The Woolpack Inn, Northington - pub details
Address: Totford Road, Northington, Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 9TJ [map] [gmap]
Micheldever (4.7 miles)
Are you the Licensee? Click here. ** SPECIAL Royal Summer Sizzler offer! **
> Current user rating: 5.4/10 (rated by 7 users)
user reviews of the Woolpack Inn, Northington
please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
5 most recent reviews of 9 shown - see all reviews
| Went to the Woolpack Inn for a few pints to meet some friends tonight (Saturday). Have never been before so didn't know what to expect but found the pub to be very pleasant. It wasn't particularly busy but that didn't bother me as it meant we could talk without having to shout. We didn't eat here so I cannot comment on how, or if, the food or quality of service has changed since the last comments. However, I found the bar staff to be kind, attentive and a good chat. The ale was good too - had a Hogs Back Brewery bitter, which, contrary to the name, was very smooth. Everything was very clean and tidy as well. All in all, a very nice pub with good drink. Food has yet to be experienced. julesnuggy - 13 Aug 2011 22:41 |
| Agree with 'hantsdweller' Our first visit to the Woolpack for dinner October 2010 Advertised as 'dog friendly' Although we are dog lovers we were not impressed when a group of 4 brought their 2 dogs into the restaurant without the courtesy of asking us or any other diners if we had any objections. One dog lay on the floor next to our table, & the other dog actually on owner's lap at the table. The landlady told us this was a regular occurence & suggested we take our desserts & coffee into the private dining room or bar. We did wonder why the people with dogs couldn't have been seated in the other room instead of moving us partway through our meal, which, up to this point had been enjoyable. We understand that, surprisingly, it is not illegal to take dogs into restaurants, but Enviromental Health stated that all areas must be thoroughly cleaned & disinfected afterwards. Imagine this would be rather difficult on the soft furnishings in the restaurant. Initial welcome in bar was very slow, and waiters were casually dressed in scruffy jeans. No complaints about food or wine, but .. guess what ..will not be visiting again. chocaholic65 - 11 Nov 2010 19:56 |
| I have to agree with ILBuono regarding the attitude of the landlord. We have eaten in the Woolpack on two occasions and have friends who used to eat there regularly. I think the staff gave it their all to begin with and now they really don't seem that fussed. On our first meal there we ate in the restaurant and were really enjoying it until a red cord trousered family arrived at the table next to us with a few lap dogs. As I was sat on the bench seat I had to endure these dogs running over my coat and bag etc. Had we have been seated in the bar I would have expected a few drinkers to have dogs with them but we weren�t. The staff were all over this family which was embarrassing to watch. The Mother just sneered at us when we asked if they could remove their animals from our laps. I did make a point that although I do like dogs I don't really expect to share a table with one when I go out for a meal. All became clear when I was informed by the landlady that they were the one of the investors and that there was nothing that could be done about it. The landlady mentioned this to the landlord who just shook his head at us and tutted as if we were being unreasonable which irritated us. We asked to move and were seated in the bar area which wasn't really a problem but I was astounded that we weren't even offered a complimentary coffee for the inconvenience at the end of our meal. I probably wouldn�t have had a coffee but at least the thought would have been there and it would have cost them about 20p! However we had enjoyed the food so booked again a couple of weeks later. On this occasion I was really disappointed. My food was burnt. I had ordered hot smoked salmon and asparagus on toast as a starter. This arrived and looked delicious until I took a mouthful. The whole of the underside of the toast was charcoal! There is no way that the chef wouldn't have noticed this which is what annoyed me. The food is not cheap so you expect it to be good. They perhaps thought 'sod it, send it out they'll never notice'. Seriously how much trouble would it have been to do another piece? I didn't say anything as we were there with friends on our recommendation and I didn't want them to be disappointed. My main course was not much to speak of really, not horrible but nothing I couldn't have anywhere. Nothing like the food we had enjoyed on our first visit. When we left we discussed it and none of us had really enjoyed it at all so we won't return. I have had similar reviews from friends who stayed there and appeared to be a huge inconvenience to them at breakfast time. It seems a real shame as it could be fantastic. If you are after good food and a nice atmosphere, drive down the road to the Purefoy Arms in Preston Candover. They serve excellent food and also have a good selection of beers and wine. Hantsdweller - 9 Sep 2010 17:19 |
| Visited on a cracking hot day in late June, interesting choice of ales, - palmers, and 2 others, eng v germany was o n the box. have to agree with other comments- it is a gastro restaurant, not a pub, manager might be an ozzie he's that brusque and maybe slightly deaf. Spare staff were knocking about like it was their second home, on the plus side there were some decent looking young women... service charge was included, prices are high, environment is very swish, casual drinking trade in the winter - likely to be zero. Take your mum on mothers day !! popeye321 - 20 Jul 2010 13:44 |
| So after going for a drink and then going back to eat I can report back on this pub which is undoubtedly better than it was before! The renovation has been done well and the gardens are nice. The owner mind seems to have gone for the slightly aloof, brusk manner of service rather than warm and friendly. First sign that this indeed is a restaurant and not a pub. The beer was well kept and some good choices. The menu is nothing new or that interesting and reasonably priced BUT did not have one vegetarian main course option!! This I think is an arrogant oversight and indicates a chef/cook with little imagination without the interest in catering for a growing and wealthy minority. The trout I had was well cooked and presented and the waitress was warmer than the owner although when I looked over at another table the owner was laughing and joking with a table like old friends as they guzzled wine, he had suddenly turned into the perfect host, fawning all over them as they brought more while other customers waited at the bar! When I went to the bar to pay, yes went to the bar as I had done to order all drinks and food I received the bill with service, SERVICE there was no service apart from our meals being brought over - we were eating outside (no excuse). The owner was back to his brusk self, no �how was you meal� etc. He was obviously trying to get back to kiss the a*ses of the other table. I would of course been more than happy to pay service if I had received any but I paid the bill and thought I would not eat here again until the menu offers more as there are friendlier places in area. Also when in there for a drink previously there were too many members of off duty staff hanging about making it a bit like the staffroom. All in all OK but they need to sort the service thing out i.e if charging for service make sure it is being given and the owner needs to fawn less to some people (the ones buying the pricer wine!) A much happier reception is received at The Yew Tree up the road if this is what you value in a pub � but then The Woolpack isn�t really a pub, or is it!? ILBuono - 27 May 2010 12:23 |
see more reviews |
