Rose and Thistle in New Forest

We had an excellent meal - no pretensions but a real level above ordinary “pub food”. Friendly helpful service and a lovely log fire on a cold December evening.

Great pub with friendly staff. The pub has a great atmosphere and the food was amazing. I would definitely recommend visiting soon. We will be visiting again soon

Another fabulous meal at the Rose and Thistle in Rockbourne, this is the 3rd time we have eaten here since the new ownership has taken over and it’s has not disappointed. The wine list is also superb..

Had a really fabulous meal at the Rose & Thistle. We had the tasty hummus as our starter and then beautifully cooked cod as our main. Our friends enjoyed the baked camembert and venison sausages in a giant yorkshire pud. And what an excellent wine list. I particularly recommend the Rioja Reserva!

Four of us came here to eat this evening. A lovely pub. Very old buildings with huge open fires. Good selection of ales, a varied menu and fantastic, attentive staff that did not rush us at any time. Really enjoyed the visit.

Great food and fantastic friendly service in this wonderful historic building. This was a real highlight in our holiday in the south.

Loved the Rose & Thistle. Highly recommend! It was the gastronomic highlight of our week in the New Forest. Lovely walks from the pub too. We’ll be back. Thanks

Fantastic pub in a great location. The food and service is exceptional, definitely worth a visit.

First meal back since the re-opening and wow, we were not disappointed. Meal for 5 of us was superb with all the favourites on the menu, brilliant service and the usual great atmosphere. Also really enjoyed the new Hofmeister beer on draft! Loved it.

Had a fabulous RAT burger and a couple of pints of excellent Stone Daisy. Beautiful and really friendly pub with a great looking menu.

We went for the first Sunday lunch since reopening and were so happy to find an uncompromising attention to dining, service and deliciousness! The staff were so welcoming and attentive and the roast dinner was sublime! Just what we had all hoped for. We’re so glad the RAT lives on…

We had a really lovely evening , the food was lovely , great service and such a great atmosphere… I can’t recommend enough , we will definitely be back - thanks for a wonderful evening ❤️

Wow, what can I say, the RAT is back! On the inaugural evening of food service it hasn’t disappointed. Absolutely delicious reimagined RAT burger, fabulous rice pudding, great atmosphere and wonderful service from the new hosts. If you want a delicious, home cooked food with a mouth watering twist……come to the RAT!

We went for opening night of the restaurant service and were not disappointed! A thoughtfully curated menu, offering options for all dietary requirements, all of which was far more delicious than looking at a menu can convey! Try it. You will not be disappointed! It’s great to see this beautiful pub fully back up and running, which is all down to the diligence, care and effort of all those who have worked so tirelessly to make this happen! Thank you to all those for bringing this experience to life!

We went for the opening night of the restaurant service and were totally blown away by the quality of the food! Great service, a warm welcome and exceptional food on such a busy night, it was outstanding! We will be back! Good luck with the re-launch, you deserve every success! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We loved our time here, we came Saturday afternoon on reopening weekend and it was lovely. Staff were really polite and welcoming and the food and drink were great. Families and dogs were welcome and they had water for dogs by the front door.

one of our fav places to go for a walk, have some lunch and a good pint. love it... good luck guys with the recent changes. Places like you are the heart of the community...

Absolutely outstanding, from the venue to the service to the quality of food. We are a family of three (2 adults and a 7yo) plus dog and couldn’t have asked for more. Booked it for Sunday lunch based on other reviews and we were not disappointed. We knew after the starters (which were delicious) we’d found a gem. The mushroom, celeriac and kale Wellington was one of the nicest things I’ve ever eaten. Other half had the roast beef and our daughter had a child’s roast chicken dinner. All roast potatoes were homemade - fluffy & crispy - and the homemade Yorkshire pudding did not disappoint (especially when mopping up the rich, flavoursome gravy). Side veg was perfect too, including the cauliflower cheese. As for the cheese board - phenomenal. Three large pieces of local cheese but the homemade fruit bread (which was one of the three accompaniments to the cheese) was a very pleasant and welcome surprise. Felt very welcome by the attentive and friendly staff and we will definitely be going back when we return to the New Forest (on holiday from North London).

