The Bat and Ball in New Forest

Great pub with friendly attentive staff and a smile. Food great with a selection of South African food included. Plenty of drink options and parking.

Amazing food and drinks great service but the tomahawk steak was exceptional… it’s a special every Friday. W e also had lunch there which was another amazing experience with great service again and delicious food

We popped in ad hoc for an opportunistic coffee. We received a warm welcome and were accommodated quickly. Nothing was too much trouble.

We thought this was going to be an expensive, poncy pub but it was not. It had delicious, generous food - reasonably priced - served in straightforward pub surroundings.

Lamb pie £20 Definition of a pie is a pastry base sides AND top. This had just a pastry top with lamb casserole in a dish. So NOT A PIE as described on the menu. I requested gravy as plate came with mash veg and so called pie with No gravy. I was told NO as the pie??? Has gray in it. Very very disappointed. Would nit recommed.

We were staying at Sandy Balls and were looking for a pub serving a late lunch and so went to the Bat and Ball and what a lovely surprise. The service was amazing from the moment we walked in the door, even the dog got immediate treats and we ordered Sea Bass, Ribs and a the Pie of the Day. I had the sea bass, perfectly cooked as were the prawns on top of it and was in a lovely sauce. My sister had the ribs which were "flintstones" portion size, absolutely massive meaty full rack with chips and salad which were also delicious. Finally my brother had the lamb pie which again really great pub food well presented and tasty. So good was it that we popped back in two days later for another lunch, i had the glazed gammon the second time and my brother had the ribs, and they even remembered the dogs name : ) If you're in the area great place to stop with welcoming food and great hosts.

Amazing Sunday roast highly recommend best roast dinner we had in a long long time great accommodating staff very friendly

Lovely country pub, good portions of food, cosy, and attentive staff...

Not being local to area, our friends booked Sunday lunch here. Old style pub with an up to date attitude! Great food and service, Try it! 😀

Food was average. Starter was good which was Camembert but burger was quite disappointing as overcooked. The chips weren’t much good either. Staff friendly though!

Dobre jedzenie i przyjazna atmosfera 😉

As always, an excellent meal, friendly service and lovely surroundings.

I came here with a friend for fish and chips. I had 2 bits of fish and one was fine but the other was so overcooked and rock hard that I couldn't eat it. I complained to the server and heard absolutely nothing back. I guess the chef didn't want to address it or didn't care. It was £18 so I would have expected better food for that price. On the plus side the server was so lovely and friendly and made us feel really welcome. We have been coming for years but also had a bad carvery in October where the meat was undercooked and the vegetables rock hard. I gave feedback on this which again was not addressed. After coming here for years I will not be returning due to the standard of food declining.

Beautiful food, very friendly staff and chilled atmosphere.

We went for a xmas meal with family the food was OK the Brussel sprouts were rock hard needed cooking longer!!

Amazing food, had the lamb shank and it was full of flavour and falling off the bone. The Nash potato was also one of the best, if not the best mash potato I've ever had. Creamy and delicious. Had the banana banoffee waffle and it was exquisite. Very, very good pub. Always go here when we stay in the new forest.

Had a meal for 10 of us and it was excellent. The staff were very friendly and the food delicious. It was our daughter's 50th birthday and it was a nice family gathering

Very disappointed to arrive to find Roadts no longer being served. Someone should say when booking on a Sunday.

We arrived here for our first anniversary Meal a Sunday roast. Service on arrival was lovely got seated straight away a family meal behind us but we didn't mind the noise to a point. We ordered and had a glass of wine and beer, had to go to the bar and get which was fine. The food come out within 10 minutes now I'm all for quick service but that was a bit too quick. No options for veg so we got parsnips, red cabbage, carrots and a random bowl of cauliflower and cheese with broccoli??? Not being funny no one really likes this so extremely disappointed with veg. Then the potatoes were cold, waitress was lovely run and got us more I had 4 potatoes and replacements were boiling and only 3.... Then I said my husband's were cold he had 5 initially which were replaced by 3! I give more ketchup to my 3 year than I got for gravy! Oh and these amazing roasts were £17!! The only decent thing was the Yorkshire...... Well over priced I wanted a steak initially but not for that price. We had two drinks ate the food and left very very disappointed. Won't be returning or recommending.

