The Bold Forester in Winchester

Fantastic Sunday Roast which included exceptional meat. The setting is seemingly recently modernised yet still retain the cosy British pub feel. Would highly recommend this establishment for any meal.

Having been to this pub/ restaurant once before, I was blown away. It has easily become one of my favourites. Today I visited The Bold Forester yet again after being deployed over seas and having worked up an appetite... a decision I did not regret! Absolutely fantastic service, brilliant food and a superb environment to enjoy your meal. Would definitely recommend visiting as not only will it exceed your expectations, but it will also help a much valuable local business. Will most definitely visit again very soon! Great value for money and an essential component for an enjoyable walk around the Forest of Bere.

This is a nice country pub, with a super garden. Even on a Sunday lunchtime when we asked for a ham sandwich, nothing was too much trouble, very friendly staff, and the Sunday lunches being served inside looked delicious, so will try them next time.

Stopped here with my daughter whilst waiting for the wife.We had a little lunch and I’m glad we did.This place for food is a hidden gem .I had a ploughman’s lunch and my daughter had the kids cheese burger and both were made perfectly.Service was friendly but I have very minor gripes 1) The food took just a little to long which was well worth waiting for my issue is I wasn’t kept informed and felt a little like we were forgotten 2)They cleared the tables far to quickly like they were trying to move us along and out the doorOther than these very minor issues I would 100% recommend this place

We visited here for lunch the weekend lockdown eased only just remembered to write a review. We rang and booked a table and asked if roasts were being served, told yes but turned up an hour later and told they wernt. Had to chase menus as none appeared, food was good though and daughter enjoyed playing on the swings and play area.

Excellent Sunday lunch, roast beef, lots of veg and gravy, would recommend, and felt very covid safe, thanks Luke and Tash

Lovely pub serving fantastic food. A very friendly pub. Big thank you to Millie for making it a wonderful afternoon with her excellent service.

Like many we have not been out much lately so how lovely that The Bold Forester did not disappoint! Sat inside and impressed with covid protection measures. All 4 of us enjoyed the wonderful food and the small bowls of prawns and crispy chicken with halloumi were divine. Steak was perfection and fish and chips .... massive! Big shout out to Millie and Luke for making us feel so welcome.

Really impressed with the cleanliness and how well it's been laid out for covid. Clear screens between tables, so you don't feel closed in. Serving staff all wore masks and seen sanitizing hands on many occasions during service. Food really fresh and ranged from £5 - £17.50. Lots of parking and nice garden area for families with children. Really quiet location with no main roads. Will definitely go again.

It was the first opportunity that we had for a family gathering of 3 generations after lockdown. Welcomed by the owner who took over just before lockdown. Received a warm welcome and good service. Excellent Sunday lunch which was good value.

Lunch for 4. Taking advantage of the Eat out to Help out initiative and supporting a small local business. The burgers were very good, absolutely no complaints whatsoever. My cheese sandwich was a little disappointing as the bread wasn’t as fresh as I hoped and the cheese wasn’t anything special. A chutney or pickle on the side would have been nice. The Caesar salad was also a hit other than my daughter not liking the croutons. Service was good. The Covid-19 social distancing was adhered to and hand sanitiser was available but not all dispensers worked. The toilets were clean. All in all a very good visit and I’m sure we will go back.

Another great meal, food well cooked and lovely presented. I had the rib eye steak perfectly cooked and my husband the Caesar Salad. Very well run pub with friendly efficient team.

Very covid safe. All staff wearing masks and good procedures. Excellent food!!! Plenty of outside space in garden. Really recommend a detour from the Meon Valley Way! Excellent!

All I can say is wow this pub is in a beautiful location not far from the Meon Valley Trail. All COVID restrictions are being followed and the staff are absolutely brilliant. Hand sanitiser everywhere even outside to the garden and outside bar even single use toilets.The food is on another level I thought I'd go for a fish finger sandwich got to be something light and small right? I was amazed to see fresh fish in amazing batter and the size of a whole fish. My wife had a cheese and tomato sandwich that could have fed two. In all the food is absolutely amazing and comes with an amazingly good value for money price.There's also a local produce shop set up inside which has loads of good fresh produce.If you have a chance to visit please do so as we will be definitely going back. Well done to the Bold Forrester in these testing times we all felt really safe....Thank you

Our second visit in the last 3 months after being impressed on a family visit back in November. Tuesday lunchtime and surprised that the restaurant was so empty, however the service and food could not be faulted. The lamb rack and shoulder dish was outstanding. This place is a hidden gem, have already booked for a Saturday night with friends.

I recently took 25 walkers to eat at this pub and, despite the large number, the manager, chef and staff at the Bold Forester coped extremely well. Every member of the party enjoyed their food that the kitchen managed to produce at the same time (the food was pre-ordered), service was swift and efficient, each table was checked during the meal to ensure all was okay and we all enjoyed a very pleasant couple of hours at this tastefully refurbished establishment.

What a lovely friendly atmosphere that greeted us. The food menu had a fantastic range and selection of meals to cater for different tastes. Myself my husband and 2 year old son enjoyed all our meals and are looking forward to a return visit. My friends and their children joined us at our table and we enjoyed the atmosphere and comfort of the venue.

