Forest Inn in Waverley

A good family pub Dog friendly. Would recommend a visit

We visited for Sunday dinner at about 2.30pm (unbooked), 4 adults & a young child. We were greeted and seated. The serving staff were young people, they were professional in their duties but also friendly & chatty. The pub provided a high chair for the little'un, (aged 2 & a bit) & were attentive to her needs, chatter & also responded to her little voice asking for desert of 'chocolate ice-cream please!' These young staff were fantastic & attentive to all our requirements! The roast was delicious. I chose lamb shank, others decided on one meat or a combination of 3 different meats - chicken, turkey. Gammon or Beef. All were cooked to perfection, (we extended our praise to the chef!) The meals all came out together and we were served with extra gravy & plentiful condiments. The environment was comfortable & welcoming. It was also inclusive to families, children & well behaved dogs. I will offer "Highly recommended"! We live locally so we will definately be making a return visit very soon.

Very helpful staff and good food

Went to this pub today and all I can say is great things about it the young lady who served us was so polite friendly and helpful and made us very welcome the food was amazing and cooked to a high standard the pub was warm and welcoming would highly recommend this pub and will definitely be back thank you so much

Delicious pub food and great service. Our daughter loved the play area

Just called in on chance, friendly service, great food at a good price, can't fault it, well done guys.

From the website, this looked like the perfect place for a nice meal after visiting the New Forest wide life park. On entering the pub, it was warm ( nice log fire) and inviting. The young man showed us to a table and took our drinks order. We then ordered food. With 3 adults and 3 children, we chose the lamb shanks for the adults. Lasagne for 2 oldest children and fish bite for the youngest. Drinks were good. FOOD, very poor. :( The lamb shanks were tough as old shoe leather. It's probably microwaved . The Lasagne was tasteless and definitely microwaved as the plate was hotter than the sun ( not ideal to put in front of a 5 year old :( The fish bite would just about feed a small fish. ( all batter, no fish). As we had a long drive home with tired kids we stuck it out and ate what we could . Such a shame 🫠

Our first time here and I must say we was extremely impressed. The atmosphere is very comfortable, the service first class and the Sunday roast was very tasty. We will definitely be going back and my wife and I have both said that it's worth travelling to for a Saturday evening meal. Great experience and thank you to all the staff for our wonderful family meal.

Was travelling through at lunchtime and stopped for lunch. Menu good, lot of choice. If passing this way again will definitely stop. Excellent service from all staff.

A quick last second decision to stop in for lunch. Warm, friendly welcome, great selection of ales, lagers, ciders, wines and spirits,but a limited 'everyday' lunch menu. Food cooked well enough, and presented tidily, but nothing to write home about. Good for a beer and a bite, but don't expect haut cuisine.

My daughter and I had lunch here today. As soon we walked in the door we were welcomed by Owen, who was very polite and helpful and took us to our table straight away. Our waitress, Beth was also very helpful & polite. The restaurant was quite busy and had a nice atmosphere. The food was good and the prices reasonable. I have lived in the area for many years and I have to say that I am really impressed with what the current owners are now offering customers... needless to say, I shall visit again in the very near future.

Great Sunday lunch and great, caring service. Dog friendly too

We've been here a few times and always have great service and food. But I wanted to give a special mention to Connor, who is always so welcoming. There was a rather difficult customer in today and he dealt with them so professionally. Well done, you were very patient!!

My son and I visited the Ball & Wicket today the 25th December for our Christmas lunch. The whole experience was first class, from the greeting as we entered to leaving at the end. The young lady who attended us was just so good, first class, every thing was no trouble, the timing superb. The Christmas lunch top notch, I must say I was pleasenty surprised at how the whole day was so good. A young man also attended us, first class as well.

We had a fantastic Xday family meal. From the moment we arrived everyone was so friendly and welcoming. The food was really good and the service was exceptional. Well done to everyone at the Ball & Wicket you are doing a fine job.

The Ball and Wicket is easy to find and the car park is huge. The staff are very welcoming and there is a lovely atmosphere. The food cooked by chef Crina was delicious and the servers, Hannah and Connor, did a fantastic job waiting on our table of 12 in a friendly and efficient way. We all had a great time and I would recommend this pub for a relaxed celebration.

We had our Church Staff Christmas lunch yesterday. The food was excellent. I had the Prawns and Beef Cheek and would highly recommend both dishes. The staff looked after us and ensured everything went well. Congratulations to Chef Crina and her staff in the kitchen. I look forward to visiting the Ball & Wicket again in the future. Caz Cullum

Thirteen of us had a Christmas celebration at the Ball & Wicket. The food, prepared by Chef Crina, was plentiful and delicious. I had a vegetarian option that was freshly cooked with a creative mix of vegetables, cheese and cranberry. The service, provided by Connor and Hannah, was first rate. All in all, a very pleasant lunch out. We'll definitely be returning.

