The Downgate in West Berkshire

Four of us arrived really late on Sunday afternoon at about 3.30 pm very hungry having been let down at Blandys in Inglewood. We were told we could still have "lunch" however if we ordered quickly, which we did. The food was excellent, hot and well cooked particularly the two steaks which were large and juicy. The waiting staff were friendly, obliging and efficient even though they were rushed off their feet. The downstairs area was cosy and welcoming with a lovely log burner which was not allowed to go out! All in all we had a lovely relaxing time and enjoyed our meal in such convivial surroundings very much so thank you.

This pub was once owned by my family. I have many memories of a young child visiting here, which obviously the pub was so different. I have visited here again many times over the years and love the atmosphere and the friendly staff

We sat outside this lovely, traditional pub on a warm sunny day - it has a fabulous location on Hungerford Common. This is what pubs should be - a warm welcome, great food and at reasonable prices. A special mention to the young man who served our food - so polite, friendly and professional, very refreshing! Thanks for a lovely lunch.

Stopped off here after a walk along the canal. A great pint of ale, and cider for my wife. Accompanied by a portion of chunky chips, which were probably the nicest I've ever had. Great friendly staff. A "must visit" if you're in Hungerford.

Popped to The Downgate for lunch. The staff were very friendly polite and attentive. I ordered Cod and chips which was freshly cooked and came with a good portion of garden peas a salad, coleslaw and tartar sauce. The meal was much larger than l expected and therefore excellent value for money. My wife had a Tuna mayo sandwich (brown bread) which came with crisp, salad and coleslaw. Again this meal was well presented and good value for money. I highly recommend this pub and cannot fault the service or food. Keep up the excellent work.

A lovely evening meal with friendly staff making it a perfect night at this dog friendly pub Great food and friendly locals A perfect night out for my wife and I and our dog

We have eaten here for years and after it came under new management, the first two times were great. Enormous helpings, tasty and friendly and helpful waitresses. This time, my wife ordered a Tomato Juice. A bottle of Tomato Juice and a glass arrived When my wife asked for the trimmings the waitress looked dumb. Then lightning struck She said, "Oh you want some Vodka" When the trimmings did arrive, none of the staff knew what to do and she had to mix it herself Its not good enough Finally, the last two times, the table has been disgustingly sticky !!!

As a family we thoroughly enjoyed our meals at The Downgate. We highly recommend the cream garlic mushrooms as a starter, which was absolutely delicious! The fish & chips, bangers & mash and the Ploughman's platter was just as hearty and tasty. The staff is very welcoming and so friendly. The Downgate Arkell's is a must for anyone passing through or staying in Hungerford.

Excellent quality and value meals, generous and well presented. Visited with US friends who loved the authentic atmosphere, quality and quantity of the all day brunch and the cheese in the Ploughman’s lunch and also very friendly and helpful staff. The owner/managers are pretty recent I think and deserve supporting at this lovely location.

Fabulous food and great atmosphere. Visited for lunch and had the best ploughmans platter in a long time. Great service as well - I highly recommend this pub for a relaxing lunch or drink when in the area. My wife and I loved it!

Lovely little pub. Great food. Friendly welcome. Very well priced meals with a good choice. Can't wait to visit in warmer weather and take advantage of the views.

Best pint of Guinness in town for sure. Food excellent and delicious. Dog friendly Staff very kind and accommodating What more do you require for a cracking pub/local. Highly recommend. Hungerford at its best. Thank you

We have now eaten twice at the Down Gate and both times the food has been absolutely delicious and lots of it. Lasagne, Scampi, All Day Breakfast, Fish & Chips Rib eye Steak, are just a few of the dishes they do. It’s what I call “pub grub” at reasonable prices with no faffing, well done Jenny. Ella our waitress was lovely, kind and polite, a wonderful atmosphere too Highly recommended, you won’t be disappointed give it a try.

One of the prettiest settings for a pub at the Hungerford common"s Down gate. Lovely friendly staff doing a marvellous job in a small, very busy pub; really good pub grub (fish & chips & homemade curry excellent). It's like eating at home without the effort & washing up! Definitely will be drinking & eating again here.

Lovely pub on the edge of the common, enjoyed pub grub at a reasonable price. Ham egg and chips and a delicious veggie lasagne. Love that the pub is dog friendly.