I can't tell you how happy I was after my perfect valentines evening. I'm not one to normally write reviews but felt this was worth my time and a visit from all that read it. What a lovely warm welcome from the fab front of house staff, especially Millie, in a beautiful cosy restaurant, with some exceptional food. Honestly my meal was totally delicious, I could feel the the passion that went into our meal which was perfect on such a romantic evening. We had absolutely no criticism with any of the courses, they were all perfect, but i have to give a major shout out to the dessert as it totally stole my taste buds. Trio of chocolate pots - White chocolate & passion fruit, dark chocolate & raspberry and milk chocolate & salted caramel mousse was out of this world. It was beautiful, looked to good to eat and tasted even better than it looked! I can't wait to return to this restaurant with my friends and family.

The Bold Forester was refurbished about 2 years ago since when it has through the hard work of the staff become a very popular venue with excellent food and service unfortunately it has now been taken over and the new owner on his first open visit to the pub got drunk and abusive sacking and evicting the chef who has been solely responsible for the high quality of the food and the good comments on this site are all down to her choice and quality of the menu, he also reduced the friendly barmaid to tears making impossible for her to work there.Having sacked the principle staff who are responsible for the increased trade and good reviews the new owner will now have to prove himself and start from scratch.I have been a regular customer for some time but will not be giving this man any of my hard earned cash and will go elsewhere for at least a year and wait to see future reviews. He has retained the Valentines Day Menu carefully worked out by the chef in consultation with customers but it will not be cooked by her and already some bookings have been cancelled.I have been a customer on and off for well over 50 years and can't remember anyone making such a bad impression and sincerely hope that the new owner sees sense or resells it quickly because being in a small village local opinion and support is essential

Last time I was there , I had a moan about the Ales to 'Tash' (The Manager), she said come back and you will notice a difference. So popped in and bolted Abbot Ale and Fullers ESB,EXCELLENT and I had a nominated driver, Tash explained that she had gone for bottles because if from the Keg it is more awkward to make a profit as you would not want to drive after one of these heavier beers so only a limited selling market. This does show that she listens to customers. Had a lovely Sunday lunch and I think it was Joseph who engaged with us as to how our meal was. If I had one criticism it would be that we only need ordinary sized yorkshire puds not massive ones. Wait time was a little excessive at 43 minutes for lunch, but hey ho, there you go.

My wife and I had lunch here with friends who recommended this place having recently been. The food was great as was the warm welcome. The portions were so good we had no room for desert. Would definitely recommend:)

Absolutely delicious Sunday Lunch! Great staff, lovely atmosphere, very modern interior, menu choices and “specials board” different from many other pubs. The food was piping hot, really tasty, very fresh, wonderfully presented and exceeded expectations. The pub looks very unassuming from the outside, and so is surprisingly modern inside. Refreshing to have staff with a personality and food with a difference! Thank you!

We came here as a family catch up meal. What can I say everything was excellent the service, the food was outstanding thanks very much kaz and Barry. Will certainly be returning for another tasty roast!

We visited today and received gold standard service, our food was superbly presented and tasted absolutely delicious, cooked to perfection. Even our 2 small dogs were welcomed and received some excellent doggie treats so they didn’t feel left out.This is a lovely place and I would highly recommend it. We will return again soon

Had a great meal - the service was good and the food was excellent. Will definitely go again. Nice to see this place up and running again.

We visited this pub while staying at my sisters the staff are great fun excellent front of house lovely open fires we had the Sunday roast was fantastic probably one of the best I’ve had for a very long time so nice to see a good local pub/restaurant just wish it was closer to us we will definitely return keep up the good work Jay & Ellie

We booked up this afternoon for roast dinners as close family travelled over from Ireland, thought we would have a family get together, knowing how nice they were on previous visits to the bold forester before. Absolutely amazing food, nice touch with fresh herbs on the veg, melt in your mouth beef, so tender it cuts like butter! Hats off to the chefs! The staff Are welcoming and friendly and make sure you enjoy your visit here! Really good local ales on offer here, to wet your whistle! Plenty of parking to accommodate visitors and a really good park for the kids to let off steam. Will definitely continue to eat and drink here in the future! Thankyou :)

It is not very often that my wife & myself get to go out These days. So when we do we have everything crossed that it's a good night.As soon as we walked through the door we received a warm welcome. Not only from the staff . But from the locals as well. As well as the main brands of beers there were some very tasty local brews on offer.The restaurant area was large & roomy & nicely decorated.The menu had a wonderful & varied selection of food & there was a very nice specials board .The food was cooked to perfection & the staff were very professional yet down to earth at the same time. ( we had quite a laugh actually )We are already planning our next trip.

We were traveling to the limington ferry, and looking for somewhere along the route to stop for lunch, this place was ideal, the food and service were great, lovely place, friendly staff the man who welcomed us was particularly welcoming. Loved the place.

Lovely decorated restaurant inside and out. The restoration is fenominal from the old pub to now. The staff seemed lovely so no negatives there.Myself and partner went in for a meal in the evening in August. We were the only ones in the pub at the time which I don't know if that is a good or bad sign. The food took about 45 minutes to arrive and when it did it was nothing wow. The veg seemed as though they were microwaved and portions very small. Nothing really appealed to us on the menu. Maybe a few more options of classic pub foods may be appealing? We live in Soberton so we would love this pub to be thriving as it really deserves that, but I feel something is missing with the food. We do speak to some other villagers who feel the same. Lovely venue, lovely staff and ales they provide , just let down by the variety of food available and small portions.

