Carpenter's Arms in Basingstoke and Deane - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

We both had burgers which were served “bun less’. This suited us as often find it too filling. The chips were delicious and came with a nice salad garnish but the burger just tasted too fatty and cheap to me. Staff were friendly and helpful but unfortunately I had to leave my burger and spoiled my meal.

Spare of the moment place for an evening meal. Friendly staff, knowledgeable about the menu and nothing was a problem. Breakfast was delicious as well.

Went here after visiting Sandham Chapel. Nice greeting, and a glass of wine was delivered promptly. Then close to an hour wait for a baguette each. No apology for the wait.

Excellent tasty food, staff friendly and very attentive. Definitely coming back. Highly recommended. Dog friendly too.

Stayed at the Carpenters Arms for two nights. Perched on the side of Highclere Castle ready for our visit. Breakfast was included, plus we ate two evening meals there too. Couple of photos attached, burger was lovely, Chicken Supreme was excellent. Chef is very talented. Friendly staff and good service. Would happily return.

Light and airy conservatory with lovely views. Nicely presented food and the menu is varied providing interesting meals which should cover most people’s needs. Efficient and friendly service. Just wish my post meal tea came in a little pot, instead of a bag in a mug!

We arrived just after 2.30pm as the kitchen was closing but staff were happy to let us see the bar menu . We chose a 'Toasted' cheese and pickle sandwich with a side of chips to share. The toastie consisted of grated cheese and pickle inside two slices of cold toasted white bread. So obviously the whole thing had not been toasted as as a sandwich. No lettuce accompaniment as shown on the menu . The chips were pale and only just about cooked. Without realising it at the time, we were also overcharged by £1. The restaurant was busy and very noisy.

We ate here as a family group. The server was uncaring, always wanting to get away from the table and did not listen to what we requested. She did state that she did not like smoke - so get a job where no one smokes!The food was reasonable, starters good, mains were reasonable but burger buns were burnt, chips were possibly yesterdays re cooked? Pudding - well, microwaved pudding - the base of our sticky toffee pudding was hard and overcooked, shame really. Not again, despite this once being a family local - now it will never get our business again.

Came here after a visit to Bombay Sapphire Distillery. Warm friendly welcome. Food hot tasty and a good dized portion pudding excellent

Unimaginative menu, you would think as it was such standard food the quality would at least be good but it was not. Fish with uncooked batter and what could go wrong with ham egg and chips..inedible ham that’s what...if we had not been starving and with no other CV-19 bookings available we had no choice so ate and left..never to return

This is a great location with good views and the service was also good. But the food was like pub food from the 1980s, and arrived almost instantly on very hot plates so there was no pretence of being freshly cooked or locally produced. Very few other customers despite being a glorious sunny day and lots of outside seating.

Dropped in while on a walk in the hope of getting some food. Arrived just after 12 and ordered drinks and sunday lunch. Pub was quiet, staff were friendly, food arrived quickly and was very good. Mixture of veg; shredded beef was an interesting change.Food was hot and fresh. Sat in the recently opened extension which was very smart. Altogether very positive experience.

This pub is within walking distance of where we were stayingBooking is essential during the current Covid CrisisFood and service was excellentHas a more limited menu but food was good and the beers a reasonable pricePleasant experience and filled the gap after a long walk

Thank you so much for out first family lunch since the Covid easing started. Food really nice, staff lovely and you went out of your way to accommodate our concerns. Although very healthy some of our party were immune suppressed and we felt happier eating outside. All of which you coped with you coped with admirably, cheerfully and without fuss.We will return.

Fijne B&B met uitstekend eten. Kleine kamer valt ontzettend mee, ruim genoeg!In kamer 7 hoor je de bovenburen vooral lopen, maar voor een paar dagen is het geen probleem. Ander restaurant niet nodig, voor ontbijt en diner is er voldoende keuze. Personeel is zeer vriendelijk en attent. Highclere castle ligt zeer dichtbij, met de auto 5 minuten.

