunk. The reception we received was unfriendly to say the least, so supped a quick half of Best before heading to the bus stop. Not as good as the Inn On The Furlong of old!
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Went for a meal there and found it to be friendly, efficient with a good bunch of regulars. Excellent beers, good food in a proper pub. Good value, too. heartily recommended.
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I and many of my friends have been visiting the Furlong regularly over many years,and up until recently have always felt comfortable about being there,whether it was a Tuesday music night,lunch time drink, or a few drinks at the weekend.Now on the otherhand the landlord/landlady seem to have made up their own selective rules as to when they serve drinks,and to whom they serve them to.It is obvious to me that if the brewery is to put forward these new rules,then why have they not put up a time closure poster on the door?,if there is one there i sure as hell have not seen it.Other pubs in Ringwood have done this and you know where you stand.If the idea is to turn the Furlong into another cliche eatery in Ringwood,(as if theres not enough already),then frankly the proprietors have chosen the wrong place.It shows the lack of their background knowledge of Ringwood,and the fact that this public house clientele has always had a respect of (TOLERENCE)of various types of people who frequent it.The obnoxious comment of Quote-(Riff-Raff/trouble) and (problem customers),is quite frankly insulting a joke.As sylvanhart says the furlong has hardly had a reputation for trouble and i can back that up wholeheartedly.I have also noticed the idea of closing the main frontal entrance door a little after 11pm.Now this is confusing customers on how to exit the pub,seeing that a padlock is hooked on the door this is taking thing too far.women do not like the idea of leaving a pub via a back alley to get out,it's not the done thing,and is intimidating for them.That aside the local brew has always been good in the past,so if if you fancy going in for a drink,you might be fine with the place; so long as you conform to requirements of the proprietor and like feeling uncomfortable.This is written by a respected member of the community and not(PROBLEM CUSTOMER)OR(RIFF-RAFF)!!
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Having frequented this pub on a fairly regular basis over many years I do not find any change for the better here. The Furlong has always prided itself on having the reputation for being a very friendly place with a diverse clientele and as the place to come to sample the local brew. It is also known as a popular live music venue on tuesday's.
What I refer to is the recently publicised 'new ideas' from the new management; apart from a non admissions policy after 11.30pm, nobody seems to know exactly what they are, and I'm not talking about the proposed makeover at the end of the year. Aside from a distinctly removed attitude from them I detect a new edgy feeling here now. As a place that has hardly had a reputation for having 'problem customers' in the past, one wonders what is meant by problematic? Not a positive attitude to take from the outset. A pub is a place one comes to relax in, NOT to feel judged in.
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the furlong has indeed changed hands.. new landlord & landlady, and of course, new governing company (marstons). But, things aren't going to change for the worse.. the planned refurb at the end of 2008 is being overseen by the landlord and not the 'suits from wolverhampton' ...the plan is to retain the character of the inn & NOT to make it look like every other pub in one of the ever growing chains that are swallowing up the industry. Beers remain unchanged too. No Pedigree here.. just the full range of Ringwood brews (including the comeback of 78 by much popular demand this month, and the seasonal ales too). Food is also a priority too now, with a fully qualified chef producing homemade pub fair with flair, and fresh fish & meat specials chalked up throughout the bars.
The main change in the Furlong now is the lack of 'riff-raff'and trouble. The clientele base is now as varied age-wise as before, but with no tolerance from management & staff for any 'problem customers'. The atmosphere is therefore lively yet friendly.
Well worth a visit (or for those who've known this pub from before, a re-visit)
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I gather the 'makeover' has been postponed due to planning permision problems, Dale, the landlord for the last 3 years has new pastures to go to, so as soon as a new Marstons approved manager can be found, he will be off. Good luck to the new manager as the Furlong is a tricky one to succeed in.
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I regularly use this pub on Friday night, as it one of the few pubs in Ringwood to stay open until midnight. Whatever happened to the rush of pubs that were going to take advantage of the relaxation in the licensing laws? Anyway, for the time being it is reasonably pleasant place fore a "late" drink. God knows what's going to happen after it has been "improved" by Marstons. For the present, I just intend to enjoy Ringwood Porter and Forty Niner, whilst they ate still available. Lets hope that the marketing men and accountants don't ruin this pub. I am an accountant myself and I know that, in general, they have no soul.
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The lanlord is an aggressive, obnoxious moron. Avoid like the plague.
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It used to be a regular haunt of mine, but since the bookshop over the road closed it sort of dropped of my radar. Yesterday, in the late afternoon, must have been my first visit for at least a year. I was pleasantly surprised by what I found.
