BITE user comments - satisfied
Comments by satisfied
Now it's called 'The Bell' again.
All the comments above still apply however!
satisfied
23 Feb 2015 22:56
The Blackwater Stream, Broadstone
Why are people so damn snobbish about Wetherspoon's pubs?
Its true they do vary (mostly due to the customers!) but a good one and this is good, serves a wide choice of cheap and good beers as well as cheap meals - the crowds say it all!
11 Nov 2013 17:36
It has changed hands yet again!
Be warned - the new managers intend it to be more of an eating pub!
Very expensive drinks, and why are they ending the Tuesday Quiz when all the other pubs are introducing them???
Re the previous comment "where would it be without the re-furbishment" well it would be the unique place it used to be - Joe Palmer cetainly was a miserable old bugger but he did run a real (and different) pub!
Satisfied
5 Sep 2009 11:46
The Royal Oak Inn, Okeford Fitzpaine
A really good country pub! Nice atmosphere, friendly staff and first rate grub (try the 'all-day breakfast' for a mighty nosh!)
16 Dec 2007 16:31
I commented favourably on this pub on 15/2/2006, so I was interested to see the reply from "tanderson7" of 18/5/2006.
Answer:- yes, I have been in this pub (several times)! Went there again this week and I don't see why he calls it "a tip". It has just been refurbished/extended etc. now too. And still offers exceptional value (and quality) for meals so I stand by all I said earlier!
3 Feb 2007 19:15
Yes it's a very quaint old pub. But DO NOT go here for lunchtime food (they only do pasties - the ploughmans are a summer speciality only). Apart from that:- yes it's a bit of a 'time-warp', only the prices are 21st century!
30 Jan 2007 10:37
Now this has to be the BEST in the New Forest!
Smashing old pub.
Cheerful barmaids.
Good beer.
Excellent meals.
Super value (especially 'pensioners two course special at �6-50p - wow!)
In the middle of great rambling country.
11 Nov 2006 11:58
Rob described it best - "it's a bit twee".
Food is not cheap, and not outstanding either!
14 Jul 2006 21:42
Tip-top!
Good drink and meals - a much better bet than the "Greyhound" and the Bankes Arms" which are both just around the corner in the Square.
4 Mar 2006 18:30
Can't be beaten for quality and quantity of the lunchtime meals!
15 Feb 2006 19:03
Peter Froude's comments of 5/11/2003 & 10/11/2004 prove to me that I am not a "winner" (whatever that is!) and also apparently I am not "discriminating" either!
But his comments about the Grove Tavern having only one source of competition does puzzle me - the heading of this page shows 4 pubs within a half mile - two of them are cliff-top pubs with sea views too!
Actually its not a bad little place really.
Oh by the way - he said in both his reviews that it had been a bank.In fact it never was to the best of my recollection, it was a Building Society though.
14 Feb 2006 16:29
Pleasant pub - food is much cheaper here that at the 'Fleur de Lys' pub just up the road. And they don't look down their noses at scruffy ramblers!
2 Feb 2006 22:27
The Cross Keys Inn, Mannington
This is the only pub in the district (and there are many) which hasn't changed in all the years of my pubcrawling (since the 1960s). It is a good old-fashioned country Inn - log fire etc.!
The food is excellent, in fact the landladies homemade steak and kidney pie is fantastic - and at �5-75 well!!!
Wish I could drag it about 15 miles closer so I could use it as a local, then I wouldn't have to waste time on this bloody thing!
2 Feb 2006 22:13
The Churchill Arms, Sturminster Marshall
Nice comfy 'local'. But the range of food at lunchtimes v.limited (burgers or sandwiches)!
2 Feb 2006 21:51
The Kings Arms Hotel, Christchurch
What a shame. they must have spent a fortune 'doing it up' - all they want now is customers!
Strange really as this compares well for comfort with most Christchurch pubs.
It always full for meals at lunch-times though as the local pensioners like a bargain carvery.
31 Jan 2006 18:06
The Square and Compass, Worth Matravers
A real 'character' pub. Very limited range of food (only pasties really), but a very interesting visit. Always full in the summer, closing time is rather flexible too.
The only thing from the 21st. century obout this one - is the prices!
31 Jan 2006 17:56
The Sailors Return, East Chaldon
Fantastic range of choices of food. Well worth the travelling distance to it.
31 Jan 2006 17:48
The Langton Arms, Tarrant Monkton
Why did they bugger it up?
Was a great country pub, now refurbished it is just like a thousand other dining rooms!
31 Jan 2006 17:41
Havn't you got any sense of humour?
The landlady (Smudge) is Basil Fawlty to a tee! Flatly refuses to change an "off" pint and loves to have a row with a customer (she is doing us a big favour after all!). Poor old John!!!
Good quiz on Tues. and even better jazz on Weds.
31 Jan 2006 17:37
The Young Pretender, Kings Langley
A real 'posers palace', rather than a pub - as you would expect in Kings-Langley really!
3 Sep 2016 20:16