The pub has had a revamp since the last time I visited and it looks great! I felt very safe and welcome (as a lone lady) - would recommend this as a small detour from the railway line walk.

This lovely tastefully decorated pub I will definitely visit again if in the area. Staff very helpful. Food excellent. Dog and child friendly. Very clean. Good size car park. Real ale good too.

We both had the roast dinner (one beef and one pork) and it was absolutely delicious. The enormous home made Yorkshire Puddings and the Leek Gratin being particular highlights. Portion size was also very good. My partner then had the Banoffee Pie which he said was the best he had ever had! Lovely and polite service and the food/drinks were served very promptly. Highly recommend and can’t wait to go back with friends/family.

The Bold Forester was very tastefully refurbished a short while ago and is just a couple of minutes off the A32. It is well worth the diversion! There is plenty of parking, a large garden and a warm, dog-friendly welcome. The wide range of draft beer and premium lager is surprising for a country pub and the food is excellent. This was the third time we have eaten there and each time it has been a pleasure. The young staff members are helpful and attentive, the menu is varied and the food is good value and freshly prepared. We will be back - soon!

Best roast I've ever eaten. Everything seasoned and cooked perfectly. There was nothing below 5 stars about every item. I've been cooking since I was a kid and eat out most days, and I'm still talking about this place weeks on.

This was a first time visit. The pub seems to have been heavily refurbished recently and is very smart. The pub garden is large and well equipped.The initial service impression was poor. Had to fight to the bar through after work drinkers and didn't get a particularly friendly reception. The boss seemed to be preoccupied with some upcoming event.But once we had ordered it was uphill all the way. The service was friendly and the food delicious. We will definitely be back.

We tried this pub for a meal for the first time having used it previous for a few drinks on several occasions and we really enjoyed it. The staff are very friendly and attentive. The food was lovely and good value for money all in all a good experience. We will be back again

We have returned again on having a great meal before and we’re not disappointed again The food was amazing again The new burger buns are great Will definitely be returning next week

we went to the Bold Forester for a family meal.The food was very nice but not a lot of it and very expensive.We had a starter, one small piece with a small spoonful of mushroom in a sauce £6.95. Then the wife wanted the chicken salad at £12 something but they could not do it as they had no salad leaves so she had Caprese salad which was a tomatoe sliced up with half a mozzarela ball sliced up drizzled with olive oil £11.95 and told they could have a chicken breast with it at an additional cost of £4. As i say nice food but very expensive, also don't go if you are in a hurry service is a bit slow but it was ok for us we had time for a chat.

God alive I’ve never seen anyone present a rainbow trout like that! Absolutely outstanding! If you like trout I would really recommend it to anyone

We had a very enjoyable evening at The Bold Forester. We both enjoyed a delicious Vegan Thai Red Curry, beautifully cooked by their new head chef Catharine! There are multiple choices for vegan/veg dishes, including the famous Beyond Meat Burger, so we will definitely be back to try something else!! Service was impeccable. Great atmosphere. Lovely staff.

I've been here a number of times and always left happy however today I took my mum and left disappointedPrices increased, portions decreased, an hour wait time for our meal with no updates or apologies from staff and then when I chased it after an hour it miraculously appeared. Other tables were also in the same position as us and chasing orders, it wasn't even that busyMy mum couldn't eat her veg as it was rock hard for her, we mentioned to waiter who just said he was sorry but offered no solutionsNot much more I can say really, expectations based on previous visits were high and this one missed the mark completely

We went late on a Sunday afternoon and the dinner room was full but they found us a table in a quite side room. There was a bit of a wait probably because they were very busy but it was well worth the wait. Unfortunately they had sold out of roasts but the pork was very nice.

I am a regular customer at the Bold Forester and I am very pleased to see it surviving in an era where many pubs are closing. I have just read a review from a "lady" from Southampton who seemed surprised that some young men had removed there tops, outside in the garden on the hottest day of the year and also seemed to dislike their tattoos which is hardly any reason to complain on Trip advisor. The Bold Forester is a proper pub and relies on local trade as well as families and couples visiting the very pleasant meon valley for a trip to the countryside and a pleasant meal served by very professional and pleasant staff, unfortunately the ladies comment about hot pants appears to be unfounded but I live in hope. I think that the pub is very well managed and it is only to be expected when serving freshly prepared food that some items are going to run out on hot and busy weekends but surely that is a risk worth taking rather than have some frozen, portion controlled microwave meal that will always be in stock at a less well run establishment and would you really expect already busy bar staff to jump in their car with a coolbox just to provide an additional dish for a fussy customer. I thoroughly recommend the Bold Forester as a very very nice country pub and restaurant serving good quality, reasonably priced food and drink in a proper country pub atmosphere

After my visit 3 or 4 months ago I couldnt wait to return.Sunday roast came noticed presentation was differentI had roast pork belly I-a square chunk of slow roasted meat. Left most . Just generally ok.I am assuming theres a chef change.Real.shame

