The Cricketers Inn in East Hampshire

Such friendly staff. Delicious and reasonably priced Sunday lunch. The garden was delightful. Would be very happy to make the trip again.

Dog walk through the commons and stopped for cold drink Sat in the garden and also had a beef roast Plenty of food on the plate and meat was lovely Friendly staff and all the dogs in the garden enjoyed the meat scraps after kitchen closed

Thursday night Burger was the best I’ve had in ages , loads of chips too. & a side of slaw .all in front of a roaring fire, just perfect . The deal was a bonus . Luckily we’re local so we can visit anytime we like

Excellent burgers last night. Chilli for me and chicken for my wife. I do not usually eat burgers but we both thought these were exceptional. Highly recommended every Thursday. Excellent beers and a good atmosphrre

My wife and I had lunch at the pub earlier this week. The roast lunch is always good but this time Tony excelled himself. We both enjoyed it very Much. Plenty of meat (beef) and a range of roast veg; excellent beer as well (Courage Best). Fine food and good value for money. Peter Roeder, Headley Down

First time in for a Sunday roast. Absolutely lovely plates were all empty and we were all stuffed. Looking forward to going back for dinner again.

Another brilliant music festival at the cricketers. Brilliant band's and friendly people. Beer is good. Food is great. The staff are surperb. Can't wait to get back there again

We were looking for a quiet, rural stop over in our camper van and the landlord very kindly allowed us to stay in his paddock at short notice. The pub is pretty and the beer and wine selection very good. There is a private fishing lake which we walked the dog around (the dog also got lucky with the scraps from another guests sun lunch!) We were very grateful for the stay.

Been to the Cricketers in Kingsley. What a lovely welcoming traditional pub with great food and lovely bar staff. My Husband thinks it’s the best Kebab he has ever had delicious he doesn’t have salad or anything as he’s super fussy and just wants cheese but they are so accommodating nothing is ever a problem 😋

Popped into the cricketers today for Sunday lunch. Absolutely fantastic, tasty and extremely generous portions!! Friendly and prompt service. Real Sunday roast made with love ❤️ Thanks definitely be back.

Really lovely pub very cosy, friendly great service with a smile and amazing burgers!!! Perfect garden for the kids to play football while we have a beer in peace!

Just been to this little gem of a country pub,well I say little The outside area is enormous Playground for the little ones and plenty of tables and cover for everyone else Had the Sunday roast and I have to say it was the best pub roast we have ever had Just like home cooked Wonderful staff,really friendly and welcoming Will 100 Per cent be returning to this gem of Kingsley

Arrived and told there might be a bit of a wait for our food an hour and a half later nothing had arrived not even an apology I asked how much longer our food would be to be told at least another 20 minutes but you can cancel if you don’t want to wait ! Nearly 2 hours for a roast dinner that they knew we would be ordering as we had booked ! Awful customer service

We had booked a table for 2pm, we arrived early and ordered some drinks, food ordered at just gone 2pm. (We ordered five roast beef and a nut roast). At 1515 we asked how much longer, and told at least another 20 mins or we could cancel. We cancelled and paid our drinks bill. Was a real shame, told just one in the kitchen but we couldn't wait any longer, no given any idea on the length of the delay

Haven't been here for food before, but found it very good. Cosy but popular and friendly local pub. Food was very good, but a bit of a limited menu. Beer very nice and service nice too. Look forward to a visit again soon.

I have visited this pub but on this visit I was very disappointed. Previous to this visit the food was of a high standard I appreciate that the chef has changed but we waited ages no butter no ketchup. The food was definitely below standard.

My daughter and family have recently moved to nearby Beacon Hill and when I visited last week, we took the opportunity to drive around the nearby villages finding out what was available, getting to know local routes etc. We planned a visit to The Cricketers Inn in Kingsley as I had passed it one afternoon towards the end of summer and spotted a crowd of people outside in the garden are and they all seemed to be having a jolly time. We had a warm welcome from behind the bar and from the log fire blazing away in the grate. It was quite quiet being a Thursday lunchtime so the food and drink were delivered very promptly. A pint of beer and a glass of wine together with a BLT with triple cooked chips and a burger with the same. Food was great and we enjoyed our time in the pub. Had a little chat with the chef at the end and thanked him for our lunch. He gave us a leaflet about the Christmas offerings and we'll be happy to return. It's definitely on our list for a re-visit at some time.