Went with different generations! Great grandad Nanny Son and Uncle 3 x grandkids! Welcomed straight away and shown to our seats Ordered drinks firstly Arrived without a wait Food ordered and again not a long wait Food was lovely Service, well what can I say! Nice to have such a warm friendly and professional service. The waitresses were brill, one in particular (sorry didn’t get a name) took particular care with the kids, talking with them to order their food and complimented them on their manners. Can’t fault anything about this place and the service we received. Please keep up the good work as it’s so nice to receive and it’s so missing in a lot of establishments Happy Christmas to all the staff.

Connor and Hannah made all of us very welcome. The service was excellent. Congratulations to the chef - Crina who provided a lovely lunch for our vey discerning party of 15.

16 of us just soent a fabulous evening at the Ball and Wicket. The food was amazing. The beef just melted in your mouth. Everything was so tasty! And the service was excellent. So helpful and on the ball. Very friendly and organised. Highly recommend. Will be back.

Having driven past this place for a few years now, today was the day we decided to stop for lunch. Great Gastro Pub. Atmosphere is great, staff are friendly, food was tasty and well cooked. Would definitely come here again.

Delicious food and brilliant variety of it! Festive menu has lots of choices!Cooked brilliantly,highly recommended and affordable !!

A Lovely roast dinner and amazing service ..very friendly

We have just had our neighbourhood lunch 37 people it was fantastic had a great time food was excellent and service was phenomenal could not complain about anything

What a fantastic pub and what fantastic food. The staff couldn't have been more friendly if they tried. So welcoming from the moment we arrived and so attentive after we sat down. Bubbly, hardworking, polite. We were there to celebrate my dad's 80th Birthday and they were so accommodating. They happily took the cake and kept it to one side and didn't kind of we brought balloons and bunting. They were constantly checking if we needed anything and put waitress Lucy, was fantastic. So good at her job and so sweet. The food is fantastic. Great variety, generous portions and tasty. Highly recommend.

Stopped last weekend for a roast best I've had in a long time I had lamb shank was beautiful, I meant to put 5 stars 🌟 now amended , thank you

We have been to this restaurant many times with friends, family and for staff meetings. For just drinks and dinner too, no matter what the occasion the service from the whole team is absolutely outstanding. They are always happy to help and are willing to assist with any of your needs. Super clean with a relaxing atmosphere the perfect place to come and chill or entertain. We will be coming back for many years I’m sure. Arriving here today I was greeted with my favourite wine on my favourite table ready and waiting amazing. Thank you Morgan and Conner.

Very nice pub. Friendly staff high recommended to everyone!!!

Visited today in a big family group of six adults & 2 children . Very impressed with our lovely waiter Connor who couldn’t have been more helpful and friendly . Food was good atmosphere good defo recommend . Many thanks to all the staff but especially Connor .

We came Monday ,it looked busy for a Monday lunch !Really enjoyed visiting here! Food was fantastic, service was fab and it was just a lovely atmosphere. Definitely recommend this place to everyone. Compliments to the chefs food was amazing

Excellent service, excellent food, lovely atmosphere. Loved it so much we’ll be coming back next week.

Had a few drinks after work on a Friday. Enjoyed the pub and the beer. Lovely atmosphere. Staff were great, especially Pippa and Amy.

Had a good few beers with friends.Great service and friendly atmosphere particularly from Pippa. Great place to have a drink.

We had a great lunch. Connor gave very friendly and helpful service. I took my mother with a small appetite and Chef Katie plated two half portions for us, without being asked, rather than us making a mess at the table. Thank you to both...

Lovely spot of lunch for a family members birthday. We were served by Connor who was very friendly and attentive, with great customer service. The food was brilliant with compliments to the chef.

We came for a Sunday roast and everyone was very accommodating for us and our dogs. Treats and water provided for the pups. Connor gave amazing service and the food was lovely. Very reasonably priced.

This is the second time we have been to Ball and Wicket, as expected the service, was with a smile, and the lad who served us genuinely seemed to enjoy his job. Good food at a reasonable price. I would have no hesitations in recommending...

Much improved today. Didn't try the ham egg and chips again, went for the bangers and mash. Certainly no complaints on the quantity and service was faster as well.

Came with friends. His folks were locals here back in the fifties. House they built was just down the path from the pub. Great place. Under new ownership.

Amazing sunday roast ,will definitely coming back ,food was so good definitely worth a visit , service good too

Came here for some food with the family after visiting bird world..We was welcomed by lovely lady who took us to a table ( turns out it was the manager ) the food was delicious and plenty of drinks to choose from, very clean inside...

