Haunch of Venison in Wiltshire

Absolute top notch with not only amazing food, but a lot of history as well. Best way to start or end a trip to Salisbury.

A very interesting old building, a maze of rooms. Had a delicious lunch from their set menu. Excellent service. Read up on the history of the place, fascinating.

Great aperol spritz, and a really nice selection of drinks. The place is lovely, great atmosphere.

Went for Sunday lunch, and the food was delicious. Service was impeccable and will be back again when I'm in the area

A must if you’re in the area. Superb food and staff. Great pub history. Didn't understand on my visit, why I recognised the quirkiness of the pub. Dawned on me that I had just read a novel that described this old pub in such detail. Brilliant explanations of this very pub. Mark Dawson’s ‘All the Devils Are Here’ Loved this dining experience in the heart of Salisbury.

Really cool pub with special atmosphere there was a real fireplace old furniture the staff is very friendly and nice also the food was really tasty

Tiny little pub, rowdy atmosphere, get there early for a table. Restaurant upstairs. We booked a few days ahead for a table for 2 for 8pm Saturday. Gorgeously rich flavours of traditional courses. Never had a blackberry that burst with so much flavour. We had pigeon, Trio of Venison and the Vension Casserole. Each was beautiful to eat. Service was good, moved us to another room away from a children's party. It's a fantastic building to eat in. A must stop in Sailsbury

Went out for the day in Salisbury and came across this little gem. Downstairs by Bar is dark, go upstairs and the dining area is bright. I ordered venison casserole and hubby had a venison scotch egg, all very good and tasty.

Food was great, staff was extremely kind and attentive, and it was easy to find seating. Not only is there the mummified hand that you can have your dinner or a pint next to, but the pub is historic and has a lovely atmosphere. Definitely worth a visit if you're in Salisbury!

We had the most amazing dinner in this old rustic English pub.we were served by Tristan and Zam who were so nice and efficient. The food was exceptional.. if you do decide to give this place a visit you will not be disappointed.

Great old pub. Quintessentially British. Service was terrific (Tristan in the bar) and Zam (at the tables). The food was well presented and tasty. Beer and wine were reasonably priced. Well worth a visit. Terrific.

Fantastic food in a traditional old pub building. Higgedly-piggeldy layout, steep stairs, wobbly wooden floors and real fires.

Sunday lunch was delicious and very reasonably priced

Excellent all round, stunning food.

Only went for a few drinks - but was such a lovely place . So old school. We drank in the “horse box”

Did not eat but came for drinks with a group, this place is great a real historic pub! Must go have a drink and see the mummified hand where Churchill made the D Days plans! Lovely little ladies snug also and had a fire. Really enjoyed the visit and drinks!

Best pub i have ever seen, been to.

Fantastic little pub, straight out of peaky blinder, barman was great and very chatty, was our second visit and still loved it..a must go if your into old style pubs..

Ristorante di stampo medioevale, bella location centralissima a Salisbury. L'ingresso ti fa fare un salto indietro nel tempo, tra birra, candele e avventori a qualsiasi ora del giorno. Piatti locali. Ottimo il patè d'oca, una vera coccola per il palato. Buono il prezzo rispetto alla media inglese.

Interesting architecture. Good beer. Slightly pricey.

This place is a must stop .... iy was a cold winter day so the fireplaces were going...good and warm inside and the beer was cold. Perfect!

My friend and I came for dinner on a Thursday evening in January. We shared a bottle of Pinot Blush. We both had the pigeon as a starter, followed by pork belly & trio of venison for our mains. My pork belly was delicious! Really recommend! The table next to us both had fish & chips - the portion was very generous & I’d definitely look to try that next time! The service by all staff we encountered was friendly. Would really recommend coming here for dinner. We both really enjoyed our meals and I’ll definitely be back!

Last night in town, so we wanted a nice pub and this exceeded expectations. Food was delicious, servings generous, and the staff went out of their way to make us feel welcome. We had questions about the food and drink that they were happy to answer. Very special night.

Drank here a few times. Ate here last weekend and it was one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time. Highly recommend the trio of venison.