The 'Inn' seems a lot cleaner now, although since the somoking ban that is true of many pubs. The beer, I was drinking Ringwood Porter, was excellent and the barman friendly.
Th news on the Marstons front is that the pub closes in March for, I quote 'a major refurbishment but we have no idea what is going to happen' unquote. As I fear 'BillyD' may well be right, perhaps I'll take my camera with me when I next go.
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Now a Marston's pub, of course. They plan to lease out the pub, and it is listed on the Marston's website is available for lease. However, the website also says - and I quote - "Marston's are in the early stages of planning a refurbishment to create a new exciting feel to the Inn on the Furlong". So another alehouse will bite the dust, to be replaced no doubt by a trendy 'destination' business where it's all about form rather than substance!
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Popped in this lunchtime for a pint and something to eat.Never been to Ringwood before.This pub could do with more staff because it was busy but only one barman made for a long wait to be served.
However, the Ringwood Best was good and the food was tasty, prompt and not too expensive.
Good to see some real "characters" amongst the clientele.
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This is a cracking pub who's locals are friendly and happy. A good atmosphere can be found at all times and as for the beer it is second to none. Maybe the guy from The Railway should get a fast train out a here cos he has no idea what he's talking about!! Well done to the managers and their staff for running a great pub.
anonymous - 18 Jan 2007 21:55 |
Better ringwood served in the railway this is supposed to be ringwood brewery's flagship pub but other pubs do it better
anonymous - 19 Dec 2006 14:40 |
a nice cosy pub handy if you are passing through Ringwood, which most sensible people do. watch out for the low ceilings and door ways. beer ok but cider is not drinkable.
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Stopped at this pub a few times now and it's always good to go back. Being a Ringwood pub it serves the full range of Ringwood Ales including the wonderful OLD THUMPER strong ale.
Staff will ask you to stand clear of the bar if you're there when the dray arrives as the cellar hatch is right in front of it!
Make a point of trying the reasonably priced menu. I've had it twice and it represents good value (lets hope it stays like it). The last time I was even accomodated after food service had finished.
The interior is curiously laid out and doesn't seem the best use of the space, but has bags of atmosphere.
The staff all seem to share the passion of a 'real' pub, this is one not to miss if you're in the area. Best of all no fruit machines, loud music or TV!
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A good example of a "real" pub. It can get very busy and I suppose too the un-inititated it may be a little intimidating. This is a great place for people watching, you get all sorts in there :0)
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booty - 20 May 2005 17:07 |
I have been a local in this pub since 1986 when i moved to Ringwood. Due to a fast turnover of management there have been times when things have not been as they should, however i have only seen half a dozen fights in all this time and these were soon stopped by the so called "boozy locals". I deplore the statement of being unfreindly as we often have visitors who enjoy the place. It has just been given a new managing couple who have made an excellent start, the beer is first class & the atmosphere has returned. The kitchen produces good quality pub grub. There is no juke box or fruit machine and there is still live music every tuesday. Give it another try o you of little faith & you wont regret it
anonymous - 7 Dec 2004 15:22 |
this pub did used to be good, but sadly since just before the new management took over (so it's not their fault) it seems to have gone drastically downhill. the lager's are overpriced and the real ales are not up to standard, particularly for a pub which should be Ringwood Brewery's flagship. for a good pint of best or fortyniner goto the London Tavern in Poulner - worth the extra distance for a very nie pint! i think the furlong needs to be shaken up a bit to get it back on track.
bob - 12 Oct 2004 13:53 |
top clas pub.top ales just respect us locals!!!!
marcus - 31 Mar 2004 16:59 |
As one of the once locals of the inn on the furlong, i do have to dissagree with peter, yes, sometimes the ringwoodians are rough, but, and this is a big but, i have always enjoyed this pub, the live music is brilliant and if you look at the pub and the people for what it is, 'a local' then you have no problems in this pub! I live in switzerland now, but every time i go to Ringwood i always part with my cash in this pub! I love this pub, and if it's real ales your after this is the best. By the way if you don't want to be caught up when it's over crowded avoid friday nights.Tuesday's are still live music i think, thats a must for pub and music lovers!! viva the inn on the furlong!!!
Simon 'pigeon' Ward - 26 Feb 2004 15:41 |
John had a bad experience at Finn M'Couls - and exactly the same happened to me at the Inn on the Furlong. It must be the same lot of scumbags - but they have ruined what could be a good pub. What right has anybody got to make it known, that you are a stranger and you are not welcome? These scumbags hog the bar, and I nearly got in a fight on a Saturday afternoon. So it could be a good pub - but the boozers will have to go.
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Well kept real ales admist a convivial atmosphere. Convenient for the buses.
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