An amazing spot right on the common! Having previously come here when the old landlady was here I can honestly say What an improvement! I had an amazing rump steak, it was so tender and the knife cut through it like butter. My husband had...

Super friendly local pub with fabulous food. Dog and singleton friendly, you won't be alone for long. Can't recommend it enough 😁

The management, staff and clientele make this a country pub in a town. Welcomed every time I visit, the food is amazing, including the apple crumble and custard - pub grub which is what is needed sometimes rather than the faff

Had Sunday lunch.. was okay ...the plate needed to be warmer as the food became luke warm very quickly. Guessing I was expecting food to be as good as previous owner. Apple Crumble was poor,felt it was reheated. Will try again but have to uphold...

Visited at lunchtime and the pub was busy and dog friendly which is ideal for the common. It is so good to see this pub continuing as it in such a great location. The menu is now genuine and proper pub food and includes yes...

The pub has been operating for the past 5 months with a drinks-only service while the kitchen was renovated and the catering staff assembled. It is now fully operational and the return of the long established clientele of yesteryear, predominantly from Hungerford and surrounding areas....

A hidden gem next to the Kennet canal near to Hungerford.A really genuine British pub with great staff and a very warm welcome! We were a party of eight on a local weekend away and and fancied a quick drink and light bite at lunch time. The menu was varied, with locally sourced traditional food and our meals were good, served very efficiently and most of all with a smile! Nothing was to much trouble, a very accommodating chef and great team spirit. Very enjoyable experience, would highly recommend! Thank you.

We noticed this pub as we parked nearby before we went on the canal/common walk and decided that's where we would visit after our walk. We were not disappointed! We didn't really want a full meal as we were staying in a hotel which provided full meals. Friendly staff provided tasty chips and good beer. Chatty local regulars in the pub made us feel welcome and most importantly this pub had CLEAN TOILETS!! If we visit the area again we will definitely try a proper meal.

Small but popular pub. There had been a power-cut which had reduced the menu, but somehow they produced an excellent roast dinner. Freshly cooked, tender, good value and delicious. I suggest booking. Plenty of dogs were welcomed. It might seem like it, but they are not compulsory! The pub’s 11 year old terrier called Poppy visits each table discretely to volunteer as a food-taster.

What a lovely pub with lovely people. They found a lovely spot for us and our dog in a little nook. We were made to feel very welcome and the landlord conversation and banter made us feel like we were locals. Pubs often say they are dog friendly but simply allow dogs. This is not the case for the downgate. Our pooch was made to feel just as welcome and the treats she got from the landlord has ensured she would go again! Food was fantastic and portions huge. We had both the pork and beef. Thank you for a lovely Sunday lunch.

Had a lovely Sunday lunch for our anniversary,lovely food at a leisurely pace with great service and friendly chatty staff.great value for money,would highly recommend.

This little pub sits on the edge of Hungerford common, has a small staff who produce wonderful food in a very friendly environment.

Welcoming pub. Staff so helpful. Immaculately clean.Quite a few steps inside. It's a lovely old building.Dog friendly. Meet Smudge your resident Dog host. Smudge is lovely.Food is exceptional. Top quality ingredients. Brilliant chef.Main meals wow. But biggest wow to the Chocolate orange cheesecake.Probably the most brilliant chef in the region.A must visit.

Beautiful little find!! The staff and food was incredible. We couldn’t fault the service and we were made to feel so welcome with our puppy. Would highly recommend to everyone and we will certainly be returning. Thank you

Amazing pub we found in between London and Bristol for a meet up. Amazing food, brilliant service, and really lovely people who work there. Thank you so much!

Good basic Sunday lunch menu. Last beef meal was very tough but generally of excellent quantity and quality. Host very pleasant and amicable.

Had a table for 3. Had drinks outside first before having food inside. Ordered a starter each, six different dishes to choose from. I personally had coated shrimps which were amazing!! The 3 of us then had a Sunday roast, 2 of which were pork, 1 beef. The dish was full of things- beans, cheesy broccoli, carrots, parsnips, potatoes, stuffing, Yorkshire and the meat. My personal preference was that the meat was too fatty. Apart from that, no faults. The beef was really tough on the other plate. Only fault and reason why not a 5* is meat and also a couple of the staff seemed very inexperienced and young and always had to go off to ask questions to the chef (owner) rather than answer the questions themselves.

