The Horse and Groom in New Forest

We went here after reading good reviews in the daily echo, but I will certainly not be going back. I ordered the sirloin steak, not cheap at £22, and unfortunately was part way through it when I noticed a large insect had been cooked with it. After pulling it off of my steak I called over a waitress who said she would fetch the manager. The manager came over and inspected the insect, and then amazed me by saying "I am not sure exactly what you want me to do about it, we are in the new forest after all and unfortunately you have to expect this kind of thing to happen with all of the insects and bugs etc flying around, would you like a dessert instead?". Needless to say I declined his offer, settled the bill less the £7 he knocked off for my unwelcome extra, and left never to return again. Be warned, do not eat here unless in training for I'm a Celebrity duties.

Always enjoyed a Sunday lunch here when it was under previous ownership. Starters arrived except for one. The black pudding scotch eggs were great. Friend asked where hers was as half way through starters and they thought she didn’t want one so she said just don’t worry now as half way through but then it appeared! Main course arrived. Again not altogether and one of us had asked for no potatoes but an extra Yorkshire but it arrived with potatoes but suddenly they appeared saying they’d made a mistake and took it away! Wasn’t that warm either. The cauliflower cheese was like mash potato was mixed with it and some weird orange cheese melted on top. My husband asked for a non alcoholic beer. The bottle arrived and he knows he should have checked but he’s sure it wasn’t as he had his normal alcohol reaction. Pudding ok but nothing wow! Not the same atmosphere as it use to have and several different waitresses serving us, not a consistent one and never saw the owner which use to make you feel welcomed and checking in if all is ok. The only good thing was chocolate eggs still served with coffee! The toilets could do with a revamp! Such a shame as it was great and won’t be returning soon.

This is a friendly village pub, popular with locals, good choice of beer and a large garden with tents. Great food with far more interesting choices and imaginative dishes than the usual pub fare - I had a good cod loin

Pub is lovely. Sadly food was a disappointment. Food was warm, some ingredients tasted pre cooked and one dish was not as menu described, looked very unappetising and tasted how it looked. Such a shame as food here was nothing fancy but always a good standard.

My last review of this pub was a glowing one for lunch but this one is sadly not. I last ate here in March 2024 and was very impressed. One of my friends eats here regularly and even he was disappointed and actually complained and got a discount this time. I came with two friends. The olive platter with gluten free bread was great and very nice. The fish dish, I was told by my two friends, was overcooked and very small and didn't even arrive with the new potatoes as stated on the menu. They had to ask for them. When they arrived, there was literally no more than two new potatoes cut into small pieces each. They paid £18.95 each for a very small meal indeed. I had the vegan mountain burger which was tasty and supposed to be in a gluten free bun, which I requested, and which was supposed to have vegan cheese, and I ordered chips. The chips were great (a little overfried but still tasty which I shared with my still hungry friends after their lunch. The burger, however, arrived in two slices of, what was said to be gluten free bread not a bun, (but was a very different bread to our gluten free olives platter bread and tasting it I would query if it was indeed gluten free) with no more than a 10p size piece of melted cheese in it for the burger - I kid you not. The burger had cooked onion and cucumber on it like Macdonalds (not my cup of tea) and there were onion rings (not gluten free either) and sundried tomatoes with it so in the end, I shared out my chips and ate the burger only. I couldn't risk the bread and it's texture and taste to me was not gluten free - happy to be wrong on that, but I've tasted a lot over the years and it didn't taste GF to me... and why would you add onion rings to a gluten free meal? This was a special birthday meal and a huge disappointment for all of us. On top of that, we waited about 1 1/4 hrs to get our main meal. I had a great experience last time and I've heard from someone else today that they had a bad experience recently so I don't know if their previous chef has left or not but the standards have definitely dropped in service and in food. I certainly wouldn't waste my money here again, sadly. My friends both complained and they got a slight discount as a result.

