Pubs / Bars National
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The Fox and Hounds (Funtington)
by bollinger28 Being forced into temporary rental accommodation as a result of my house flooding when torrential rainfall hit West Sussex in the early part of June last year was somewhat of a trial to say the least. One of few bright spots of our new location was the chance to try some of the pubs in that area. The Fox and Hounds in ... Funtington was literally a mile or so up the road from our temporary let, and was possibly the nearest we had to a "local". I looked the pub up online, and was quite frankly rather unimpressed with their menu - it all looked rather boring and generic - the sort of dishes you'd find in a million and one different pubs all over the UK. As a result we didn't feel in any tearing great hurry to try the place. However, the fact that the pub was always packed with the car parks bulging at the seams every single time we drove past it, no matter what day of the week or time of day it was, made me think twice. There seemed to be an awful lot of people passing through its doors and it dawned on me that they perhaps knew something I didn't. After a trying day of arguing with loss adjustors and tracking down absent trades people, my partner looked and sounded like he was ready to blow a gasket. I decided that a pint (or six) and a hot warming pie may go some way to alleviating his stress over the never-ending renovations on our poor beleaguered house. We therefore hot-footed it to the Fox and Hounds, hoping and praying that they'd be able to squeeze us in with a small table for two. ~~~ THE PUB ~~~ The Fox and Hounds is a low slung period building with a row of outdoor tables and chairs under large brollies and a smallish car park fronting onto a busy main road (the B2146). Evidently the building has been a pub since the mid 19th century so it must be doing something right; so many village pubs in this part of the world have been converted into homes thereby rendering the locals without a waterhole. The car park outside the pub is small - I'd estimate there's room for about 20 cars at the most. However, just across the road is a much larger parking area. The inside of the Fox and Hounds is all ancient beams and low ceilings. If ever the adage "Duck or Grouse" should be in display it would have to be in this pub! It was very warm and welcoming on the night we dined there. There were fires ablaze in two separate areas and lots of comfy looking tables and chairs grouped around the bar. The pub was absolutely packed to the rafters with most of the tables around the bar occupied. Nevertheless we were greeted warmly and without preamble and immediately offered a drink. We didn't want to buy any drinks if they couldn't fit us in for dinner so we straightaway inquired about the possibility of a table for two. To our surprise we were offered space in the restaurant without any hesitation, and seconds later we found ourselves on a spacious table for two overlooking the garden (which would have offered us a lovely view had it not been pitch black outside! We had a drink at the Fox and Hounds last summer and can vouch for the lovely views to the garden. It's extremely well cared for and has plenty of outside tables and chairs to sit at. Our dog was made quite welcome even though she kicked off and decided to bark at everyone trying to enjoy a quiet drink and some summer sun). ~~~ THE FOOD ~~~ As I said at the beginning of the review, the menu at the Fox and Hounds looked a little pedestrian on their website and I certainly wasn't expecting anything particularly impressive. The plan was to grab a quick pie and pint, de-stress a little and then grab an early night. However, the Fox and Hounds had other plans for us...and our proposed quick bar snack turned into a full three course meal and the early night went out the window... There is a range of 7 or 8 starters on offer (prices ranging from £5.75 to £9.50) but many of those were run of the mill dishes such as Soup, Whitebait, Chicken Liver Parfait or Prawn Cocktail. They upted their ante a bit by offering a couple of more innovative choices such as "Sautéed Scallops, Chorizo and Fine Beans finished with Parsley and Citrus Butter" and "Minted Pea and Meat Ravioli with Shallot, Lemon and Chive Dressing", but to be honest neither dish particularly appealed to us. However, their blackboard specials seemed a little more appealing and that night offered a "Garlic and Marinated Feta Roasted Walnut Salad" or "Curried Beef and Peanut Spring Rolls with Honey Soy Dip". My top tip would be to look at the blackboard specials first, as the dishes on offer were markedly more interesting than the printed menu. Main courses range in price from £10 to £23, and include all your perennial pub favourites as well as a few surprises. Dishes like "Scampi and Chips", "Fish and Chips", "Burger and Chips" and "Sausage and Mash" are all covered at the Fox and Hounds, but they do of course have gastro-pub flourishes. For example, Bangers and Mash is described here as "Grilled Toulouse Sausage with Chive Mash and Creamed Cabbage with Chorizo" and the Fish and Chips is equally as descriptive. However, once again, the specials blackboard seemed to offer the most tempting of choices to me. I was