“An Absolutely Massive Thank you to Hermione” Who has gone above and beyond with her outstanding customer service. So caring, thoughtful, & proactive. My Mum & Dad can’t thank you enough for your help & especially my Dad who had had a very long day! Happy Easter🌼 🐣 🌼 to you all at The Rose &Thistle X Jeff, Sue & family

So pleased we visited and had lunch - an amazing pub within a stunning location. Excellent food and very kind staff (and friendly locals too). Looking forward to coming back with some family members soon. Thank you

A very friendly atmosphere, and a lovely place to eat. Can't wait to go back.

Superb old pub with flagstones, beams and pews! Lovely lunch - mussels for me; steak and kidney for the dog handler! Couldn't fault the service or quality of food. Black Rat cider v good too! We walked from Whitsbury which was a lovely way to bookend our visit

Nice and cosy open fire with a pint of Real Ale.

We visited here on a weekend break to the new forest. It's a gem of a pub and definitely worth a visit. The food was beyond amazing, I had a mushroom pasta dish with a delicious green foam sauce, hubby-ish had a steak pudding which was full of big chunks of tender meat and gravy. The desserts were worth every penny, he had a treacle tart which came with a huge dollop of creamy vanilla ice-cream, I had the cheese, OMG I couldn't keep my excitement contained it was just the best! I really hope we get to visit again soon 🤩🤩🤩🤩

Gorgeous village pub, the food was gorgeous and the staff were welcoming well worth stopping by on your travels.

A gem of a traditional pub. Great food and a good wine selection available. at a sensible price. A unspoilt pub where good service and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Worth the detour.

After a walk over the fields from Shipwick, we were lucky to get a table in the bar (we had our dog with us) and although we were next to a very noisy group we enjoyed the place. The mushrooms on toast and the ale were very good and the coffee afterwards excellent. The table was snapped up as we left!

Not family friendly. Listing on Google says they have high chairs, they do not and they don't have any baby changing facilities. Could not recommend

Not family friendly, no high chairs despite saying differently in listing on Google and no baby changing facility (or willingness to makeshift...) Pork chop mostly fat and bone with only roughly a third of it meat which was pretty bland and tough. Broccoli was nice though.

Great beer, nice food and lovely staff. A small, cosy village pub with a log fire and fine ale, sadly something of a rarity these days.

A perfect birthday meal with outstanding food, perfect service and all in a quintessentially beautiful village pub. Simplified dishes for two children were no trouble for the kitchen and, as with all of us, there was nothing left on their plates. Not the cheapest but superb quality and definitely value for money. Booking recommended.

Excellent food and a lovely setting.

This is a charming cosy pub in a very pretty village even when raining. We were able to walk to the pub and was very pleasant. The menu choices were spot on, food of good proportions, well cooked and tasty. The staff were excellent - friendly polite and attentive. We really enjoyed our visit and will go back. A big plus - no wif or mobile phone signal so leave those devices in the car.

What a beautiful place set in a small village the Rose and Thistle is a culinary delight that needs to be experienced . A rustic setting with an ambience of friendliness and culinary excellence.

Excellent food and service. Cute and cosy pub. Staff really friendly. The chef really knows what he is doing. Highly recommended.

Staying nearby & walked up for Sunday lunch. The beef roast was the best I've had in years. Absolutely spot on. The scotch egg with venison was incredible & could rival Heston's. Beer was excellent. Service was outstanding, friendly & just the right level of attentiveness. If I could give ten stars, I would.

Absolutely fantastic meal last night . Cosy pub with log fire, relaxed atmosphere. Service was so friendly and very attentive. Food was amazing, there were 6 of us eating all with different starters, mains and desserts which were just delicious and beautifully presented. Can highly recommend!

We heard there was a new chef and thought we would give him a try. Food was fantastic. I had a rabbit terrine with pickled vegetables, home made and very tasty. My friend had the pork belly which she enjoyed. Presentation was superb. Service was as good as ever. We will certainly be back as there was so many dishes I wanted to try.

Used to be a lovely venue for Sunday lunch, however, food is below par. Do not expect too much here the food is average at best, most of the servings for 4 people were barely warm, vegetables were cold and the bread was still frozen in the middle. They need to up their standards!