Superb, cosy, traditional pub, full of character and atmosphere with the added bonus of excellent beer and a truly fabulous rump steak + glass of wine for only £14 (steak night). And two wood burning stoves, too. No, I'm not a local, talking the place up, just a delighted itinerant who will definitely be back!

We waited over an hour for our food, my fish and chips were very good but everyone else's food wasn't so good, a very heavy burger, and dried out roasts, that looked like they had been plated up hours ago. Our waitress must have been roped in against her will, as she really did not have a clue about good service. I hope this was just a one off as it is lovely pub in a great spot for walks.

A really great Sunday roast. Both lamb and beef options were delicious and only £13 each! Cant go wrong

A good welcome to this reburbished caracter pub! The roast was the best I have had , and especially reasonable! Lovely logburner and free coffee! Who ever wrote a bad review that must have been before the new owners! Thank you, we will be back!

Despite having a large outside area, the inside is very small and unclean.. especially the toilets. The thing that shocked me the most was overhearing the ‘locals’ talking about the chefs relations with the bar staff .. a young bar staff girl. I am shocked at how the owner can happily allow this to continue without a care.

Friendly staff, clean olde worlde pub, two big red leather chesterfields by the log burner and coffee table with scrabble/games. The menu is just right, good selection without being too many items on it and average prices, but what you get for your money is good food! - not the churned out frozen string chips served in other places, but fat chips, triple cooked and tasty, quality meat, hand made burgers are delicious. It made such a great change for my vegetarian friend to have 6 choices of mains! We have re-booked already- the new owners are making such an effort and it shows positively.

My Grandpa loves a roast dinner - I'd been here before for one a few months before, so I suggested the Cricketers and we were not disappointed! Great food and great value for money (Grandpa approved!), staff were lovely and nothing was too much trouble despite having a large group who had booked in, the staff made us all feel welcome. Excellent! Will definitely be coming back

A year into the new ownership of The Cricketers, it gets better and better with each visit. Great burgers, great beer/wine selection, all clean and tidy, so much improved that it doesn't feel like the old place at all..... brilliant!!!! Well done to one and all

Came after a dog walk, this lovely newly refurbished pub has so much to offer! Local ales and really friendly service! Attentive and the food offering was amazing.

Arrived on a Saturday afternoon to enjoy drinks in the garden with friends and children, ordered food which arrived 1.5hrs late, we had to return the starter 3 times as it was under cooked, main meals arrived “ ham egg and chips” unable to eat as food was cold and eggs like bullets. Steak was ordered “medium” my son started to eat and blood was visible, “ rare “ after this we brought attention of staff that we were not happy with the food or service. We were then told that they could not cope with our order as they had just sacked there chef, I then asked if they could put my children’s food on a take away plate to take home as at this time we were waiting 2hrs plus for there food, then to my disgust I was presented with chicken burger and chips that was presented in old WALLS ice cream containers. This was a complete shock and completely disreputable to me and my family. I will certainly not be returning and would not recommend any future visits to future customs. Very disappointing and horrendous service.

So relieved when the pub was bought by new owners. It’s just lovely now. Great atmosphere and fantastic food, a real pleasure to visit 😃. We’re moving from the village soon - this place will be sorely missed 😢

A lovely little pub with lots of character. We went on their Thursday steak night, the main menu was also available. I chose rump steak and my partner had the ribeye. It was fantastic, cooked perfectly and delicious. Staff were super friendly and on the ball, will definitely be visiting again. Thank you

I’m so thrilled that this pub has been taken over by new owners, as it is on our doorstep. It’s a friendly local, situated next to Kingsley Pond and Kingsley Common, so great for dog walking. The bar area is very dog friendly and has a few tables that you can sit at with your dogs, plus a couple of sofas for lounging on (humans that is). So far, we’ve had excellent food. My husband and I went there on Valentine’s day, and again on Mothering Sunday, and both times the food was delicious. There was a young lad serving on Mothers’ Day, and he was clearly inexperienced, but this didn’t bother us at all as he was courteous and helpful and will soon learn the ropes. But I’m wondering if this may have contributed to the issues experienced by another reviewer who ate here that same day. Since then, we have started to visit regularly. We ate a very tasty steak for Steak Night Thursday. Maybe the steak could have been seasoned more, but the meat itself was full of flavour, and tender. Steak and triple cooked chips for two, plus two pints came in at £40, including tip, which I think is excellent value. And the burgers are amazing: you really need to try these if you like a home cooked burger. Best in Hampshire!