We made an impromptu visit here, after the weather put the kibosh on going to the seaside! But very glad we did. Really nice atmosphere, with excellent food, all knitted together by great service. My son and I both had Korean barbecue chicken to start,...

Lovely pub, friendly staff and good food. Even private water bowl for the dogs

Perfect setting for a family lunch and catch up. Great service from the team. Well presented and delicious food. Thank you Glad we booked as it was busy for a Tuesday.

Came for lunch with my family it was a lovely experience the pub is beautiful and has a lovely atmosphere. We were welcomed straight away by Hannah who also helped us as we had a pushchair so it was nice. Amy our waitress was always...

This is now cashless and would rather pour the drinks down the drain than take cash. Its a green king pub and apparantley all cashless. Shame as the food is great but I refuse to go to a cashless establishment. When speaking to member of...

We came to meet friends for Sunday lunch. Friendly and helpful staff. A menu for everyone. Well maintained decor but with a relaxed vibe. Friends had their dog with them and he was looked after too.

I’m adding this positive review to follow on from my last one. Although this review says we visited in September 23, we have been back many times since my last review and I wanted to put the record straight. Lovely Roast dinners since that blip...

Pulled up at random whilst working in the area, was greeted by a lovely friendly smile , ordered Ham Eggs and Chips...not only was it superb, I'd say possibly the best ham. id ever eaten... Fully recommend this place. Staff superb and food to match ..Next time my work takes me to that area I'll definitely stop again .

Great menu friendly staff driven past many a times wanting to go in so took the plunge on our way to Southampton

VERY nice & friendly owners, was cycling around the country & glad i stopped here...lovely place & great staff, highly recomend! :)

Came in last Sunday for an amazing roast dinner, the roast beef was cooked to perfection and we had a really lovely waitress who looked after us and made sure we had everything we needed. Will be visiting again with our families

Great food generous portions great staff, just a shame the garden is right next to a busy road.

Fantastic country pub good value friendly staff

Food was good, service was helpful and friendly. Comfortable and tables set well apart. Would definitely go again.

Lovely food and great service but the outside was quite untidy and unloved with dogs mess in some places (away from the play area) It was quiet when we went, I would recommend the ribs.

Food was microwaved overcooked and chewy not the best!

Thank you for yet another wonderful evening. The food was delicious and the atmosphere perfect for an evening out with friends. Thank you to Luke our waiter for making our evening so pleasant.

Will write a better review after the landlords have settled in,garden needs some TLC see above

Turned up at 5:40pm on a Thursday night to a near empty car park and pub for a quick bite to eat as a party of 3. Got turned away as apparently fully booked and every one of those bookings arriving in the next 30...

Did not eat here so I will post 3 stars as food smelt good. Friendly staff behind the bar. Sat outside in the garden, very pleasant away from the main road. Found an interesting tree 🌳

Hope it comes back to what it was when I last came,all the best Jean and Dave.

Had a lovely meal with my daughter. The food was excellent specially the seabass and scallops and top marks for the special rhubarb sunday. Well recommended

really nice food, and the service was quick! We didn’t wait long at all to be seated or have a drinks and food order taken. Food was so good, would recommend here for sure!

Booked a table for dinner after a nearby walk .Its an ideal place to take a walk and then have a choice of good food for dinner

Was out working over in this area today so me and the wife decided to pop in here and give it a try for some dinner and we were so glad we did, lovely little pub that had lots of charm, staff were super friendly and the food was perfect, good size meal and was cooked to perfection, will definitely use the forest inn again when we are in the area, you should try it, you won't be disappointed

We came for a family meal and a few drinks. The food and service was fantastic. Unfortunately our nan had a funny turn when we were there, the staff were so helpful, courteous and couldn't do more for us Brilliant staff and service Thank you all

The food we had was fine, and served quite quickly but the three stars are for the service. The first thing you notice when you walked in, was the sign advising no cash payments. I have never noticed this anywhere else. We would have paid...

We had my fathers wake here on monday 31st July , the food was amazing, buffet with a beautiful mix of hot and cold food,quality sandwiches, quiches, ect ,desserts, fruit, couldn't believe how amazing they made it,atmosphere was great,allowing us to use tv for photo tribute and our music play list being played all day,Marie and lovely staff made it a day we will never forget,thank you from Lorraine and Jon

Great local venue, noce atmosphere well behaved dogs welcome and plenty to keep you entertained from pool to darts to sports on the TV. Would recommend

Popped in for a quick drink or 2 last Friday evening. Ordered a pint of Amstel, £5.60 and a small bottle of Prosecco, £12.50. I did question the price. I think i may have been charged a large bottle ? I quickly checked Google maps in case i had strayed into the Westend of London. Noop, New Forest. Fantastic service as we were the only ones there at 9pm. Too late to eat.