Like others we had the venison scotch egg to start and loved it. We both said we would happily have it again. My husband had the steak and kidney pie, which weirdly only had one piece of kidney in it according to him. It looked delicious and he enjoyed it, but wasn’t wowed. I had the plaice fillet, which was beautifully presented, but a little watery and cold. It came with delicious Jerusalem artichoke chips, but needed some greens. We didn’t choose to go back the following day even though we wanted lunch in a pub, but we would try it again in future. Super friendly and efficient staff.

Others have commented on the new chef and the new menu and they are right -it's a winning formula. The food is delicious, freshly prepared and the portions generous. We ate chicken ( deliciously tender and complemented by perfectly cooked veg) and guinea fowl. Venison scotch egg starter was a treat. The desserts are imaginative and a great balance of flavours. The beer selection is very good too. Recommendation; put yourself on their mailing list so that you learn of special offers, such as the current 3 courses for £30 (must book in advance for this). Service deserves a mention -efficient and friendly. All in all, this is one of the best pubs in the region, and deserves your support.

Fantastic lunch food and service excellent could not fault it well done to everyone my wife had fish and chips my brother and me had the calves liver which was exceptional will definitely visit again

We had a fabulous meal here. The staff are all so friendly and the food was delicious. Would highly recommend and will be going again very soon!

A very pretty place in a lovely village. Staff very attentive, food is excellent, although it is a small menu. Booking advisable as only open limited hours. The only negative for us was a dog coming through from the bar area to the restaurant trying to be fussed whilst we were eating, was a bit off putting. Will definitely come back though when we visit the area. Outstanding place.

Visited with friends to sample new chef’s cuisine for the first time. Short menu reflects freshly prepared nature of the dishes. All food was well prepared and superbly presented. Gyoza and scotch egg starters particularly good as was the risotto & desserts. Set menu offering at £30 for three courses, good value.

As a regular visitor to the pub tried the new menu today. The food was delicious and interesting with beautiful presentation. Special mention to the mushroom gyoza starter and the desserts - wow! Both the lemon tart with raspberry sorbet and the madeleines with butterscotch sauce were amazing. Now I just have to work my way through the rest of the menu.

Good food good beer great country pub very old pub worth a visit

Encouraged to visit after receiving an email celebrating the arrival of a new chef. We had been here before and enjoyed a great Sunday lunch. The new menu seems somewhat pared down but still had several options for roast lunch. The restaurant didn’t seem particularly busy but our food did take a while to arrive, with an apology tbf. The food was good but not quite up to the previous standard. The beef seemed pre sliced and the vegetable selection a bit hit and miss- oversalted cabbage, undercooked parsnip. The service was polite but a bit slow and we were offered a discount as they did acknowledge this. Will visit again as we would hope this is a transition for the new chef.

I want to start by saying I have been going to this lovely pub for literally decades, as I child and now with my own children and it has been consistently fantastic. We always recommend it to family and friends as you are always guaranteed a great meal and a warm welcome. However for the first time ever we visited a week ago and we left slightly disappointed. The portions were small, my chicken a bit dry, the veg not quite so tasty and desserts just a little underwhelming. Maybe it's because we know the place so well we noticed and when we enquired indeed the chef had changed. Don't get me wrong you wont have a terrible meal but we found it not quite up to the tip top standard we have so become used to. The chef to be fair had only been in post for a week so we are hoping that maybe once he finds his feet and tweeks the menu a little they will once again return to the exceptionally standard we have enjoyed for so many years.

For and service was top draw. Only two girls serving due to conditions out of their control on a BH Weekend. They were great and coped so, so we'll with some, frankly, privileged customers. These girls need a bonus Food was good as well. Next time we are local, we will go This pub is also great as a base for a circular walk.

One of our favourite New Forest places where you can be sure of excellent food and top class service. I had the sausage & mash - a really generous portion - and my wife had the seafood platter (she would have preferred larger prawns but…). The Flacks Double Drop was most enjoyable and very reasonable at £4.80. Hermionie looked after us so well and we look forward to returning on our next Hampshire trip.

Lovely, rural old fashioned pub. Great food. Lovely garden.

One of the best, if not the best, roast beef dinner I have had. Beautifull unspoilt old pub. Good beer, friendly staff.

Perfect Pub on the fringes of The New Forest. We were a group of 4 plus a toddler. Food was superb and Flacks Sunshine or Double Drop goes down a treat! Staff were pleasant and accommodating. We will pop back when this way again for sure!