tempted by the "Duo of Seabass and Scallops served with Spring Onion Mash, Roasted Squash and a Shellfish Cream Sauce", but plumped for another blackboard special of pork in the end. The menu also features steaks, but I thought these were terribly expensive. I've been disappointed far too many times in the past by chewy and rubbery cuts of meat to risk paying out nearly £20 to receive another indifferent plate of meat. To be fair, all that the Fox and Hounds offered on their menu was good, so I rather suspect their steaks would be in the same league. Even so, at £19 for 10oz Entrecote, £22 for an 8oz Fillet or £23 for a 16oz T-Bone you really would expect something out of this world. If you're looking for just a lunchtime or evening snack, there is a full range of sandwiches on offer from £6.75 to £10, but they're fairly upmarket and expensive it has to be said. Anyone for "Poached Lobster and Crab on a Toasted Muffin with a Poached Egg and Cheese Sauce"? The menu is also well labelled with a big V against any dishes suitable for vegetarians and a bit G if the dish is Gluten Free. ~~~ OUR MEAL ~~~ Himself was extremely stressed after his day of irritating insurers and bungling builders so I therefore encouraged him to have a starter as well as a main course. His mood improved marginally halfway down his first pint of Peroni and he was positively beaming by the time he'd necked his second. We both chose a starter off the specials blackboard as it sounded rather good "Glazed Crispy Pork" at £6.75. The dish was absolutely delicious and we both wolfed it down in record time. Each plate consisted of five or six chunks of pork belly which was deliciously crispy to the outside but almost melted in the middle it was so tender. The chunks of pork had been marinated in honey, soy sauce and sweet chilli which made for an extremely flavoursome dish. The pork was presented on three chicory leaves, some grated carrot and shredded leaves, all of which were ideal to mop up the juices from the marinated pork. Both of us thought this was a wonderful starter and it's one himself plans to recreate at home soon. After such a wonderful starter we were looking forward to seeing what our main courses would be like. I had chosen another pork dish from the specials blackboard - this time it was "Breaded Pork Escalope with Lyonnaise Potatoes, Braised Red Cabbage and Creamy Mushroom Sauce" at £13.00. Sadly this dish did not really hit the mark with me. There were two bread-crumbed escalopes, and I'm afraid that they looked and tasted just like something you'd defrost from Captain Birdseye. There was no depth of flavour to the crumb and the pork inside didn't really taste of anything. I was more than a little disappointed as I do like a pork escalope or schnitzel when it's done well. If they had perhaps beaten the pork into thinner slices or added some herbs and spices to the breadcrumbs, then the dish may have been tastier. On the upside, the braised red cabbage, the lyonnaise potatoes and the mushroom sauce were all very good, but they couldn't make up for the flavourless pork element of the dish. Himself chose "Hand Pressed Beef Burger served with a Floured Bap with Handcut Chips and Garnish" at £10.00. He added cheese and bacon to his burger for an extra £1.50 (or you can have egg and bacon or blue cheese for the same charge). Despite a rather obscene looking gherkin garnishing the plate, this burger was a triumph. It really was hand pressed with some obviously quality minced beef and it had a really nice depth of flavour to it. It tasted more like a steak than a burger so we were mightily impressed. The chips were extremely chunky and were almost a meal in themselves. All in all this burger was a triumph and most tasty. Despite feeling more than a little full, we were tempted into a further course when we saw the list of desserts available that evening. I asked the waitress about one of the desserts - "Hot Chocolate Fondant with Peanut Butter Ice-cream" - as I wasn't quite sure what it was and it sounded intriguing. Unfortunately her explanation did not make me any of the wiser, so I played it safe and stuck to something I already know and love - "Banoffee Tart with Chocolate Sticks" at £5.00. This dish was served in a pasty case filled with a rich mix of bananas, toffee and cream and topped with a couple of wafer thin chocolate sticks. It was so good I could have eaten it twice over. Himself was tempted by a couple of his favourites he spied on the menu - "Raspberry and Vanilla Crème Brûlée" or "Tiramisu with Brandy Snap", but was lulled away by the thought of a "Sticky Toffee Pudding served with Toffee Sauce and Stem Ginger Ice-cream". The pudding was served hot with an oozing toffee sauce perfectly accompanied by a slightly melting mound of stem ginger ice-cream. We asked for a couple of cappuccinos to be served with our desserts and these arrived shortly after we'd started on our puddings. Each cup came with a piece of homemade shortbread which was a pleasant surprise. Once we asked for the bill it came swiftly and promptly and with two chocolates that we weren't expecting. These were simply delicious - a melange of plain and white chocolate with a chilled dark mousse filling - the perfect ending to a wonderful meal :o) Our bill came to £63.25, which