The Goat in Wiltshire

What a disappointment 😞 Hyped ourselves up for a festival as advertised. Travelled all the way from swindon with friends in hired transport, which wasn't exactly cheap, showed our previously purchased £10 tickets at the door, was given a armband, exactly like you would at a festival, this keeping our expectations high, we were told to go through to the back, still expecting o see and hear proper reggae festival vibes, stepped into the back garden and it was like an anti climax, some people were sat around tables ,drinking and there was a guy playing Cuban like music on his drums, no atmosphere whatsoever and certainly not a festival, how very disappointing. Attempted to speak with management about what we thought we had paid for, and how they had advertised it, but it was like trying to talk to your teenagers, they were simply argumentative and lacked any costumer service or managerial skills whatsoever. Please be aware that what is advertised here and what you get could be totally different.

Misleading advertising!! Rum & Reggae festival was advertised on their website. £10 per ticket. 8 of us hired a bus to come to this event from Swindon to find it was not a festival at all. It was a dj in the back garden playing salsa & cuban music which was on & off. All the food was served from the bar. Spoke to one off the staff who seemed an important member about our expectations. He had the rudest customer service skills i had ever come across. To prove my point quite a few people spoke out about the misleading advertising. Like us they didnt stay!!! If we wanted to go to a pub in a back garden & listen to music, we would have stayed in Swindon!! Total Rip Off!!!

A lunch you cannot fault, Yorkshire puddings you will never forget. Just very hard to surpass. Easily streets ahead of competition in Fordingbridge and Salisbury. Staff are attentive, friendly and professional.

I purchased three tickets for £10 each for the Country Night last Saturday 29th June. Ticket stated BBQ in capital letters at the top, then line dancing and rodeo bull along with list of singers. On arriving we submitted tickets and stubs returned to us and were told to take to the bar to get a token for the BBQ. On walking to the bar a large blackboard said BBQ £15. This was not listed as such on the ticket in that BBQ was £15 in addition to £10 we paid for ticket! So in fact the admittance and BBQ cost us £25 each . We spoke to the manageress who was very unhelpful and made excuses saying how can we expect £10 to include all of it. I replied that it is the the fact that nowhere on the ticket does it state BBQ extra. The line dancing ‘lesson’ and the rodeo bull was not extra money ?? Misleading advertising… and if we had been aware the BBQ was an additional £15 to the £10 paid for the ticket we would not have purchased the tickets which effectively were £25 each . We will not be returning because of the way we were dealt with by the manageress.

My wife and I called in to The Goat at the end of a long walk, in desperate need of good food and a refreshing drink or two. We received a nice welcome from the staff, and our thirst was soon quenched. The food was absolutely exceptional (I had Chicken Pie, and my wife had a vegan curry). Both dishes were plentiful and extremely tasty. Nice surroundings, friendly and helpful staff, great food, good local beer - what isn't to like?! I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending The Goat to anyone considering visiting.

Fantastic pub with very large bar area and separate restaurant. A nice beer garden as well. Both had Fish & Chips which was excellent. Staff very attentive and professional. Difficult to find any fault.

Could have been so much better! Friendly, attentive service but our meal lacked that attention. My fish and chips had very dry, shrivelled thick cut potatoes ( I’d rather have had fries) and the tartare sauce had no taste. Burrata on husbands chicken parm was straight out of fridge - bit odd on a hot meal 🤔 cheesecake had no taste and a synthetic feel and was swamped with raspberry couli. Disappointed and probably won’t return.

We visited on an impromptu midweek lunch and were greeted warmly, seated comfortably and attended perfectly. We each had a sandwich which was very generous and came with fries and homemade coleslaw. We all had different sandwiches and we all said how delicious they were. Highly recommend. Will be back again, 100%. Good job.

