The Black Fox Inn in East Hampshire

No longer a pub - it was closed down months ago and has been undergoing a lot of construction work. There is local talk of it having been purchased some type of medical conglomerate.

We visited on a rainy Monday evening. The welcome from patron, Julie, was warm. The food was tasty and portions generous. Not only did we enjoy the evening, so did our dog. It was quiet with a few regulars our only company; we even liked the music, which was perfect for the 50+ age group into which we fall!

First class friendly service lovely food and atmosphere will be going back again soon. Food was reasonably price and good size portions.

The location of this pub is quite dark in that it is surrounded by trees. The interior is also somewhat dark as is the furniture. We came for lunch with quite a large group, having pre-ordered from a special, limited menu. Food was not bad; portions were generous especially vegetables. However it was not terribly hot on arrival. Value was not bad, but we felt that we would not rush back.

Had a nice family lunch... Easy to find and park, simple but good menu, friendly service, and we were all very happy with our food. Would definitely return.

A friendly atmosphere in a charming old pub. Great food at fair prices. Good value for money. I will be visiting again.

We visited here for Sunday lunch, it was disappointing. The food was mediocre, they could not serve what we wanted & the price was too high. No atmosphere in the restaurant.

Had a great lunch at the Black Fox. Really welcoming traditional English pub with restaurant quality food. Our fish with whitebait, wine and chourico sauce was out of this world. would come back again for a meal!

We went to a skittles night. The facilities were very good and the food was excellent. We had the set food for the skittles night but the full menu had nice looking options. We would consider going back just to eat

We had a really lovely lunch - excellent food and lovely people. Our dog was made welcome too. Great place to go after a beautiful dog walk.

Once again we as a family went to the Black Fox for lunch, why the place is not crowded out is a mystery. Two of the family had fish, one had slow roast shoulder of lamb and I had the steak and ale pie, all of the dishes were satisfying and excellent.. Easily the best food in this area. Well done Alan.

We have recently been staying in the area for a few days every month, and eat here every night. The food is beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. It is cooked with care and love by Allan and everything has been excellent. We have found Allan and Julie very friendly and have spent several very pleasant evenings here and look forward to many more. We also held a family lunch for 25 people here just before Christmas, and everything was perfect. What more could we ask for? If you enjoy good food, you should certainly come here.

We've eaten here many times and the food is always great but on Sunday, Alan (the owner) excelled himself. He has put Drunken Bull back on the menu - it's a 10oz piece of feather steak, marinated and cooked in a red wine gravy, and it's is so tender, you could eat it with a spoon! When we go with my daughter, even if she's having something with chips, she always asks for a jug of gravy for dipping. We went with two friends and they thoroughly enjoyed it too.

We had a great lunch at the Black Fox Inn very close to Champneys.... the food was delicious and just what we needed.

The inn is not the chocolate box country pub you would want to find in this part of the world, however The Food and staff well make up for this. There is an outstanding choice and the food really Excellent. We are unable to comment on Accommodation as we did not stay here, but traveled from our hotel to the Inn based on initial reviews and we were not disappointed.

We visited for lunch and had a fantastic meal. The staff were friendly, helpful and took time to explain their dishes. Great atmosphere, lovely garden. Great local pub/restaurant.

Food. The evening menu was good, nicely served and reasonably pricedThe breakfast included with accomodation was just enough to qualify as an English breakfast- no menu or choicesI agree with the previous reviews about the standard and price of the accomodation. Fifty pounds per head for a small twin bed room is way above reasonable. As a comparison a luxury hotel cum spar not too far distant had similar room rates.

We visited the Black Fox inn last weekend and parked our camper up in their camping field out back. The dinner was SO tasty that we then treated ourselves to breakfast (with the worlds largest homemade sausages!) and went back again for dinner the night after!!!! A particular mention needs to be made to the pie - excellent filling to crust ratio. Had such a lovely time that we definitely will be back!