Lovely country pub. Good food.

Stunning pub in an idyllic village, amazing in the sun for a Sunday roast in the garden! Food was top tier and the service was slick and professional.

Lovely pub in a picturesque village 👍🏻

Fantastic pub, serving great food with attentive service. Have been twice in a week and going again!

Being just a 1/2 mile walk from our holiday cottage in Rockbourne, we just had to have Sunday lunch in this delightful local pub. The food was really enjoyable (Sunday lunch nearly as good as the ones we make at home!). Staff attentive, polite, and personable. What was my lasting impression? the fact that one of the female waiting staff took the trouble to lead a rather frail elderly lady to the toilet. Pointing out potential hazards en route (small carpeted ramp) and then opening the door of this toilet for this lady and her friend. The waitress involved was probably unaware of anything out of the ordinary in her actions, but I certainly noticed. My wife and I are booked in for a repeat meal next Sunday - why wouldn't we??

This wasn't our first visit to the Rose and Thistle. It is a gorgeous pub with good ales on tap and good food. But limited menu, no options for children - which isn't a problem for us as our children are familiar with pubs and happy to be flexible. Unfortunately it was the service that was a real let down. Obviously not being village locals we weren't welcomed, almost an inconvenience to their socialising with locals. Previous experiences had been exceptional so not sure if there has been a change in management/staff.

Underestimated how long a cross country bike ride would take, so missed lunch by about an hour but had a lovely ½ hour in the garden of this beautiful pub. Really friendly, welcoming service, great atmosphere, a great looking food and drinks menu and well worth another visit for lunch!

Quaint village pub, thatched roof, very old, lovely little garden

Absolutely lovely little gem. We last minute realised we needed a pub lunch as we were in the area and came across this lovely pub. We had the pork and beef roast lunch. Delicious and generous portion. Service was lovely and food was delivered quickly. Sticky toffee pudding and main meal were 11/10. We'll definitely be back. Thank you for a lovely Sunday.

Our family of 2 adults, 4 kids and a puppy came here on a Sunday afternoon. We were unable to get a space in the small car park but a local kindly directed us to park at the local village hall a few metres up the road. The pub is very quaint, with friendly locals and lovely roaring fires. Our puppy was welcome in the bar area and there were several other nice dogs for her to meet. The food was beautifully presented. My husband and I had the roast beef... WOW. The beef was blushing and plentiful, the potatoes were fluffy and the whole dish had interesting flavours. Such as, what we thought was a light touch of fennel in the carrots, and rosemary either in the beef or the gravy. It was really well balanced; the chef obviously knows what they're doing! The roasted beetroot wouldn't have been something I would have thought of putting with a roast dinner, but it went perfectly. Plenty of gravy too ( I despise miserly gravy portions!). Probably the best roast dinner we've had in a restaurant. Our kids had the R.A.T burger. Jokes a' plenty around finding the tail in the burger! The patty was homemade, the whole thing was succulent and they thoroughly enjoyed it. They were adult portions so we unfortunately had a lot of wastage, but we absolutely cannot fault the food. We will definitely return!

Incredibly claustrophobic, especially when there is little room for anyone to sit comfortably. Visited in January for the first time, due to suggestion of an elderly friend. Personally, I couldn’t have my drink fast enough, I just had to get out for fresh air. The pub was very small, with a low ceiling, little room to move, not because of patrons but because it is very small and unfortunately large dogs were brought by their owners after our arrival, which made it uncomfortable for them and their owners, not least for me and my husband. It is very nice to have locals coming to their little pub close by, but it is most inconsiderate to have them take over the place, conversing with the barmaid so very loudly, especially when there is barely a meter distance between them. Little or no respect for anyone. Not for us sadly. We will not be returning.

Good beer, wonderful atmosphere (complete with open wood fires), and the food was outstanding. This one goes on the "must visit again" list.

We walked to the Rose and Thistle for lunch today and ordered the R.A.T burger. It was very tasty but I'm afraid the price of £15.50 was high. Also a measure of lime cordial at 80p and £1.20 for a soda water in a small glass was over priced too. With the cost of living so high at the moment that is way too high.