Had lunch here with my wife after walking.My wife ordered a lamb shank and i ordered fish pie, but when we saw the enormous portion of lamb shank we swapped orders. Both dishes were beautifully cooked, but it was disappointing that the food had cooled down before coming to the table. When we mentioned this as plates were cleared, we received an apology and our bill was reduced, so we felt that we were treated fairly.

We heard that this pub was in new hands and it had moved on from the "thing" that purported to be a pub for a few years.

After a long walk 7 of us enjoyed a great lunch in this lovely cosy pub. The disappointment is that because it was Wednesday there were some meals missing off the menu. This is apparently because they are not open for food Monday or Tuesdays. They must rectify this. Other than that the food was well cooked and arrived hot.

We visited this pub today for an early Mother’s Day meal, but were really disappointed. We had prebooked a table, but it wasn’t ready for half an hour after the booked time slot. When we did get the table, it then took 1.5 hours for the meals to arrive at the table (there were 7 of us, so a slightly larger group I guess). One meal and two sides never arrived. Three of the meals came, and it took another 15- 20 minutes and for the other three to arrive, by which time the others who had already got their meal has finished.

I have been using the pub for the last four years but the pub obtained new owners late last year. They are certainly making a difference, with changes in staff,attitude and cleanliness. I had dinner at the pub two weeks ago and found the meal very tasty

A lovely country pud such a good atmosphere the food is amazing for the price Sunday roast is one of the best I have ever tried hlghly recommend it

The food and service was amazing. Eaten here a few times since the pub has been taken over. The roast is the best roast we have ever had out. Highly recommend. The staff are very efficient and welcoming. It’s also dog friendly. It’s now an asset to the village. K

Wow what can I say the roast was out standing I have never had a meal so tasty it was definitely fine dining . The chef should have a few Michelin stars . The staff was very friendly . This was the best Sunday afternoon I have spent in such a long time . The atmosphere was so good I could have stayed for hours but had to get home for my dog . Our desserts was as good as our main meal there was four of us and we all had something different and was all outstanding .. A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THE STAFF AND MOST OF ALL NICK THE CHEFF ...

The food was delicious! My husband had the Hampshire ribeye & it was cooked to perfection! He commented that it was the best steak he had tasted for a good while!

Very polite service and roast dinner was delicious and plentiful. very friendly pub with lovely atmosphere

Having visited the Cricketers, infrequently over the years, with general disappointment it was a pleasant surprise to find that the new owners had decluttered, revamped and generally improved the building. The food has improved immeasurably.

Having heard this rather tired pub had been taken over in May we decided to give it a try. Looks much smarter from outside and the interior is pleasant.

This pub has never been great for food in the 15 years i have known it. just recently with new owners it looks and seems to have got better. word of mouth and also passing it every day makes you intrigued as they have smartened it up nicely

Booked Lunch with friends at the Cricketers Pub at Kingsley. Food was excellent, service good,well worth a visit.

Took over half an hour for our order to be taken, people arrived after us and their orders were taken first... Sunday roast was over priced, unprofessional and would not return

I live locally and have done most my life , on the odd occasion I popped in here for a drink but it was always run down and just tired ... I returned home from my holiday early on the 10th , had a day to ourselves so we decided on trying for a quick lunch .. An absolute delight , under new management and they are fantastic , very chatty , very friendly and likeable people , we had a great meal and met the chef . He was perfectly polite and charming , full of local knowledge and willing to please ... So good to see it becoming a great local pub ... long may it last I shall be back very soon for my Sunday roast .

A group of six of us ate here yesterday and were delighted with the food and service. Between us we sampled the beef, pork, chicken and nut roast all of which were delicious. The vegetables were perfectly cooked and having roast beetroot meant my husband was in heaven! Tasty gravy accompanied the meals and the Yorkshire puddings were acclaimed. We were impressed with the prices of food and drinks.