A very good lunch, reasonably priced with excellent service. We liked the new interior. It has been refurbished and extended in an appropriate and attractive way befitting the country pub. We shall definitely recommend The Carpenters Arms and hope to return soon

Wow, I was recommended this pub by the owner of the airbrush course I was on so I booked it and I was not disappointed, I was in room 6 it’s so large the WiFi is great the shower was fantastic and the bed was really comply Right the bar and restaurant, the locals are so friendly and so are the staff the breakfast is outstanding and I am big the next day I had to have egg on toast lol Evening meals are the best food I have ever had I just wish the Sunday lunch was later as I would have really liked to have tried itI love this place

This pub with a conservatory tacked on the back serves very standard pub grub. The staff are pleasant and business like but it is certainly does not have a warm welcoming feel about it. I last visited in 2013 and had very bad experience it has improved but it is not somewhere I would rush back to.

stayed here to go to newbury races excellent quirkry room food i resturant really good staff friendly and willing to help, breakfast is also good (well done cooking a proper fried egg not crispy) close to the A34 but dead quite

After having been told that this pub was worth a visit, we went for Sunday lunch, and I have to say it was awful, clearly not a good chef, roast potatoes were anaemic, and the food just had no flavour to it, staff were not very attentive. Will not be returning or recommending

Visited this country pub for a meal to celebrate my wife's birthday following a visit to Highclere Castle. We had pre-booked a table to be safe. The menu was good and catered for meat eaters, vegetarians and gluten free diets. We had a main course and sweet. The food was very good and reasonably priced. Would recommend it if you are in this area.

Stayed for two nights had a great meal the food was tasty and good portions. Its nice to get a breakfast which is cooked to order. The staff are friendly and very helpful. One small request maybe a draw or cabinet in the room to put things in. worth a visit even if you are not staying

Since I reviewed it three years ago, this pub has had a significant upgrade, moving of from just “country pub” to “rather nice country pub”. I have only eaten from the sandwich menu so far, partly because the sandwiches are excellent, all I want from a lunch at the pub. The outside areas have been greatly improved, and a new dining area is very pleasant. Service friendly.

Popped in for lunch after a visit to Sandham Memorial Chapel. Spacious dining area and garden with great views over surrounding countryside. I had a really nice fish finger sandwich with salad and chips. Lovely fresh bread, crunch chips and home made fish fingers. Relaxed, friendly service. Well worth a visit.

Recently refurbished to a high standard. Good atmosphere and menu. Food excellent and good value. Staff welcoming. Only problem is difficult to book because it is so popular, I'm not helping am I ?

Walked into here for a quick refreshment stop. Greater by friendly young lad behind the bar. On asking if we could just have coffee he replied 'why of course , how would you like it?'

Quick snack so went for the soup of the day (£4.95) which turned out to be parsnip with a tasty herb roll and very good it was. Why is it that when you ask the bar server "what is the soup of the day ?" they never have a clue ! So soup arrived on a wooden platter carried by the waiter. In my innocence I tried to move the soup bowl a little closer. OUCH treble OUCH ! The bowl was full blisteringly oven hot and seared the tips of three fingers of my left hand. It really hurt so I went to the gents and held my hand under the cold tap. Relief.

Popped in for a meal last night, lovely selection of 'pub grub' and beyond, 3 fish options on the specials board and all 4 of us were happy with our food. Great staff....service with a smile.

Called into the Carpenters Arms after a visit to Highclere Castle . It was a beautiful sunny and warm day and we elected to sit outside in the sunshine

End of a shopping day and called in early for dinner. Great pint of Askells 3B, even provided a taster sample as I hadn't come across the brewery before. Staff more than happy for us to wait for food service (at 6pm) and orders were taken right on the dot. Meal arrived quickly and was excellent! Views excellent, outdoor space looked great for summertime visitors - too cold on our stay! Pub was soon busy. Arrive early!

Vegan mother and three year old had only a burger in standard bap to choose, the vegetables soup and curry were said to contain dairy SO NOT suitable for them. We go because it’s a nice place ambiance has improved a lot lately but they need to make a greater effort to keep us going I’m afraid.

Had read good reviews about this place so booked in for sunday lunch. Sadly despite the fantastic location and friendly welcoming staff the food was underwhelming. We were given one small dish of veg for 4 of us which laughably had 6 green beans for us to share, boiled potatoes that were overcooked. The place was so pretty and had such potential was severely let down by the food.