Gorgeous food (I had the slow-cooked venison casserole and sticky toffee pudding), good beer, friendly service. And what a setting! A truly gorgeous and atmospheric pub. Don't leave Salisbury without experiencing it!

I'd been before and my experience then was of good food, but slow service and a miserable manager. This time was much better. Really excellent food (Stilton and cauliflower soup, Turkey and mushroom pie, Chocolate brownie). Our waiter was a really lovely gap year student (name unknown). The manager was still miserable :-( For two people with 3 drinks and two coffees = £120

Such wonderful food! The sausage was one of the most satisfying things I think I’ve ever eaten, and the sauce on the venison trio was outstanding. Zamm was a lovely host. We’re so happy we stopped here.

I've wanted to visit this place for years, so we finally booked a table for lunch. We were there at 1pm on Saturday 4th January when it was 1c outside. The large dining room where they seated us was about the same temperature. They had a large open fireplace, but with two tiny logs burning. We could see our breath. Surely few plug-in heaters would be a sensible option? I had the venison burger which was quite dry because the bun was floury, there were two patties, but hardly any sauce in the bun. My husband had fish and chips which was excellent with really crispy batter. Our meals with a drink each and service charge came to £50 and we were out after an hour. Our waiter was brilliant, so nice and smiley. There was no atmosphere because we were, for the most part, alone in the dining room. There were other, snugglier parts of the building, all wood panelling and roaring open fires, but the main dining area was so cold, we kept our coats on the entire time. So, it's got lots of quaint features, but as a restaurant, I can't really see us going back.

Charming place with delicious, creative, and beautifully served food. As a visitor to England, I felt like I was experiencing the finest quality of British cuisine and local charm. Also, a special shout out to our server Ewan, who was a truly delightful person and attentive server. I hope he gets a raise!

Consistently good food and good local ales. Very reasonable prices too.

What a place. A great little pub dating back to the 1300s I believe. We visited on Christmas Eve, the venison casserole was delicious. My daughter in law had the pork belly... she said it was amazing. Kids meals were very good. We had a table by the inglenook fireplace. Loved it, want to go back for Sunday roast. Would recommend...

Definitely number one must visit place in Salisbury. Amazing atmosphere, delicious food and friendly staff. Could not recommend it enough!

Christmas lunch, excellent food, and dining in a location which is steeped in history. Great venue.

An incredibly nice and good pub with top food and top service!

Came for a weekend in Salisbury and found this pub on the first day. The place is amazing! Everyone sits together, we met some great people and dog (Minnie) and felt super welcome! It’s definitely worth a visit!

It was very atmospheric and the food was delicious. I would always come back there.

Great Pub but very average food. Lovely quirky historic pub which has been serving locals and visitors alike for centuries. Comfortable and warm with a selection of small places for for tucking yourself away for a quiet real ale. However I recently (Dec 2024) re-visited and couldn't wait to leave as the (awful) music was so loud we could not actually have a conversation - really OTT. Have tried the restaurant and - word of warning - you will need to manage your expectations!

Brilliant pub, been in there many times, staff always helpful and very good at their jobs. Had our works Xmas meal in there and it was amazing, great food, no waiting about, empty plates all round. Simply a fantastic proper old pub with great service, beer and food.

Crowded. Remember when pubs were crowded? And loud. And with an atmosphere of bonhomie and good humour that you don't often get. Over 700 years old, with more character than you can shake a hand-hewn oak beam at, it's a must-visit. Didn’t eat there as the restaurant was closed.

Good food and drink at the venerable establishment. The surroundings are extraordinary, a survivor from a time long past. No level surfaces, one walks uphill across the dining room upstairs, and care needed in the stairs after a couple of pints. Food very tasty - quite venison centric. Beer well kept and the wine list has interesting variety.

The feel is an old pub with uneven floors and medieval walls, but the food was average for the price, took the fish and chips, but it wasn't quite done and so was the rest of the party.