The Black Fox must the best-kept secret on the Hampshire / West Sussex border.Little about the appearance of the outside or the inside of the pub, except perhaps the colourful hanging baskets and the immaculate garden, leads you to anticipate the delights of the food and the beer within.The rib-eye steak is tender and full of flavour and the fish has the lightest and crispest batter. The beer is superbly kept.The landlord is a trained professional chef. His knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, cooking are apparent in the quality of the food on his varied and original menu. He maintains, and expects, high standards. Most importantly he is always on the premises and runs the place with a small and regular staff.Pub / Restaurants of this quality, in this price range, are a rarity these days. Eating or drinking here is a really enjoyable experience.

Used to owned by family friends. Not sure if it still is. Nice atmosphere love the facilities for children always kept them out of double. Friendly and fun

We arrived at the Black Fox to a warm and friendly welcome. On reading the menu and the specials board, I chose the steak and alepie which is truly a must. From the special board my partner chose the Torbay Sole, stuffed with crab and cooked in a lemon butter sauce. The food is fresh, cooked to order and delicious. Great food, great service.Thank you Alan, and your staff for a lovely evening.We will be returning very soon.

I stay here quite often and it is always excellent. The rooms are completely adequate and always clean. The Landlord and Landlady are always welcoming and friendly as are all the staff. The food is always excellent and as in a previous comment the steak and ale pie is to die for, I would wholeheartedly recommend the Black Fox to all.

Being a littie more expensive than our regular resturants The Black Fox was a favourite for brithdays and anniversaries. We ordered sherry and large G&Ts together with champagne. The latter was served in flutes that looked as though they were free with petrol many years ago. I ordered duck and my wife lamb. My duck was ok (only ok)but my wife's lamb smelled and we found it frankly inedible. The landlord was adamant it was as it should be, but offered something else and mutterd we would not be charged. My wife declined anything else to eat and we were told the two ports were complimentary. When we settled up no detailed breakdown of the bill was offered, it rarely us there, but I am pretty sure the lamb was charged. That's it we will go elsewhere in future.

We just decided to go out for dinner last night, went to the Black Fox because we can generally guarantee the quality of the food, as usual I had the 'Ale & Steak' pie, well last night was not a disappointment, despite having to wait a wee while, the food is not warmed up precooked food, it is made to order and was good, Thank you Alan and staff for another good meal.

This is a pub/restaurant that should get 5 stars apart from its rather bland interior. However what is good is that it is real, nothing about the pub is faux; not the food, the landlord, the garden, décor, absolutely nothing. The atmosphere would almost certainly be better than when we attended on a wet mid-week lunchtime when we were the only customers on a cool damp day.For me the menu was excellent, so many dishes to choose from. My companion and I settled for simple food suitable for walkers, chilli and a burger, both were absolutely delicious. For drinks we settled on a couple of pints of the hoppy and amber ale that again was first rate and a time when a couple of beers and a main course has passed £20, the £18 bill per person was reasonable value.Well worth a visit, and we shall be back especially as it's good walking country to, and I expect that 5th star will be in the next review.

This is a really great pub, (and a pub, not a restaurant that serves alcohol) I often drop in here for a pint and some food after a walk. The staff are kind and the owners are always very happy to have a chat. It makes a real treat to go for a walk in the woods and then have a chat with the team at the Black Fox. The beer is looked after by someone who knows what beer is all about, the choice is considered and the food made with passion. Many thanks for all you guys do, it’s really appreciated. Keeping the good old English traditional pub spirit alive. I hope you can keep it up in this economy as so many others haven’t, which is such a shame for English culture.Also came in with a friend the other night and the team made him feel really at home . I felt like a regular , and I am not . They couldn't have done enough even did chips at the bar - perfect after a few beers !. But that's the sort of service you get .

Had a team night in the pub, used the separate function room and played skittles - really good fun. Great food and good service.

