please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Went in the bar area just inside the main door - large tables meant for sharing with others! The restaurant area was further on, but didn't go there. Had a delicious soup and a pint of Fuggle de Dum which was excellent as it should be at £4.10 a pint. The youthful barman was not up to the task of changing the barrel, the landlady had to do the business and pull the handle numerous times to get the ale flowing - wish I'd counted the number of pulls, looked like a new record. Anyway, the till for food is nearer the restaurant and the young barman asked me to go there to pay for the soup - I demurred, gave him the cash and let him do the walking - wonder if he's learnt to serve customers properly since.
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Further to my last review I made a return visit yesterday and the Pub was open and serving Food Everyday from Midday. Large independent pub very similar to a Toby of Harvester. Menu and Food looked good and there seemed to be activites on most days. Large Garden to read with many Tables with umbrellas. Child friendly and two Smoking areas on raised decks. Additional seating in the front but that overlooks the Car Park and Road.Fuggle De Dum was available but I went for the Ringwood Best. Oh Dear! Warm, Flat and NO Lacing. Will give it another shot if in the area again but Better Pubs in Lymington, who Know how to look after the Beers.
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Walked past this Pub last week, saw the sign for "Happy Hour" and decided to venture in. unfortunately at 16:20 in the afternoon it was CLOSED, not opening until 17:00. Shame, looked a nice place and as it was a lovely sunny day a Beer in the Garden would have been nice. It is nice they can aford to close in the afternoon and miss out on passing trade. Needless to say I ventured on by and gave my trade to another establisment.
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Had dinner here twice during a recent stay in town, stayed elsewhere, our experience was good both times. Food was first class and served promptly. Staff seemed friendly enough and had no problem getting drinks served promptly and although there were yatchy types at the bar (referred to as toffs and lah-di-das here) it is to be expected given location right behind a couple of clubs - but they were not off-putting in any way.
I wonder if the negative reviews have anything to do with the locals. This was our first visit to Lymington and noticed the town has an ageing population. We were told by one of the oldeies that 'the pub was run by young loud aussies, with modern fusion food and was not liked by locals' - this warning before we went to the pub the first time. We only went cos it was the nearest to where we were staying and it was 9pm! Glad we did.
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bored with the pretentiousness of the place. Cheap decor, even cheaper staff and the food is awful. It is not rocket science to hold a decent beer but they manage to cock it up big time. Awful now, a good example of how belief in your own PR means that you lose contact with the people that pay the bills.......the customers. Who is that idiotic barman? Is he for real?
anonymous - 25 May 2010 00:51 |
I agree with previous posters comments - visit for the Fuggle Dee Dum but not much else. Yes the garden is nice if you can find a seat away from the very-loud yachting brigade. Also the staff shouting out the BBQ orders continually across the place.
It's all very smart inside but the staff have that tell-tale sign - of all wearing matching black shirts. So, no suprise when no attempt made to serve people in the right order (and the la-di-da customer willing to try and jump the queue when she was given the chance) nor the surly attitude from the local youth who was eventually serving me when I tried to get my second pint topped up to cut down on the 1" head of froth. But at least my first pint was served properly by an efficient east European women.
Needs to try harder - 5/10.
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Three or four ales usually on. Too be honest, this is the only reason why we visit. It caters more to toffs (!) but has a nice garden at the rear where its pleasant to knock back a Goddards Fuggle Dee Dum (Isle of wight brewery).
The ales are always kept well - I've never had a bad one unlike other places in town. All in all a reliable joint on our ale circuit around Lymington.
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Agree in all respects with k9todd but did get a nice pint from an IOW brewery
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The new decor makes the interior feel a bit cold and the food is of the mass produced variety. But its good value and you can usually get a table during the weekends.
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We have been visiting the New Forest for Spring holidays for a number of years but this pub is only a recent discovery. Our return from a local walk on Sunday coincided with the inevitable mid-day surge. Although a large garden, on a hot day all the available tables quickly becoming occupied. Those with an umbrella were in short supply and clearly at a premium. In spite of being busy, we were soon served by the efficient team of staff. We were engaged eating a generous and wholesome Sunday roast in the garden when to our surprise a further plate full of vegi arrived. I�m glad we visited early as after an hour leaving the pub , I returned to the garden. It was crammed out with large groups many who�d commandeered two or more tables
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For a large pub It has really nice atmosphere. Great in summer outside & cosy in winter. Great beers & the staff are always on the ball.
I always have the Mayflower burger which is huge!
One of my favorites
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I love this pub! My boyfriend and I go there a lot. The staff are nice, the food is yummy for the price you pay, beer is good, it's got a spacious garden and they allow dogs inside the pub! The drive to Lymington from my house in Hythe is gorgeous and we stop off and walk the dogs on the way. Just perfect! Also, the customers are a real mixture of different ages and types of people. There is no 'clicky' feel at all, like some pubs where everyone stares at you when you walk in!
It's my favourite pub at the moment!
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Very busy and lively pub with a lot of passing trade from the 'seagoing'variety.The staff are very helpful even though there is a quick turnaround of bar staff.
We went on the quiznight which was one of the better quizzes we've been to and it would be wise to book a table as they all seem to be reserved.Great food and well kept drink.
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Parking? There is a whacking great car park behind the pub that the Council will charge you loads of cash for the priviledge of parking in.
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Nice staff nice food, good bbq in summer shame its it lacks character and parking is a bummer in the summer.
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went in on Saturday for lunch - it was heaving. Food and beer good. Table staff, attratcive. "Oldlondonmerchant" is refering to the Yachtie Tottie that arrives with Musto's in March and leave with carpet burns in September.
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Nice pub, nice garden in the summer. A lot of girls thinking they're worth more than they actually are in here! Slightly tarted up interior, artificial looking, but one of the better ones in lym.
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use this on a regular basis,staff always changes some locals a pain in the but but not all off us
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I have been here in the height of winter when you look out from your bedroom window over the marina to see it covered in frosty snow, and then been down to breakfast in front of the real fire.
I have also been in here in the height of summer, with the bbq going, few ankle biters too many, but the more you drink the less you hear them!
Excellent food in the restaurant which is a kids free zone.
Good all round pub all the year round.
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It's great in the summer in the garden with the Barbi going. Good family pub on the outside. However, try and take your kid in the restaurant for a meal and you will not get served. Kids are banned - which for some is a good idea.......but for others.......
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Very good food normaly the only reason I go there good size garden and very clean a very professionaly run pub see their web page!!
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great food nice looking pub
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good beer food not so good
norman - 29 Sep 2004 23:35 |
its amazing! the food is delicous, and the staff are incredibly friendly and welcoming. Ive been back 3 times and plan to go there alot more!
Harriet Johnson - 13 Sep 2004 18:12 |
lively, good choice of food.barbi when weather allows ,bigish garden ,kids area.small car park, but public carpark ajacent to garden. beer nothing out of the world.
peter - 20 Feb 2004 14:54 |
