Old Beams Inn in New Forest

Excellent service, nothing too much trouble.

10 ate out for my mum's 90th at 2.30. The place was extremely quiet, 2 or 3 other tables dining, so we expected good service. Food was, with the exception of the fish and chips, really good. We ordered drinks which arrived along with menus. Turned out some were lunch menus, others were evening. Once we sorted that out, we waited to order the starters and main courses. In the end we had to find a waitress who kindly took our order. Starters all arrived, unfortunately, with a lactose intolerant member of the family getting buttered bread, even though she had made the 2 waitresses aware of her intolerance. We tried to point this out and asked for it to be swapped out, but there was a language barrier. So the birthday girl and her friend swapped the toast for her pate, for the buttered bread with her friend's prawn cocktail. Requests for further drinks seemed to be ignored. Finally got an order taken, but this just sat on the bar. Brother helped himself to them after getting fed up waiting. Main courses arrived, well 9 did. The waiter who brought out the mains then took some chips out to someone sitting outside and had a long chat with them. When he finally came in, I caught his attention to ask where the last main meal was. His reply was, "It was just coming." It finally turned up, and we realised the first 9 meals were on one order sheet, but this last meal had been on a different sheet and had clearly become detached from the rest of the order. No apology for the delay. At this point, my brother, whose fish (battered) was really not very good at all, asked for the manager. After much tooing and froing, a lovely chap came out and was asked if he was the manager. He wasn't, as the manager was acting chef today. He was very helpful, accepted our complaints, and reduced the bill accordingly. He did also offer desserts on the house, but to be truthful, by then, everyone had got fed up with waiting. So we settled up and left. My brother did point out, prior to leaving, the revolting nappies outside together with overflowing ashtrays, too. Considering the waiting staff were standing around chatting, this could have been addressed, but nobody seemed bothered. Well done, young man, who had to face disgruntled customers, you were the saving grace. But we don't think we'll be back.

If you have kids you better take a muzzle! This place does not want any noise and is certainly not a place to take your children for food! Avoid

More like OLD PEOPLE BEAMS… do not go here if you have young children you will be made to feel unwelcome. As our 10 month old and 2 year old found out, silence is what this ‘pub’ expects. We were told in no uncertain terms that if we were to stay for our meal, we had to go sit in the corner because the children were too noisy… and not quiet enough to deserve their food. Shocking attitude from a pub that clearly has a type of people it wants as custom

My husband and I, called at The Old Beams yesterday 29th Sept, for a Carvery (just after the 'main lunch time). I said we "hadn't booked a table"," have you please got a table for 2"? The young lady said "have you booked a table" = NO I have just told you that, didn't you listen (I didn't say that, but wanted to), We were shown to a table, and had to ask for it to be CLEANED. We ordered our drinks, we asked for two glasses of water, and ended up with ONE PINT of water) and then went up to the Carvery. All the food was cooked well, BUT it wasn't very hot, unfortunately. The apple sauce, cranberry sauce etc needs to be replenished more often, OR put 2 dishes of each. I think £8.25 for 3 scoops of ice-cream is outrageous (it certainly doesn't warrant that). We have dined at The Old Beams many times, but we have noticed the 'standard of service etc) is slipping = needs attention! The 'meet & greet' needs attention! Think we will 'give you a miss' for a while, then see IF any improvement! Such a shame, as it USED to be, EXCELLENT! Rarely do they reply to reviews (maybe don't even read them)

Great pub, great ales and fantastic service.

Sadly we were let down by The Old Beams Team today 2/10/24. Having visited many times and had beautiful food we popped in today thinking we could do the same. We were wrong. We were greeted by a very stressed lady who asked us if we had a booking to which we said no. She said to sit anywhere but that they were very busy and service would take a long time. When pressed how long she replied “how long is a piece of string”. It transpires they only had one server who was also covering the bar and what looked like one chef. A ridiculous level of staffing for any business. After waiting some time without even a hint of interest in taking an order we got up and left.

Bit disappointing as from outside looks great. Inside has modern touch but very tired and dirty

Really good carvery on Sunday. Well cooked meat and good selection of tasty veg, gravy and sauces.