Stayed in the inn for one night on 21/6/14. Very poor. Landlord abrupt, just wanted your money, room was supposed to be a double, was so small the bed was just about all one could fit in. The towels in the bathroom were appalling. Thin, frayed, looked like they had been bought from a charity shop. Doors banging most of the night: all they needed was closure gears. The wife and I often spend weekends away in this part of the country, we love it. This was the worst B&B we've stayed in. Can't comment on the restaurant, as we never ate in it. Warn all people, eat there, but don't stay. Was way over priced at £90.00 per night

Went to the Black Fox for Father's Day, lovely food in a traditional pub which everyone enjoyed, we have always had really lovely food when eating here usually on special occasions. I would definitely recommend trying it out.

Just had a wonderful 'Father's Day' lunch with my family at the Black Fox near Liphook, as always all the staff were friendly and helpful. The newly decorated restaurant looks smart and inviting.

The Black Fox is always a safe bet for excellent food. Advisable to book as it is a twee country pub, but they have a function room for special occasions and events.

I'm ashamed to say that having lived in Liphook for 14 years now I have never visited The Black Fox. My partner and I popped in for a drink a week or so before Xmas and although many on this site will say that the interior needs updating, we quite like the quirky 1970's decor - its a 'proper' pub with a 'proper' landlord and 'proper' hard working bar and waiting staff. I applaud them for not conforming with other establishments and changing it to a gastro pub. Our next visit was on New Years Eve - and I am pleased to say that the Fox was the only pub in Liphook that was not charging entry. Ok, so the clientele was like a SAGA meeting, but hey, why shouldn't the more mature partygoer be out on New Years Eve too?!!! On our 3rd visit we ordered food - absolutely excellent! Mushrooms for me, lovely thick tomato soup for my partner, haddock for my main and a huge juicy steak for him. Our only tiny weeny criticism was that the chips were a little anemic, but otherwise the food was plentiful, tasty and perfectly cooked. Will def be returning. The pub was not busy, and the restaurant this time was empty, but if you are looking for somewhere to book a small party, we would def recommend.

Very Welcoming atmostphere and nothing was too much trouble . From the road the pub just looks like a normal inn but looks are very deceiving.It is well worth stopping Very spacious restaurant The fillet steak is to die for for - looking forward to trying the Sunday Lunch. Needless to say we were very impressed and will be visiting again .

I have had occasion to organise two functions at the Black Fox in the last two weeks; one for 27 of my colleagues for my retirement dinner and the other, for 30 people, for the annual Swaziland Society Lunch. This is the 19th year that we have had our lunch at the Black Fox and the quality and originality of the food for both my functions was outstanding and good value for money.

This is a friendly pub with linen on the tables, we always have a good meal in there and the price is very fair. It also has a bowling alley.

The black fox inn is a very welcoming pub and the owner alan is very friendly and the people who work there are amazing and are hard working, the pub is spotless! Decoration suits it well. It is a classic pub, an all round lovably pub, food is superb, very tasty and i especially like the steak. Everything is at a suitable price, very cheap for the quality if i say so! 11/10 rating! Superb! Im suprised with the negative reviews they are all wrong!! I actually disagree with them! Keep up the good work!

For the price we paid we were very disappointed. The double room was small and cramped with all the space taken up by an enormous wardrobe which meant there was no room to place anything. The only available space was taken up by the tv. The en-suite was a small shower room which Travelodge would have been proud of. Whilst the room was clean the carpet had obviously seen better days. The evening meal was good but breakfast consisted of 2 rashers of bacon, a sausage and a fried egg. There was no cereal. fruit, yoghurts etc, or choice of breakfast. For an overnight stay this may all be perfectly adequate but not at the prices they charge and not compared to other far better B&Bs.