Stopped here over night to break up the journey whilst travelling from the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford to just outside of Exeter.

Food was really fresh, service was good & great choice. Breakfast next day was again fresh and made as ordered... felt like they couldn't do enough for us.

We ate a very enjoyable lunch here last Saturday. The Carpenters Arms is almost next door to the Sandham Memorial Chapel and makes a great spot for coffee, lunch or an evening meal. The pub has recently been completely refurbished with a large light airy and very pleasant conservatory which makes for a nice dining experience. The toilets were also immaculate! Service was fast and efficient (and friendly) and prices very reasonable. We pad £9.95 for a Chicken Caesar salad which was one of the best I have tasted. We paid £5.95 for a good sized cheese and tomato sandwich, although my wife felt that the cheese was a bit bland and she might have appreciated some pickle! But we really liked the place. We would recommend it too.

Been here three times since it's re-opened. First time not impressed with ham, egg and chips ....Ham was burnt gammon with one egg and poor quality chips. The second time was NYE and I had steak which was fine...same poor quality chips though. Tonight we went again. I had steak which was so chewy ( unlike NYE). When asked by the waitress ..'Is everything ok with your meal' i told her not. She said ' is there anything else i can bring you. I said no, i'll just have to leave this and left half the steak.

The whole tail scampi was really nice whilst cooked breakfast was good with the usual choices. A limited choice of cereals and no porridge which for those who don't want a cooked breakfast is a bit of a let down. The large croissants are delicious.

A friend found this great pub on booking.com and stayed for 1 night.

Good choice of meats. Our party had the pork and the beef.

Newly refurbished and beautiful new restaurant and bar. Great range of food and excellant friendly service. With family and friends and all enjoyed the evening. We will be back. Congratulations to all the Carpenters.

Keen to see the new refurbishment ( for us anyway) we booked for an evening meal with friends from Spain. The place has kept its cosy welcoming atmosphere, but has added a lovely dining room that feels more substantial and elegant. Friendly efficient service on a busy Tuesday evening near Christmas. Fish and chips excellent, fresh and well cooked. Black pudding used in the salad was a good one. Certainly back on our places to go locally list.

The decor is beautiful. I'm told the refurb has recently been completed and they have done a fantastic job. My wife and I stumbled across this pub and it is a gem.

Well presented rooms & other facilities friendly & helpful staff. Unfortunately the food is very average & does not complement the rest of the surroundings & was unexpected.

A very nice restaurant which has undergone renovation recently. It is in a lovely village with the Sandham Memorial Hall closeby, well worth a visit.

Food was simple well cooked but poorly presented.

We came here recently en-route home from Cheltenham races. We had booked a table at the newly refurbished pub as it was a Friday & despite us turning up a tad earlier than expected they were still able to accommodate us at our table even though they were very busy. Both my girlfriend & I had the slow roasted pork belly with herb roasted potatoes & both really enjoyed it – melt in the mouth pork & very nice accompaniments. The staff were friendly albeit a bit disorganised but that’s probably due to the refurb & this wouldn’t stop us eating here again on our way back from another day at Cheltenham races.

South of Newbury is a really pretty area and the Carpenters Arms is right in the middle of lovely countryside (while not being remote).

We stayed here for 2 nights, at the weekend and enjoyed it very much, didn't have a meal in the pub, only breakfast which was good value for £5, nicely cooked, very hot and served by the owner who was so helpful and friendly both to us and our little Pug Stanley!.Character rooms are attractive cosy, warm and very clean. The pub is undergoing extensive building works which will be complete in October, but it didn't detract from customer service or quality.and we hope to visit again when we are in the area.

Staying in the area so nipped in for food and a drink. Wasn't disappointed. Good sized portions, food was well cooked and didn't take long at all. Excellent value cod money. Loved the atmosphere too. Don't be put off by the refurbishment, it's a bit rough around the edges but you can see how great it's going to be.

The place is undergoing much needed refurbishment,but do not be put off by the scaffolding or the portaloos.A warm welcome and hearty fare awaits the weary traveller.A good selection of real ales will wash down locally sourced grub, including the best bangers and mash I have ever tasted! Interesting National Trust property opposite.