Lovely Sunday lunch, portions are huge, we over ordered on the creamed spinach when the included vegetables were more than enough. Most of us went for the triple meat option (Turkey, Lamb and Beef) which did not disappoint. One of the party went for the rack of ribs and couldn’t finish them. Puddings were beautifully presented. Service was prompt and we were checked twice that all was well. Definitely will return

Great food and wonderful service. Very friendly nothing too much trouble, food was great, can recommend the Bobotie

Really nice pet-friendly pub, great food and lovely service.

Came here twice during a short break whilst staying at a nearby Airbnb. Lovely food, very cosy pub with the nights drawing in, and friendly owners. Steaks, mac'n'cheese especially recommended.

Having seen lots of South Africans rave about this pub over time, we were passing by last weekend on the way bk from Salisbury and stopped in for some lunch. Staff were friendly, pub very dated, menu limited. I had the Babooti & rice which was sooo dried out I could not digest it. My partner had fish and chips. The mushy peas was pure liquid slosh. It looked disgusting. Service was very slow considering it was not very busy at all. The table next to us was a family with totally out of control screaming kids (not crying just running amok). Totally unpleasant experience unfortunately.

I like this place. I have only been twice in the last couple of years. The food has been good and it is an nice old pub. Pleasant staff. I would like to go back more, especially in the summer, it looks like a great outside space. I had veg Thai curry which was really well balanced, full of veg and bice and warming. My daughter had the lamb, mint and pea pie, the meat was soon soft, but overall it was too salty. Will be back for more experiences!!

Disappointed with the cost of LUNCH. We had a chicken curry and my wife had a burger. She had a pint of soda water & lime and I had 2 pints of Beer, total cost just shy of £55. That's alot for lunch! Food was good, service was ok, little atmosphere

Atmosphere was good because we were sat with friends. Food was good, sadly we sad in the middle of a creche/kindergarten, parents nowhere to be seen Won't be visiting again.

This was our second visit & we were not disappointed. Staff are so welcoming, friendly & helpful. Food was delicious & great portion size. We will be back.

A friendly atmosphere great surroundings with very polite and helpful staff great food. I had the burger and chips my wife had the fish cake and chips. Burger has to be the best I have tasted my wife said the fish cakes were amazing. Would definitely eat here again.

The food was delicious. service good and friendly

We booked this for a family members birthday lunch. The 4 of us all chose roast dinners. The lamb was undercooked as was the roast vegetables and potatoes which were all anaemic and hard. One of the party is a vegetarian, a vegetarian roast option was not on the menu but on asking was. One of the party has coeliac disease and needs gluten free, there was glib assurances that the gravy, vegetables and chicken would be GF, however dishes of vegetables in sauce were dumped on the table with no indication if they were GF or not. That person subsequently was ill so cross contamination procedures could not have been followed. Once the meals had been served, no-one checked to see if everything was OK so we didn't have the chance to raise our issues. A very disappointing meal and experience.

Great food, good atmosphere, will definitely return

Brilliant garden. Food was amazing. Staff exceptional

Very easy to book online. Excellent menu with all the pub favourites. Traditional pub atmosphere in doors. Friendly welcome by the staff. Waiter service to the table which we liked. Food was tasty and reasonably priced. Interesting sustainability project in the garden with a hydroponic greenhouse where they grow their own produce which tasted fabulous.

It really is a gem of a place great food and enough drinks to be happy amazing outside space to rear

Badly let down on service. Arrived 6.30 with grandchildren. Ordered quickly. First course took an hour to arrive. Main course another hour. Unprecedented. Spoke to the owner after who was very apologetic and waived all charges. Fair play. Give them a chance. Food good. Garden pleasant.