I needed an overnight stay in Liphook and found this little gem. To previous negative reviewers I would ask that they perhaps think about the enormous commitment in terms of working hours that publicans give. I hope they make a decent living out of it, I know I couldn't cope with the always-on-duty smile giving. So yes, 'mine host' may not be dancing on the tables for the entertainment of his customers, but he is perfectly civil and his wife is nicely friendly without intruding. I enjoyed meeting some of their regular customers too as I chose to dine in the bar rather than sit in the restaurant. All round a good overnight stay and the food is lovely.

Dated, tired and shabby, this pub needs a thorough revamp.It would improve further with some customer care, decent range of ales, and enhanced opening times, with staff who care !Currently it has huge areas in need of improvement, we visited last Sunday, just before they were closing [3.30] and they couldn't be bothered to serve us.The place was deserted, and with an attitude such as 'can't be bothered' which was demonstrated, no wonder they had no customers.We just went further up the road, where we were welcomed.!

It is never busy when we go and the owner, Alan is always so friendly and welcoming! The food is insanely good - I recommend the steak and ale pie for the sheer size and gorgeous taste!! We keep coming back for that..

This is pub is in a good location, sadly its back in the 70s and needs a revamp.Had a quick drink amongst the flowery carpet, pine cladding and palstic plants and then left.

I've been visiting The Black Fox Inn for almost 20 years. Originally a coaching inn, on the old A3 road from London to Portsmouth, it has retained a lot of its original charm.Allan Keith and his wife, Julie, and their kids and dogs bought the pub from a local brewery some years ago, and have developed it into a really fine gastro pub.Allan has all his beef shipped each week from suppliers in Aberdeen. As a former executive chef for a multinational group, Allan is very experienced and with Julkie also a pro chegf, they have established The Black Fox as a first-class establishment. They have added en-suite rooms over the years, at the back of the main building, and it's great to wake up there, total human silence, forest all around and some birdsong. Menu is always changing, Allan and Julie beleive in seasonal food, and source local game, etc from quality suppliers. They also have a function room which is connected to the pub, and even an old-style wooden bowling alley. Great fun!

Turned up on a rainy weekend for lunch having driven from Oxford, meeting 3 friends there 2 from Brighton, one from Ross on Wye. Had spoken to the landlord to check if there was a lunch menu and said we would be arriving. Arrived at 11.50 (10 minutes early apparently), and looked around for a friendly face / welcome in from the rain. Found one open door and stuck my head in to enquire, met with a gentleman who informed me we don't open until 12 (looking irritatedly at his watch), asked is there somewhere I can wait – no answer, so sat outside in the car. No welcome in until the bar opened. Friends arrived and we stood on the doorstep, tried the door at 12 and it was now LOCKED, and the bar. The whole feeling was not a welcoming one and I have to say the bar looked pretty dim too. Maybe there is just something lacking in customer service, but we all met on the doorstep and given the overall feeling took the decision to find another more 'public' public house. I can't comment on the food, or value, but can say that the atmosphere was ... Bad.

I have eaten many times in the Black Fox over the past 10 years and can say without exception the Food is freshly cook, good portion size, extensive menu including daily specials and the service is great. The Steaks are from Northern Scotland (Rib Eye Steaks are so tender like cutting through butter)and the Fresh Fish makes for a wonderful meal. The Owner is a trained Chef and prides himself in the quality of his Restaurant and will visit each table to ensure everyone is happy. I also trained as a Chef and I'm a little fussy with what I eat, and look at the Quality and Presentation of every dishWhile I know you cannot always please everyone I'm sure if you where not happy with your meal it would have been replace very quicklyI also have attended a few very large events in there function Suite and again the food and service was excellent and would and have recommended this Pub to Family and Friends