Pleasant Pub as part of the Bed and Breakfast. There is the Pub which is classic. There is a glass breakfastroom and a pleasant outdoor patio that overlook a large meadow and woods.

Nous avons eu un très bon repas et servi très rapidement avant notre visite de Highclere castle. La nourriture était délicieuse et copieuse .

This gentle village pub is local to the Sandham Memorial Chapel. Whilst we succumbed to battered things and chips, the salads looked equally appetising. Arkells supply three cask beers and the staff provide a very warm welcome. Highly recommended.

I took my son in to the Carpenters Arms on Sunday 25th March. We were running late for lunch and I needed to find somewhere that didn't close their kitchen at 2pm.

Starters of battered mushrooms very nice and breadcrumbed prawns with dipping sauce also good. Gammon steak was very thick and tasty but sausages from sausage and mash were overcooked and not good quality with very basic, boring gravy. Young waiter very nice and friendly.

Stopped at this lovely village pub for lunch today. A warm welcome and very dog friendly (treats behind the bar). Just 2 choices on the menu (one of which was unavailable) and had to ask for a vegetarian option but no matter, we enjoyed the food and atmosphere. The portions were huge so no room for desert. The yorkshire puddings were vast and I can honestly say that this is the first time I've been given one alongside spinach and ricotta pasta and roast potatoes. An interesting meal and well priced. The weekday menu on the website looks worth a try so will return to sample when we are next in the area.

Stopped recently with a friend for lunch, and as ever, it was very good. The service is prompt, friendly and the prices reasonable.

Came here on friday nite for a meal i had a steak and it was delicious reasonably priced the other half had the buger also superb the bacon out of this world great service very friendly place deffo recomend for meal or a drink (beers reasonably priced) will be back

After visiting Highclere Castle, we were hungry for lunch. We found Carpenter Arms and had a great meal. They let me order the kids meal, and I had chicken tenders, fries, and salad. My meal also came with a scoop of ice cream, and that was a nice surprise. They also brought my friend a scoop (even though she didn't have the kids meal). The food was tasty and fresh, and the workers very friendly. I like being able to order smaller portions.

Came here recently after races. Its a pub in need of a bit of love... and the restaurant side is not good. Plent more local places on offer which provide quality over this. Very small menu and its all froze . Scampi and Cod were cheap.. even the chips were awful. Pork Belly was a large pork scratching.. alot of fat.. quite a bit left. Ceasar salad as stated on previous review is NOT a Ceasar.. no lettuce!!! Mixes leaves instead. Desserts at almost £6 were poor and cheap quality. Avoid. Save your money and go to a reputable gastro pub restaurant. I felt more short changed than when i left the races penniless!

We were camping locally and involved with a long charity bike ride and wanted to eat a hearty meal to replenish ourselves and this place fitted the bill perfectly.

Visitamos la propiedad de National Trust muy cerca a los carpinteros y en un frío húmedo sábado fuimos a almorzar. Una cálida y agradable bienvenida, aparece directamente a una mesa, el lugar estaba lleno pero el servicio eficiente y servicial. Fui por el bistec con...

No puedo criticar a los propietarios y el personal. Muy amable, agradable y probamos realmente duras, pero que son nuevos aquí así que quizás no han sellada su marca en el sitio. . Sin embargo, el estándar del alojamiento y restaurante era deficiente. Las tuberías...

La habitación era cómoda, no 8 la decoración muy agradable, incluyendo la ducha/wc habíamos pedido una habitación tranquila! . Las tuberías, sin embargo, para los desechos hacía un ruido altamente inaceptable y fue continuo cuando tener una ducha. Presumiblemente esto es debido a pequeñas tuberías...

Llamado en la capilla después de visitar Sandham Memorial de 100 metros. Sitio encantador y amable, perro - muy amable, y buena comida.

Me he comido aquí fir 2 noches ahora y la comida es buena olde worlde estilo deliciosa comida - el tipo que solía ser en los buenos días viejo

Viehättävä majatalo yöpymiseen, jos ei ole turhan tarkka siisteydestä... Erittäin ystävällinen palvelu! Valitettavasti emme ehtineet syödä tässä paikassa muuta kuin aamiaisen (joka oli ok), joten ruokaa en arvostele. Erittäin edullinen!