Me and my girlfriend came in search of a quaint old school pub to eat some dinner, this place ticked all the boxes and then some. The food was exceptional, we had the pigeon breast, scotch egg and the pork belly all for a very reasonable price considering the atmosphere, the wood fire and the old boys across the table from us. Couldn’t recommend this gaff more. Very happy customers 👌👌 perfect

As always great food great service steeped in history

Truly historic 12th century pub. Wonderful atmosphere. Walking across floor in restaurant like being at sea with uneven sloping boards. Brilliant. Staff excellent as was the food. Highly recommended

Very small bar and quite noisy.

The service on Friday night was second to none and the barman is a friendly oldie like me, maybe Italian or Spanish? . The beer is good the banter is excellent and non partisan, all in their gloomy glorious genuine medieval setting. The whiskies are massively varied but be patient, it takes them awhile to find them on the checkout. Improvement in the somewhat disinterested staff who are there in the week. You need staff with balls for this place, staff make a place like this. Take note. Still five stars. You should see The severed hand, and the ancient door to the toilets. Yanks, newcomers will love it. I have a theory, as do many people on the hand I love this place.

Stopped here for a drink. Lovely small pub. Friendly staff. Great beers. Cosy surroundings

Really quaint pub with lots of character

Oldest pub in Salisbury. Frequented by Churchill no less. Lovely small rooms in an unchanged tiny building. Try the Venison scotch eggs.

One of the best friendly pubs frequented by locals. Good English beers served warm, low alcohol, good comfort pub food but they also have a restaurant menu although we didn't eat dinner. Great atmosphere.

One goes here for the atmosphere, for the authentic old pub vibe. Great English beers, pub comfort foods and there is also a restaurant but we did not eat a full meal. Very friendly place and locals go there.

Had a beer in one of the oldest pubs in the UK, The atmosphere is amazing!

It's been a few times i went for dinner and i never got disappointed. Food is amazing always what i expected , so nicely done! Staff is friendly too! Just love going there i know i will have a nice meal there😃and keep recommending to everyone!

Unique, historic pub with a cosy interior, I enjoyed reading the story of the mummified hand.

The title of this review sums up our experience. The food was pretty good although the venison casserole was disappointing as the gravy/stew was a .little watery and there could/should have been more venison and vegetables in it. The service was okay but again could have been better. Would recommend as mid price local optio with good ales if in the area.

It’s such a shame. I have visited this pub many many times over the years and I feel that in recent times, no effort is made to welcome guests or even ensure that there is someone to serve behind the bar. When it is quiet, it is not unusual to wait for 5 minutes for someone to appear. Several times I have met a friend in the Haunch and been unable to communicate because of the volume of other guests shouting at each other. In a small environment noise must and should be controlled- don’t get me started on the foul language. It seems that the pub is trading on its place in the local history books rather than ensuring guests have a super experience

Great food, service and relaxed atmosphere, really good vibe in this place!

Fantastic food and stout! Thanks for a great dinner. Cheers from Norway!

I fulfilled my dream of eating a traditional Sunday Roast in a traditional style pub. I loved the atmosphere, the exposed wood details, the amazing fire that I sat by while I defrosted from being outside, the paintings, the small details to me are what made this pub incredible. I had a beef Sunday Roast with a glass of wine, to eat and to cry for more! Thank you so much to the attentive staff. A very satisfied costumer here, I'll come back!

Excellent lunch here, great service and lovely atmosphere.

Great place full of character and the waitress was brilliant too

Haunted very old Pub. Excellent atmosphere and staff. If old pubs and haunted places are your thing, then this is a must see.

Fantastic food, the service was great and was easily one of the best parts of my trip to the UK. My mom left her purse for a good 15 minutes before we realized she left it and when we returned they had taken it to a safe spot and gave it right back.

Oldest pub… very cool. The girl at the bar was very rude. Both young, but older one was very rude. We came in at 11:00 when they opened, asked about food and she said no, then made snide comment to her bar mate about Americans looking for food before 12:00. We asked if they had local beers and told with much attitude NO, then asked for Lagers and same response . We settled on ale and beer was good. We were four Canadians.. they do not deserve any tourist business. Avoid. Do want to point out that the younger was nice and it was only the one female. Sept 24th

Customers make this place as I don't think the staff are all that clever to be fair, bit full of themselves. (Young Monday night bit too cool for school) Nothing can be written that's hasn't already, I'd imagine it is usually heaving with Americans so maybe dodged a bullet there, they'd lap up this place. I'm sure, it's one of oldest pubs in Britain, dark nicely gloomy, timbered accordingly and see the mummified hand is a must see. Beers of a nice standard. Strong selection of whiskey but you can't see as it's too dark, and Mr Helpful at the bar isn't much of a yardstick . It's deffo got an atmosphere about it, love the etched glass in the doors... a must visit in Salisbury. Just had drinks. Deffo worth a visit though.

