The Boot Inn in Test Valley

We went on recommendation after checking the Trip Advisor reviews and were not disappointed. Luckily we prebooked because on our arrival at 2:30pm, the restaurant and bar areas were full. We were quickly shown to our table and drinks were ordered.

We wanted to thank our overnight hosts and the Boot was their suggestion. And what a delicious delight… cod and chips, pinkish liver and mash and skate wings for us, with 2 beers and 2 coffees, and a top, just over £100……. amazing quality for the price, plus charming service

We visited for lunch earlier in the month and enjoyed lunch so invited some friends on a return visit a few weeks later. It was rather a disappoitment as the meals were not up to the standard we had enjoyed before - not a disaster, but not high on our list to return again.

This used to be a superb country pub in a wonderful riverside location, in fact one of my all time favourite pubs. Sadly the new management have very successfully transported it to terrible. Tiny menu badly cooked, badly presented, served by clueless staff. It breaks my heart to see a great pub deteriorate to this level. Sadly we will not be returning.

Great variety of food covering all price brackets. Superb quality and value for money. Very good beers and lagers plus good wine list - catered for all of us. Staff professional and friendly. All Covid issues fully addressed. Great traditional English pub with friendly atmosphere

Reopened with a new team and Management. Friendly and welcoming, high quality food. Thoroughly recommend a visit

Four of us (adults) visited on a Thursday evening in January. Service was very good. The menu was slightly reduced due to a temporary problem with the supply of some fresh fish from their suppliers. The waitress was quite honest about it (only a few dishes were affected) and I was actually pleased to hear that they had refused frozen fish from the fishmonger as the chef insists only in fresh fish. I ordered a risotto main. I have to say it was rather salty which was a shame as the underlying flavours and consistency were good. The other three mains were all excellent - as were the desserts. There appeared to be a good outdoor area with outside bar. A lovely, clean pub serving decent quality fresh food. We will definitely visit again, probably in the warmer weather so we can check out the garden area.

Had lunch here on Monday. Shared a Fish platter - lovely. Helpful staff. Lovely beer garden by the river. Impressed by the cleanliness of the outside areas.

We had a good Sunday lunch here, with excellent sevice and well cooked food. The pub was busy on our arrival but didn't feel cramped or noisy. We and our guests had excellent and tasty main courses with good helpings of meat and vegtables and even an extra jug of gravy. Only the roast potatoes let this meal down as they were slightly undercooked but that is being a bit picky. Between us we had three different roast dinners, pork which was declared to be tender and moist, lamb shoulder which was tasty and lean and some beautifully cooked roast beef. The apple crumble was delicious, cooked as it should be with Bramley apples and served with custard although the crumble topping was less traditional being more like a granola but it was superb, crunchy and sweet and worked well with the tart apple. It was excellent value for money with high quality ingredients.

Havng visited my son and daughter-in-law in Andover recently he booked The Boot as his choice of restaurant to celebrate his birthday. We were greeted by a lovely barman who saw to our drinks and very quickly we were shown to our table as the reception for bookings and diners is adjacent to the bar. Furbished well and up-to-date with decor and seating that is a mishmash of different tables and chairs, which seams to be the in thing. We were given a well polished oval table very near a back exit door which to where it led i have no idea as we dined in the evening and it was dark. As a party of six this table allowed plenty of "elbow room" in which to comfortably eat. The shape of the table ideal to be able to converse with everyone which is always nice. The waitress was prompt with menus which are truly extensive with the addition to specials on boards mounted on the walls for everyone to see easily wherever you may be seated (more than one board). Needless to say we all took a time to choose. We all had starters, deep fried brie, soup, prawn cocktail and sissled king prawns in garlic with choritzo X 3. All served more or less together which allowed us all to start at the same time. Each and every dish well presented, generous and enjoyed by all. For main dishes we had, belly pork with crackling, texas steak, lamb shank x 2, pasta, and the most enourmous mixed grill i have ever seen in my life. Unfortunately my son would not allow me to photograph it, had to be seen to be believed. Again good presentation arriving in stages this time but with very little time to wait. We were asked if all was ok a short time after starting which i actually like, i feel this is a nice personal touch rather than "here is your food i am off now". Although they had a wonderful selection of desserts we honestly could not manage another mouthful, you know when you are sensibly full. I had a french coffee and my husband an ordinary coffe rather than more alcohol!!!! The reason for my title is that two table away from us Craig Revel Horwood was dining with what appeared to be a partner and what we thought we heard was his Mother and another guest for her birthday. Although a celebrity i can honestly say every diner that evening was treated exactly the same apart from the Chef coming to the table for a chat. Can live with that and "the darlings" heard more than once obviously. On paying at the desk on exit we meet the lady owner and her great loving puppy dog, to whom was only allowed out after talking to her, The Boot was more or less empty when we left. So if you like big dogs, be sure to cuddle this big softie he is so adorable. If in Andover and you do not want to be let down by going somewhere to dine i so highly recommend this characterful place to eat and drink. All in all a fantastic experience. This Landlady has so got it right, long may she continue.

Sunday lunch booked in the garden - having checked their web site menu (roast beef etc) we were on arrival told that this was not available in the garden and we had to use the garden catering section. So I bought some drinks (long delay as their card machine wasn't functioning properly) and off we went to the rear garden. Long queue to order food from an inferior menu and an over-powering smell from the nearby toilets that reminded me of Glastonbury loos. I was told that I couldn't order food without the wooden spoon which was on our table- there wasn't one. I left my card behind the counter which meant that our guest had to buy the next round of drinks in the main bar as the garden section doesn't serve real ale or wines. We waited nearly an hour for basic food (Cajun chicken n chips) etc to arrive. We asked for mayo at the counter to be told that they had run out of it. Really poor response. The entire meal was plagued by wasps- girls at the next table were screaming and their boyfriends were more terrified. And it is a bit perverse that the adjoining property owner chose lunch time to mow his lawn so our conversation was drowned by a mower going up and down which I know is nothing the pub can do about. At least he didn't light a bonfire. I then had to queue again in order to pay - listening to the chef swearing about the orders and trying not to breathe in the toilet aroma- again their card machine didn't work properly and caused a delay. Just couldn't wait to leave- this place is really poorly managed (the young guy going around the garden tables did his best) and i would suggest that management have Sunday lunch at the Bush Inn at Ovington which is in a similar lovely setting to see how it should be done.