Went for Sunday lunch. We had two roasts. The pork and crackling were lovely and plentiful. However the marmite smothered roast potatoes were so salty they were inedible and I like marmite. The cauliflower cheese was also very salty and not like any I had ever had before. It was just too mushy. Yorkshire's were tough. We had a dessert but again it was disappointing. The lemon tart was so hard I could barely cut it. The flavour was spoilt by it being swamped in the raspberry sauce. The cinnamon bread & butter pudding didn't taste of cinnamon. Such a shame as last summer it had been excellent. All I can think is there has been a change of chefs. Not in a hurry to return.

The best pub I have been to in many,many years; infact I can't remember one that is better and I've been in a few! Monday night dinner was excellent, the service was friendly and efficient, the food was great (I recommend the chilli pie, probably Monday's only) and so was the beer. It is a beautiful traditional/modern gastro-pub with parking outside, very comfortable and very dog-friendly (biscuits and blankets!). I wish I lived nearer,it would become my local. So if anywhere near Downton, ignore the rest (see my comments about the Green Dragon) and seek out The Goat.

Had been wishing to eat at this place for some time and was looking forward to visiting but was hugely disappointed and will not be returning in a hurry. My choice on the menu was actually very nice but my friend was very disappointed with her meal and the way it was served. She struggled and eventually gave up. The waitress was very young and pleasant but had no idea how to sort the problem (not her fault, she was very inexperienced). I found the place a little grubby especially the ladies cloakroom - definitely the cleaners are not doing a good job - I overheard someone else commenting on this also.

Regular visitors as we love the food and location, especially in summer. However on recent visits the staff seem to be lacking enthusiasm and vegan options are limited, which is a real shame. Will try again in the summer and hope for a better experience, as the food and service was fantastic in summer 2023.

We had 5 roast dinners, the 3 small potatoes had a small portion of beef covering them. The potatoes tasted like they were cooked hours before and put in a microwave. Very firm inside. The overcooked Yorkshire pudding was huge and tough to chew. Will not be going again. Bill was over £200 with 2 desserts and 1 drink each.

I gave two stars because the service was amazing. The food was the opposite. I ordered the vegetable curry with chicken as an extra. The only vegetable I could identify were peas. It should have been called tomato slop.

A warm welcome and a very pleasant pub. Unfortunately the portions were small (especially the Cottage pie which was more like a starter, which was accompanied by a couple of sprigs of undercooked broccoli and a spoon full of peas). I found the menu overall very uninspiring and extremely expensive for the quality & quantity of food we received. Very disappointed and would not return for food but would consider again as a nice place to have a pint or two. I’d imagine the attractive beer garden would be a great place to enjoy the summer weather when it returns.

I am a very picky person when it come to pub/ restaurants but this is my favourite! I now live in Downton village and the staff and owners are friendly and extremely efficient. Darren and Karolina run a beautiful large pub with a great choice of menu (and just have to say the marmite roast potatoes are to die for! ) We took our family of 11 there for Christmas dinner for the first time this year and we all loved it. There were no complaints it was hot and delicious……. Make sure you give it a try you won’t be disappointed! Yvonne Treharne x

Went for a drink and pub was busy, beautifully decorated for Christmas and bar staff are friendly and efficient. Went back 2 days later for a meal and great service and lovely food. The Goat is fast becoming our favourite pub

I’ve only ever heard good things about this pub/restaurant so decided to book for Sunday lunch. We ordered a Roast Beef and a Roast Pork. Loved the Marmite Roasties, as well as the selection of vegetables (including cauliflower cheese!) The portion of beef was very small in comparison to the other tables nearby, but did look cooked to perfection. My pork was good, served with crackling. The stuffing just needed a little longer in the oven. Went for the crumble for dessert. Wasn’t a huge fan of the topping, but then crumbles these days never seem to have the traditional topping. Overall, a nice meal, with friendly staff. Have booked to try their Christmas set menu next.

Very pretty pub with delicious food and good service. Pricey but worth it. Have been several times and it never disappoints.

Friendly and attentive staff, excellent service and delicious freshly cooked food with fabulous vegan & veggie options. Lovely outside area and some cute quirky ‘goatisms’ throughout!