we rounded up to £70 so as to tip the staff for such attentive service. I think that £70 for a pub meal for two is rather on the expensive side, and I wouldn't normally expect to pay that much for dinner at my local. However, we did push the boat out and have three courses plus coffees so we knew it was going to rather expensive. On the whole, I do think that our meal was good value for money as nearly all of the dishes were generous in portion, beautifully presented and extremely tasty (and the one or two surprises of shortbread and chocolate were lovely unexpected bonuses). One just needs to bear in mind that dining at the Fox and Hounds isn't going to be the cheapest night out, but you do get value for money in terms of food quality and ambiance. ~~~ DRINKS AND SERVICE ~~~ The Fox and Hounds is a free house and offers a full range of all the usual beverages. Lagers brands here are Carling, Stella Artois, Peroni or Grolsch (cheapest pint = £3.25). There are also plenty of real ales with pumps offering Harvey's Sussex Best, Timothy Taylor's Landlord, HSB London Pride, WJ King's Red River as well as guest ales (prices from £3.20 a pint). There is also a rather extensive wine list on offer with house wine prices starting at £3 per glass or £14.75 per bottle. We stuck to common or garden lager with our meal - himself necked down two pints of Peroni lager (£4.35 per pint!) and I stuck to half a Carling lager shandy. On the evening we visited the pub was absolutely heaving and there was only standing room only at the bar. The restaurant was slightly quieter, but I estimate it was at least 75% full. The clientele were very mixed. The bar was packed with younger drinkers, but they were young farmer types rather than tattooed yobs. The sort you'd see at the local hunt ball (if there is still such a thing?) rather than drinking White Lightning in a bus shelter. The restaurant was filled with a mix of families with youngish children and "mature" groups of friends. The service throughout the evening was exemplary and we were well looked after from start to finish, with nothing appearing to be too much trouble. We were offered and brought drinks from the bar without a murmur when far too many pubs expect you to fend for yourself if your glass runs dry. The only jarring note of the whole evening was the state of the toilets. They were clean and tidy, but definitely not in keeping with the rest of the venue. The décor was tired and dated in comparison to the shininess of the rest of the pub. However, there was a wet paint sign on the wall of the ladies so I suspect a refurbishment programme to improve the standard of décor so it matches the rest of the pub is underway. Hopefully they will throw out the hideous plastic floral display behind the sink along with the stained blind in the window! Himself reported that the Gents was none too good either :o( ~~~ RECOMMENDATION? OH YES - FANTASTIC MR FOX! ~~~ We weren't expecting anything special from the Fox and Hounds, and came away more than a little pleasantly surprised. This pub was a definite "find" and will be one we will be returning to. The food was wonderful (my main course aside), the service friendly and welcoming and the portions generous. Yes, it is rather expensive for pub grub, but it's so well done you really don't mind paying that bit extra. The Fox and Hounds gets four and a half stars from me - they lose half a star for the rather grotty toilets. However, as these appear to be in the process of being refurbished and DooYoo do not let us award half stars, I'll have to round the Fox and Hounds up to five stars. Highly recommended. ~~~ FURTHER DETAILS ~~~ The Fox and Hounds is a part of The Sussex Pub Group (http://www.thesussexpub.co.uk), which includes Trents of Chichester, The Real Burger Kitchen of Chichester, The Halfway Bridge at Petworth and the renowned Crab & Lobster at Sidlesham. The pub is very easy to find as it's on the B2146 between Chichester and Havant and it's just on the outskirts of the tiny village of Funtington. The pub has car parking just outside the pub and another bigger car park just over the main road (but do look out for fast moving cars as well as tractors and other farm machinery!) The Fox and Hounds Common Road Funtington West Sussex PO18 9LL Telephone: 01243-575246 Website: www.thefoxandhoundsfuntington.co.uk * The restaurant is open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 11am for breakfasts and morning coffees. Lunch is served from 12pm to 2.30pm and dinner is served from 6pm to 9.30pm. * The pub also sells a full range of daily newspapers to enjoy with your breakfast or lunch * On Sundays the pub serves a carvery menu from 12pm to 8pm (adults = £11 and children = £5) * The pub offers free wi-fi internet access which we tested and it worked rather well Read the complete review |
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The Abbotsford (Edinburgh)