What a real shame, 2nd visit. Local family of 6 for a 45th Birthday Celebration. 5pm table sitting on a Saturday Afternoon (hottest day of June) booked 2 weeks beforehand. We were shown to our table in an empty restaurant area. Waitress looked harassed. The bar area had 6 customers in who were all absolutely blotted on beer, very loud and obtuse! Teenage girl dressed in hot pants standing behind the bar. I took my children aged 9 and 6 to the garden to play for 10 minutes to be greeted by young men with tops off covered in tattoos, foul mouthed and one asleep laying on the grass completely inebriated! There was another family in the garden trying to eat with 2 young children that were also far from impressed.I bought my children back into the restaurant to order food and be seated. The waitress came over, and informed us they’d run out of a lot of food! Really?? Unacceptable! 2 choices for our boys. I asked if they could have something from the main menu. I was greeted with “What d’you want?” If you know you are running out of food (on the Friday, as your staff was overheard saying!) THEN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!! School Boy Error! Get in you car with some cool boxes and purchase more to get you through, you cannot run out of food. You are surrounded by fantastic food suppliers. I’m astonished at the lack of business acumen. I could go on and on but you have a rough idea. The food that was served was actually very tasty. Desserts were not so good. We were never asked how our food was, or whether we would like any more drinks! 3 more tables arrived as we were eating, each to be told something else had gone from the menu. Comical. In fairness they did remove 2 disastrous desserts from our bill.I really worry for this Village Pub. I predict it will be closed within 12 - 18 months. NEWSFLASH .... You cannot survive on Beer Sales alone Bold Forester, sort it out and your clientele before it is too late! We will not return. I will be amazed if your other dining guests that night will either.

Mum and I visited this pub for lunch today (25/06/2019).Plenty of parking.A nice sized garden with a lovely play area for children.Dogs welcome.Now onto the pub interior.Lovely cottage style exterior look with low doors upon entry giving an authentic olde world feel. (if you are tall, watch your head!)To the right, is the Snug area, with very comfy sofas, a warming fire for those cool days and nights and a very relaxing "feel at home" greeting you from the moment you walk in.Toilets are just off the Snug.The other side of the pub is beautifully decorated to give a comfortable ambience for your dining experience.A well stocked bar with friendly staff awaits. We ordered two soft drinks to go with our meal.Now for the food.We sat in the back area and was given our menu. I ordered a Mushroom risotto, my mum, going for a lighter lunch, chose soup of the day (homemade mushroom soup) with a salmon and soft cheese sandwich.When our food was served. And I say served not plonked, the presentation and the aromatic flavours of the soup and risotto filled the air.The soup was so delicious, that mum said if she could have, she would have licked the bowl.Her sandwich had delicious fine cut smoked salmon, so fresh and tasty, with a light salad.My risotto was like nothing I have ever tasted before. Large portions of wild mushroom mixed with perfect cooked rice and the flavours with each mouthful melted on the tongue.Very generous size portions leaving us both full.Mum had a well presented cup of tea that looked so pretty and apparently tasted lovely.I highly recommend this pub for anyone. If you fancy just a drink or celebrate with a meal with family or friends.Hats off to the staff for a wonderful service and meal.

Popped in for Sunday lunch on a whim and I'm glad we did.Greeted with a smile and felt welcome straight away.Ordered drinks, found a table and was greeted by our waitress with yet more smiles who after giving us time took our orders. We both went for the lamb shank but alas it was too popular and had been taken off the menu so went for the beef instead.When our meals arrived it wasn't just dumped on the plate, it had been placed with care and thought and looked lovely.The beef was tender and melted in the mouth, the veg was cooked to perfection and there were crispy roasties which seems to be a rarity nowadays. Followed by a desert with just the right amount off time between the two courses.Perfection.All in all a near perfect meal in nice surroundings with staff who were friendly and inviting, who could ask for more.

Surprisingly good, food and drinks quite reasonable, nice staff, polite and helpful, recommend the roast!

Beautiful country pub! The staff were super friendly and very accommodating. It’s dog friendly too with free dog treats on the bar which are homemade locally. The food was amazing! So glad we stumbled across this will definitely be back to try more of the menu.

I do not no how anyone can give a bad review This is amazing, the staff are all friendly and helpfulFood is amazing at the price Cannot wait to go back next Sunday for another roast Thank you to Tash and the rest of the staff for a great service

On Bank holiday Monday we found ourselves at this charming coutry pub. Chocolate box from the outside and contemporary charm on the inside. A beautiful building decorated to show it at its best. Wonderful menu, friendly staff. Worth stumbling across. Will visit again .

Went in during a week day evening, and having previously spoken with other locals, the beers are not one heavy malt type but light hoppy beers and lagers. To entice locals you need at least say a Basic London Pride or to get it off the ground bottled 'Abbot' or 'Abbot Reserve' which is 4 bottles from Tesco Northarbour 4 bottles for £6, at least they would have a shelf life, Get rid of the Steam unit and Coffee shop stuff behind the bar and put another drinks cooler in. This place is fine on Sundays when you have Sunday lunch but then given the size of the place the bar area for locals is pityful. Don't let it go like a Jamie Oliver, have the sense to adapt to a locals pub with locals needs. The Staff who moved from The Kingshead know what locals needs are, so get some life into the place, before its too late.

