BITE user comments - JimT
Comments by JimT
I think it's about time I put in my five pennyworth.
To their credit, Mark and Donna have kept the pub very much as it was under Terry and Beb. Any changes that have been made have been subtle and all have been improvements. The beer is more consistent now and the variety has considerably increased. The Queens always was a chatty, community pub and that certainly is still the case now. That comment re the microwaves is hurtful and simply not true - yes, some dishes are prep'd in advance but most are freshly cooked. The quality and range of the dishes on offer is extremely good and I would recommend the pub to anyone wanting to sup or dine in a traditional pub that has lost none of its charm over the years. And there aren't many Basingstoke town pubs that can boast that!
7 Apr 2007 11:07
Farewell Rising Sun (some might say "Good riddance ...") and welcome to the Way Inn. Opened about a week ago, the Way Inn is about as different to the old RS as it's possible to imagine. Contrary to rumours, it's not a gastropub but a smart new CLEAN pub that retains some of the features of the old place but is now somewhere that you would be quite happy to take friends or family (unlike before). The front bar has been extended and is a lot more airy and light. The top bar now has a glass partition, through which you can see the main bar, which further enhances the light effect. The patio has been smartened up and the large grassed area is still there, possibly awaiting some landscaping. That's a guess. And then there are the toilets. Those of you who experienced the old versions will welcome the smart new ones. 10/10.
Cask ales at the time of my visit were Hopback Summer Lightning, Greene King Abbot Ale, Adnams Explorer, Timothy Taylor's Landlord (which I tried and was in first class condition) and Deuchar's IPA.
Food is available (there's even a Kids' section on the temporary menu) and the pub has an on-site chef. I won't go into details of what's available but there's a good variety from basic pub grub to salmon fillet and Rib Eye steak
The Way Inn is a welcome addition to the pub scene outside of the Top-of-Town circuit in Basingstoke which for many is a no-go area on Friday and Saturday nights. Thoroughly recommended.
The Way Inn is situated on Chapel Hill, Basingstoke (near the railway station). Telephone: (01256) 321520.
JimT - 12 Aug 2006 13:23
12 Aug 2006 17:49
Farewell Rising Sun (some might say "Good riddance ...") and welcome to the Way Inn. Opened about a week ago, the Way Inn is about as different to the old RS as it's possible to imagine. Contrary to rumours, it's not a gastropub but a smart new CLEAN pub that retains some of the features of the old place but is now somewhere that you would be quite happy to take friends or family. The front bar has been extended and is a lot more airy and light. The top bar now has a glass partition, through which you can see the main bar. which further enhances the light effect. The patio has been smartened up and the large grassed area is still there, possibly awaiting some landscaping. That's a guess. And then there are the toilets. Those of you who experienced the old versions will welcome the smart new ones. 10/10.
Cask ales at the time of my visit were Hopback Summer Lightning, Greene King Abbot Ale, Adnams Explorer, Timothy Taylor's Landlord (which I tried and was in first class condition) and Deuchar's IPA.
Food is available (there's even a Kid's section on the temporary menu) and the pub has an on-site chef. I won't go into details of what's available but there's a good variety from basic pub grub to salmon fillet and Rib Eye steak
The Way Inn is a welcome addition to the pub scene outside of the 'drag' in Basingstoke which for many is a no-go area on Friday and Saturday nights. Thoroughly recommended.
The Way Inn is situated on Chapel Hill, Basingstoke. Telephone: (01256) 321520.
12 Aug 2006 13:23
I don't agree with the comments describing the Queens as a '...relatively quiet backstreet pub." As a regular, I would say it is a very lively and busy pub just next to the train station. Hardly back street! As for the music - well it depends what you put on the juke box. Agree about the food. The beer, though, deserves special praise, especially the cask ales which are of excellent quality and are sourced from as wide an area as the licencees can negotiate. They (Mark and Donna) have spent a great deal of time and effort trying to get the widest range of cask ales they can from within the Enterprise Inns list. All credit to them.
Jim Turner - 15 February 2006
15 Feb 2006 21:06
Known for some time as a "students' pub" I have tended to avoid The White Hart (being, well, rather older than most students). However, I had occasion to call in a week or so ago and was pleasantly surprised. It's still a student pub but not exclusively so. The licensee is keen to encourage his market for real ale and always has Hobgoblin on sale. When I visited he was also selling Evan Evans Best Bitter from Wales - a beer that is rare, if not unheard of, in Basingstoke. All credit to him; I shall be visiting the pub again.
9 Jun 2005 11:36
The real ales on sale are invariably good quality and some are not often seen around Basingstoke. The beer pricing, though, is a trifle eccentric - all real ales are priced at �1.50, or they were last time I went there, but that was pre-budget/brewery price hike. Food looks very good and there is a garden and shaded awning area. The pub seems to be well patronised by the local people. A true social centre of the village.
11 May 2005 16:40
After refurbishment, the pub is now called the Baker's Arms and is owned by Greene King athough you could never guess that, as the brewery name is not shown on the sign.
The story goes that GK wanted to rip out all the handpumps (and hence do away with real ale) but the manager stuck to his guns and they're still there and in use. The range includes some of the GK stable but there are some guests from non-GK breweries. Worth showing some support.
9 Apr 2005 09:44
I pop in to the Bounty from time to time and it's amazing how a change of licensee can completely turn round a pub's fortunes. On my last visit there was a combined quiz/draw with a �600 top prize (which some lucky bugger won!). The place was heaving but we were served within a couple of minutes. Ale was very good quality, the atmosphere warm and friendly. I hear the food is outstanding but haven't tried it yet. Definitely one I would recommend to anyone looking for one of the very few traditional pubs left in Basingstoke.
Jim Turner
19 Nov 2004 17:37
It's about a year since Mark and Donna took over the Queens and a great job they are making of it, too. Although they are restricted in the range of beers (pub company's rules!) they have researched exactly just what they CAN get and so we have the benefit of the best choice possible. The cellar has been extensively upgraded with auto-tilt stillaging and improved flood control (!). Consequently the quality of the draught beer is now very good and it's very consistent. Food is extremely good value and very tempting. (I have, on more than one occasion, stayed for an evening meal there even though I've bought food at Sainsbury's). A very competitively priced Christmas menu is currently available. Of course, I'm biased as it's my local but it is one of the very few traditional locals left in Basingstoke which seems to concentrate on theme bars and kids' boozers.
Jim Turner - 19 November 2004
19 Nov 2004 17:24
The Way Inn, Basingstoke
The Way Inn closed its doors in late January 2014, courtesy of Enterprise Inns who fell out with the licensee because he had the temerity to stand up to them. During his tenure Enterprise refused to honour their obligation to maintain the exterior of the pub. Odd, then, that since his departure the pub has been given a complete makeover. What is even more odd is the decision to revert to the original name - the Rising Sun - especially considering the terrible reputation the pub had under that name. Still closed at the time of writing (early May 2014).
4 May 2014 13:43