Good pub, friendly staff pleasant atmosphere

What a let down, went for our Anniversary arrived and had a couple of drinks at the bar a nice young man with curly hair served us was very nice. Noticed in the kitchen there was only one person This should have rang alarm bells We were shown to our table and was told that someone will come and take our food order. We sat there for a while no one came we noticed that no one had a specific function they were doing bar, taking orders,clearing tables , going to the kitchen etc It was not organised or managed if they came near you you had to attract there attention Anyway they didn’t come so I went to the bar to advise we we’re ready to order The man working the bar left the bar unmannered and came and took our order.I ordered and he said we haven’t the Chicken Supreme I said why he said it’s popular I said it’s only 7-15 he shrugged After a bit of discussion he said I’ll get the manager for you She came over and I said how can you not have chicken it’s a simple dish and out of the 4 choices on the classics you haven’t got it She said no good having a go at me (I wasn’t) but you are the manager who do I go to Any way we left without eating and our evening was ruined What became apparent to me by looking what other people were ordering in my opinion was that because of lack of staff in the kitchen they were only serving food that was quite to prepare like Lasagna Fish Pie Burgers etc Chicken Supreme that needs a bit if attention was off the menu The whole restaurant needs to be properly managed it’s all a miss mash and you take a chance on how your served.Unfortunately I can’t comment on the food as I left Please be aware before you sit down what’s available Feel let down don’t think I’ll be returning 😡😡

Stay nearby . Easy to book a table online . Lovely looking pub, bigger inside than looks on the outside. Lovely warm welcome and shown to our table. Then another waitress came over , Seen as we haven’t been before waiting staff could of explained how things work (shouldn’t have to ask) even when wanting to pay, sat at table for a while and no one came over so we got up and walked over to a young staff member who wasn’t friendly when asking how we pay, she said bar over there then had to wait 10/15 at bar to pay…. We were seated in dinning room Few bits of rubbish left under tables didn’t look good (dirty napkins empty sauce packets) I’m not a lover of carvery but I wasn’t disappointed the chef carving the meats was very nice and friendly and great choice of meat and veg and all very tasty and cooked to perfection. Definitely recommend the food and would revisit.

Went for the Sunday Carvery had a good welcome from the staff who showed us to our table, we ordered our drinks and the service was excellent. We went to the carvery table and the choice of meats and vegetables were superb. The food was delicious and we all had a job to eat it all. Well done to all the staff we will be back.👍👍Regards Jacko.

The food was outstanding, 5 star restaurant quality. We had the set lunch menu which were proper meals not just light bites. Very reasonable priced. Staff were all friendly, polite and professional. Will definitely be going again, highly recommend!

The service was terrible, the main meal was not nice at all but the eaton mess was lovely but hard to mess that up

Absolutely wonderful carvery. Can't fault a single thing.

Food was delicious and portions huge 😋 Very nice and professional service 👌 highly recommend

Just had a lovely meal with family and friends. Despite being a big group, our server did a great job and was very patient. Would definitely recommend.

55 minute wait for sandwiches. Staff did not make us aware of any delay when we ordered.

Food was horrible😩. Four of us thought the same. Throwing empty bottles into a trolley is a good sign of terrible service and food. Both the Management and The Chef are responsible and should be Sacked. Please Do Not Go to this place. I felt sorry for the waiters and waitresses, as they are likely to receive the brunt of the customers anger. My apologies to them if I did not leave a generous Tip. I used to be a waiter during my student days and always looked forward to be tipped. Will never go there again. Horrible😩😫😫😖😱😱

Excellent Carvery selections for meats and side dishes. Good value for money also.

Lovely deco and really nice staff

Great pub, food was great and cooked too order so really fresh.

Nice old English pub on main road next to new forest friendly staff nice Guinness

Wish we hadn’t of bothered. Not the warmest of greetings we’ve ever encountered, but yes we had booked, that was in reply to Rosa Klebb the barmaid. Shown to our table for two, out back in the pool room somewhere. The waiter came over after 10 minutes to take our drinks order. If there was a prize for a totally uninterested waiter, then this guy wins gold medal, he had the speed and mannerisms of a sloth. The same guy just about made the effort to take our food order, not difficult as there were just the two of us. The food, one carvery and scampi n chips, this was ok and we enjoyed it, but nothing outstanding. We were never asked by sloth if our food was satisfactory. When the bill came we’d been charged for a Diet Pepsi which we never had, I asked for that to be removed. To sum up, we didn’t enjoy the seating, service, or price. Would we go again - no.

Wonderful lunch today, sat outside in the sun

First time at the old beams Inn,, the food was amazing, the service was very quick and helpful, pay alittle more but worth every penny 🥰🥰🥰 will be returning 😀

Didn't eat. Just popped in for a drink on passing through as it looked lovely. Really reasonable prices.

4 adults ate. Baby rack of ribs was huge and delicious, scampi and fish n chips both good. Pork 5 ways was amazing. Service was good and friendly. 😊

Absolutely the best pub food in the area. I had pork 5 ways and it is an absolute treat.

Lovely food, reasonable prices highly recommended

The food on the Google page looked amazing. The reality is much different. I had the fish pie that was so salty I could not eat it, so it went back. It was replaced by the fish and chips that tasted like a cheap £6.00 Wetherspoons meal. Not what I expected at all and the Old Beams Inn is now off the list.