5 out of 10. Average pub food, ridiculously over priced £14 - £26 for mains starters £6-£9. I ordered squid see photo, 7 very small rings with a cherry tomato and a half handful of lettuce leafs cost £7.50, my friend ordered roast pork baguette with a few chips and lettuce leaves, bread chewy and pork reheated and fatty. I don’t mind paying £12 - £15 for a pub main but they should st least get the food to a reasonable standard. Unfortunately would not recommend for food but nice setting for a beer on the edge on hungerford common.

This a relatively small pub on the edge of Hungerford common, a good escape from the Hurley burley of the busy high street. Lauren runs the pub in a very friendly way with equally friendly staff. The food has improved a lot in the last month or so, especially if Lauren gets involved, so why not ask!

Wonderful service and food outstanding as previously experienced. Nothing too much trouble and very clean. Would definitely book again for both menus offered at this wonderful local establishment.

I’ve lived in Hungerford for over 20 years and we are very lucky to have some of the best pubs and restaurants in our amazing town. That not only manage their own business but provide great service to the local community.The Downgate is one of my favourite pubs to go too. Always fabulous service, great food and incredibly friendly and it is not expensive.Make up your own mind, some feedback can be incredibly one sided.

Poor service, expensive menu and all staff running around like headless chickens! Just not worth it. So many better places now

We first visited here back in the summer last year and decided to return this weekend for our first meal out - post lockdown! Our visit didn’t disappoint! We sat outside in the sun overlooking the stunning views with a cold g&t! The friendly staff were attentive and served us quickly - despite how packed the pub was with the lovely weather and lunch was delicious.This is a real hidden gem, located on the common and we couldn’t recommend it more! Looking forward to when they reopen fully in a few weeks time.

The Downgate took our booking for three the day before, and we arrived to find our table reserved with our name on it. Having sat down it became clear that the poor team were run completely off their feet, so we settled in to enjoy the (AMAZING) view from our table. After dealing with a couple of very agitated tables, a very pleasant server took both our drinks and food orders, the former arriving very quickly. We ordered 2 salmon and crayfish sandwiches and 1 steak sandwich. All meals were delivered in staggeringly good time, exactly as ordered, and mouth wateringly good, complete with perfect chunky chips. We were able to order another round of drinks in good time, again delivered promptly. We ordered a final round of drinks with the bill, and the office manager of all people jumped in to lend a hand! Meal was very well priced and we saw no reason not to give a substantial tip; all the staff were doing their absolute best and were nothing but polite and friendly under stressful circumstances. For those not in the know, when you see the chef running food to tables themself, they're having a really tough day!!Cracking pub, gorgeous food, well priced, perfect setting, friendly staff, couldn't recommend more. We'll be back!

Whilst we all appreciate the challenging times at the moment, what is going to save local businesses is thorough planning, customer service and some common sense. We booked a table in advance. On arriving the pub had chosen to cater for the courtyard, the area out the front and an area over the road. Not allowing people to the bar meant that all tables across all three areas had to receive table service. A better decision would be to zone areas for food and drink and to have designated staff to serve particular areas. Instead too much time was invested running all over the place, no communication between staff so we were left for almost an hour after having asked several times to order food for 6 people and a child. We had other people’s cutlery put on our table and then two servers thought we were chasing our order and telling us it won’t be long when we hadn’t even ordered. Just an all round lack of planning and preparation. Fair enough if you are short staffed but zone your tables, zone your team and call ahead to cancel bookings if you cannot manage. It was quite frankly a mess. When we complained no server seemed to know what was going on and kept trying to run away. In the end the land lady came over and basically told us to go without paying for the drinks and then started to complain about us loudly to other people. Thankfully we weren’t the only ones as the two tables behind us were complaining too and the poor chap who had half his tables food missing and had been sat waiting for his cutlery before realising it had been put on our table was left trying to get someone to listen to him. Several people upped and left. Other pubs we’ve been to have been quite capable so this really comes down to sound business sense. Bad management is often whilst places fail and we definitely won’t return. Bye Downgate, your location may save you yet but not much else will.