We have just had one of the nicest pub Sunday Lunches in many moons. We had trepidations because the reviewers on TA know best...Right ? Sadly no so. We both had the very generous portion of Hampshire Roast Beef, tender as could be and beautifully cooked, served on mound of roasted beetroot, carrots peas and kale. The potatoes were cooked thru and crispy and all topped off with a monumental homemade Yorkshire pud.. The gravy was clearly made with a proper beef stock, red wine and herbs and I would have been happy to drown in it. Service was a little chaotic today as there had been problems but they advised of this from the start and we were happy to wait. The puds looked devine but sadly no space :( Every good wish for this business under it's new ownership, we shall be back ! Dear me just 4 miles from home... How lucky are we ? Well done guys, it was delicious.

Visiting from Australia and staying with family in Kingsley, first visit in many years, it was great to find an old style English pub that still had some character. Friendly staff, great food and plentiful, worthwhile stopping in for a meal and drink

Very friendly atmosphere, wood burning fires, nice staff - perfect combo!

This pub is a mess! Not only the building exterior, especially the front garden, the toilet facilities are disgusting and the landlord arrogant and unwelcoming. Choice of draught drinks are limited, and if available, very poor quality. Soft drinks are dispensed from large bottles on the bar and often flat and warm. This has been our local pub for years, and despite many chances for improvement, promises of improvement, it just does not change. Would not recommend to anyone. Such a shame as the pub could be a fantastic place with the right person at the helm.

We had come to the pub for dinner with some friends. When we ordered some drinks, we waited fifteen minutes for our drinks. When they finally showed up, all the soft drinks were flat and room temperature! Later, I noticed why; they had large soft drink bottles out in the open and just poured from these every time. The food was also below par, my burger was soggy and undercooked. The toilets were old and there was a lot of muck around the radiators. The only saving grace was the sticky toffee pudding, which was delicious served with warm custard. Would not recommend

fantastic Christmas decorations two roaring open fires excellent guest bitter very warm welcome a small menu but enough choice good price range large portions good value

I stayed for one night at the weekend as my dad's house is walkable from the pub. The rooms are ok but on closer inspection quite dirty. The fridge was dirty and there was visible muck on the radiator (not just behind it but all over the top). The bathroom was old and not spotless. There is no cooked breakfast which I can deal with for the price, however the cold breakfast consisted of only cereal. There was one orange juice and one water in the fridge between two people. The rooms are cheap and I am not expecting a palace for the low price, however the dirt and very poor breakfast unfortunately really let it down.

The Cricketers has recently been refurbished and is much cosier and homely as a result - it's become a real hidden gem.

Having seen chalk boards outside this pub thought would pop in for a ploughman's and a beer with hubby and dog, having checked out reviews on here, which were mixed, but as pub was very local thought we'd give it a go, right?

Acabábamos de terminar un precioso paseo por la zona de Kingsley y pensamos estanque sería un buen almuerzo en el cricketers justificados. Este es un peculiar, pub rústico, que está lleno de encanto. Mi amigo es vegetariano y estaba tan contento de probar el desayuno durante todo el día la opción de comida vegetariana. Sin embargo, fui por un bocadillo riquísimo atún con patatas fritas. Este fue un gran almuerzo y el perro disfrutamos de unirse a nosotros. Nos sentamos afuera y fue un gran día para hacerlo. Había otro patrón que había pedido un almuerzo y mi plowman bondad que tuvimos envidia el almuerzo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fue una fuente enorme de comida y tenía una gran selección de quesos! Este pub es tan buena para combinar un poco de ejercicio, por ejemplo caminar perro antes de disfrutar de una buena comida de honesto.

Eso es verdad; las señales son siempre fuera a ser abierto mostrando, pero no!

Una mesa de 7 para el almuerzo en el Día de la madre, decepción por una serie de cosas! Teniendo casi perdido la voluntad de vivir por el martilleo constante de la puerta al lado de nosotros. Tuvimos que convertir en una broma cada vez...

