please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The above pictures and facilities do not reflect how upmarket the pub has become since I visited. It has been fully gastrated and is now a restaurant not a pub. You really need to book a table if you want to ensure there is one to sit at although there is a sofa and armchair facing the wall if you can't get a table. Although the Otter ale (only real ale available) was good, and the soup was excellent, I was charged �3 for an average cup of coffee. Not my sort of place at all, I won't be back.
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Would share TWG's views - it's a charming pub that unashamedly aim for the serious foodie, though I felt quite welcome for an (OK) half. Comparatively quiet though.
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Was at this place over the weekend and completely underwhelmed. The food was over embelished and did not live up to the billing. The place was cold, untidy and lacked any atmosphere. It was not until the third course that we experienced anything like a smile or show of welcome from the staff, who frankly seemed not to want to be there!
Overall a big miss. 4/10.
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Although not found through the usual GBG pages, word has spread that the Purefoy was worthy of attention not least for its fine food, but also some well-kept ales, which surely now should be a given in any pub that has genuine ambitions in the gastro-game in the same way one should be sure of a decent wine-list.
Pitching up in that quiet lull between Sunday lunch (served till 4 here), and the modest evening stint, there was little in the way of activity at the pub, although one can only imagine that it would be teeming with scores of upper-middle class clans desperate to pay handsomely for some local libation and verifiable victuals, all sourced from the best and most proximitous establishments. It was a shame that food wasn't in the offing as I daresay it would be superb - maybe another time.
The wine selection was excellent, and if one is prepared to pay, there were actually some very fine wines on offer at surprisingly low mark-ups. Ale-wise, only 2 out of a possible 3 pumps were active (the 3rd pump was a cider which is a useful option). Itchen Valley Winchester ale was sampled by the half, and was in reasonable nick. The barman was efficient in serving, if a little pre-occupied. The atmosphere was smart yet still cosy on a cold Winter's evening, and although clearly gunning for the foodie market and restaurant-heads rather than the pub lovers and ale cognoscenti, I think the balance is about right for its context and representatives from both camps can leave satisfied.
The building is charming and set in a very well-to-do neighbourhood, which will be a magnetic draw for some and a complete turn-off for others. I'd say give it a chance and see what you think - though paupers of the parish beware: you shall need to deploy considerable cash to get the best out of what's on offer here!
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One of my favourite local pubs: the current owners have absolutely transformed it. Great decor - cosy, stylish but still pubby. The food is lovely: not rock bottom prices, but very affordable, and incredibly reasonable for the great quality, given many boil-in-the-bag operations charge less for mediocrity. (I was very happy to pay �10 for just about the nicest fish and chips I've ever eaten.) What I like most is that it's still a pub that welcomes drinkers and grazers: there's plenty of space and seating for people who've just popped in for a glass or several, and the very well-priced tapas style options are great if you want to soak up a bit of alcohol but not have a full meal. Go soon while the pub kittens are still little!
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If you find yourself in this particularly pretty part of rural Hampshire then set aside a few hours for a Sunday lunch or evening meal at the Purefoy arms in Preston Candover. The pub was refurbished last year (2009) and the huge beer garden (surrounded by sheep filled fields) has recently been improved but what sets this pub apart from the many great rural pubs in this part of the world is the food and the wine list. The seasonal and original menu changes regularly (which is great if you are a local like me) but always retains some of the Purefoy classics...Rib of Beef for two, assorted tapas style starters and if you have plenty of friends and 72 hours notice a whole roast suckling pig! The wine list is extensive and has been selected to compliment the menu, if you need some recommendations then ask the bar staff but you could do a lot worse than sticking to the house red. In addition there are always a couple of local ales on tap, plus Guinness and the ever popular Peroni, dogs are welcome....as are walkers and cyclists....and even kids, the beer garden is the best in the area and it�s dog proof and the locals are friendly! See you there!
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Having known the pub on and off for years I can honestly say the refurbishment is a fabulous improvement. Small choice of good beers, well kept and far preferable to a vast range of barely used/badly kept beers. The food is excellent, though a little pricey and not exactly hearty portions! The service has been faultless and friendly on the several occasions we have been in there over the past month.