Just moved to the area and we've claimed The Goat as our local. We've visited for drinks and food several times, and it has been nothing less than excellent every time. Food is fantastic, service is quick and friendly and the place is lovely both inside and out. 👌

After struggling to find somewhere to eat on our way back from Henley-on-Thames to Christchurch, we finally had some success at The Goat when we arrived there at 8.40pm on a Wednesday night and they said that they were still serving hot food ! We sat in the beautiful beamed restaurant which looked like it had been recently refurbished and we ordered fish and chips and some drinks. We were virtually the only ones in the restaurant at this time of night although plenty of people elsewhere in the pub. The food was freshly prepared and delicious. We would happily return to The Goat as the place, food, service and general ambience was excellent.

Called in here on the off chance we could get a table for Sunday lunch, and are we pleased that we did. Probably the best Sunday roast we have had in ages ! The roast beef and pork were very tender, the beef was beautifully cooked, pink just how we like it ! and how about marmite roast potatoes! Now I’m not a fan of marmite and with a little trepidation I tried a roasty …… damn I’m converted ! Really enhanced the the taste…… fantastic. On top of a great lunch the pub is nice, toilets clean etc in fact hard to fault anything, lovely garden, it was nice to see families with young children enjoying the outdoor space. Definitely will go back.

One of the best pubs in the area with lovely staff, good beers and amazing food! A gorgeous beer garden as well

Good location Not the cheapest but lovely food Great service from Pedro Will call again if passing

This is a large and airy pub, nicely furnished and with a big garden. It is very welcoming to dogs. We had some local beer and gin and really enjoyed the food. It was all very tasty, generous portions and well cooked. The service was...

Gorgeous food at this wonderful (more up market) pub!! We were staying at an Air B&B in Downton & had visitex the Goat for a few drinks initially, ( staff were great & extremely friendly & attentive, welcoming us & our dog (even had doggy...

I had a impromptu visit to The Goat last night with a friend We ordered 3 tapas at £5.95 each and they were really awful quality and executed so poorly The menu sounded pleasing but sadly that’s where it ended….. It’s a lovely venue but...

Went on the way past (on the off chance) after a local recommendation. The place is huge inside. The decor was fresh The gardens were spacious. There's plenty of parking Luckily it was quiet when we went so we were served quickly. The staff were...

Had a delicious meal here today, with some of the best chips I've ever had in a pub! Lovely friendly staff and a beautiful beer garden at the back. This is en route for the Avon Valley Path between Salisbury and Christchurch, so a very...

Well run pub with great staff ( landlady is the star) good selection of beers , well kept beer garden and clean smart decor.

Disappointing that adverse comments received prior to our visit were confirmed. The staff were very friendly but we think our sweet order was mislaid and nearly led to cancellation. 10% service charge unjustified - especially as it increased the price of a Guinness to above...

Awful, roasts and deserts looked delicious but tasted very bland, would not eat there again. Seemed like veg and deserts bulk bought frozen. Like chef has not tasted the food.

Wow what a lovely restaurant with great staff. The food is delicious and good size portions. The burgers were lovely and skinny fries also perfectly cooked. The beef and pork roast dinners were well done but the beef was rare if you like it that...

Lovely venue. The place was extremely clean and tidy and decor was well thought out. The great selection of food was fantastic, beautifully cooked and very well presented. The staff were great…welcoming, friendly and couldn’t do enough to make sure everything was perfect for us.

My friend and I visited for the first time today for Sunday lunch. We were most impressed, firstly by the place itself, so pretty and tastefully done out. Staff and service excellent, attentive without being intrusive. When asking about a table at the front near...

Went to celebrate a family birthday. Perfect location to meet in the middle and had high expectations after seeing posts and photos on social media. However from the get go there was pressure from the staff about if all of our party had all arrived...

So we pre booked a table for 9 people with pub and had ongoing correspondence with them. First red flag was having to pre booking food choices. On arrival - there was no greeting other than the kitchen closes at such and such a time....

