please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The sandwiches weren't overly special on Saturday lunchtime but they filled a gap, they weren't at all expensive and the beer garden is nice. After a heavy Friday night, I am ashamed to say that I wan't up to sampling the beer but they had Flack Manor Flack's Double Drop at just £2.90 a pint, Doom Bar, AN Other (might have been Ringwood Best) and TT Landlord at £4 (why would anyone want to pay this much for something from miles away). Very handy for visiting Hurst Castle (the pub is opposite the pay and display car park where you can park for the castle ferry). Pleasingly ungentrified with plenty of knick-knacks and things to look at on the walls. Good service and friendly.
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Still one of our favourite pubs when visiting this area for walking and bird watching. We know there is always a good choice of beers to be had. Had Ploughman`s lunches today mine was mackerel my husbands was Stilton. Very nice.plenty of seating area inside and out and very dog friendly throughout. Will go back soon.
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Fantastic pub. The food they serve is brilliant and very quick service. Great choice of beer and cider also. With Brains IPA at �2.00 a pint. Very good value. lovely beer garden and dog friendly throughout. Perfect place after a walk from Lymington or Hurst Castle
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Went on Maundy Thursday 2012. Great little pub - bar staff were friendly enough but then I am a hardened old so and so. Four Real Ales - one only �2.00 a pint. The thing that did it for me was the number of single malts - I am told there is a list of 260. Will definately go back.
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Went here yesterday lunctime whilst doing a local six mile walk along the spit from Lymington . The beers on were Sharps Doombar - Ringwood Best Bitter Timothy Taylor Landlord and wells eagle. My mate and I opted first for Ringwood Best (�3 Pint average for area), This was a very nice tasting pint although cloudy, I had a second pint whilst my mate opted for a Doombar which was clearer and also very well kept. I found the place friendly although I can see how some of the other comments made regarding the Landlord are justified but he was OK with me, the other staff are also friendly. This pub has a Military and Naval theme throught and is adorn with pictures and other artifacts. To eat we plumped for the renown Crab sandwhiches with chips which went down very well. The pub is dog friendly and has a covered area attached like a conservatory. Recommended pub to visit if in the area, but Locals and Regulars are No 1 in this establishment, Grockles are seen as a nusience, but please persevere and enjoy your Pint/Meal.
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Been visiting this pub on the odd occasion for many years - hasn't changed much which is part of the attraction. Food and beer still good but the landlord (?) could not have been more un-welcoming if he tried.
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Been here twice. Will never return. First visit, my family and I had crab sandwiches at lunchtime, all thoroughly enjoyable. Second visit, later that week, I went in for early-evening pint and soft drink with my 8-year-old son. Abusive landlord gave me grief for standing near his serving-hatch, then mouthed off at my son, who became confused and frightened. I told the landlord that if bullying the customers was his idea of fun, he could stick his pub up his a***. This led to a spontaneous round of applause from many of the customers in the bar. I then took my son by the hand and left the pub immediately, followed by four other customers who wanted to show their disgust at the way the landlord had behaved. Please can someone let me know when this hostelry changes hands, as I would like to go back there for a celebratory drink once the current landlord has departed/died.
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After a morning's stroll along the spit, was in need of liquid refreshment, so the Gun was an obvious choice. Interior interesting, though with an accompanying dog I chose to sit outside; beer choice (4 cask ales) good; Landlord (I couldn't have wished for anything better) excellent; service, from the guvnor, fine; as a bonus, crab sandwich very tasty, and quickly served. Proper users of this site already know that BITE is about beer, and not food.
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Went with some trepidation after seeing the recent reviews, but the Real Cider Guide said it had Old Rosie ... Turned out it had a very well-kept Old Rosie and the service was prompt and polite. We didn't eat here but other peoples' grub looked good and seemed to be served in a reasonable time for a busy lunchtime. Perhaps we just struck lucky, perhaps the landlord has sufferred from too many unreasonable demands and over-reacted. Having seen the "conservatory" is really a fully-fledged dining room with rugs on the floor, I can see why the attempt to take a bicycle through it was not well-received: I am a keen cyclist but would not take my machine through a room like that.