La carne era encantador, sin embargo el resto de el asado fue una decepción enorme. Yorkshires eran correosos, patatas asadas y no quemados; a pesar de ser relleno anuncian. No puedo decir que los postres estaban mucho mejor!

My wife and I have been lunching at the Cricketers fairly regularly for the last year and, as a result, it has become one of our favourite pubs in the area (and it's up against some still competition!)On almost every occasion the quantity of food has defeated me, so much so that on one occasion I went for a small meal version... and was still beaten! The food is proper pub grub - all the usual dishes you'd expect, with plenty of extras besides. At times, the chef has come out to chat about what he's making us and checking how we like certain items cooked.There are usually two (sometimes three) real ales available, which change reassuring regularity and, with the exception of one cloudy beer (end of the barrel - which was immediately changed) I've not had a bad pint. Bar service is spot on.There are two wood burning stoves in the pub, which keep the place warm and toasty during the winter, and though I haven't attended any events here, they certainly go all out with the decor to the point that, in the run up to Christmas, the interior was unrecognisable!Finally, the location... Kingsley is a lovely little Hampshire village with a not-too-major-or-busy road running through it. It's hidden gem is the lake and common, which are right next the pub. A truly beautiful spot - perfect for a walk and pub lunch, which we have done with fairly large groups of friends.

Home from home when I decide not to cook, not had a bad meal ever. Marcus caters for our special parties, last one in August for a hundred people. I am lactose free and most of his dishes can be tweaked.

We took a trip to the cricketers inn in Kingsley with the intention of having a drink and a bite to eat. The food was fantastic as always. It is a very friendly pub with none of the usual noisy gambling machines of loud music. Just a lovely village pub. I would recommend it to anyone.

After a shout out to our friends lists about "Roasts in the area" we found the Cricketers, looked at a picture of that fish and chips and thought "yep thats the place we will go today" They have a very large garden with a wooden play area, which has seen better days but it was enough to keep my kids entertained for half hour, asked for a menu and didnt get one, the lady said "Our roast options are x,y,z and for the kids we have anything, just ask and we will cook it" which I thought was nice but would have been better having a menu as I didnt really fancy a roast.. that was all the other half, so now I felt obliged to order one...The Roast was just meat and spuds, no yorkshires as they had run out, didnt inform us of this though, no stuffing, pigs in blankets, cauliflower cheese, crackling,I am not a fan of roasts so this got all the more disappointing, I ate it and what we had was really well cooked, the meat (pork & Gammon) was lovely. Just would have been nice to have some other stuff with itI am giving the mark as a two as the landlady was lovely and judging by pictures I feel this was probably because we arrived close to knocking off time and they probably had run out of some items, but would I recommend this pub, probably not. Which is a shame as I feel its potentially quite good but I dont know if I'll be coming back with so many other options in the area

Nice little pub;quirky inside, two blazing fires.The chef served our food, and although the weekday menu was limited, our food was delicious.I even asked the bar lady to pass my compliments to the chef !

I was staying in the B&B for work and thought I would eat in the restaurant. The first night I went to eat in the pub at 20:45 to be told the kitchen was closing but got served, food ok but way to much and left 1/3 of it. Next night asked at 17:30 about serving times to be told they started serving at 19:30. The menu is very limited, 2 ale hand pumps, one beer well looked after, one past its best.Recently found out the pub got a Food Standards Agency Hygiene rating mark of 1 in March 2015 (Rating 1 - major improvement required) Ratings scale from 0-5.Stayed here 3 times through work in:Room 1 (which has a very uncomfortable mattress, springs pushing through) and Room 4, smells of damp (cold on arrival, left heater on low when went to work to find it switched off and cold room on return). The rooms are quite small with desks covered with microwaves, fridges etc preventing working and have no internet access. Breakfast is mini boxes of cereal and while staying for a number of nights the bowls / cups weren't cleaned or changed.I was also charged twice for a stay and food (Nearly £100) after being told the debit card payment had not gone through while the machine had no paper in it, second payment was taken and despite speaking to Marcus three times and being assured the money will be returned, email to no response. I am still waiting nearly 3 months later. Trading standards and the Police are becoming involved.You probably wonder why I returned, it was only after my 3rd stay I found out about the fraudulent charges, I work odd hours so prefer self contained accommodation rather than a family B&B.I'm sure some people have a good experience but do you want to one of the bad ones, from the other reviews I am not the only one disappointed. I found a good Jolly place not far away to eat at.