As a vegetarian I am often left with little choice but this is not the case at the Bat and Ball they have a really good selection on menu and on the specials board! I can highly recommend this pub ,........... We visited again to celebrate my daughters exam results and everything once again was delicious and our waitress was lovely, once again I highly recommend the Bat and Ball

We had Sunday lunch, roast beef with all the trimmings. It was very nice, although there was a lot of fat vains on the meat that needed to be removed. Staff are very friendly and helpful. Prices are standard for the area.

We absolutely love this place, the food is amazing and so friendly, definitely our favourite place to go

We stopped here for lunch on a trip to the New Forest. The pub and garden are delightful. The food was delicious. The four of us all chose a different dish but were all equally impressed by the quality. The staff were lovely and nothing was too much trouble. I would definitely recommend a visit, you won’t be disappointed.

Good atmosphere and a large, impressive pub garden setup. Service more than up to standard but let down slightly by a flat (and vaguely vinegary) pint of local ale. Expected to be busier on a Friday night on the main drag to Salisbury, so a blessing and a curse. Fries arrived quickly and were tasty. We will be back!

Excellent service, excellent food and great atmosphere. Highly recommended.

Bellissima sosta nella vita per Salsbury. Anche veg

Food, service and decor all good. Nice outdoor space. Plenty of parking. A bit expensive but never disappoints. Especially like that they grow their own in a polytunnel in the garden, making for a very tasty salad!

Burger was nice but nothing overly special. Probably wouldn't order it again. The beef was quite dense and dry and the pretzel bun was also quite dry. The french fries and onion rings were lovely though. We had passion fruit pavlova for dessert and it was gorgeous. Nice and fresh and full of flavour. Would definitely order again. Service was absolutely fantastic, all members of staff were really great. Would like to come again and try other bits from the menu.

Fantastic food and excellent service. The weather wasn't great for our visit unfortunately but we sat outside under cover (we had dogs with us) and they put the heaters on so it was very cosy. The food was amazing. Will definitely be returning.

Great Sunday roast - the child's portion was plenty for me. Despite being busy the service was very prompt and friendly. They also welcome dogs and use produce grown in the hydroponics place at the back of the garden which you can wander around. Hard to resist helping yourself!

Great food steak and ribs. Massive portion ribs. Ollie was fabulous waiting on. Two happy old girls going home for siesta

A wonderful pub with great food and welcoming and friendly staff.

Beautifully clean and tidy pub with warm and welcoming staff. Lots of cricket memorabilia too. Menu was extensive with chef's specials board. Food orders taken professionally and food arrived promptly. All food was 10 out of 10! Tasty, hot, fresh and interesting. All desserts made onside and the best ice cream I have ever tasted. We will definitely return, thank you Rachel and Wanisa!

Excellent venue, we sat in the marquee for Sunday lunch which was very spacious and we all had the beef & lamb with assorted vegetables and cauliflower cheese which was delicious finishingvoff with chocolate brownie with ice cream. Would highly recommend the Bat & Ball.

We hosted our engagement party here last saturday 15th July. The owners were fantastic with us through out and we had a lovely event under the canopy. The canapes provided were delicious and prosecco at a really reasonable price. A great pub in general, dog friendly and a great place to host an event or celebration

Honestly I can't recommend enough the food was beautiful the atmosphere divine and the staff so friendly I will be coming back again and again!!

Great pub with a selection of beers , food menus has some tasty South African favorites

Great place, a quick visit while camping for the weekend

There were two of us having dinner. I ordered a burger which had actually a really bizarre taste to it. It was solid and tasted burned and utterly synthetic. My husband tried some of it and was convinced it was not a meat burger. They denied that was the case and offered us one of the drinks for free (it was a lime and soda so don't get excited). Overall an unpleasant experience.