by proxam Edinburgh is awash with fantastic, traditional Scottish pubs. The list is endless and that's why I won't bother to start it. Instead, I'll just discuss one of these such pubs, The Abbotsford Bar in Rose St. As I said, Edinburgh is awash with pubs and a good number of them are located on Rose St. where you'll often see the foolhardy ... attempting a pub crawl along it. I'm afraid I'm past that sort of thing these days, in fact I usually come a cropper after about a dozen or so pubs... Where it's at The Abbotsford isn't a hard pub to find. Not at all. Just turn off Princes St at Jenners, then first left and you're there. Or if it's raining, walk through Jenners, pop out the back door into Rose St et voila. In fact, if you're doing the Rose St pub crawl, it's the very first pub on the street...unless you start at the West End, then it's the last. My advice is to start here as the pubs at the other end are not as good and you want to be in a fit state to appreciate this one. Naturally, I am not condoning or promoting binge drinking - it's not smart and it's not clever. Looks aren't everything When you walk into the Abbotsford, the first thing that strikes you is the island bar (there are actually a few pubs along Rose St with an island bar, but this is one of the best). The next thing to take in is the decor. It's like stepping into the last century. No, not the 1990's, more like the 1900's. This is Edwardian pub architecture at its finest...but only just. The original Abbotsford Arms was demolished when Jenners were extending their store and they were responsible for commissioning the design of the present pub in 1902. The bar is constructed from Spanish mahogany and with the globe chandeliers hanging from the ornate, Jacobean ceiling it really is an attractive bar. There's nothing trendy about this place. It oozes old fashioned bon homie Auld Reekie style. It's almost always busy and although there are tables and chairs, it's a pub that's usually standing room only. We popped in for a quick pint recently whilst taking a break from the dreaded xmas shopping. To be fair, a dirty old howff halfway down Leith Walk would be a welcome place to take a break from shopping although it'd be a bit of a walk from Princes St. The pub has a roaring open fire which even during the cold weather in December, still managed to keep the place toasty and warm (well it did if you were near the fire). Naturally, the area around the fire can be a bit crowded and this time was no exception. No matter, they obviously have other forms of heating. Drinkypoos The range of drinks available is extensive and in fact they pride themselves on having the largest range of malts on offer of any pub on Rose St. I didn't count them, but there must have been thirty or forty different ones at least. But I wasn't there for the whisky. As for beers, there are the usual market leaders and a wide selection of bottled beers, including some very nice Belgian ones. But I was more interested in the selection of real ales dispensed from the tall fonts, (like the more Anglified hand pump, these are traditional methods for dispensing beer. No pressurized or additional gas is used. Beer poured through a tall font must be perfectly condition or it just won't pour correctly). They tend to serve mostly, but not exclusively, Scottish ales and change the beers regularly. I settled for a pint of Red Macgregor from the Orkney brewery and very nice it was too. Prices are comparable with most city centre pubs in Edinburgh, ie expensive - you'd be lucky to get a pint for under three quid. There's an extensive wine list too but that's no surprise as upstairs is the 'Above' restaurant - The Abbotsford classes itself as a gastro-pub...whatever that is. Of course, it's possible to eat in the bar as well but as there weren't any tables free downstairs, we decided to climb the wooden hill and sample the fayre 'above'. Nash up for Nosh Upstairs has a real restaurant feel to it with starched white tablecloths and properly set out cutlery etc - no sachets of brown sauce and mustard here. The menu is pretty standard pub grub although I thought the starters, with choices such as smoked salmon and cured duck breast at £6 or so a bit fancy and a bit expensive. We didn't bother. As for mains, they range from haggis, neeps and tatties at £8 to Rib-eye steak at £16 with more ordinary priced selections in between (more ordinary than the starters, that is). I had the haddock and chips and mrs p had the steak and ale pie. The haddock was so fresh that I'm sure it was still wriggling when it was served (but maybe it was just a shoogly table) and the crispy batter exploded in all directions. The chips were home made - big and crunchy and fluffy, and it was served with green beans and tartar sauce. Quite delicious it was too and although the portion was more than ample, it wasn't huge. As for the steak and ale pie, well assurances on the tastiness are one thing but in the interests of consumerlicious accuracy, I just had to sample a bite or three. Flaky puff pastry (none of that short crust muck) and large chunks of melt-in-the-mouth beef with a rich and dark ale gravy almost had me wishing I had ordered this instead of the fish. This came with a nice selection of properly cooked veggies and new potatoes. Although we passed on dessert, I did notice that a cheeseboard was one of the choices but as it was close on £7, I resisted temptation. In conclusion, the atmosphere in the pub is convivial with a touch of nostalgia harking back to the golden age of Edinburgh boozers. A good choice of ales and an even better choice of malts make this a no-nonsense and, although the decor is stunning, unpretentious pub, Add a quality dining experience 'above' and you have an all-round good night out - even though we were there in the afternoon! Although I have supped in this pub before I had never had a meal but I can safely say I would have no hesitation in eating here again. ©proxam2013 Read the complete review |