I really like this place. Great gin selection, staff were great, the daughter of the owner was knowledgeable and great attentive service. The area was beautiful and the food was basic pub food. Good choice not the best quality.

I use this pub regularly, for drinks and food. The new managers are really welcoming, the staff friendly and the atmosphere is great. Good clean beer, fresh rolls at teatime and quick efficient service. Can recommend the belly pork! Large is large and very tasty. Really pleased this pub is doing so well - Kes & Lee deserve credit for all their hard work. Well done and keep it up guys.

New management in the Carpenters Arms thank goodness. Excellent lunch today, long may it continue. Good luck Kes & Lee.

We picked this pub as a half way point to catch up with some friends for lunch. It was a nice day so sat outside for a drink first. I chose fish cakes, new potatoes and salad but was disappointed with just a few lettuce leaves, no cucumber, tomato, onion etc. Portion sizes were very good. Unfortunately although there was 5 or 6 puddings on the menu they had run out of 2 of them. We are not likely to return.

Firstly, the staff were excellent - really friendly and tried hard. The beers on offer were also great. That's as far as it went unfortunately. If you are going to offer poor food, I would suggest you should just throw in the towel. Starters straight from the microwave after freezer is a bad start - and it went downhill from there. A Caesar salad is made from FRESH cos or romaine lettuce, not wilted mixed leaves, and not served with olives! Burger looked OK, pork tenderloin in a mess of split cream sauce. But the piece de resistance was the fishcake - it glanced at the salmon, and one thin overcooked, greasy fishcake for £9.50?? Not good enough. The 'pancakes' were also a creation of the microwave. All in all very sad - next time its the Carnarvon Arms down the road! Ambiance - missed this. Watership Down?? Where???

So looking forward to staying in one of the period rooms but was put in Room 7 which is a converted barn not very well done either. The bathroom was grubby, the valence around the bed needed washing, the renovation was poorly done and we were so disappointed the kitchen tap trickled all night, holes in the bathroom floor. The staff couldnt care less when I asked if I could have another room. I booked and paid six months in advance so expected to get one of the better rooms. We didnt eat in the pub we only stayed in the room not interested in eating there after the disinterest of the staff.

This is a friendly country pub, serving a god selection of food. Dogs are allowed in the bar area where we ate our meal. Though the service was a little slow, the food was most enjoyable. And there was a good selection of books and games to keep us occupied while we waited. Would definitely go again if we were in the area.

Quick stop here as Highclere Castle didn't offer great lunch options or have lovely places to sit and it's the nearest pub. It was all ok. The sandwiches were nice but no gluten free options available. No frills, no warm welcome. It was all just ok.

Visited one Thursday evening having booked a table for 7.30. Ordered before 8.00 pm but food didn't arrive until nearly 9.00. Whilst not exactly bad it wasn't exactly good either. About 4 items on the menu were not actually available. By the time we had finished eating, we eat fast, the kitchen was closing so couldn't have any desert.Altogether not to be recommended

Had lunch here with my wife. Her medium-rare steak was more rare than medium, though very nicely cooked on the outside, and the accompaniments were also very nice. I had pork tenderloin, which, although the meat was beautifully cooked, was somewhat spoiled by over-cooked vegetables, notably the broccoli which had rather mushy florets, hence my three-star rating rather than four. The beer was good, as was the coffee after our meal, and service was friendly.

We called in here for lunch; the pub has plenty of parking and several eating areas. They have a good range of drinks, including local ales. The menu is not too large, and has the usual pub grub selection, and there is a small specials board. At times, they have special offers, but sadly not while we were there.Service is friendly, but slow. The portions are generous, and the food well cooked and presented, and the prices reasonable. The locals at the bar were friendly. It’s a nice pub, and if I lived nearby I would be a regular.

We chose the Carpenters Arms as it was of equal distance to meet friends, but knew nothing else about it. We all ordered the Roast Beef Sunday lunch which was cooked beautifully, really tasty, plentiful and excellent value for money. We understand from the waitress that it is in the process of being taken over - I do hope the new owners don't alter the menu, staff or general ambience of this lovely pub.