We hosted our engagement party here for 50 people in the tipi. Louise & Greg and their team could not have given us a better day, the canapés were delicious, the pub looked beautiful and the day could not have been better, thank you.

A very convivial establishment, with a good choice of wines and beers, Food was of a high standard and I would definitely recommend a visit.

Great Sunday roast and friendly service. We were made to feel welcome including our dog. A large car park at the rear.

Made to feel so welcome from start to finish Greg and Ollie were exceptional and the food was amazing best roast I’ve had in a long time

Amazing Sunday lunch best I’ve had in a long time… can’t wait to go back.. Owner Greg and out service by Ollie exceptional would highly recommend. Thanks all Adrian

We had the Sunday roast. Two with meat and one with the nut roast. Really lovely food. Our only suggestion/criticism is the roast is listed as a carvery and our understanding was that that meant you went up to a hot counter and chose what went on your plate. The Bat and Ball roasts come already plated up. It just means that for fussy eaters (that prefer more roast potatoes to parsnips) end up wasting what is on the plate (when the other diners can't help by eating any more). That said the food was delicious and I've never had a bad meal here. Have visited about 3 or 4 times.

Wonderful staff, food is amazing. Great place to drink or eat, food is delicious, had fishcakes with new potatoes, and any of the puddings as they were all delicious, we had the sharing pudding.

Howzat again! Brill & bliss @ Bat & Ball , three good meals with friendly service ( included sea bass, gammon, fish n chips) veggies sourced locally ,fine fayre with selection of ales . Ample parking and good room ambience.

Superb. Food was fantastic and veg etc is grown on site on their hydroponics farm, which you can tour. Service was great with pleasant, helpful and clearly well-trained staff. You can order in person of via Internet, which was impressively efficient. A really lovely evening at a very impressive establishment.

Delicious 3 course meal - we haven’t enjoyed a meal-out like that in a very long time! 5/5 Atmosphere was calm and relaxing at 8pm perfect time for us to dine out! staff were really friendly - Ash was particularly welcoming, friendly and he couldn’t do enough! We will definitely go back very soon!!

Thanks lorenzo! Amazing service, good atmosphere and friendly attitude. The food was amazing. Had nachos and pizza bread. Good music. Thank you!!

Loved the bar. Good choice of beers and good food menu. Very large beer garden

Nice food and friendly stuff, our first visit but will come back.

Had lunch here on a very hot day. The food was excellent, service efficient and atmosphere great! I'd thoroughly recommend the bobotie.

A great family day out to the New Forest, having the most delicious meal at the "Bat and Ball" where they grow their own veggies via hydroponics. Incredible set up by a fellow Zimbo. Very helpful and welcoming staff including a super chef. Got a...

A great family day out to the New Forest, having the most delicious meal at the "Bat and Ball" where they grow their own veggies via hydroponics. Incredible set up by a fellow Zimbo. Very helpful and welcoming staff including a super chef. Got a few gem squash seedlings too. Thanks very much... we will 100% recommend - and are sure to be back 👌👌👌

First vista to the Bat and Ball and I lived it. Very helpful staff, great menu and good beers on tap (what more could you ask for). Will be going back there for dinner as we ate off the lunch menu.

Lovely countryside setting. Stunning looking building. The food was absolutely delicious. The pub is run by a South African and the menu includes a few SA dishes. We've just returned to the UK after spending 40 years in Cape Town so it was nice to chat about SA. Highly recommended.

Food here is absolutely delicious, beautifully plated and all I can say is wow! The dessert platter was amazing. Best food we've had for a long time. Pub itself is beautiful and nice seating areas. 100% recommend

Great table service, friendly staff, lots of dogs. 10/10.

Nice garden. Very friendly and lovely staff, couldn't be more pleasant. Food arrived very quickly. Very average food quality though. We had beef burgers, bum and chips were great but the meat quality was really average

We are a group of 19 Cyclists all staying near Fordingbridge for a few days. We found the Bat & Ball very friendly to deal with when making the booking and in the days up to the meal. On the night of our meal we...

