please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
This set up from the road. It has a reasonable selection of real ales including some local beers. Food, however was expensive. I had butternut squash soup which was a bit bland. The bar lounge was split by a dividing wall and the seating was mainly benches but was fairly confortable.
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This is a restaurant first and foremost. Having said that there was a mini beer festival when I visited! Not quite PC in it's decor as they had 'fur' throws over some of the seating in the dining area (this will upset animal rights campaigners!!). The beer was nothing but average. It ok, wont bother again.
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A slightly unusual pub, visited on a bright crisp Autumn day.
The cream painted tables were decorated with hand painted green and red dragons. The dragon & maidens theme also feature in some of the artwork adorning adjacent walls. Beer on offer was Sadler�s Haunted House, Boon Doggle soon replaced by Doom Bar, and Ringwood�s Best, two of which we sampled and were fine.
We were divided in opinion on the food. Stuffed hearts were enjoyed by one of our number, another although at first uncertain about his pale sausages, nevertheless enjoyed the meal. I was less impressed with the chicken & mushroom pie, the pastry of which had collapsed into the filling, resulting in a solid layer of stodge.
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Went there tonight for the local quiz league match, and I was VERY impressed. 3 real ales on and a perry as well! Beer was of superb quality and the landlord very friendly.
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On first sight not a bad village pub. However, visited yesterday and the beer was below average. You can't normally go wrong with a Ringwood Best but this was swan necked at it's average. Also the pub was full of young Mums feeding their babes whist having a coffee and blokes who had obviously told the missus they were taking the dog for a walk! Get your beer right and it wouldn't really matter!
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Visited the Watership for the first time last night since my last comment on the place. I must admit I was delighted with the way the pub has changed since the previous owners left. Greeted by a very friendly and efficient barmaid, two pints of Ringwood Best went down a treat. Other beers on at the time included Cumberland Ale and Hobgoblin. I didn't have any food sadly, but judging by the size of the meals I saw, I will have to try them when I'm next in the area.
A greatly improved pub. Keep up the good work!
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This is a good pub with good vibes. I've been there a few times, and the Land-Lord and Land-Lady are funky people!! I think the Land-Lord's from Soho or Notting Hill... Either way, it's nice to have a bit of that strange blend there. When I'm next in the area, I will 100% go back there. Great place for great times!!
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The Watership Down is now under new management since November 18th. We have only been in there once since but the signs are promising. Had the Sunday roast and it was excellent - good meat, fresh veg, crisp roasties and a huge Yorkshire pudding. All accompanied by a decent pint of Hobgoblin. The standard weekday menu reverts to the pub staples - pies, bangers & mash, burgers, baguettes etc. We are looking forward to trying them !
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The pub opened under new management on Wed 18th Nov 2009. Still owned by Punch Taverns and let to a couple who I believe have got off to a good start. When I visited the food was good and plentiful and there were three real ales on hand-pumps (and two spare). The staff were efficient and helpful, the log fire was alight, and the atmosphere great, just like the old days. My rating is tentative because it's early days. Visit now!
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Apparantly this pub is due to change landlord in October so don't write it off just yet
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Do the locals still call it the "Jerry" or have I been gone too long? "A pint at the Jerry" used to be an essential part of that village's life.
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Went in for the first time since Mark and Alison left a few years ago, and I was horrified at what I saw... poor beer, poor service, the garden was a mess, and the atmosphere had gone. This used to be my local until I moved out of the area, and I'm just disappointed with the way it's gone downhill. I won't be returning in a hurry.
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We visited the Watership for the first time on May 31st, our wedding anniversary. I used the pubs website booking tool to book a table and even made a note that it was for a special occasion. After hearing nothing in the way of a confirmation for two days I decided to call them. A lady answered the phone and said yes they had the booking but they would just be doing a bbq on that day. She assured me it would of the highest quality with home made burgers.
On arrival at just after 12.20 we were told that all the home made stuff was already gone and after a very long wait at the bar we opted for the hotdog and some chips to share at over �6.00 per head. My husband was served a really bad pint of bitter and we went to sit in the beer garden as it was a nice sunny day.
We sat and waited for our food in the garden littered with dog excrement and when it was ready we were called over. The young guy doing the bbq had a serious attitude problem amd was very rude and made us feel unwelcome.
We ate our cheap and nasty hotdog and chips on thin paper plates and left sharpish.
What a shame that potentially such a wonderful pub is being run by people that just don't seem to care.
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So disappointed! Unfortunately I don't get to out anywhere near as often as I'd like to try to go somewhere special when we do. The Watership Down has always been one of my favourites - great beers, good service, excellent home cooked food and reasonable value. So wow what a shock when I visited tonight - so much so that I felt compelled to review - something I don't normally do. On arrival the bar was deserted (on both sides), after a few minutes we were served drinks by the 'chef', while apparently his partner was on the phone in the kitchens. The greeting was friendly and welcoming after the false start and we were shown to our table with candles burning - nice touch - and which we'd reserved as it always used to be so popular, but tonight the place was nearly empty.