Had a lovely roast here yesterday, we had a late booking so maybe that's why there wasn't much veg, although we had a huge portion of cauliflower cheese. Gravy was amazing and cannot fault service and the rest of the food. Will be back.

Visited here with my partner on a Sunday lunchtime. From the outside you would never have guessed the modern and stylish refit which has transformed this pub into a very pleasant eatery. The young waitress serving was attentive and charming without being too overbearing and the food of the highest quality and tasty too. All in all would recommend a visit. Well done to the owner and staff .

Just got back from Sunday lunch. I would recommend this place to anyone lovely Sunday roast, very helpful staff and a great atmosphere

After taking a walk along the Old Meon Valley Railway line finding the Bold Forester was like the icing on the cake. Service and beverages were great and the food even better. We had a lovely time in this well kept pub. Well worth a visit.

Friendly staff and a lovely place to be on a Sunday with ample parking and a great kids play area. See you again soon..... Thanks Dan, Jay and our girls 👍🏼

We thought we would give it a go, for a midweek meal, instead of our local haunts.Having heard the tale of it's rejuvenation it was more than a pleasant surprise and a thoroughly enjoyable evening.The refurb is fabulous, would like to try it in the winter, when all the fires are blazing.Dining room is very well presented, though I just feel it could do with a window - if that is my only complaint then it really is a minor one.Menu is simple and reasonable, once ordered the food wasn't quick in coming, which we took as a sign of everything being cooked freshly - which it was. We all had Pies, of different types, all were freshly cooked, hot and a good size. Flavours strong, so four happy diners.Beer wasn't to my taste, but that is my fault, not that of the pub - everyone else enjoyed theirs.Then the bill - which was another pleasant surprise, as I hadn't read the blackboard on the way in - Wednesdays are "two pies for £18" deal. Staff bubbly and happy, and so were we when we left

Great place to eat, staff Excellent and atmosphere brilliant. The food is really good but slow to arrive. Only downside is it's really difficult to get to the small bar as people sat at the bar occupy 3/4s of the space making it almost impossible to get a drink. This has put of not only us but a huge amount of our friends attending the pub on the busy periods. A real shame as this could be solved by removing the chairs completely. If you willing to lean across the locals and try and get a drink then pop in the food is great.

Had a lovely mother’s day lunch here with my family . Food was great and the atmosphere was very warm friendly and relaxing. Pub has recently been refurbished and has been done to a high standard - will be back !!

A very attractive, newly refurbished dining area. The food was top notch. We had the pate to start then I had the chicken burger with the most delicious home made lime and chilli mayo, coleslaw- again home made and chunky chips. Couldn’t fault it. Very friendly, polite staff. Definitely going back. Highly recommended.

Recently redecorated to a high standard well worth the trip out. Great service and great food. (I had the Pie, my partner had the Cajun chicken with a fabulous sauce). Friendly and efficient staff (without being over the top fawning you get in a lot of places) and great prices too. Really happy to recommend The Bold Forester, will easily be returning here. A definite 5 star rating. Thanks all

Heavingly food in a top quality environment! Best belly pork I’ve had in a while! And the homemade brownie was delicious! Will come again with friends!

This Pub is nicely decorated there was ten of us on our visit last Sunday ,And we were in a private area which was nice , The waiting staff were trying their best but there was not enough staff for the amount of customers that were in there ,The eight adults in our party ordered Sunday Roast and the two children decided to have pizza , The food took over an hour to arrive ,The meat was not from a joint, The beef was cheap thin steak strips , The chicken was a chicken breast cut up , The Carrots were virtually raw , Even the childrens Pizza bases were hard and in edible ,We did complain and the waiting staff did give us a discount and were very apologetic , The sad thing for us is that we rarely get a chance to have everybody together for a meal and this was such a dissapointment , In the end it was so bad we just had to laugh there was obviously no manager in charge and the young staff were trying their best

Four of us visited this weekend for Sunday lunch. The pub was hidden behind a hedge on the main road and from the outside looked like a fairly standard country pub but once inside it opened up into a very smart, modern dining room with a traditional feel.The guys behind the bar was extremely friendly, we didn't feel like outsiders visiting a locals pub. Tables were placed with plenty of room in-between, service was first class.We all enjoyed our meals, main courses of salmon and some great puddings, priced very reasonably.Will definitely return, thanks a lot for a great family meal

Came with my wife +3 grumpy kids.The roasts was drlicious (meat slightlly dry from being kept under a heat source) but wow good size great quality. One of the best ive had. Then desert. I cant tell you how sublime they were. They rhubarb crumble was absolute perfection. White choclate cheescake mmm. Im coming back...

Visited the Bold Forrester for Sunday Lunch without realising what a superb makeover this rural pub had received. Conveniently close to the A32, this refurbished country gem is well worth a visit. If you've visited previously (and maybe were underwhelmed) try again now, and if you've never been - take a trip there. Warm friendly welcome from hospitable team - Leonie, Joe, Emma and delightful Chef - made our visit fun and can't wait to go back. Thank you all.

We are frequent visitors, me and my wife, and we must say that the pub has truly flourished. The service is impeccable, special mention to our lovely waitress Harry. Food also lovely and fresh, never disappointed.