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Went with some trepidation after seeing the recent reviews, but the Real Cider Guide said it had Old Rosie ... Turned out it had a very well-kept Old Rosie and the service was prompt and polite. We didn't eat here but other peoples' grub looked good and seemed to be served in a reasonable time for a busy lunchtime. Perhaps we just struck lucky, perhaps the landlord has sufferred from too many unreasonable demands and over-reacted. Having seen the "conservatory" is really a fully-fledged dining room with rugs on the floor, I can see why the attempt to take a bicycle through it was not well-received: I am a keen cyclist but would not take my machine through a room like that.
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Went with some trepidation after seeing the recent reviews, but the Real Cider Guide said it had Old Rosie ... Turned out it had a very well-kept Old Rosie and the service was prompt and polite. We didn't eat here but other peoples' grub looked good and seemed to be served in a reasonable time for a busy lunchtime. Perhaps we just struck lucky, perhaps the landlord has sufferred from too many unreasonable demands and over-reacted. Having seen the "conservatory" is really a fully-fledged dining room with rugs on the floor, I can see why the attempt to take a bicycle through it was not well-received: I am a keen cyclist but would not take my machine through a room like that.
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Went here while walking the Solent Way, and was disappointed and see we're not the only ones.
It looked like a nice pub, we walked in with a guy behind the bar going about his business after obviously noticing us. Hubby got his attention and found a seat in the empty bar/restaurant - a sign perhaps? Was told food orders was closing in minutes so we ordered. We thought it strange there was no toasted sandwiches for a pub, when hubby asked any chance to have them toasted guy at bar just shook his head in answer. For all this we realised the guy running it was sat right there withing ear/eye shot, now I realise from reading reviews he's worse! Sandwiches arrived four small (two slices) overfilled with greated cheese and a touch (only a touch) of pickle! The salad was unwashed with grit still visibly on it! the slice of cucumber was dry. I was going to complain, but husband quite rightly predicted the owner would not care, so i didnt.
I would take my own home-made squished sandwiches if i have to, but will not waste time here again.
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My experience matches the other reviews, though probably not as dire as those. Rude staff, reluctant to offer information about items on the menu- how dare we ask when our party were spending in excess of �60! Generally a bad attitude and not such an amazing pub- grubby toilets, sticky tables and grumpy staff. Go to Lymington or into the New Forest instead.
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Yes, obviously the landlord has a problem and judging from the reaction we received on our visit last Sunday, 25th July, it is generated by alcohol. Putting it quite simply, he was drunk! And judging by previous comments it's not the first time.
We arrived around 4.25pm and as we walked in were greeted - if that is the word - by the comment "you better hurry up, we close at five!" Obviously an attitude problem with the staff. Upon enquiring about a drink we were directed to the garden bar "which is still open." Well, through 50 years of being a licensee I was aware that a garden bar would have a limited range of drinks - and it was. Shutting at five was obviously the priority so after asking for 3 different drinks - all sold out - and being told "just not your day" I opted for a small shandy only for my wife!. Imagine my surprise when 10 minutes later a member of staff rolled up another keg of my requested lager. I remarked to the bar staff that he could at least have told me it was going to be replaced and that's when the rottweiler, oops sorry, the landlord struck. " Wasser the matter with you you've been offered a drink, what's your problem?" I started to say that the barman could have told me when I ordered originally ordered and had there have been more time we would have eaten. Big mistake! Thrusting his face into mine he said " it's my pub an' if I want to close at five I will, we've all got ta have a life you know!" I tried to explain I sympathised with my background but he just stormed off muttering to all and sundry.....Now here is a pub with a wonderful location, relies greatly on good weather and a summer trade, could be a lovely retreat for a quiet dinner on a winter's evening - shame.