Booked a table for a birthday meal and waited ages to order a drink. Had to ask for a drink. Then waited ages and had to ask for a food menu bearing in Mind we booked and it isent cheap thought service would be better. Waited ages for our order to be taken and asked twice for someone to take it. Someone come and placed cutlery on table but still never took order. 45 mins in now so asked to take food order and manager come out and said about our patience and our food would be out shortly. We haven’t even placed a food order. Was rude about it so we left and she started making rude comments about us to the other people in the pub which then caused a big scene. Completely gobsmacked

Had a takeaway from the Downgate during lockdown, I set the bar high as I knew how amazing the food was to eat in, and I must say the takeaway did not disappoint! All of the food was so fresh, and still piping hot when it got to the door! The Dirty Dexter burger is award winning!!! It’s unreal. The process of ordering is very easy from start to finish! Will definitely be ordering again, well done Lauren and Team xx

Recommended- Great food, good beer, friendly staff and a great location for Hungerford Common and walking the Kennet and Avon Canal. The small pub dog has perfected the art of giving you winsom looks. What more can one say

Having moved back to Hungerford in March, we first managed to come here last weekend. Both my wife and I were very impressed, even though we just had chips and onion rings, wow what onion rings!) and vowed to come back. A few days later and child free, today we came back. We were far from disappointed. The welcome was fantastic and they are very covid compliant. I had a burger, stuffed with cheese and topped with black pudding, bacon and a fried egg and served with chips and slaw. My wife had a massive chicken burger with chips and slaw. We both had puddings, sticky toffee for me and chocolate fudge for my wife. The food was lovely and generous portions. The Downgate has a proper pub feel to it and we’ll definitely be returning soon. Thank you to the team at The Downgate, see you soon

I am a local and use this pub regularly as the food and service is exceptional. My sister had just got engaged and I decided to invite her and fiancee over for a meal with the rest of the family (13 adults + 5 children). The food came out at same time so we could all eat together and the service was great. My sister later texted to say "Fantastic view, food was amazing, staff were just lovely, best pub ever!" Her fiancee especially liked the landlady running to another pub to get a barrel of Guinness as they had run out! You don't get service like that in many places.

We ate outside but were impressed by the warm welcome when we ordered and by the scrupulously clean and covid 19 safe toilets.The menu is basic pub grub with few veggie options but we were happy with the choice. The plates were overflowing, piled with delicious and freshly cooked food.We weren't hurried away as we have been from some places recently - we will return!

I had the one veggie dish on the menu which was a beet veggie burger. Very nice . My partner liked his roast. We were too full for pudding will try next time. Dog friendly We ate outside, bit noisy as close to road, but lovely views of the common. Friendly and efficient service.

Located on the edge of the township, looking out across hundred of acres of Common Land supporting cattle and other wildlife, yet only 7 minutes walk from the High Street and the antique shops. The station is even closer, as is the famous Kennet & Avon Canal which joins the Thamnes to Bath. Adequate parking outside the front door of this cosy little pub with tables inside and out , normally brimming with friendly locals eager to point visitors in the right direction. The ales and the cooking [particularly the steaks] are simple but satisfying in quality. The staff are competent and enthusiastic. Book if you are in numbers or you will be disappointed!

The food here was fantastic , the steak especially got rave reviews from our table. Good portions and we'll priced. The pub itself is lovely and has character. The staff were so friendly and helpful. We would definitely come back of we're ever in the area again.

Visited the pub on Sunday at 12.00 for a pre booked meal. Delicious food when it came... had to wait an hour though once the order had been placed. To be fair was worth the wait.

Sat at the edge of a beautiful common with beef cattle grazing ( my family are Cheshire farmers this was a joy to see) with a cold pint of Birra Moretti writing this review! Brisket of dexter, sea bass, T-bone steak and the salmon parcel to name a few of the dishes we ate! All cooked to perfection (new head chef knows what he’s doing, I believe he’s only been there a month!!) ...Hot plates which is a must in my view! I will take some pictures off their Facebook as we forgot and got straight involved in eating! Staff were welcoming and attentive, nothing was too much trouble, we had a lovely bottle of Malbec and the domain Chardonnay Louis latour 2015 bottle very unusual to see this kind of quality in a pub! Priced very fairly! (As unfortunately I did spot the review earlier on trip advisor when booking) And we were warned it was one of the more expensive choices on the menu nice to see this happen as sometime we do get caught out! We will definitely be returning my father said it was the nicest beef he had had in years! And he should know! Well done team!