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Well, where do i start about this pub?? As other people have said, its been refurbished and it looks lovely. Myself and my husband had dinner here on Saturday evening and i must say that the food was beautiful. We had a lovely young girl who sat us down and gave us our menu's and took our drinks order. The manager was also nice and came over to see if everything was ok. The young girl came back over with our drinks and she took our food order. We ordered the rib of beef and were told it would take 45 mins to an hour witch was fine - we was in no hurry and we had bread to keep us going while we waited. We wanted to order more drinks and we didnt want to go to the bar so as i made eye contact with the male bar member (he had long hair and my husband thought it was a lady) i asked for more drinks to be brough to our table. We waited and waited and nothing.. He kept walking up and down past our table playing with his hair and trying to look busy! The female bar member returned to our table and took our drinks order and she brought them to our table. Our food was then brought to the table by the male member of staff and as he put it down on the table, he spilt blood from the beef all down my white blouse! I then asked for napkins to clear up the mess and again i waited and waited and he didnt bring me any. I was so annoyed but my husband said he didnt want to cause a scene so i didnt say anything about the bood being spilt all down me to the female staff member, i just asked for more napkins. She came to the table with the napkins that id asked the male staff member to bring me and couldnt of been more apologetic that he had spilt blood all over our table. The boy had gone off without even a sorry! I really couldnt believe what had just happened and he didnt seem to care at all. After our main meal i went up to the bar to get another round of drinks and guess what... the barman was standing their sipping water and totally ignored i was there! He then started drying up glasses. This made me very angry and i went back to my table and the female member of staff came over to take our drinks order once again. The boy was useless!! He really didnt know what he was doing. We then asked him for the bill and he was quick to give us that.. he was faster that lightning!
We went to this pub because it had be reccomended to us by friends and i wanted to check it out before booking our work's christmas party here but im not so sure now after the appuling service we recieved by this particular staff member. I must stress that the manager and the female member of staff couldnt do enough to help and the quality of food was outstanding but im finding it really hard to see past the lack of manners and respect of the male member of staff.
The only BIG problem was a member of staff who had no interest in the customers at all and has ruined my blouse!
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I called in on Friday evening and waited at the bar for a good five minutes without even being acknowledged despite no-one else waiting to be served. I left without saying anything as there are too many other places I can get a drink either promptly or at least having been made aware that I have been seen and will be served as soon as possible. With the amount of pubs closing when new people take a place on, they really should be making an effort to every customer who walks in the door.
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Just been refurbished and what a good job has been done. Only downside is now it appears to be a 'Wine Bar' operation (didn't country wine bars go out with the ark?). One or two real ales only and nothing exciting. Obscure lagers and one cider. The wine list, whilst being very good, is drastically over priced. Food looks well presented but slightly pricey. Menu is 'intresting' to say the least. You can order a whole suckling pig for �150.00 (any idea why this is advertised on a menu and not on a poster/board on the wall???) as long as your preared to wait 72 hours that is!! I think a little bit of a reconsideration about what the customer is being offered is needed here, otherwise disaster may loom!! But hey...give it a try. This is only my opinion.
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Very nice country pub., pleasant people & excellent coffee however vegetarian menu non-existent!
We only stayed because we felt tired--chef did whip up a vegetable/rice stir fry but this was Sunday lunch!
Where was the nut roast, Quorn or at least veggie sausages?
These foods are so very easy to store in a freezer it beggars belief that NOTHING veggie was on the menu.
A vegetarian doesn't want to be offered an omelette for Sunday lunch!
Why would anyone assume that a vegetarian doesn't enjoy a Sunday roast?
As one who eats out in pubs. up and down the country quite a lot I think this must be the only pub. in Britain that has no vegetarian dish on offer at all.
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Havent been here for a while, on my list of pub visits when I return to UK, a great public bar with some real characters in there, is Pete still there, great garden and the food was good the last time.
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not good - we were there after walking on sunday for lunch. The rooms were cold - no fires and the heating went off at 1.30. The Adnams bitter ran out - no replacement, no cider, an undrinkable bottle of wine.
The food took nearly an hour to come, fish was bony and dry, my baked potato came with a few slivers of dry steak and dried out mushrooms - it must have been kept warm for that hour!
The best were the roasts - but on cold plates!
anonymous - 8 Mar 2006 19:00 |
This pub has two very different rooms. One is a usual bar geared towards the younger drinker, complete with fruity, jukebox and pool table. Too brightly lit to be cosy I'd say. The other room is given over to dining. Beer was fine.
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Lovely yet again on my most recent visit, the good news being that a new 'cango' bus service launched by the county council now serves the pub every day in both directions (Basingstoke or Alton/Alresford) so you don't have to drive down here now to enjoy a lovely, moreish, Purefoy Pint
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Very good for the recent football, and Thursday night is steak night with a 12oz rump at 5.95 with all the trimmings. Can't beat it!!!
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Love it! About 7 miles out of Basingstoke and the nicest Courage Best I have ever tasted, at the reasonable price of 2.20. Lovely Hand Pumps. Give it a try!!!!
Alex - 3 May 2004 11:45 |