Lovely pub, great food, little pricey

An authentic timber framed pub with a pretty garden in a beautiful part of the world. We loved the fire in the bar at lunchtime, were made very welcome and could not have been better looked after. Delicious food and great beer too. Definitely on our top places to revisit list!

Oh my God came across this place today absolutely amazing food really friendly people will definitely be coming back

Excellent place, alwsys get a warm welcome. Local pub with good food

Lovely staff, beautiful old pub with very good food.

Stunning, calm, superb food. Don't go, you'll spoil it for me!

Lovely food recommend this place although took a while for food to come and had to ask again for our drinks if they were coming overall definitely go here again :)

what a great pub,great staff and really good home cooked food will defo be back.

Delightful pub, excellent food and attentive staff. Strongly recommended that that you try it out!

Nice menu. Ate in the garden as the weather was nice. Good service from pleasant staff. Worth taking a trip out to enjoy the whole experience

Great Sunday lunch, warm and friendly team, good service - nothing to much trouble - we will certainly become diners.

A hidden gem that continues to delight, whether it's in the secluded beer garden for a quiet evening/lunchtime drink or in front of a roaring open fire on a crisp winter's day! The food & drinks not too shabby either. If only I could transport it to my home town - but then I wouldn't have the pleasure of visiting the beautiful Rockbourne village

Stopped for a quick soft drink with a friend after getting lost on the way home. Lovely pub cannot fault the staff either. Happy friendly and informative. Lost a point for the parking, was a very intense moment I'd rather not relive.

Pub was closed for lunch but from previous experience it is an excellent place

Super meal, lovely staff, a very pleasant way to spend a Sunday lunchtime Highly recommended.

Excellent food and service, really nice old pub.

Beautiful country pub. Lovely walk around the local countryside. Meals were very hot , presentation perfect. Service was warm and friendly.. Highly recommended.

Great selection of food and drinks. Lovely atmosphere and friendly locals. The sticky toffee pudding is amazing.

Lovely meal whilst on a weekend getaway. Attentive and friendly service from the staff and great menu. Highly recommended.

Great food, lovely friendly staff, great atmosphere.

So I love a good pub. But village pubs can be hit or miss. Especially if they are 'gastro pubs' or have some sort of food reputation. We went here more as a restaurant than a pub, so I cannot vouch for popping in for a pint or 2. What I can say is that if you are nearby and want a lovely meal for a decent price... This is the place. My wife and I had dinner here, with a menu consisting of beef, fish, vegetarian etc I had pheasant and my wife duck. The food was truly delicious and very reasonably priced. Not only that but the quantity was spot on. Both the meat and veg received were healthily portioned. Sauces top notch and atmosphere great. We had some bread and oil to start (all fancy like) and we both had beer. My wife doombar and myself a double-tap amber ale... As soon as the final drop hit my lips the waiting staff were in to get me a refill. Which brings me to the last point... The staff. What a lovely bunch. Very attentive and pleasant. Aware of the room and clearly capable of handling the regulars and meal-goers. I cannot compliment this establishment enough. The only regret I have is that we didn't go last night and had another meal! Got to go if you want next level pub grub!

Very enjoyable evening with fantastic food and wonderful fire. Very dog friendly. Will definitely go again. Staff very friendly too. Thank you Chris

Really first class. Great service and the food is exceptional. No complaints whatsoever. Chris and his team, should be very proud!

Very nice old English pub with good food/beer

Authentic forest pub experience.

We had lunch in the garden which was very nice. Staff extremely pleasant and nothing was to much trouble. We had a lovely walk in the village and would recommend this pub for a stop off.

From drinks to food menu the 2 waitresses who looked after us could not have done more. Thank you. A lunchtime table for 7 and everything was perfect, especially the Steak and Kidney pudding for 6 of us. Will definitely recommend to other friends and we will be back too.

Very good food. Nice service. And local in fordinfbridge.

Amazing looking Pub with Great Staff and food look and smells amazing

Lovely pub in a beautiful village right next door to the Rockbourne Cricket Ground.

Quiet pub in a lovely village. Seating inside and out covidly spaced. Not very busy although the bar was full for England v Denmark match. Small menu but sufficient choice. Food good and generous proportions. Staff friendly.

Welcome lunchtime drink during long walk. Good service. Did not dine but beef sandwich looked like a tasty plateful!

Really lovely pub. Great service and the food was excellent. Would recommend to all