Would never return. Awful customer service from foreign woman when we walked in. Told that the kitchen was closing despite having preordered food. No welcome at the table, no menus to order starters or drinks and we weren’t offered the opportunity to order any either....

We always make sure to eat here when we're in the New Forest. Never been disappointed. Our dog was welcome. Great food. Great service

Visited the Goat a few times last week whilst staying in the village. Very good pub serving good food although we did think it was overpriced. Great efficient and polite service.

Family get together including one from America Sunday lunch thought the quality for price would have been better three had the roast beef all found it chewy certainly not over cooked the vegetables were a little hard overall not great think you really need to...

Never left a negative review of a restaurant before but never had 2 main courses that were inedible before. Beef bourguignon that was cooked within an inch of it's life so all the liquid had turned to jelly and overcooked cod with a most bizarre...

We really enjoyed the Latin themed evening. AMAZING food, so much of it. Super fresh and expertly cooked. The atmosphere was perfect and it made for thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

This pub has plenty of parking at the rear, it was very busy with a vibrant feel, which is what you would hope on a Friday evening. We were quickly shown our table, which we changed without any problem. The server took our drinks order,...

This was my first visit to the Goat, and I wasn't disappointed! Karolina and the resident beagles were very welcoming. The staff were attentive, friendly, and very good at keeping a party of twenty diners fed and watered. The food was fabulous, I had a...

Had a late lunch/early supper. They serve food all day. Very good. Had the Fish and Chips, very light tasty batter. Very good Poboys.

Had a very expensive lunch, which had marmite potato's, my mum is a hater so she couldn't have a roast dinner on the Sunday. You are really limiting your clientele with this choice. She had the chicken burger which she said was lovely. I know...

Disappointing choice on the menu ended up choosing 'cheapest meal' as everything was very pricey, £16.95 for a burger £17.95 for fish and chips. Quality was ok, tasty enough, but portion size did not warrant the high price. Actual pub was lovely, very cosy. Service...

Thoroughly underwhelming. We were instructed, not told, that there were no more roast dinners available. This was at 4pm on a Sunday. We ordered from the main menu. My chicken burger was tiny, chips clearly old and limp. My wife’s pizza was a disaster so...

Waited at the bar for so long while staff members chatted to each other instead of serving. Seemed to serve who they wanted and not who has waited the longest. Came down from London and was told this was a geat pub totally disagree should...

Visited The Goat after rave reviews from adult ‘children’ but found the menu limited and quality of food average. My wife and I struggled to find something we actually wanted to order. To compensate, service was quick and young people serving very pleasant. Attractive interior...

We’ve eaten here a handful of times this summer but keep forgetting to review- so here I am! 10/10 couldn’t be more impressed with this pub. Food is always spot on with a wide range of choices, especially for those with dietary requirements (veggie, vegan,...

Found this pub by accident as our other booking was cancelled at short notice so was very pleased to find not only a place that could take a booking for Sunday at 5pm but also very tasty food Staff very good although come 6pm they...

Have known this pub since a child. Unfortunately my last visit was not a good experience. Food took ages to arrive even though there was no-one at the bar and the restaurant was very quiet. My Greek style kebab didnt resemble anything I've eaten in...

Had a fabulous night with friends…lovely nibbles to start.. followed by the pork steaks which were to die for and the broccoli steaks for our veggie friends.. all really well presented. We sat in the garden which I was pleased to see there was a...

I would just like to say how well our waitress Bella handled our food and drink tonight. We made a mistake with our food order that was completely our own fault and as we were sat in the garden (right next to the kitchen door)...

On holiday for a few days and this gem was perfect! Lovely garden with soft music playing, attentive staff, and plenty of choice. Plenty for vegetarians, and the prices are really reasonable. The food was delicious, and was served with lovely presentation. A fire fit...