Decided to treat myself to a meal out! Chose the sirloin steak which was absolutely superb! Lovely glass of wine to accompany my meal and stupendous service from the lovely staff!!

Visited for our wedding anaversery and to try the new menu, we were not disapointed , we both had the T-bone steaks that were both cooked to perfection , we were so full that after sharing a starter and then having our steaks ans sides we could not manage a desert. 10 out of 10 highly recommended, , the main dinning areas have had seating removed to allow for the correct social distancing mesures to be adhered to and there are hands sanitizer stations by the entrance , additional outside seating has also been added . Well worth a visit

Staff were pleasant but complete rip off.-£12 a large glass of Chardonnay which was adequate wine.-£8.50 for cold chips with chilli and jalapeños. When said they were cold went and microwaved them.-no basil on the veg stack so £6 for mozzarella and few slices tomatoe.When questioning the wine said our Chardonnay is really expensive! Very poor wouldn’t go back.

Amazing service and the roast dinner was to die for! The new menu is fantastic and we will be booking again for sure! Thanks Lauren and the team x

Amazing steaks, had the Cote de boeuf, cooked perfectly and tasted lovley. Atmosphere was great and will be back soon👍

This was our first dinner out since the lockdown restrictions have been lifted and it did not disappoint! It was their first night serving food and they’d also launched a new steakhouse style menu which we were very happy about. My partner and I had the special of the night which was the Chateaubriand and cooked to perfection.We ate here last year but were apprehensive about eating out in general now given the social distancing guidelines at the moment. We needn’t have been.. the friendly landlady and her team have worked hard to keep that relaxed and welcoming atmosphere whilst still making us feel comfortable and safe. There were people visibly cleaning and sanitising regularly and a safe distance between us and other diners. It made us feel a piece of ‘normality’ in these far from normal times ! Thank you to The Downgate for making our first date night out in a long time one to remember! We’ll be back soon!

I was looking for somewhere nice for a relaxed evening second date. When I called ahead to check dinner that evening would be OK I was greeted by the very bubbly landlady. She was really helpful and reassuring.When I arrived there was a lovely relaxed and friendly atmosphere and both the landlady and barmaid clocked I was there on a date and served me quickly so I wasn't waiting awkwardly. They were also really sweet in directing my date to me when he arrived.The whole time we were there we felt looked after but not rushed. There were very careful not to interrupt.The food we had was amazing, we both had the burger and it was enormous. Properly cooked to a medium rare and very obviously homemade with nice fries and a generous side salad. It was slightly more than your average pub food, but was significantly better than your average pub food. So worth it all. We ended up staying for about 3 1/2 hours, and it was only when the bell rung we knew the time. Even though we were the only ones there they didn't rush us or make us feel even slightly an inconvenience. They even welcomed us back next time.I absolutely loved it there and definitely would like to pop back for a daytime drink some time.

Long distance lunch - family meeting from 150 miles, scheduled in this friendly pub. Managed to spend 4 comfortable hours here. Dogs very welcome, hosts and regulars friendly. More often than not we take a vegetarian option, but today . . . . . the Chateaubriand, a platter for two. Delicious and justifiably proudly served. Compact but appropriate wine list, Arkells beer. Great location for a walk on the common or along the canal towpath just a short distance away.

Fabulous pub grub, great value and very tasty. Warm and friendly atmosphere. Gorgeous owners spaniel to have a cuddle with who is the most laid back dog ever.

This is one of my favourite places. Always a warm welcome from the bar staff who try really hard to make sure everything is just perfect. The last visit was marred by incredibly selfish couple who let their young child run riot with absolutely no control. (I'm hoping they see this and feel guilty) This is most unusual and shouldn't put you off going. You'll enjoy it.

The Downgate was the base for our shoot day on a local estate. We met there for breakfast and coffee and received a warm, friendly welcome with good coffee and breakfast rolls. The pub also provided 11s at the shoot and the food was first class. Amongst the very best shoot 11s I've had anywhere including some of the top estates. Game related dishes and dietary requirements all handled easily and smoothly.We opted to go back to the pub for dinner and were met by a busy bar of friendly locals and had excellent food from Lauren and the team. I'd thoroughly recommend it either for dinner in Hungerford or to provide a base and food for local shoots or events.

The meal we had was probably one of the best we have ever had in a pub and was very good value for money.