Got chatting to Bill a local in the tiny bar. Nice.....2 x small wines £14 ouch. Not nice. Barmaid short and to the point no real service to shout about.....so 3 stars. Didn't get chance to explore more of the pub. Looks good but that price tab......back to The,King's Arms I go.

Excellent meal in an atmospheric place.

Fabulous old pub in the centre of Salisbury. Vibrant history, fabulous restaurant with creaky floorboards. Good selection of real ales. The historic interior with the ‘House of Lords’ upstairs and the ‘Horse Box’ downstairs is fabulous. If you are visiting Salisbury this pub is a must. Oh yes and don’t miss the severed hand!

Our tour guide felt that we simply had to visit this piece of history on our way to Stonehenge. What a novel eatery nestled in Salisbury. Besides the “patina” of the interior, we had the best service and our first authentic fish & chips. Too bad we cannot sample the ale(s).

Just walking around Salisbury and found this very old pub , lovely restaurant upstairs . Great service and the best fish and chips we've had for a long time . There is even an old severed hand illuminated in the wall , what more can you ask for

We were walking around Salisbury with a few other people and were pretty hungry when we discovered this quaint restaurant. Set up on several floors in a historic setting, there were several seats, some of which were very comfortable. The very friendly service staff advised us on the food selection. I got fish and chips and I have to say, it was the best fish and chips I've ever eaten. So if you're in Salisbury and hungry, definitely go here. We were walking around Salisbury with a few people and quite hungry when we discovered this quaint eatery. Set up on several floors in a historical ambience, there were several seats, some of which were very comfortable. The very nice service staff advised us about the food selection. I got fish and chips and I have to say it was the best fish and chips I've ever had. So if you are in Salisbury and are hungry definitely go here

Beautiful historic pub, in Salisbury city center. We had a great time, enjoying a pint with friends and talking about the history. Worth a stop to see and for some refreshments while in Salisbury.

Probably under staffed, which could explain, the attitude of the staff, which ok, you get served. Just cheer up a bit. What's that all about? Pub itself, is very old and, very interesting, but should be a little more welcoming, to people who are spending money!

This place just drips history from every beam & stone. It is small & snug, the food is good & the ale, well kept. Well worth a visit & if you do, go check out the "Hand"

In Salisbury, I visited this a place with a friend and it is like no other pub I have ever been in. It is very historical with wooden walls and floorboards. It is very cosy and can get quite busy. There is soft lighting and a wood burning fireplace for the winter. It can feel cramped but it is the nature of the building. It has a spiral staircase to the upper level and has a choice of different seating areas. The food we had was delicious. There is a variety of options available. I would recommend this place for couples and small groups. The atmosphere is pleasant and relaxing. It is not a place for necking shots and wild, noisy parties. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

What a fantastic little slice of history, along with a great pint and lovely food to match. This is what all English pubs should be like. Superb!

Very disappointing. Venison casserole watery and small. Starters were late to the table and then mains came up too quick like a McDonald's restaurant. Waiter in a hurry but pub was quiet ,so no need. Very expensive low standard meal. Won't be going back.

Oooooold building that is fun to see. Food is good but was better on our last visit. Definitely a must-do in Salisbury!

Really nice and cozy place. Ancient and beautiful Pub. Small but really nice!. The staff very nice. The crab linguini spicy but tasty. The venisson casserolle really tasty. Good place, a must go in Salisbury. Reservaron recommended.