I too am surprised by the negative review of this pub/restaurant which I have been enjoying for many years. I can only think that the reviewer below reviewed the wrong restaurant having posted 4 reviews on the same date in November 2012 including one for the Black Fox (when their visit there was in April 2012), (or is it coincidental that another pub/restaurant re-opened the same week in Liphook)? If the food was as described, why, oh why, not mention it on the night and allow the restaurant to do something about it?My own experience is completely different, this pub/restaurant is my preferred choice in the Liphook area and I have been eating there with complete satisfaction for a number of years. The steaks served are sourced from the North East of Scotland and are delicious. My favourite fish dishes include Torbay sole wrapped in parma ham, Smoked Haddock in a whisky sauce and baby squid in a tempura batter with a sweet chilli sauce! This restaurant is also the preferred choice of the Liphook & District Businessman’s Association (of which I am a member) for their monthly dinner/business meetings when the owner/chef provides a choice of starters/main courses for around 20 people. I am also Chair of the Swaziland Society and I have been organising an annual member’s lunch, again with multiple choices of starter/main courses, for between 50 to 60 people. The members of both organisations are always complimentary about the quality and choice of food. The Swaziland Society has been having this annual lunch at the Black Fox since 1994 and we would not be returning year on year if the food and service was not exemplary.

As a Liphook local and fan of the Black Fox I'm really surprised by the negative reviews. The landlord is a trained chef who takes a lot of trouble over sourcing his food and creating a great menu. It's one of the few places in the UK, outside really expensive specialist steak houses, where I will consider ordering steak. The fish is all outstanding and if you are vegetarian or have particular dietary needs, just call in advance. The landlord also know his ales. The beer is extremely well kept. In the summer (or spring or autumn if it's a warm day) the beer garden is an absolute delight and frequently wins local awards. If you are down this way, take the time to have a meal or drink in the Black Fox.

I honestly do not believe that the positive reviews are sincere, I think they are written by the owners and their buddies. My partner and I took our parents there for sunday lunch for the 'first meeting' and I was so, so embarassed. The decor is absimal. It is *grotty*. It would have been dirty and dated in 1985. The restaurant is decorated like a 70's B&B breakfast room and it was deathly silent and very cold. The food was dreadful, it was like canteen fodder, instant gravy and those must have been frozen roast potatoes and yorkshire pudding. Vegetables were waterlogged and overcooked. We had to wait an hour to eat, even though there was no one else there. Beer was OK.Avoid, avoid, avoid.

I spent the evening here with family during a weekend visit to Liphook. We decided to eat here as well and upon entering the restaurant we were promptly asked to wait. When we eventually sat down the lady said we would have to wait 30 minutes before we could even order as there was a large group already being served. The whole meal we felt we were putting out the staff which was very uncomfortable. The food was average pub food and I nearly burnt my hand on the plate my food was served on. The waitress seemed really stressed when serving us and the whole experience reminded me of Fawlty Towers. Would definitely not recommend.

We have been to the black fox a few times recently and cant fault anything. The staff are really pleasant and the food is excellent. I have had the steak a few times which was really nice and last night I had the lasagne and my husband had the fish and chips, both very good. Would definately reccommend and will be returning very soon.

We had a fantastic meal - three of us my husband, son and myself. The pub is on the old A3 between Liphook and Rake. There is something for everyone on the menu but my husband had fish and chips (best he had ever had) my son had the steak and the meat was fantastic as I tried it too! I had the fish pie which was also very good. Nice staff and great service, will definitely go back again.

We enjoyed a really good evening out with friends At The Black Fox Liphook on our way to Portsmouth. The menu was inviting and reasonably priced but the steak I had was really superb as was the rest of the meal.The proprieter really knows his food, you could tell it was cooked by a real chef, the flavours were great and the beer was good as well.

We called in early evening for a meal, as we were in the area which was new to us. Very friendly staff, good service and very clean restaurant with nice clean table cloths, napkins and fresh flowers. Although there was a very temping and extensive menu we ordered our favourite.....fillet steaks, mushrooms, peas with chips and salad. It was one of the best steaks we have had the pleasure of eating, lovely crisp chips and the salad was freshly prepared and beautifully served. Would thoroughly recommend.