Came here with two friends for lunch. There was a good choice of food and everything that came out of the kitchen smelt great. Our food was amazing. Will have to pop back next time I'm in the area to try some more.

We had no prior knowledge of this pub. It was very easy to book over the phone and when I rang to say we were going to be 15 minutes late as we had got lost on the walk, this was not a problem. Two of our party had roasts and the other two dishes off the varied but not overfacing menu. Portions were excellent, well presented and above all tasty. Puddings were equally satisfying. Coffee served in decent sized mugs. Service good and friendly and all in all very good value for money. Thank you.

Highly recommend this pub as the food are really excellent and so is the service. Good variety of dishes. Had dinner for 3 nights and really enjoyed the food especially the Mexican burger.

Well cooked, well presented, tasty and excellent value for money food served by friendly and helpful staff made this a very pleasant place to dine

The food at the Capenters Arms was very tasty, especially the vegetarian Mexican burger which was really good and large portions for the price (£8-£10 per main course). However, the staff did the owners out of selling starters and then puddings as they were so slow. There were three staff on, but it took 20 minutes after being seated to take our order and then after we asked for "two minutes" to decide on puddings we waited 35 and then gave up on ordering afters all together. The Trivial Pursuit cards on the tables were not enough to keep us entertained, sadly.

Came for our third visit makes our hospital visits worth while. When we arrived pub was really busy full of regulars but didn't feel out of place we found a table in conservatory which was beautifully decorated for Christmas. Staff were really friendly and helpful. Food was served piping hot and tasty my partner had steak again which was cooked to perfection. I had fish and chips which was tasty. My only complaint was we had nachos to start and they forgot jalapeños which are my favourite I have them with everything but they were so nice by time I could of said my partner had polished them off will return on our next visit lovely pub with warm welcome and great food

Popped in here for lunch as we were visiting the Sandham memorial chapel. The pub is very doggy - 4 dogs while we were here - which can be a bit much in a small area. Bar staff friendly. It was impossible to eat our meals on one table as the plates were too big. The ploughmans came with 4 large slices of soft, rather tasteless white bread - no option to choose brown. There were plenty of table sauces provided if needed so it was disappointing that the beefburger came with lashings of unwanted bbq sauce. Couldn't be bothered to send it back as we had waited half an hour for the food to arrive.

We visited here we out 6 year old granddaughter for Sunday Lunch and was not disappointed, we enjoyed the Sunday roast and our granddaughter had a meal from the children's menu, I did ask if you do a children's roast and was told no. The only complaint I have is not the food but when we arrived we sat in the Conservatory which was far to hot and we moved to the bar area which was better, I know other people were also saying it was to hot in there. We will still return as we enjoy the food.

Travelled from Southampton for lunch having read great reviews. On arrival (at 2pm) we were told the kitchen had closed early and they were unable to serve us. A stark contrast to the reviews read; there was no real friendliness or alternative suggested.Very disappointed having made the journey on a day out. Luckily for us we travelled less than half a mile along the road and visited The CARNARVON Arms. No disappointment at all. Friendly staff, great service and good food.

Stopped by with chums and dogs for a lunchtime bite. Lovely pub. Warm friendly staff and great menu to choose from. Great sandwich combinations.Will certainly pop by again when in the area and try something a bit more substantial next time.

Came on off chance on way to Southampton hospital. We had lovely warm welcome when we arrived plenty of choice on menu. My partner had steak he said was the best he has had in a long time. Lovely welcoming pub very clean excellent food reasonably priced. Will return on our next visit through

Came here with my husband and friend to try it out after we were impressed when we visited for a drink. The waitress was lovely, very attentive without being intrusive. Unfortunately there wasn't a vegetarian starter but the chef did prepare a garlic mushrooms in a cream sauce which was very nice.Everybody enjoyed their food particularly my husband who had the pulled pork in a sourdough roll.The portions are plentiful and the prices are very competitive for the area, it's been a long time since I have had a three course meal with wine and beer at about £25 per head.My only criticism is that it would be good to pop a vegetarian starter on the board.Would definitely recommend.