Nice enough pub. The service was very slow, we waited ages to be served. We ordered a starter and half of the food was not on the plate (the chorizo and haloumi). When we complained the manager went off and got a plate of chorizo and chicken strips because they had run out of haloumi. The waitress said she was new and didn't realize anything was missing. Food was ok. Unfortunately we were seated next to a pool table which I would not have thought should be in the restaurant and it was quite noisy. Not a great experience.

Visited while on holiday to the New Forest. Food was good and fresh, staff were friendly. Dog friendly pub.

Great country pub the acceptable amount of beer and real ales on tap. Food was great, and the atmosphere very relaxed and staff did there best to accommodate our large dog 🐕 easily recommended!!

All I can really say in 1 word is Wow! This is the pub to visit in the New Forest - we will be returning! It was my birthday today & the staff ( Charlotte, Sophie & Nick ) made me feel SO special. Even the landlord came over to wish me happy birthday plus the chef ( Nick ) did me a birthday platter of puddings & cakes. Such a lovely atmosphere & reasonable prices. Thank you to you all x

Lovely Sunday carvery and great value too. Staff were very friendly and polite and a great touch was the chef coming out to talk to the tables making sure everything was just as it should be. Definitely recommended and will certainly return when next in the area. Great job 👏 👍 👌

Fantastic food and reasonable price. Probably some of the best food I’ve had at a pub. Service was prompt, despite the fact the place was quite busy. Beautiful looking pub on the outside in a gorgeous setting.

Delicious food, ladies that served us were very helpful, young girl was training, I think it was her first day! I hope we weren't too much of a handful for her, best of luck🩷

Only a flat white coffee, but always good.

Lovely pub, great food. Staff lovely. Very welcoming. Lovely evening sat by the fire!

Food was excellent. The only downside was that there was no heating on a cold spring day. This made for an uncomfortable lunch.

Great service and amazing food. Will definitely be visiting again.

Food ok but soooo slow. No service had to ask for everything.

Friendly staff lunch with friends did not book but had a table free for us,great food and service.

Amazing welcoming staff, good with helping my wife with access in her (large!) powerchair and the food is off the scale, way past excellent and amazing - perfection with much love and care!

Very surprised, food was lovely and the staff very friendly

Drove past this thatched pub & thought it looked welcoming. Great service. The staff were welcoming,warm & friendly but not intrusive. We sat by the open fire(gas) which was nice & warm. Armchairs for those who want a cosy chat plus throws! Food excellent. Pool game at the far end. Good size events room. Delicious coffee. We were only passing after being to Fordingbridge, but if we lived nearer we'd definitely go more often. Would recommend.

Excellent food highly recommend for an evening meal but good idea to book in advance

Started off great with good service and food. But after we had finished our main course, the staff seemed to disappear. About 20 mins after we finished our food, I had to go to the bar to see if we could have coffee. The bar lady said she would send someone across to take or order. Not sure why she couldn't do it. Then, when we had finished, it took ages to get the bill - and even longer to get a card machine. I would be happy to order and pay at the bar, but this seemed a total no-no. I appreciate that they had been busy, but we felt that by then they couldn't be bothered with the last few customers (this was only about 9 to 9.30, not desperately late). Shame as this had become one of our favourite pubs but they did not endere themselves to us last Saturday.

Really good atmosphere and lovely staff. Definitely recommend it.

The food was good and a nice place but service was very slow, The staff friendly.

Nice lunch ,but wasn't happy to see the chef eating with his fingers out the pots ....

Amazing food!!! amazing staff!!! Everything worked like a well oiled machine. We could not have asked for more. Thank you

Staff were fantastic, great service and good food, would definitely go back again.

Large golfing group dinner on a quiet Monday evening. Everyone enjoyed the food, beer and wine. The baby back ribs were enormous and very nice.

The best carvery I've ever had and great place for all food, would definitely recommend it

5 of us enjoyed a lovely evening here, its spacious in the dining area and the food is absolutely delicious.. try the steak it was cooked to perfection, the menu has many great options - they have a great chef! The puddings are freshly made and you couldnt fault the staff -everyone is really friendly. All in all a great experience. Thank you, see you again soon.

Good service and food. Recommended.

Great place for a family lunch, lots of space and tasty menu!

Our first visit absolutely fantastic will be back very soon cheers

Visited during lunch hour so service was a bit slow but that suited us as we weren't in a hurry. Waitress was very attentive and took time to engage with us. Food was lovely. Very cosy atmosphere and nice open fire to sit by.

Great Sunday carvery. Staff are friendly and provide excellent service. Has a lot of seating and can accommodate large groups. Very busy so definitely need to book.

We met family half way in the Old Beams inn And were very happy with what we found , And will be returning

A proper, traditional pub. Good food, good service, a great menu and a good selection of drinks. We don't get to visit very often but when we do we always think we SHOULD visit more often. Highly recommend.