Chanced upon this pub by accident, and enjoyed lunch enormously. Sweet lass behind the bar encouraged us try the beers and lagers to pick our choice - excellent - and lunch was hot, wholesome, tasty and well-served. Dog loved it too. Deserves to be busier.

As a group of us who go out once a month to local country pubs we're always on the look out for somewhere new to try.Knowing this pub has been recently refurbished and was under new management we were keen to give it a go.The pub itself has been refurbed to a very high standard and offers a warm welcoming along with very pleasant staff.We sat at the big table in the middle of the main dinning room, which is lovely however the lights hanging over the table are very bright (all 3 of them!) I would like to see a softer or more dimmed light offered which would help to create a warmer and more intimate experience especially of an evening; I did find it hard to look at my dinning companions beyond these lights! Other than that the table and seating itself were very comfortable and spacious.On to the food. We were a bit disappointed to be informed they'd sold out of burgers (before making our choices) and that they only had 1 portion of the fish pie left which we weren't told about until after 4 of us had selected it as our choice.That aside I found what I had to be very mediocre (ribs), a couple of the party had buttermilk chicken which looked dry and unappetizing and another had the ham, egg and chips; if you don't like your eggs raw on top make this clear when ordering or perhaps the waiting staff can ask how the guests like their eggs? The fish pie and risotto both looked nice and received positive comments.Puddings! At £6 a pop I'd have expected them to be really good and at least home made; this appeared not to be the case. The syrup sponge was dry and lacking syrup, the accompanying custard was awful. What I had, the chocolate fondant was nice enough but too expensive for what it was and my companions was over cooked. None of the food that we had seemed to be homemade which was a shame and didn't seem to warrant the slow service on a quiet Friday night. I think the prices need to be looked at and be more appropriate to the standard of food being served or the quality of it needs to be better to justify the prices. I feel there's bags of potential with this lovely pub, it just really, really needs closer attention to the quality and execution of the food being served. I'll love to come back to this pud in 6 months time and give it 5 stars because it deserves it!I will definitely be back for a drink at the very least.

Visited the Bold Forrester at Soberton last night with friends and family. Nice relaxed atmosphere, the staff made us feel welcome and were friendly and polite. We decided to eat there, I finally choose smoked haddock & broad beans risotto, so glad I did it was so tasty! Yum! would recommend it!

We visited this pub/restaurant after a long walk along the Meon trail (a disused old railway line). It was a super stop off and we would thoroughly recommend The Bold Forester for good food and great staff. Staff were really friendly to us and our little dog who was greeted with a tasty homemade dog treat. The food was good and the restaurant was beautifully decorated. We enjoyed the beetroot tart, Welsh rarebit and the bbq ribs.

Have eaten twice in the Bold Forester and the food and service is outstanding., but if you locals don't start supporting it, you'll have another block of flats where this beautiful pub stood.The meal was faultless, as was the wine and beer. The refurb is great, and wholly in keeping with the building, fixtures fittings, everything is greatSo, wise up and support your community assets, now !!!Bob & Tracey Ward Denmead

We had a lovey lunch at the Bold Forester. It is wonderful to see the pub has been restored. Friendly staff, nice food, worth a visit

An amazing village pub- over 350 people gathered for the retirement of our wonderful village postman. Martin. The pub made us so welcome and created a wonderful village occasion. Thank you so much. We will be back.

Went for lunch as we were seeing some friends close by apart from another couple only people in there we ordered drinks served by a nice polite young lady very good service. We then ordered a couple of items from the limited lunch menu I went for scampi my partner ordered the Brie tart arrived promptly well presented as my partner started to eat realised the tart was totally frozen inside bearing in mind there was less than 6 people chef was hardly under pressure, waitress took it away and promised another 15minutes later I had finished my food by then,another tart arrived in exactly the same condition "frozen in the middle" I would have thought if there was a problem with the first one chef would have checked to see if the second was ok clearly no supervision....at that point we left, shame surroundings and the waitress/barmaid was really helpful

It was so refreshing to have this level of service, we have not seen it in English restaurants for the past 20/30 years, a warm and genuine welcome from the owners who have just returned from a life in France, The staff were also kind courteous and happy which was also refreshing to see. The Sunday menu was a bit lacking for my own taste but it was based around a 3 course Sunday roast which was superb, fresh, well presented and a pleasure to see. It was a breath of fresh air. Highly recommended. Paul & Jane Harmer.

Great Pub with great food and friendly staff I’ve been here with my fiancee and with family too and would thoroughly recommend it

Called in on the off chance on Bank Holiday Monday lunchtime. Although we were quite early, we were suprised to find the restaurant completely empty! A few other tables became occupied later on, but it was still very quiet for a Bank Holiday, which was a shame because we had a lovely lunch! They do a lunch menu for £7 which has hot food such as Lasagne & Garlic Bead, Sausage & mustard mash as well as baguettes and sandwiches with inventive fillings. The service was friendly, the beer good and the house burger was enormous! We'll be back!

Came back from holiday in dire need of a good Sunday lunch and after hearing the father in law had visited earlier in the day and enthused about decided to have a late lunch. Garden was busy but ate indoors, friendly and prompt service followed. Starters and children's meals came out first as requested and were good. Main courses of roast beef and pork soon followed and were excellent. Ale was well kept too. Would recommend.