Dropped into the Cricketers Inn, Kingsley, Hants a week or so back. Pub is in a lovely setting but needs a little TLC & atmosphere was lacking. We ordered some burgers with expectations fairly low but were absolutely blown away - without doubt the best home made burgers we'd ever had and that's saying something. They were amazingly reasonable at £7.95 also with fantastic chips, lovely presentation and good beer on tap (Doombar amongst them mmmm). Get down there before the chef realises he could be charging £20 for them!

Limited menu, uncooked food, long wait, items not available, not one smile or friendly greeting from the staff. Would not recommend, would not ever go again. Shame as location and potential is there.

May 21st 2015Alas there appears to be a problem. We ordered and paid for 2 salmon with asparagus and one greek salad. We were then advised that the salmon had not arrived neither had the asparagus. A phone call was made and the salmon was 20 minutes away. An alternative of fish cakes were offered and served. The plates were cleared away but no further menu was offered. Coffee was requested but it was not very nice. We had difficulty paying for the coffee as the one member of front of house staff was in the car park. We entered at 12.20pm and left after an hour. No other customer was served in that time. It was all very sad.

a lovely quirky country pub, dogs welcome, rooms available, excellent grub and a proper plateful, we had omelette with proper big fat chips, none of the stringfellow stuff, if you're in the area give it a go

Branching out of our usual area we thought we'd head to this traditional country pub after reading the TA reviews. We'd planned a hike though the Devils Punchbowl so this pub was only 20 minutes away and the walk gave us the opportunity to build up an appetite. The pub is small and cosy, it is a proper pub, with wood burners, comfy seating and a small area for dining. The inside is small, perhaps room for 40-50 people, there's a lot of outside space and a playground for children. I imagine it is very busy in the summer but today it was quiet. We were looked after really well, there were a couple of roasts on and a few other dishes. The pub did not have a massive menu, but then it is not a big place. I'd have been worried if they had too much choice. I'd turned up for the roast anyway. My wife's sister who's a bit fussy with her food was concerned there was nothing for her to eat but they were happy to serve something that was not on the menu. So she was happy. The roasts were large and filling, good honest food. This is not a gastro pub, with small portions and high prices. Just good, plentiful, home cooked food. The staff/owners were great and we'll pop back again in the summer so that our son can play in the garden and playground. Worth a try if you enjoy a large Sunday Lunch in an old cosy pub.

Went in for a snack lunch after a rather challenging walk & doing the Alice Holt Parkrun. Every now and again you walk into a pub and everything feels just right. Comfortable, welcoming and 'atmospheric'. My sirloin steak sandwich was lovely, just the right portion size. They serve a great selection of ales and lagers. The restaurant side of the business looked as if it was popular. We will definitely be going back. Well done everyone.

What a wonderful pub! Both the staff and the locals are friendly and welcoming. The atmosphere is comfortable and inviting. The food is delicious - we had both the sunday lunch and an evening meal. The room is very comfortable. All in all this place provides excellent value and we will definitely be going back.

This is a small, wonderfully British local pub with fantastic staff. Although a previous review mentioned the pub being poor for vegetarians, on our visit we found the vegetarian burger to be quite delicious. Loved the quirky polka dot chimney outside also! Definitely worth stopping by for some food and a drink if you're in the area.

We would like to thank the cricketers very much . We had booked to stay at another hotel when we arrived the room was awful. A friend mentioned there was a lovely little pub down the road. Being the cricketers. The lady couldn't of been more helpful and the landlord was brill . And the food very good and I am a very fussy eater . Everything was very good food . Accommodation . A really big thank you for finding us a room at short notice ... We will go back . Thank you again ...

we called in by chance on a long walk, just for a drink.The real ale was excellent, the great wood fire in a comfortable casual sitting area.just the job to be out of the rain.Very friendly landlord offered to drive us back as raining hard ( offer not taken)Not serving food when there as kitchen being updated.