Visited for Sunday carvery. Food was great and staff were brilliant, the carvery chef in particular. He went out of his way to make us feel welcome. We hugely appreciated the extra little details like going to get a cooler plate for the kids portion and seeing if our baby needed anything. Really made them stand out and will definitely visit again.

Fantastic service. Amazing staff and a quality chef 👨‍🍳.

💫💫 If I could give this restaurant 11 stars out of 5 - I would. Service was absolutely outstanding, all the staff from the bar/waiting/restaurant were amazing and could not do enough to ensure your visit was special. The food was also absolutely incredible - the carvery particularly. So, thank you - you made my son’s birthday and us all so happy after our visit to your amazing restaurant. Highly recommend 💫 👌🏻👌🏻🥰

Excellent pub restaurant 👌. Great food, friendly staff, nice atmosphere

We were in a hurry and they served us very promptly

Best carvery I've had for a long time. Lots of meat, good roast potatoes and Yorkshire pud, lots of veg choices and yummy gravy. Busy pub so make sure you book ahead!

No atmosphere it very cold in restaurant

Went to a birthday party. Nicely sorted out with cute fish and chips. Nice range of sandwiches, etc.

Really nice meal, and lovely location. Friendly staff and service. We had a lovely evening.

Fabulous food and service on a busy Saturday .

The venue was very nice. The food was great. It was very busy so I found the service staff were struggling to keep up. They were very friendly and I think needed a bit extra help to avoid long wait times. Overall it was a lovely experience

Lovely place with great food. Very welcoming with an open fire and a pool table in the main restaurant

Had a wonderful 3 course Christmas Dinner with Mum last night, food was lovely and they really looked after us. It was an early dinner and the live entertainment was just starting when we left. Definitely worth a visit.

The Christmas pods outside are lovely, a really wonderful way to celebrate with friends and family at this time of year.

Ohhhhhh my goodness what a find. Literally looking for some food on way home and I spotted sign for here. From the moment we walked in the door,we we're greeted and seated. Food was amazing, staff we're friendly and attentive and to top it off,there was a cheeky disco going on. We still had another 1hour journey to home,but didn't want to leave. We will definitely be back when we are that way again

We went on a Friday night and the entertainment, service and food were great! Would definitely recommend!

Had our works do here recently absolutely brilliant cozy brasses band play Xmas carols followed by a local singer service and food was great the team there have really brought a great atmosphere back to the pub industry

First time visiting for Christmas lunch amazing food but very very lacking customer service which is such a shame!! If you would love a lovely meal 100% go but you will have to wait some time!! and make sure you get your own drinks as they are not very attentive…

Very expensive and then they add a service charge but food good

Lovely Christmas meal here with my work colleagues. Highly recommended

I have just had a wonderful evening on a work Xmas do. The service was excellent. The gentleman waiting our table was brilliant. Friendly polite and efficient. The food was lovely and even though the place was packed each course came out quickly and was well presented. Portions were big and tasted great. Everybody at The Old Beams tonight clearly young and old were having a great evening. The guy singing was excellent. Great voice and tunes that everyone knew. Cocktails on tap were a fab addition. Highly recommended

Fabulous welcome, friendly team and delicious food, highly recommended! Nothing was too much trouble and the team were so smiley ☺ thank you x

We were a group of 11 ,for christmas dinner. The staff were wonderful ,and made us very welcome very welcome.we will be back.

Even though we booked the service was terrible. Food very good. Problem they have to many customers and not enough staff to cope

Wow fantastic i had a fabulous time with my friends from spiral Blue. We went out for dinner. The staff were lovely and friendly. Food out of this world. Very clean well looked after. It's worth coming.

Lovely carvery, friendly staff, excellent service, very busy pub so advisable to book a table, will definitely be back,

We had a carvery, best one I've had in a long time. Food was gorgeous and the staff, lovely. Only one downside was the 25% service charge, we always tip accordingly and would have happily left a tip as the staff were all really lovely and very professional.

Went for dinner with friends. Lovely, friendly, attentive staff, and the food was delicious! I wish I could have ordered a second helping! I will make a point to come back so I can try more off their menu as everyone else's meals looked good too.

Had the fish pie which was tasty

Very nice restaurant, good food, very friendly staff. Would recommend it

I'd heard that Sunday lunch was special. It's even better than that. It's spectacular and tremendous value. The carvery and huge range of vegetables is really well presented and delicious. The service is excellent. Booking is recommended. It would be wonderful for a special family lunch

Booked a table for 5.30pm first time had a late meal service was good good and the chef put plenty of meat on the plates but the roast potato's were hard and yorkshire was hard spoil the meal. I do not recommend going there after early lunch. This was a birthday lunch and very important to me

Brilliant team, serving lovely food. Great choice, great value. Thank you.

A very enjoyable meal! Thank you.

Top notch lovely old pub lovely staff and great food and atmosphere