Went to the Bold Forester for a Saturday evening meal.The menu was enticing, the venue was nice albeit a little quiet. The food was very well presented and cooked to perfection - excellent. But, the time waited for food was unacceptable. Although informed of a twenty minute delay on arrival, this proved to be highly wrong. Table was pre-booked for 8pm, eventually the Starters was served at 8.55 and then a further 35 minute delay for main dishes to arrive. Although the staff were very apologetic, they didn't seem to be able to supply a reason for the delay. I was unable to find the Manager to have a discussion with, There were only a few tables being used, all of which were 'complaining' about the delay. Shame, but not acceptable, spoilt what should have been a good evening.

The pub is nicely refurbished and we had an excellent Sunday lunch. The staff were friendly and the service was very good. We will certainly go back.

Went out with a few friends with expectations set by some previous reviews. As expected it looks fantastic they’ve done an excellent job refurbishing the pub. I thought it would be busier but we were the only 4 eating which detracted a little from the atmosphereThe menu was sufficiently varied to mean it took us some time to order. The service was good, but as no one else was eating it would have been a disaster if it hadn’t been. I was expecting small portions as someone had previously commented on that. All I can say is whoever it was must have a gigantic appetite as the portions were close to American size. The food itself was good pub food. Not fabulously refined but much better than chain pub restaurants and quite reasonably priced, less than £12 for pork belly is excellent value. Overall I’d say the restaurant offers good value food that lacks a bit of refinement with adequate service.

Stopped for Lunch midweek, after walking in the area. The food was very good, with beautifully prepared vegetables. My wife had sea bream, and was very impressed. I had a lamb steak, which was cooked a little more than I like, though I did not specifically ask for it to be pink, but otherwise the meal was very good indeed. Service was very friendly and efficient. I would happily go back when I am next in the area.

We visited this pub for a meal last night. It’s a local pub for us and we are wiling the food to get better. This is our fourth visit and it hasn’t got any better. We were greeted by friendly bar staff and went to our table. The menu looks and sounds great, but to be on the safe side I would order one of the burgers. We ordered a meat platter and breaded Brie to start. Both were ok but we were told the meat platter would have 4 of each meats but I fact had one, between 4 it didn’t go far. I ordered chicken Kiev it was dry with no taste of garlic it came with new potatoes they weren’t seasoned and there was no sauce for the dish, I didn’t eat any. My friend ordered baked sea bass it came out in a rice dish the peas where old and a horrible green colour, we guessed they were either tinned or old. When they came and cleared the plates we weren’t asked if everything was ok, and they could clearly see I hadn’t touched mine. We waited for 30 mins and weren’t offered a desert menu, when I did catch the eye of the waitress I asked could I order a desert because i was still hungry she said oh i will have to go and se if the kitchen is still open (it was only 9pm). She came back and put menus on the table so we assumed it was still open. I ordered a brownie. It was burnt on the outside and dry in the middle. We so wanted the food to get good at the pub that’s why we have kept coming back, but unfortunately they seemed to have got ‘the look’ but seriously in need of a good chef. Friday nights should be a busy time but we were one of two tables eating. I really hope things improve.

Three of us booked a table for 2pm on a Sunday to enjoy a roast dinner. Arrived to find plenty of parking. Bar area and two separate dining areas. Shown to our reserved table but given the option to change if we preferred somewhere else, we didn't need to as it was fine. Lovely new decor and fresh feel to the dining areas. Ordered the Roast Chicken and Pork Sunday lunches. Very tasty and decent sized portions. Friendly and welcoming staff very attentive did not need to wait for drinks or bill. Would definitely recommend and return.

While on holiday, came to the Bold Forester with several friends who are local to the area. They mentioned that the Pub has been recently renovated and re-launched. We all found the staff to be super-friendly, the food excellent and the atmosphere lively. Great selection of beer and wine.

Had a fantastic afternoon and evening here, very smart pub, great food and bar staff all very friendly. Will certainly be going back. Great place.

This was our second visit to the recently refurbished pub, this time with the kids and dog passing through. Very friendly and accommodating staff, the menu gave great choice and we left to continue our travels to the coast feeling well fed but at the same time with our taste buds tingling. My wife and I went for the prawn risotto and the lamb shank which was cooked to perfection.We would highly recommend the food and atmosphere here.

First the positives. A great atmosphere, fine ales, friendly staff, large car park, immaculate facilities and a significant investment by the stakeholders. Dog friendly.Then it went downhill when ordering a Salmon and Prawn Linguini from the specials board. No Salmon at all, but Choritzo so really poor for fish eating vegetarians. Just delivered to the table so a total miscommunication with the kitchen. Garlic bread advertised with the meal did not arrive and had to be requested. Parmesan cheese also had be chased even though it was part of the order on the specials board. The cheese was not even grated so useless to put over the languini.Waiting staff very apologetic and manger called. She was also apologetic but didn’t grasp the severity of serving meat to a vegetarian palate. Finally asked me and my guest to leave without paying. Not wishing to take advantage. Paid for everything apart from my meal. Unbelievable arrogance and the business owners neeed a complete rethink on customer service levels, misinformation, a total lack of communication between the kitchen and the restaurant and serving meat in my meal is quite appalling.I wonder if they will respond here?This was a first visit for many years. I would love to return but feel that I have been banned for life. Hint : Don’t complain about the food!