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Visited last Friday. My son and I just wanted a simple ploughman�s and a pint. I remembered the location from previous visit to the area and thought that it looked nice. I now wish I had read the reviews before crossing the threshold. The pub was quite quiet with two couples outside and a handful inside. We arrived a 2:25. We were not greeted with �Good afternoon, what can I get you� but �We close at 3pm, so you will have to be quick�. My head now says we should have just walked out.
We were hungry and it was hot and could not be bothered moving on and as they had various Ploughman�s on the menu, we bought the drinks and quickly ordered. Again, wish we had not bothered. After a 20 minute wait we were served with Half a small batton each, and not much cheese and a bit of salad. The promised �real ale chutney� was a teaspoonful each served in tiny paper pastry case normally used for petite fours.
We were also told that we could only order once � easily dealt with - a double round � don�t know why we bothered giving our money to the idiot.
About 4 other groups, mainly couples, turned away after we sat down. This was on the cusp of the main holiday season in a prime location next to small marina, adjacent to a tourist site (Hurst Castle) with NO competition, not even somewhere to buy an ice cream and the nearest pub a mile away.
In a nutshell � landlord who clearly chose the wrong trade - poor quality food in small portions. Had it not been for the Sharps Doombar, I think I would have cried.
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I visited this pub last Saturday and the landlord was one of the most obnoxious people I have met in a long time. Looking at some of the other comments on the site, I don't seem to be the only one.
After a long bike ride I arrived keen on a pint. With an expensive bike, no lock, no obvious access to the garden and it being a dry day, I carried my bike through the conservatory to the back. This was met (possibly deservedly, you might say) with a gruff request to leave the bike at the front. This then turned into a tirade against cyclists in general - clearly it seems he has a major issue here. After a frank exchange of views he then offered to fetch a bike lock. For some reason he seemed very surprised when I declined, all ideas of a relaxing drink having disappeared. I really think this guy has a serious problem. If it's his own boozer then I guess it's his problem, but it's turning into a blight on what seems to be a very pleasant village.
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I visited this pub on Mon 12th July at lunchtime, and wished I'd never bothered. Possibly the rudest, most arrogant landlord you could ever wish to come across. He made me feel incredibly uncomfortable as soon as i walked into the pub on my own (whilst my husband parked the car), and was incredibly dismissive of me whilst i tried to order a drink. We had wanted to have lunch there, but needless to say, as soon as my husband arrived, we left, and not a moment too soon...
Good luck to the pub.... after reading the rest of the comments on this page, its a wonder it has any customers left at all - apart from the local comedians who were sitting at the bar thinking it was entirely appropriate to join in with the landlord's sexist and rude behaviour.
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I visited this pub on Saturday 15th. May 2010 at lunchtime ordering a round of ham and smoked salmon sandwiches. I have to say that the quality left a lot to be desired. The bread was dry and there was a distinct lack of filling especially considering the price which in total came to around �9. Not wanting to cause a scene in front of other people I decided to phone the landlord when I got back home to express my dissatisfaction. When I did phone and asked to speak to the landlord I was rudely addressed and the phone was put down on me even before I could raise the matter. I tried to phone back but the call went unanswered. Needless to say I will not be returning there and thoroughly recommend others to seek alternative places.
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Rude landlord, average food, over-rated even at 5/10.
Must rely on tourist passing trade and being by the sea on a walking route.
The menu has some really odd choices: e.g. baked potato with walnuts & stilton. A roasted vegetable pasta dish was soggy pasta, tiny amount of sauce & lots of cheese drowing any flavour. Kitchen get busy very easily and can't handle peak loads e.g. lunchtime on a sunday. Other staff friendly but not very professional, expensive pints as well.
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Interesting to see previous complains about the service in this pub; My family and I decamped to this boozer after a somewhat windswept walk along the adjacent seafront and the guvnor was definitely on the surly side. Its still a pleasant pub, with various trinkets adorning the interior and world currency stuck to the roof near the bar (including a 100 trillion dollar Zimbabwean note) plus a deceptively spacious garden. Ringwood, Flowers Original and Hobgoblin on cask. Not a worldbeater but decent if you discount the grumpy service.