Lovely birthday lunch, excellent food, very good service, pleasant atmosphere, really enjoyed the visit, great pub ,

Lovely place for dinner. There was a slight mix up with our food, but it was put right quickly. The food is exceptional, and the staff are attentive, and very friendly and helpful. We will definitely be back again

Lovely welcome by friendly staff. Food was great and freshly made. Good food and drinks menu with affordable price. Thank you we really enjoyed it. One negative comment the fire doors to ladies loos were extremely heavy and difficult to open by elderly relative. Apart...

£18 for a small bottle of Prosecco and a pint of Amstel. Whoops come on get real. Talk about having your trousers pulled down

Very nice for an afternoon beer. But don't leave your sunglasses on the bench. Well worth a visit, very traditional pub.

Very pleased with service and food. Waitress Pippa and Amy couldn't have done more to help us, very polite and attentive to our needs. 10/10 thankyou

Me and my partner came in for a drink with two friends, sat in the lovely garden all day. Around 6 o’clock I decided I needed food and asked if it would be ok to grab one of the specials burgers, my partner had the...

Great food, great service. I was impressed with the boar burger it had a amazing apple mayo to compliment it. The Eton mess pancakes went down a treat with my kids.

Great place to meet with friends and family. Nice friendly atmosphere with a choice of inside or a lovely garden. The food is just amazing,served hot and very tasty . The service we received on our visit by Pippa and Amy was amazing! Servers were...

Decided to stop off after a day out in bird world with the little ones. We were thoroughly pleased with both the food and the Service we received! I went for the Korean Pork Belly and my Wife went for the Seafood Grill, both dishes...

New landlady maria and family ...Lovely pub good service good food &drink .very welcoming thank you for a lovely night Dennis &marie

We booked a table before we arrived, when we aren’t they told us there fully booked. Then they made us sit outside. The food was shocking sausages not cooked roast was like school dinners and cauliflower cheese was cheese not melted actually disgusting absolute joke...

A modern pub built in traditional style. It's part of the chain but the food selection is good and the meals are nicely presented. It's in a good position to meet and enjoy a rural walk before eating or afterward.

Was I nice meal out with the whole family. Staff we ok. Place could have been a little tidy but that could have been a lot busy easier. Lovely size car park and nice and clean

This pub has now gone cashless. I refuse to be dictated to by these large woke companies, so walked out and had a meal at the Bluebell Inn instead, The Bluebell was more than happy to accept my LEGAL TENDER cash! This pub hasn't been...

Amazing food, friendly staff especially with our dog, good service and nice interior. Just a small range of drinks but would love to visit again

Went on Sunday, the 14th of May for Sunday lunch. Booked it the day before on the Internet to find out as I walked in cashless. I do not agree with this as it is a legal attendant. I will not be going back for...

Nice looking pub with good parking. Staff were polite and the restaurant area looked clean and tidy. The menu was pretty good and we were also offered a specials menu. Food and drinks arrived in good time and were enjoyed by our guests. All in...

We had a fantastic meal at the Ball & Wicket. It was quite busy especially with families, as was a lovely sunny day but we’d already booked a table, just in case. The food we had was absolutely delicious: chicken and ham terrine, Korean chicken,...

We popped in here for a quick lunch as the reviews looked quite good. We were met at the bar by a seemingly stressed barman who felt the need to tell us that he didn’t know if there were any tables because he had been...

First ever visit. For a brewery pub meal it was reasonably good. Clare our server was particularly pleasant and attentive and deserves acknowledgment. I had the chicken and ham hock pie which I recommend. All four of us left pleasantly full. My only down comment...

Lunch with my son and pet dog. Incredibly dog friendly the food is reasonably priced and really good quality. The garden is gorgeous. Lastly the staff were incredibly friendly and very efficient. Definitely will visit again!!

Superb Brunch this morning . Looked after by Liv and Amy perfectly . Never had a bad experience at this Pub , food is always fabulous . See you next time guys xx

Whoever the chef is pay them more !! A warm friendly greeting by the staff was just the start of a wonderful afternoon. The turkey roast is one of the best I’ve tasted . Hats off to the all the team Will be back for...

Went in for a last minute date with my partner and decided to pop in here. I had the soup off of the starter menu and my partner had the new Korean chicken dish with a side of chips and garlic bread. The food was...

Delicious food and great service with smiles and a pleasant atmosphere which was dog friendly. All enjoyed.

Had a very nice meal with a good friend very clean and tidy restaurant and toilets, staff very welcoming and accomodating of our requests special thanks to Liv and Katie. Will definitely be back.

Really excellent pub with well cooked food, well kept beers and friendly, helpful staff. Stands out from the crowd. Recommended