This place is excellent. Beer is great… local brewery ales, service is excellent from top to bottom, food is awesome.. see pic and it’s in a stunning area. I am lucky to live here but if you are on hols in New Forest , 100%...

Visited here as staying close by. Celebrating our 6th wedding anniversary. Fantastic pub with lovely food, great service and wonderful surroundings - highly recommend.

Lovely staff amazing food, best experience ever !😍 perfect place for a couples date night , such a beautiful atmosphere

My partner and I went for dinner and were impressed by the extensive menu and the helpful advice from the staff . Our food was excellent ,my herb encrusted hake being particularly memorable . We each had three courses and drinks and whilst not particularly...

Food excellent but young staff need to be good how to communicate with people. Staff seemed very inexperienced, they need to be taught his t have a conversation with people.

The Goat never ceases to amaze. The team are fantastic and the food is sensational, I know some people review that it is on the pricier side but all I have to say is you get what you pay for and you get your moneys...

We absolutely love this pub. Have been for quite a few evening meals and have been really pleased everytime. Really friendly staff and great atmosphere. Food is always a really high quality - and lots and lots of vegan options. Really great wine menu too....

Nice 6 mile walk along the river Avon with lunch at the Goat. Good menu, location, parking. I had the fish finger sandwich.

We visited The Goat yesterday evening as a party of seven to celebrate our ruby wedding anniversary. We were asked to pre order to ensure our menu choices were available which we did. I have to say what a wonderful evening we had. All the...

We visited as a family of 4. We travelled from Ringwood as the pub was recommended to us by a friend and we were not disappointed. The roast was just divine, probably the best we've had in years, the beef was just cooked to perfection....

Have vsisted a few times and while the pub itself and decor is lovely and comfortable, the lady who has served me the past couple of times is quite abrupt and has questionable manners and customer service. Recently stopped by as wanted a drink and...

Beautiful pub, lovely location but by far the rudest manager I've ever met! My family have visited on lots of seperate occasions and they've all said the same! She barks at you as you walk in and questions what you are ordering every time! if...

Such a beautiful pub but such awful front of house... think it's the owner and her husband who make you feel like you're a burden and that you don't belong! Dog friendly but when my daughter went to get a biscuit out of the jar...

We popped in on the off chance of a table at around 5:45 on a Saturday after an afternoon in Salisbury and we were blown away by the food at The Goat. We are local and my husband had heard good reviews so we stopped...

Been a few times and vibe is good. Their seafood linguine is always good. However, their pie of the day had whole pepper corns in it, all you could taste was pepper which is shame considering the meat quality there is good.

Had a really enjoyable evening with friends at The Goat. Food was delicious and reasonably priced. Staff were excellent and welcoming. A minor mishap with a spilt pint by a new waitress but was handled really well. Thanks for a fab evening, we will be...

Upon arrival we were really disappointed by the welcome which felt like we were not welcome at all. Fortunately, after sitting our server was very friendly, as were all the other staff. Interior is very clean, bright and spacious and has been recently refurbished. Menu...

Hospitality is not just about good food.Having enjoyed 2 previous visits to the goat we decided to book for a special family outing.We now live nearly 2 hours away but decided the good food was worth a return visit to our old home village pub.Unfortunately...

Made to feel as if you are a hassle rather than a customer. As a local I Have visited this pub 3 or 4 times since opening, and each time have been disappointed in the service and attitude of the staff, particularly the owners. The...

Booked for a family 21st Birthday meal, following a friends recommendation . However, there was no welcome on arrival from the front of house staff, in fact the attitude bordered on rude, which rather set the tone for the evening. Food was fabulous, but unfortunately...

Very welcoming even though we arrived pretty much at the end of service. Very interesting menu, really efficient friendly service, good beer and the food was outstandingly tasty. Couldn't fault anything. Thank you !

Lovely lunch with friends it’s a large pub restaurant but quite cosy, very nice staff and service with a smile. we all enjoyed our lunch well cooked and nicely presented. The Goat is well presented and beautifully clean a credit to the owners, who obviously...