We visited Saturday lunchtime - I'd booked in advance as we were a party of 9, ranging from 2 to 90 years old. We were given a great welcome by the one staff member front of house and that set the tone. Nothing was too much trouble:the children's meals arrived speedily, a smaller portion of the chicken pie was produced for 90 yr-old mother-in-law with tiny appetite, and it was a lovely and relaxing experience for us all. The vegan chilli was delicious - just hot enough - and the fish and chips went down well too. My other half had the bread and butter pudding and declared it one of the best he's ever had! The location of the pub is really lovely and the ambience is great. Thank you for looking after us so well!

This was our second visit, for lunch, at The Downgate.We received a warm welcome from the friendly staff. Food was delicious, nicely presented and arrived promptly. It's a little gem ! We will definitely return.

Popped in for a swift pint of Arkells 3B, excellent quality and fun staff and locals. Good parking as on end of common, would recommend wholeheartedly.

What a great friendly Pub to be! So much fun and great food and (draught) beer! Homemade Lasagne and Pie, mouthwatering! Definately a must return! Thanks all.

Humans are very welcome too but do expect to have a selection of canines enjoying the facilities hosted by the resident Poppy (friendly little terrier). Small menu but very well cooked and served by super friendly and helpful staff. The pub is on the edge of the common and there are tables outside for when nice weather. If you want to sit inside, it would be wise to book. Great to see Locals enjoying the pub too!

I've frequented this cosy quality pub over twenty years. Having stopped off last Sunday with the children after a towpath walk, my wife having seen the delectable roasts, asked me to book for today. As always, this pub is beautifully positioned overlooking the common and Debs and all the staff give you a warm welcome. Decent well kept Ales, good selection of Gins. We both had the roast beef and they were excellent, superb produce. Then we had the treacle sponge and custard and well, as we knew, it would be lovely. It didn't disappoint. Great value for money in an environment, with locals and visitors alike creating a most welcoming ambience.

Have eaten at the Downgate many times since its re-opening and always been happy with the food, but sadly my most recent visit was disappointing, not sure if there is a new chef or what has happened but my friend and I were both disappointed. The starters were here ok - nothing special and the main courses were less than satisfactory, one of us had fish and chips which on a previous visit had been superb, this time the fish was tiny, the batter slightly over cooked and the ‘chips’ were not chips at all but rather unpleasant wedges of potato! I hope this is a one off but must admit we are not in a rush to go back.

We were met with a very friendly welcome and the staff here are outstanding! My mum who rarely eats out due to often being disappointed was over the moon and says she had the best burger and onion rings ever! The menu was quite small but we quickly realised this was due to the very high quality of food and were all extremely happy with our choices. Highly recommend for dinner! Thank you for a wonderful evening!

Nouveau passage à Hungerford (forcément pas le dernier).Ambiance conviviale, très bon repas anglais, un petit chien très sympathique Bon accueil, cadre typique , tout était rassemblé pour passé un bon moment.

We were three family groups meeting in the middle for Sunday lunch and chose here due to previous good reviews and location for a walk on the moor/canal afterwards.When calling to book I had enquired about their Sunday menu as it was not on the website and was informed it usually had two roasts and a selection of 4/5 starters and mains from their usual menu.We had the lovely little room "downstairs" to ourselves, 4 of us had roasts (2 chicken, 2 beef) and 3 had the fish and chips. Everything was really good, decent portions, great yorkshires, perfectly cooked veg and proper homemade chips. Great choice of Stowford Press and Thatchers Haze ciders on draft.All bar one of us managed deserts which were all very good - only small comments would be the chocolate brownie portions were a little small and the fruit pavlova could have had more than 5 blueberries and 1 raspberry!But the serving ladies were lovely, the pub dog (assume it was?) was cute and we will definitely return if meeting in the area again.

We were only staying in Hungerford for one night and found this absolute gem of a place to eat. Everything was BRILLIANT from start to finish, The anbience, the setting, the staff, the beer and the food. My husband had the lamb from the specials board (the chef is obviously passionate about his food as were made aware this dish would take at least 45 minutes to cook) it was well worth the wait, I had the wiltshire ham. Both meals were absolutley delicious.

A little pub with outside seating on the edge of a common , people watching bliss. Good food, proper napkins.