I'm probably not the best person to review a Sunday pub lunch. I don't eat meat and I'm teetotal! However I don't expect special treatment and never make a fuss but I do enjoy the atmosphere and the company. The pub is located in a lovely part of Hampshire and is itself a unique and friendly place. Staff were all attentive, meal didn't take too long arriving despite there being 12 walkers in our party. Most in our group had roast lunches which despite my personal dietary considerations looked really tasty and seemed to meet with unanimous approval. However my dish of vegetable au gratin arrived looking like some strange pudding and totally unappertizing. It looked as though somebody had poured week-old custard on top. I pushed this stodgy mess to one side and found some colourful, well cooked vegetables hiding underneath so all was not lost. In addition I had 3 lonely old roast potatoes that looked like they had been cooked in fat for a week - I wouldn't give them to a dog. Bar choices seemed rather limited for a non-drinker - no alcohol-free beer, no tea, no coffee. Oh well.Would it stop me going again? Strangely enough - no. I'd be happy to visit again, nice pub and nice staff, but maybe check the menu first before arriving.

I went here with my partner for a quick drink and was surprised at what a lovely pub it was. The man and woman behind the bar were incredibly kind and made us feel very welcome. We only stayed for a few drinks whilst it was still sunny outside, but we will definitely be back to try the food.

Haven't been to this pub for years but went with friends as the pub we would have gone too has gone all up-market with correspondingly high prices and small portions!We were greeted by a delightful young lady who had, obviously, been very well trained and made us feel as though we were the most important people in the room! We all had a pint of the excellent local beer called King Alfred (served at a good temperature) before ordering our meal. We ordered two servings of home made steak and mushroom pie and a fish and chips which when, after a reasonable lenght of time, were of a generous size, hot and very well cooked. I asked for extra gravy, no problem - put on table within a few minutes. Having cleared plates (no complaints there regarding quality) puddings were ordered and found to be satisfying. The Cricketers is not a restaurant; it is a pub that serves the local community and provides, not expensive, good food. Good value for money and a much nicer ambience than other 'pubs' in the area, Recommended but do book at weekends.

Have only ever had a Sunday roast + pud... Beautiful tender meat, plenty of veg and most importantly nice and hot. Sticky toffee pudding is the best I've had, definitely a must. The staff are friendly and nothing is too much trouble. I'm not a local but it's worth the travelling.

Have been here twice now for a Sunday lunch and it is very good! Nice and fresh no matter what time we've been, well cooked and nice and hot when it arrives to the table. The staff are very nice, friendly and helpful, although the Manager James can be slightly on the annoying side when trying to 'up sell' ie, desserts, coffees, liquors, but then that is his job i suppose, very chatty and polite though, smart, except the trainers!....looked like he had been hiking over a muddy field in them, let him down slightly i have to say. Overall, very nice pub, good food, nice feel to it, warm and comfortable, pleasant staff. Definitely return for another Sunday lunch !

this pub has just undergone a makeover and a great job they've made of it,the food was well cooked, well presented and good value, the barman was very helpful without being over attentive,they have a good selection of real ales (none of the fizzy stuff) and there is a pleasant outside seating area the main bar area has comfortable seating and sky TV (kept at a low noise level) ,as they've only just opened there is some small things that need sorting but overall this is a delightful village pub well worth a visit

First time that we had visited this pub.Nestled in the beautiful village of Easton near Winchester. The friendly landlord made us feel so welcome. My husband had the fish and chips and I had the ham egg and chips. The food was delish! Great value for money we will be back.

Visiting from Australia and were told to arrive early to get a tableThe relieving manager and delightful bar maid were so invitingLet us try different beersEntre of duck pate was sensationalExtensive main choice resulted in a brilliant main courseThank you for a lovely evening

Brilliant atmosphere. Great food at reasonable prices. Nice selection of drinks. Service was excellent.

We visited this pub for supper a few nights ago, my wife and I plus two teenagers, and found a wide range of dishes, reasonably priced and all served by an attentive young girl. The food was all excellent but the chips really stood out!The atmosphere is cosy, not noisy, and the open fire and subtle lighting / decor provide a sense of homeliness. The landlord himself is the chef and I expect the demand for food in this pub will grow as his reputation spreads.The dining area is separated from but still part of the main bar area - not separate room - so it still feels like a pub - definite plus point for me.