We are looking forward to a family meet on the evening of September 1st. The Carpenters is our favourite destination between Bournemouth and Aylesbury. Many lunches enjoyed there and tomorrow dinner for the first time. Well worth the 60 mile drive from my home near Bournemouth. See you all tomorrow, Sandy Walls.

A beautiful B&B cottage inc breakfast. Stunning and excellent value. 1 mile from Highclere Castle just off A34 to Newbury.

Very welcoming staff, beer and cider spot on, menu not the most extensive but still something for everyone. Burgers and cheesecake particularly good :-)

Surprisingly we had never been here despite living just over a mile away!Decided enough is enough and forced ourselves to pop in for a quick drink in the afternoon to check it out. It was very quiet, well we were the only customers, but it was midweek afternoon.The pub is lovely and quaint on the inside and has a lovely garden for sunny days. The menu looked good too, so will definitely be back to sample it, wish we had made more of an effort sooner.

We're often looking for a venue close to Chieveley suitable for a midway meet up with family and this is our latest discovery - and possibly the best. Excellent food with a good variety, with separate children's menu and deserts to die for. We ate in the garden - but there is also a large conservatory and the usual indoor accommodation. Not overly busy at lunchtime today but 'spacious' and you get the feeling that, even when busy, you wouldn't be eavesdropping your neighbours conversation. Service helpful and pleasant and prices reasonable. Oh - two more important things- clearly very dog friendly and great coffee. Will certainly be back.

We were staying in the area and found the pub on trip advisor before we left home. We went for an evening meal on the Friday evening. We had not pre-booked a table and the pub was busy but we were able sit outside. The food was of a very good standard and piping hot when it arrived. The staff were very friendly and helpful. We returned for breakfast the next day and were not disappointed with our food which was cooked to order and again was hot. An excellent find providing good quality value for money food. Thank you.

We met here for lunch as it was half way between homes and initial impression was good. Nice friendly chap behind the bar and a nice menu hanging on boards. Unfortunately the same could not be said about the waitress. She just walked up to us and stood there with her note pad with not a glimmer of a smile to be seen. It just let the whole place down. We moved from the conservatory to the bar and she did not even come through to check whether we were ok or of we wanted anything else - luckily we didn't. It did spoil our lunch somewhat as part of the experience is the service. We did see her light up when her shift was over which was even more disappointing, she was clearly having a bad day and didn't really want to be there but it should not be taken out on th customers.

We were lucky to find a table for four in the conservatory of this Burghclere pub - it was clearly immensely popular, with many of the clientele appearing to be locals.We haven't seen a menu quite like this one: a whole wall of little blackboards, hung in fairly random order, but each with plenty of detail about the dishes. (We guessed that the occasional gap was a dish that had sold out, and the board had been unhooked and taken down.)My daughter-in-law and I chose veggie "Mexican burger"! I should have taken a photo - these were whoppers! And they were as delicious as they were large. The bun was a lovely white, artisan-type bread roll, the chips were chunky, hot and crisp, the jalapeno peppers added kick and the burger itself was a wonderful mix of greens (spinach) peas, beans and other summer veg topped with sour cream and a slice of cheese. The side salad and salsa were excellent. We were both much too full for deserts, which was a pity - those being served and eaten around us looked scrumptious! My grand-daughter's fish and chips also met with approval. "Yummy," she called it. She's four, and tiny, and ate the plate clean (apart from a couple of dropped peas!).The service was quick and efficient and the staff friendly and polite. I can thoroughly recommend the Carpenters Arms and would happily eat there again, given the chance.The only negatives were that the environment was quite noisy and the space between tables felt a little cramped. The loos were clean but old-fashioned and the basin taps drowned us! But I wouldn't count any of these as a reason for not going back.

Pub is near Highclere in the next village. Generous portions of Scampi and chips, tasty wholemeal sandwiches (no fancy baguettes) etc. the food that pubs used to serve before they went all posh! Conservatory is ok but terribly noisy/loud. Outside had great views - if only it were warm enough to sit there! They do provide blankets and cushions which I thought was a nice touch. Friendly atmosphere and service.