We were left with menu's and after waiting ages realised that perhaps we were supposed to order at the bar. We were and we did. Waited an age for it to arrive and when it did the main dishes (Steak Pie and Toad in the Hole ) were hot and wholesome, but both were served on a bed of frozen peas and limp carrots frozen. I'd expect to get better from a Harvester at a fraction of the price. Decided to brave the desert thinking not much could go wrong with a cheese board - again how disappointing dry crumbly cheeses (stilton and brie) served with a slightly stale french bread.
The foods not awful and we ate much of it - it's just about on a par with other large pub chains and the quantities were generous, but the quality was just so far below the standard for which this pub had become famous. I'd like to wish the new owners well, but they'll need to improve the quality fast if they don't want to lose more 'regular' customers - I won't be making the effort to return any time soon, and if this evening was anything to go by many others have had a similar experience. Such a shame and loss to see a once previously thriving business almost completely empty of customers at 9:30pm on a Summer's evening, and I only hope it won't be yet one more casualty to add to the statistics of pub closures.
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What a relief to find a country pub with great food that hasn't turned into a Harvester. The pub is run by real people with a love of food and a love of a good time, what else do you want in a pub?
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I must say, I came to this page to write a review and was shocked that anyone had anything negative to say about the food or service in this pub, which are two of the strongest points (as well as the delicious ale). My wife and I had a fantastic (and great value!) meal, her roast was perfectly balanced and I had some scallops that were quite simply divine and probably better than any equivalent I've had in the Mediterranean. The atmosphere was very warm and welcoming (in contrast to many of the pubs I visited in the surrounding area) and the best surprise came later when we stayed on into the evening and a birthday party suddenly took the atmosphere to new heights! We joined in the fun and dancing and were very sorry to leave at the end of the night. A highly recommended afternoon or evening out (or preferably both) in a beautiful setting. We will certainly be returning soon!
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probably the best run pub in the UK. When ever I return to Blighty I head straight for the Watership. friendly service, very accommadating staff.
Lets hope that the current tenants continue to run it for many years to come...
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When Mark was the landlord this was an excellent traditional pub with good real ale and some banter. The new people? Where do they get them from, dont you have to have a clue to run a pub anymore or do people think that turning everything into eating houses is the way to go? They should change it's name to Watershit Down Inn. On a good note they are leaving so maybe the brewery, or should I say Punch, might find someone who knows what their doing.
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Was once a nice pub, unfortunately no more. I went in their there today after being away for two years and was appalled at the service. The person behind the bar didn�t seem to care that I was waiting, they just continued to talk to the person in the kitchen. When she did finally get to me she was still talking to the other person while serving me. Also after waiting 30 minutes for some chips I finally went back to the bar to ask how much longer they would be, only to be told that they had run out. No-one thought to tell me this even though I had paid, and it�s not like they were busy, other than myself and my girlfriend there was one other couple. Last but not least the price, �10 for a burger and chips you have to be joking!
The only good thing about this pub now is their selection of real ales, other than that there is no point in going in!
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Nice atmosphere, nice beer and service. Appalling roast - one of the worst ever had. Make sure you go somewhere else if you want beef.
Had my girlfriends parents over from Australia who wanted to experience a decent English roast.
Meat had to be sent back from every meal to be replaced, gravy was tasteless and watery (bisto would have been better!), Yorkshire pud was soggy, potatoes were uncooked. To add more of an insult when we complained we were told that every other customer had 'loved it'.
Shame as last time I went to the pub the food was good. Please get another chef, as most people will vote with their feet and go somewhere else and it would be a shame for such a lovely place to be let down by such a bad roast.
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Sadly, Mark and Ali have sold the Jerry to Punch Taverns.
The Watership opens under new management on 15th October
It remains to be seen how it will be run in future
We are in there for lunch this Sunday and I will find out more then.
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The first pub I walked into as an 18 year old, and it never disappoints. Great ale, good food.
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Have heard that pub is up for sale, punch taverns are meant to be intrested,. Anybody know?
anonymous - 11 May 2007 10:12 |
This is a superb pub, on a side road off of the B3400. Outside hens peck around the garden whilst inside there is a range of real ales including a mild. There is an old arcade game, a pin ball machine and a table football. There is seating for food in the pub and its conservatory, the food itself is good. The pub closes in the afternoons. The only slightly off putting thing is the stuffed rabbits that adorne the inside of the pub (maybe they are fake!).
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Smashing pub a few minutes from home- cracking good food, friendly landlord and nice country setting. Haven't been there at night but in the day this place is great.
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Excellent free house set back off the main road (B3400).
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excellent location, wonderful food and a welcoming reception
anonymous - 29 Jun 2005 08:42 |
Excellent selection of real ales friendly beamed pub large garden for kids well worth a trip
Angela - 12 Feb 2004 19:44 |
Good beer, Decent Curries, and a Cracking Quiz on a Sunday Evening
Jules - 30 Nov 2003 19:04 |
Excellent real ale pub with good pub food. On a long distance path so popular with walkers and mountain bikers. Big non smoking conservatory.
TonyB - 5 Nov 2003 12:45 |