Came for lunch and my expectations ware more than met. Friendly and helpful staff. Very willing and accommodating. Good food. Ham egg and chips delicious and hot. Great beer. Syrup sponge with lashings of custard - extra custard asked for and given readily. Clean , fresh smelling toilets. Has a lovely secret garden or you can sit outside and watch the world go by at the edge of an amazing common. Great for dog walkers and they welcome dogs and families. Lovely views throughout the seasons.

very good little pub on the edge of the common. Seating inside and out. Good quality food served by really nice staff.

The food is always good and on fine day you can sit outside to eat looking over Hungerford Common where there is always things to look at while you eat.

A really welcoming place, relaxed and the staff always remember me and my friends. Good food and lovely atmosphere, highly recommended!!!

Traditional local pub, beautifully decorated with outdoor seating and lovely staff. Food excellent - well worth a visit.

Four of us went for a meal yesterday, first time i have ever been to this pub. Was amazed on how small the pub is but is packed with a lot of character. The menu dosnt have the wow factor and if im honest we very nearly went because there was nothing on it what popped out. They have a range of baggettes,burgers,fish and chips,. deciided on the burger. We arrived at the pub around 12.15 We never ate till 135pm the wait was long but when the food did arrive it was piping hot the quality was very good and proberly one of the nicest burgers i have had in a pub.For pudding which again turned in to a bit of a wait about 25 minutes.i had the custard tart which again was lovely. over all the bill for four with 2 courses 5 drinks £85 which was good. I would like to go back on a summers evening after a good walk over common or canel. overall i would reccomend the pub service was nice just found a little slow we arrived (12 15 with left just before 3 ) . The people who i was with also very much enjoyed thier meal and found the quality very good.

This was our second visit. At first we were a bit disappointed as quite a few options were no longer available but what was on offer was excellent. We had king prawns and potato gnocchi which was first class. The beers from Arkells Brewery were very well kept. Service was good.

GREAT fun afternoon having dinner and celebrating a friends birthday at the Downgate. Super meal . . Cote d'beouf cooked to perfection and simply delicious; the atmosphere outstanding and great service.

We recently asked held our sons 30th birthday party at the Downgate. From start to end the whole event was perfect. Lauren the owner organised a great menu will plenty of options and a cheese board to die for.The staff were amazing and the venue perfect for the 30plus guests that attended.As locals we knew that we wouldn’t be disappointed as we visit regularly but Lauren and the team pulled out all the stops to make this a memorable event.Highly recomended.

As a party of 14 we had pre-reserved tables in this cosy, dog friendly pub. We wanted somewhere to sit and recover, eat and drink after a slippery walk along the K&A canal towpath. Study the train timetables and it’s easily possible to decide on a one way walk from Kintbury or Bedwyn. Or set out from Hungerford on the train and walk back. Anyway, we had a lovely meal and a few drinks. The beer is Arkells - a good selection and well kept. The chef did well with a variety of pub favourites and lighter bites all served in good time and pretty much all together.Well done all ........ concerned. Don’t be surprised if we return.

Having noted that the pub had changed hands and the collection of caged birds had been moved on, we popped in for a drink and then later (this review) came back for a celebratory meal with friends. Its a light, airy feeling place but retains its country pub character somehow. The trend for Gin on many forms has certainly arrived but not at the expense of other offerings including 4x Arkells Ales on the bar. Theres a fireplace in a semi basement room that would make a great spot for a cozy meal too!I had the Winter Ploughmans partly out of curiosity but mainly because it sounded good! It was good, as were the other meals (Rack of Ribs, Fish and Chips). All well presented, well cooked and flavoursome. Service was attentive and prompt without being obtrusive and we were bought drinks at the table even though the bar is only 3 metres away! Definitely worth a visit especially if you've not been since the ownership changed!

We used the Downgate last week for a wake. I cannot recommend highly enough the Downgate it's location was just perfect as my late uncle grew up in Hungerford and spent many hours playing on the common. The food was amazing and the staff were brilliant, I'm definitely going to go back again for a meal with friends.I knew the pub had changed hands recently and I am pleased to see that it's had a make over and all the "clutter" has now been removed which to me made the place look very small. It's now clean and very welcoming and definitely worth a visit.

Great location. We never booked, but can get busy in the evenings, and at the weekend. Typical menu on offer. Moderately priced. We both had the steak. Friendly staff. Plenty of free parking. Shall return.