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We like going to the Gun after a walk along to Hurst spit Castle. It's a nice characterful pub with some friendly staff. The pub is dog friendly, serves good beer and reasonable food (although the menu and cooking would benefit from a make over, perhaps a decent chef is needed). I think the food is of it's time and not up-to -date with the sort of gastro pub quality places one expects these days. This will probably prevent it from being a fantastic pub - although it's nice to go there nonetheless. The beer garden is very nice, particularly in the summer. I must say though that I have found whom I believe to be the landlord quite moody at times and bordering rude. Charm school wasn't his thing I'd say, but try not to let that put you off. Last summer we went to the pub and there seemed to be an arguement going on amongst the staff and associated family members - it was quite bizarre that they carried on in this way in front of customers - like a soap opera. Not really what you want when relaxing with a pint but there you go. I hope that for their sake they learn about pleasing the customer. Otherwise, a lovely, charming and seemingly popular genuine English pub. Enjoy!!
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Overpriced and disappointing food....I ordered a ham sandwich which consisted of two slices of supermarket bought sliced bread which ruined the quality ham between them. The side salad isn't even worth mentioning.
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Overpriced beer.
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Agree with nick the flick. Breezed in one lunchtime. "are they your kids?" yes... well through there then" why I asked? "Dont have to give a reason" well I should have said well i dont have to stay here and left but i wanted a beer. Ringwood - not brilliant. Landlord is a miserable bugger!#
WHY PAY �3+ for poor service, welcome, and beer? Pubs are going to close ....
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Came across it much like others below. The Hobgoblin was on its way out so had one drawn straight from the barrel - wonderful! Plenty of nooks & crannies - character - particularly the wooden crab table & chairs! Superbly kept large garden - dog/children friendly. Ploughmans' to die for, especially the home-made real ale pickle - so overall pretty satisfied.
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well... beer garden always a welcome thing, bar billiards increasingly rare and a pleasure to find... but �3.35 (three pounds thirty five) for a pint of hobgoblin takes the breath away.
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went in for lunch after a walk round from the spit. The pub looks great - lots of interesting nooks and crannies. Had a pint of Ringwood best which was ok but the lasagne I had was, unfortunately, revolting. It's difficult to say for certain why, but I think there was too much onion and not enough tomato as well as too much fat and strangely translucent pasta. Having said that, my wife had a fish pie that she liked although both meals had the kind of sorry excuse for a salad garnish that always disappoints- all leaves, no imagination and no flavour. I know that most people are more interested in the beer but I felt I had to post a warning about that lasagne.
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After a bracing walking from Milford via Hurst Castle in the teeth of a strong North Easterly wind we went into the Gun to find a roaring fire, some excellent Ringwood beer and a very tasty crab pate. All in all this pub ticked all the boxes. We were glad to have arrived early as by 1pm (on a Thursday) the pub was filling up. Food is advertised as being available all day. We worth the visit.
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I'll set the scene; late July, sunny summers day (a Saturday), bit of a walk from Lymington along the coastal path then bingo came across this pub. Got there just after 2pm, ordered beers etc no problem there but food (the menus were out on display and no notice of kitchen hours)?! Nah, 'kitchens closed mate'. There were food orders coming out the kitchen of varying numbers and we were a party of around 10 so great potential business to be had but 'nah kitchens closed'.... 'We�ve got crisps'!! I'll never get to understand this attitude landlords have of turning away business - while giving you a nice smile. They get 10 out of 10 for being a typical english unwelcoming small minded outfit. Maybe it helps to be a local. - nuff said.
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Visited this pub in late June. Beer was excellent, and although we didnt eat, the other diners all seemed to be enjoying their meals.
A great place to dry off on a rainy day after a walk out to Hurst Castle and back!
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No one can accuse me of giving up on a place. I fell upon the Gun last week when I arrived too early for a party in Keyhaven. Faced with the depressing thought of sitting in the car park or running the gauntlet at the bar, thirst overcame. What a change! Fellow drinkers, all is not lost, smiles, happiness and good beer; had two excellent pints of excellent Flowers. Everyone was happy, it was sublime.
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