We had lunch today here, great variety on the menu, good value and honestly priced - £7 rather than £6.99. Tranquil garden or comfy seats inside, the toughest choice. Charming owners, simply there to make your visit a pleasure. The Mediterranean lamb past was just perfection. This is a wonderful village pub where one can relax, forget about the dreadful rip-off just experienced with Viagogo ( never ever use them!) and share the long afternoon over a well kept pint of beer. Or Cider, the choice is yours. Go there!

Pleasant venue and friendly staff. Menu sparse and food very 'light'. Honestly, we left feeling hungry. A little more attention to both quantity and quality would have been appreciated at a higher price.

Had a meal here while staying just around the corner for the weekend.The place looks clean and newly renovated, with a contemporary look to it. Staff are friendly and helpful - charming one might say.Food was good - mussels for starter cooked well. Large salad came with the Fishcakes, and the duck burger (on the specials board) was also very good.Desserts were also good. Sticky toffee pudding and *gluten free* brownie.To summarise, nice atmosphere, you're spread around the building and not cheek by jowl. Friendly helpful staff, and good food. It's in the middle of nowhere, but there's a car park so no problem! Go and enjoy!

Visited this pub couple of days ago. The old shabby place has long gone and lots of thought gone into great refurbishment. Lots of bar space - six of us sat in what used to be old restaurant. Main bar was full. Great they have it as a pub (local brewery beer) with great pub food. We had great service and the ladies behind the bar were very chatty. Loved it so much booked again for the weekend as new kids play area just opened outside. Now just need to book the weather!!!!

Arriving with my large party myself and my guests were apprehensive knowing this was a brand new refurbished pub with little reputation or publicity.We needn't have worried as from the moment we walked through the door the experience was fantastic from start to finish . Food:portions are sizeable ,for some people too much ; however for big eaters will certainly put a smile on their faces (I'm one and was from ear to ear ) went for the burger myself - lush with a spicy coleslaw on the side which complimented the burger superbly .Pork belly and Lamb Shank were popular choices amongst our team and went down with only positive words ! Desserts.... Wow,just wow!Service : excellent and unfussy . All our needs were attended to in a professional and precise manner ; even more importantly this genuinely was service with a smile , certainly staff who looked happy in their jobs!Decor/Ambience : Gone are pool tables and dart boards replaced with a giant clock sparkling shiny glasses and higher quality furniture and fittings . Atmosphere was bustling with locals enjoying local ales and casual diners envious of each others dishes (you can only have one !) Fantastic . Overall : Ambitious, Bold , however by the looks of things a wise move ! We'll be back !

The Bold Forester has recently reopened after a change of ownership and major refurbishment. It is located in a small village in rural Hampshire and with a lack of public transport and few houses within walking distance, having plenty of car parking space is essential. The building is old and listed but the interior is now very modern and functional although not particularly cosy. There are two good sized eating areas and a garden but wellington boots would be necessary at present. The staff were very friendly and welcoming and the service was excellent. The menu choice was fairly limited and somewhat misleading but the food was reasonable albeit not spectacular. There was however a good choice of drinks offered at reasonable prices. It is good to see that the pub has been brought back to life when other pubs in the area have closed but there are a few things that need to be ironed out if it is to survive.

Previously loved this country pub for a casual drink and a chat with the locals.Popped in for a drink to see what it was now like after refurbishment.Incredibly bright in there which kills any feeling of comfort or charm.If you are just drinking it does not accommodate groups of four or more very well, the tables are mostly organised in two's in the bar area.Did not eat in there so could not comment on the restaurant, but the restaurant made itself known by the overwhelming smell of frying / chip fat. The blue haze could be seen wafting around the restaurant area.To be honest we couldn't get out of there quick enough to get away from the pong, so please sort your extractors out!

I live locally so have eaten here several times since the Boldie reopened a month ago. The menu is good and when it eventually arrives the food is tasty and well cooked. The service though leaves a lot to be desired. The waiting staff seem very inexperienced generally, and don’t know the detail of the different dishes, or indeed what menu is being served at what time of day. Although there seem to be plenty of staff around, the wait for food, in a restaurant that is hardly busy (three other tables max), is unacceptable. The bar seems very disorganised and poorly managed. They frequently run out of ale, and managed to charge a vastly different price for each of two identical bottles of wine served during a recent meal with friends.I really want this pub to succeed but the management need to get a grip and do so quickly. Given the high level of investment that has clearly gone into the refurbishment I find this really surprising. The honeymoon period is coming to an end.

We live in the area and was eagerly waiting for the ‘Opening’ of this pub. The new owner has done a beautiful job with the renovation and decor. Very modern and loads of room is you’re wanting a booking for a large group. Sadly, for us, it’s to bright and to modern for an intimate & cosy meal. No candles or electric tea lights. The food was presented well. The bacon & Brie was typical and if you wanted chips it was an extra £2.75. Soup was presented well with a crispy warm baguette but unfortunately it was very bland & watery. I’m sure it will take them some time to ‘get it right’ because it’s a lovely addition to the neighbourhood. We wish them every success.