Very good lunch Monday. Excellent Nachos followed by Lamb special for my wife and vegetarian curry for me. All very good. Service friendly and efficient and decent value. A firm favourite of ours

Very good lunch, service and decent value to boot. We enjoyed Nachos starter, Lamb special and vegetarian curry. We are regulars here and it never disappoints. Back again soon!

Great food and service. Seating area outside.

Made a booking for lunch well in advance for 10 (8 adults and 2 children). Arrived to find we’d been allocated an outdoor table, albeit under cover, and it was the type of table that could only accommodate tall bar chairs. The weather was distinctly...

Excellent food, fresh produce and fair pricing, with an outstanding team led by Ash who knows how customer service should be provided. The Sunday roast is the best for miles.. the crispy beef salad and the ribs keep us coming back again and again, you...

We came along this charming pub on our holiday. The staff were welcoming and provided a great dining experience. Great food, a good selection of drinks and nice atmosphere. Credit to our waiter/host. Thank you!

Staff and owner were very welcoming and attentive. Delicious Sunday lunch, huge portions that left us full for the rest of the day. We will definitely return on our next trip 🤩

We held a wake at the pub and things could not have been better. From the initial planning to the organisation on the day everything was perfect. Staff were welcoming and went over and above to accommodate us all. We had the outdoor marquee area...

Great Sunday Lunch, 4* because beef a little tough

We went for a monday evening meal 17 april. service was excellent and the food and beer very good. very dog freindly. lovely little roadside pub i can recommend it.

5 star overall review :) The food is v.good - not 'restaurant fine dining' (not to be negative, just to have realistic expectations :) ) - but great quality, beautifully cooked pub food with awesome, freshly cooked chunky chips! ;) The atmosphere is 'lovely, cosy, traditional pub' - and, above all else, all staff seem to have a natural, genuine affinity to make you feel warmly welcome and take care of you, with a smile, throughout. I would fully recommend and send big thanks to all working there Xx

Very friendly with excellent staff and service levels.

Popped in on the off chance for a Sunday roast with the family was excellent fantastic food pleasure to eat there never been before had always driven past on the way to my sons in Bristol highly recommended will definitely go again.

We received a friendly welcome when we went for lunch today , All the staff were lovely and the food was really nice , I had a Cajun chicken salad with mango which was delicious, I had the most delicious bread and butter pudding and...

Fantastic food i would recommend this pub to anyone who likes there food couldn't be more helpful. Brilliant staff plenty of parking. Thanks.

Spotted this lovely pub when passing by on holiday so popped in for a meal. We had a really tasty dinner of Steak & Ale pie, mash and veg followed by banoffee waffle. Thoroughly enjoyed it and were made to feel welcome by the staff. Definitely recommend a visit.

Travelling home from the coast we stopped here for lunch on a Monday lunchtime. It was fairly busy so there was a little wait for the food but it's obviously all cooked to order so we didn't mind waiting. We ordered the Pie and Mash...

A busy Valentine's night. Food was ok too. But I wish they would put an automatic door closer on the garden door. A constant stream of ignorant customers leaving it open followed by a constant stream of staff and customers closing it. No fun on a cold night. I wouldn't have been happy sat near it. Otherwise a nice night out.

Stopped at this nice little pub with my partner and nothing ordered a beef burger meal. On arrival my partner had 2 bites of an onion ring and there was a long hair inside if it. Spoke to the waitress who said someone would be...

We stayed nearby over New Year and drove past The Bat and Ball so decided to drop in. The pub itself was lovely and everyone really nice and friendly. The menu has a great selection and we totally recommend the Bobotie (South African bake like...

Great food, excellent service, and went for a nice walk along the disused railway line behind the pub afterwards.

We went to the Bat and Ball for new years day dinner, there was 9 of us and luckily we managed to get a table even though we booked the same day. The food was fantastic and the service was amazing. Everyone loved their meals...