We popped in after a bracing walk in the local hills, we missed lunch, but enjoyed a glass or two in this cosy little pub. Local pubs like this one, survive on producing a good standard of welcome, food & drink. if I lived nearby, this would be my local. Great job gang!

We wanted to take the dog for a walk somewhere a bit different, and finish up with a Sunday lunch somewhere - this place did not disappoint! One of the best roasts I've had in a pub. The roast pork I had was melt in the mouth, with a crackling rind, served with a nice variety of freshly cooked vegetables, the all important homemade Yorkshire pudding and sausagemeat stuffing which was a lovely extra. My other half had the roast beef which was cooked perfectly.We had a very warm welcome from a man called Adam who was very friendly and made a fuss of our Pointer. Dogs are welcomed here, I saw a few whilst we were having our meal, all greeted with a pat and some attention! If you are walking on the Common or near by, I thoroughly recommend. We will definitely be back!

We have had lunch in this small and charming pub several times. Always a warm welcome, good food and lovely little courtyard to sit in warm weather. Also tables at the front looking over Hungerford common. We booked a Christmas dinner for 12 of us yesterday evening. The food was excellent. Debbie on the bar was as always, patient smiling and very tolerant of our noisy and chaotic party. Lauren the owner came for a chat and reassured us nothing was too much trouble. The locals joined in with our carol singing! On a normal and more quiet day you will find a very traditional pub with good food, friendly locals, but with clean and comfortable decor. No sticky carpets here! Also dogs and walkers are made very welcome.

My husband and I popped in for lunch and were very impressed with the Down Gate, the decor was very charming and comfortable, dog friendly and the service and food were very good, we will be back.

Being local for some twenty-five years, always enjoyed visiting this quaint, perfectly situated and cosy pub. Under Lauren's ownership, we have popped in the the odd drink a d the makeover is light decor and always accomodating to both customers and their pets. Our first meal here last night and the welcome was marvellous. So friendly and there's both a decent selection if Gins and Ales to choose from. I recognised one or two locals from over the years and the atmosphere with some dogs in there, was like being in a happy and inviting family lounge. Debbie served us and she is just so passionate, yet informal and amiable. We had some olives, bread/dips to share for starter and both had the venison pie, with chunky chips and seasonal vegetables for mains. We did manage to share a strawberry and raspberry custard tart to finish and everything was perfect. Proper pie with chunks of venison in it, covered with a yummy puff pastry. The whole experience was top drawer. Next time I'll take my slippers, as it felt like home from home.

Visited the pub with my family for a lovely Sunday roast. Pub is great, the staff are very friendly and welcoming and the food was yummy. We had all 3 roasts and they were fab, also great fish and chip...best wedge like chips ever !!! Would highly recommend.

What a great little pub, the people made us feel welcome, the food was great (and there was plenty of it) with some interesting choices on the menu. I don't often have desert, and was offered to "share" as normal, and found myself overdosing on Eataon mess. It has fruit in it, so that's ok, right?

What a change since the last owner. The chef knows her stuff and food is excellent and piping hot...great value for money and super attentive staff....is now my regular go to for a roast....and great prices. Well done guys

4 of us went here for Saturday lunch. Did not book but there was a table outside which was great as it was warm and sunny. We all had starters which were very good, especially the soup. Starters from 6.50 to 10.00, mains from about 8 - £12 . That is if you have it from the main menu as there is a lunch menu of various sandwiches and snacks.All in all we had a great lunch, Third time we have been there and each time it was good.

It's all been said. Great pub,' friendly welcoming service, superbly cooked and presented Sunday roast. Top of the list when we visit Hungerford again

Haven't been here for years,but live locally.Really has been spiced up by the owners and all the better for it.Attentive barman and Sunday roast was delicious at a very reasonable price...I'm guessing you really need to book as its a small but cosy pub...will be going again.

Very nice work get-together last night in the Downgate on the edge of Hungerford Common.I'd highly recommend booking ahead if you want to guarantee a table (we were a table of 12 - so essential!!!). Very friendly service with good selection of food options - The starter of Duck with carrot slicing's was perfection on a plate, and the Gammon, Egg & Fries was good also.The pub was slightly pricey - but very nice food, cooked to a good standard, served with a smile.One to remember!