Great venue to show Australians medieval architecture. The food was super, although the chipped crockery was not . The staff were the scruffiest I have ever encountered, with long hair which should be tied back in a food establishment. The company T shirt could be accompanied by other than old jeans. Our wine glasses were brought to us by the waiter with his fingers in the bowls of our glasses, not carried by the stems. At least thank you to the chef for the superb cooking.

After reading the good food reviews on here we looked forward to a decent lunch. So disappointed. Staff were great. Husband had the set menu. Soup was extremely thick and tasteless. Main course of fish in a bun with cheap tastless oven chips equally disappointing, served on chipped plate. My goats cheese salad was good but extremely small for £14 and belonged on starter menu not main. The building is stunning but for us not worthy of another visit or recommendation.

Awesome pub, hundreds of years old which you can feel the moment you walk in, good selection of drinks, amazing food 👌

We visited on a Sunday specifically for toast day. And we’re not disappointed. The Venison roast was lovely as was the pork belly. The potatoes and the vegetables decent and the red cabbage slightly more aniseed than we both like but most would probably like it. The Yorkshire pudding was giant and slightly overdone but good for mopping up the gravy. As per previous visits the beer was well cared for and a few choices.

Old and very quirky pub. Well worth a visit and a drink. Really nice atmosphere In the bar. Decent choice of drinks at reasonable prices

Classic fish & chips, but not the best I've had. Beer choices with good variety. Courteous and fast service. Really nice pub on several floors.

We visited here for lunch with friends, the venue their choice, on the basis of reviews, I would not have chosen this place. There was no welcome, menus were presented without a word. It's a limited menu with very limited choice for vegetarians. The best of the food was mediocre and it went down from there to poor and in the case of a chocolate brownie, dry and stale. The staff were not engaging at any point. Never again.

A truly enjoyable time with great food and a amazing atmosphere. Our waiter, Paulo, was excellent and very attentive. Would recommend to anyone!

Went to the Haunch of Venison for an evening meal and a drink. The setting and atmosphere is really exciting as it's all crooked and aged! It feels almost like a museum. The food was brilliant and you can tell the time and love that's put into each dish. A definite go to if you are in Salisbury.

If there's a pub you want to try in the UK that has got history and stories, then this is the one. Its older than moat cathedrals and charming.

We had dinner at this pub on the only evening of our stay in Salisbury. Typical English pub, very friendly and efficient service, good and tasty food. We had the Guinness stew. We also had dessert, a very good cheesecake

A truly magnificent mediaeval pub. Excellent all round.

The pub is very small which is why I down it a star. I know it's old and unique but the size made it stuffy and uncomfortable. Incredibly expensive for non alcoholic drinks.

Steered here by the Real Ale Guide - and glad we were. A historic pub with oodles of atmosphere. Three of us had Sunday lunch here. The ustairs dining area was impecable. The ales on offer, the service and the food were all, superb. I hope to visit again.

Great real from the local Hogs Head brewery 🍻🍻

Nice friendly place with top ales.

Historic pub in the center of Salisbury. Really beautiful interior with historic rooms. In one room there is a relic with a hand of a card player of the time who was discovered cheating and had his hand cut off. I tried the pork belly with Yorkshire pudding and vegetables as a side dish (very good and filling). There is a good choice of wines by the glass and in the bottle, while there are few beers. Average prices. It's really worth it because you eat in a place where you can breathe history.

Lovely, quaint place, food very good, helpings a bit on the small side, but that way we had room for dessert. 😁 The tap water they serve for free tasted awful to us but other people were happily drinking it so maybe it was us. Anyway, we were enjoying the beer and cider so who cares about the water? Definite recommendation!

Old and very quirky place. Well worth a visit. very friendly staff. We had booked Sunday dinner for 4 but had extra guest, It was no problem as they accommodated extra person. Food was excellent and good portions. would definitely come again next time I visit Salisbury.

A terrific venue. We were drawn by the 1300's medieval restaurant description. It has been an outstanding experience. Livvie and Jack are the most welcoming hosts. Engaging, professional, faultless. The food, trio of Venison and mushroom gnocchi was excellent. Couldn't recommend it highly enough. Will be back.

Expensive, mid food, waiters bring you food you haven't ordered and charge you for it. 1 hour and 30 min just waiting