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The Britannia Inn (Northampton)
by thedevilinme The 'Brit' was the place to go in the week in the summer in the 1980s and early 1990s, the boozer by the canal packed full of crumpet. If this pub was anywhere else in the county on the Grand Union Canal it would have brass and copper kettles everywhere and no one under 50 in it, pewter tankards behind the bar and canasta the order of ... the day. But no, it was rocking back then, your feet sticking to the floor there was so much beer going down as drunks dived into the gungy canal to impress the skirt, the pub where the beautiful people went in the week. Every town has one. It was just too far out for the students to enjoy and it was strictly 18-30. you wouldn't dare chat the girls up as they way were that gorgeous, and yet in their thoughts they were begging you to, as all pretty girls do, which sums up the English, shy and reserved when it comes down to it and why they drink so hard and fast. We want to forget all those missed opportunities when we stared at our shoes as it's just too painful to think about it sober. Today, the smoking ban has done to pubs what all seater stadiums did to the great atmospheric stadiums of the world - quiet and everyone setting down and waiting to be served, all very continental. We are nearly at the point where you have to order a beer from a waitress in Northampton pubs; such is the rate of pub closures and the rise of the gastro pub. The Britannia is a 'Chef & Brewer' pub and the food predictable, very English and not too pretentious. The mostly working-class clientele are not ever going to pay big money for small portions and want their moneys worth, the sort of thing that defines your social class in these parts. Tiny portions of exotic food for 35 quid a plate is simply not going to happen in this part of the East Midlands and not about attracting a certain clientele that don't want to mix with the oiks who can't afford those prices to mix with them. Don't ever make the mistake. You get what you pay for in food and wine. I want a big chunk of white or red meat and lots of fries pal! I don't want chef spending ten minutes arranging it on the plate. The cooks in Northampton can do three things with chicken, lamb, beef and fish and that's about it, each main dish wearing a frilly hat of salad and a vomit of coleslaw. But it's cheap at about ten quid a plate at the Britannia with a side and enough grub to impress your granny. When we were there it was a Thursday night and an older crowd although the first warm night of the year and so decent numbers and a pleasant atmosphere. It didn't take too long to get served and the young waitresses very polite and speedy between the kitchen and tables. They also do a chunky grill fit for a miner for about eight quid and a veggie meal for the students. I had chorizo chicken with a red onion salad and no complaints. I prefer quantity not quality. The puddings are priced between four and five quid and the ice cream rather lovely. The kids menu is straightforward and they also do daytime deals and evening meal deals. The latter is three courses for twelve quid, which you can't argue with. As I say it's a goods summer pub with a big L-Shaped bar and decent eating areas to pick and choose your table, having an intimacy not afforded to the newer breeze block pubs and so good for a cozy family meal. It's not that far out of town and a mere stones throw from the giant warehouse and distribution centre of the Brackmills Industrial Estate that lurks just beyond the tree line, the ring road growling away 24/7 to remind you still live in an unglamorous working-class town. The car park is spacious and there's a pleasant beer garden by the canal to take coffee and aperitifs. Fortunately you don't have to stare at shopping trolleys in the green and weedy water as there are no supermarkets nearby. If you fancy a walk to the council incinerator its only half-a-mile away or you have the option of a soggy amble along the canal bank to the river. The Nene is very close by but not one of those romantic rivers with punting and fit young men from the university sculling down with great haste and purpose. It's a series of weirs and cycle paths as depressed husbands and balding young Poles in fluorescent jackets and navy blue workware race along to face yet another night shift in a noisy factory, their life for the next twenty years. I would recommend the pub to families and groups looking for a cheapish meal out in a rustic pub setting with good parking and no waiting. It's not a young people's pub anymore so all ages welcome. It's walkable from town but those soggy river banks and footpaths are not good for your high heals girls so book a taxi back. For a family of four it will cost you around 15 quid each for a good nosebag and that again for wine and beer to wash it down. Read the complete review |
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