Great food, with loads of vegan choices for my wife. Service was efficient and friendly and the atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming. Portions were generous and the prices reasonable. I can't think of anything I'd change, and we'll definitely be back... ...soon! Thanks for a...

Visited at lunchtime .Good service , very large pub , could do with some sound softening floorings/ fabrics as a couple of large tables nearby were very loud. My Husband was disappointed with the portion size , way too pricey.

Sunday roast was ok but far too pricey - £18 for beef (!) Staff great, menu really interesting but......not worth the bill.

Very friendly pub, can't fault it. My dog was made very welcome and the staff are so friendly, nothing was too much trouble. Great to find such a large car park behind the premises. The outside garden area is just stunning, sadly it was a...

The staff are lovely and friendly. The pub is really clean. The choice of menu wasn’t great, mostly fish dishes one way or another. Your portions are small for the price. Overall the food was decent.

This was our first visit to The Goat, and we were not disappointed. The staff were all very polite, professional and friendly. The food was amazing, really delicious and beautifully presented. We had 3 tasty courses and thoroughly enjoyed each course. We highly recommend this...

The place did not look inviting from the street and I almost decided to forget it. Once I got round the back the whole place was completely different. Waiters all pleasant and attenive. Our dog Millie was catered for, not that she ate anything there...

Three friends and I visited. We ordered 7 of the bites dishes - they were all lovely and the dips were very flavoursome. For mains we had a burger, two pizzas and the on the bone steak - it was all lovely but the burger...

Top rating. Could and should be a Michelin star. My wife and I had lunch at the Goat and everything was perfect - right down to the cheese biscuits. Brilliant and friendly service too. Thoroughly recommended

We recently visited while on holiday, this place was recommended by the letting cottage owners, and it did not disappoint. There is a large garden for sitting out on sunny days and plenty of space inside too. The staff were all very polite and welcoming,...

Went for our 10 year anniversary last night with my wife. Lovely pub, clean and nicely decorated. Staff very welcoming and friendly. Food wise we had the selection of 3 light bites which were Aranchini, Meatballs and Cumberland Sausage were were all very tasty (aranchini...

No need to waffle on here. Our first experience of The Goat as locals in Downton. Lovely Lovely food, clean and crisp restaurant, great wine list, garden full of people enjoying themselves, waitresses very attentive - what more could you want from a restaurant ?...

Sunday lunch, 22nd August. The food was fantastic and the staff were absolutely amazing, Sharlot our waitress was brilliant service too, and we will definitely be back again I would thoroughly recommend!!

Just come back from Sunday Lunch at The Goat in Downton feeling very let down and disappointed. I have been to the The Goat now 3 times and each time I have something I am not happy with and this will last the time for...

We have just moved to the area and will definitely be making this our regular, the team were lovely, the food phenomenal and the atmosphere chilled. Couldn’t ask for anything more, the place was clean and well decorated. Anyone who wants a great meal out...

Had a great lunch here with friends. So many things I could have chosen on menu, which is rare for me! Everything was presented beautifully and was delicious. We had the Halloumi Fries and Onion Bhaji to start and share, amazing. Our mains were all...

The Goat is set in an idyllic village which has several pretty walks by the river. The food is interesting without being way out. My husband - who likes more traditional fare - and I - with my preference for something that I don’t cook...

We have eaten here for the last 2 nights and found the food excellent, having had both small plates and main meals, great beer, and the service was very good. Our order was taken and the food arrived quickly on both occasions and was to...

Wonderful meal at the Goat in Downtown today. We both had the Lamb Kofta Kebab which came with homemade flatbread, tzatziki & Greek salad. It was all absolutely delicious and the side order of chips were the best I have tasted. I wholeheartedly recommend The...

I live within walking distance of The Goat so it’s great to have such a spacious and attractive pub on my doorstep. Decor and layout is excellent, waiting staff are pleasant, hard-working and well-organised and the outdoor space is a huge bonus. However…the food consistently...