The Haunch of Venison, Salisbury - pub details

This pub has a mixed history. It is undoubtedtly a historic Salisbury landmark, and has been a pub for hundreds of years, but its quality is, at best, inconsistent. The restaurant upstairs is, I understand, a separate business which also varies in quality. Its hayday was a few years back when Rupert Wilcox (RIP) had it, and it was called "One" (ie One Minster Street) when the food was excellent but ridiculously expensive. Its low point was just before this when it served substandard garbage masquerading as pub food. Now it's just average food, overpriced, relying on visitors and trading on its quaintness.

The pub itself is worth a visit for its historic, architectural and culural perspective, but the beer, though often drinkable, is never in top condition. I always try to drink local beers here (Downton and Hopback are the best bet) as these are usually OK.

It's a fair bet, though, that the pub will still be here in another couple of centuries, serving bad food and average beer, so try it for the experience then move on somewhere else.

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ETA - 14 Jan 2010 07:01

A little disappointed, I have to say, with pub being so highly recommended. Beer only average, and overpriced. Pub extremely cold apart from immediately in front of fire which was fully occupied. The locals were not openly unwelcoming, but on the other hand we did not feel particularly welcome.

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SPB - 3 Jan 2010 21:26

Having eaten here yesterday and also visited some other pubs which, sadly, did not do food, I feel I must, as a matter of urgency, put up this review. DO NOT GO HERE. Yes, it is astonishingly quaint, but the locals in the downstairs bar surpass even the regulars in the Old Spot in Dursley for rudeness to visitors. When we called, two went on at the tops of their voices about the dreadful disease that the barmaid was suffering from, that they hoped she didn't spit in our beer, and that everyone should be wearing masks. This they appeared to find screamingly funny apparently unaware that it merely showed them up as total prats. We ignored this, and decided to eat here as Salisbury is notoriously short of decent places to eat. Don't. It's not good. My husband's scampi was at best ordinary and my Cajun chicken - well, I would have done better eating the place mat. In fairness to the (perfectly healthy) barmaid, the beer wasn't bad, but Salisbury has some brilliant pubs for those who know their beer - The Wyndham Arms, The Winchester Gate, Deacons and the Village Freehouse to name but four. Some of these do food in the evening or at weekends, so I suggest you time your visit for then. The Rai D'Or is also in the GBG and does Thai food but not unti the evening. But avoid the Haunch of Venison at all costs.

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Pompeybelle - 14 Oct 2009 14:48

The Haunch is probably Salisbury’s best known pub and naturally a big hit for visitors. Unfortunately the prices are designed to maximiseon its popularity which does take the shine off what is a fabulous pub soaked in century’s stories and atmosphere. The main bar has chessboard flooring lifted direct from the Cathedral where it had past its sell by date. The walls are oak paneled and contain a superb fireplace. In the corner by the bar is the Horsebox, a tiny snug bar originally for ladies use only and probably just enough room for 4 or 5 people.

The bar itself contains a rare spirits dispenser, only the second I have ever seen in a pub). The ales are not immediately obvious as the pumps are tucked away at the rear and side of the bar. As a result I had a choice of Green King IPA or Summer Lightning (I naturally chose the latter) before realising there was also Courage Best and Downton Summer Slogger (a beer I have never come across) on the side pumps.

The staircase to the rear lead to a small room on the left known as the House Of Lords, a throwback to the days when people of importance and status were offered seating in the higher areas of the pub. This characterful room has a low ceiling, bare floors, dark paneled walls, basic furniture and at the end, a large beamed fireplace with a stove and a small bread oven. It is in the oven behind a glazed and barred panel that you will find infamous mummified hand said to belong to a card player caught cheating. Sadly it (and the accompanying playing card) is barely visible in the dust and the murky light so a small torch is handy if you are desparate to see it. If you carry on up the stairs you get to the restaurant. I took a quick peak but compared to the rest of the building it didn’t seem to be as interesting as the rest of the building. The interior is listed in CAMRA’s Inventory of unspoilt pubs and overall the place is a must visit pub if you have never been before but be prepared for crowds and don’t forget your torch and a fat wallet.

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RogerB - 14 Aug 2009 12:42

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