I’ve been here twice once last year and now this year and it’s been a highlight of our holiday! Setting is beautiful rustic, classy and amazing location typical to the surrounding area Service is very good all staff are helpful and accommodating Food is worth every penny, my only regret is I’m not here long enough to sample every dish! But so far 10/10 for all the meals I’ve had thus far. I couldn’t recommend this venue enough and will forever be making the effort to dine here when in the area and may even be tempted to travel here just for the food! Thanks for having us.

We visited here for dinner, the atmosphere is lovely, the staff very friendly and helpful nothing is too much trouble, and the food is even better! I highly recommend visiting. A wide choice on the menu and all yummy. My friend who is an ex chef had the home made pie, he said it was the best pie he'd had! The truffle fries are to die for. The landlord very welcoming and helpful. 5 ⭐ from us.

Had been reccomended this pub and popped in for lunch to enquire if there was space for a large group of us with children even though we hadn't booked. We were greeted warmly and seated in the heated and covered area out the back after a bit of rearranging tables to accommodate our group of 16 adults and children. Drinks and food orders were promptly taken and arrived in good time. Lovely food and portion sizes were great. Couldn't fault the service and the staff were friendly and great with the children too. Pub has a lovely garden out the back as well. Great food and friendly service made for a lovely visit. Will definitely be back when next in the area.

We had an excellent lunch on Sunday. The place was very busy and, not surprisingly, it took longer than usual for our order to arrive. Not a problem though. The staff were working very hard yet remained friendly and calm. The food was superb with plenty of vegetables accompanying the main which were good portions. At a time when eating out has become very expensive the prices were very reasonable. A range of local beers was also very welcome. We will visit again.

Excellent meals early evening - very generous olives and dipping bread that the three of us shared, followed by superb lamb hotpot, pie of the day and vegetarian pasta. Service was impeccable. Well-recommended and will visit again soon!

We popped in as we were on our way to Sandy Balls and fancied a bite to eat in a nice pub Layout is nice and it was not too busy at the time we visited. Had a nice selection of drinks on offer and seating wasn't too close to each other The menu offers lots of options and it was hard to narrow done our choices. After deliberation I went for the fish cakes and my friend had the burger. Both were well presented and delicious. But I have to say my fishcakes were probably the best I have ever eaten. Sadly no room for dessert but we will be back again next time we are in the New Forest

Ambience was brilliant for a country pub. The staff were very attentive or be a little bit inexperienced. If you’re going to order the battered fish be warned that the chef hadn’t pin bones the fillet fish. Both my wife and sister-in-law had lots of bones in the fish. I have been a fish chef in five star hotels in London. This was a little bit concerning as there was no attention to detail. Otherwise we had a brilliant evening. My steak pie was really meaty.

We had lunch here on Saturday and watched the rugby in the marquee. The owner was very helpful and hospitable and the food was very good. I was also very grateful to have my glasses case posted to me immediately after asking if I had left it. 5*'s all round, thank you!

Honestly this is a hidden gem! Wow, it was the best roast I have had in a long time! So welcoming and attentive. They fitted 7 adults and 4 children in last minute and the whole visit was just fabulous. We’re from London and I felt like I was one of the locals who they’d known forever. Thank you so much for a lovely dinner, we all loved every meal, the food was amazing! Whenever I am in the New Forest, this will forever be my pub of choice! See you in the summer.

We had late afternoon Sunday lunch at this pub as part of a family reunion (23 of us). We were very well looked after by the kind landlord and his staff. The food was excellent. Highly recommend the pub as a cosy stop for a cold afternoon.

The food was excellent, great ambience, a great location and Mark is a born host. A very good experience and we will definitely be back.

What a little gem this place is. We had 23 people that all needed feeding and watering and it all went so smoothly. The food was fantastic and the staff were brilliant and so friendly. Well done to Mark and team. I just wish this was my local!

Well I want to give a really poor review so the Horse & Groom doesn’t get too popular, however the food was fantastic, service was great and the welcome will have us returning. We had the Horse & Groom recommended, so booked for Sunday lunch to celebrate my wife’s birthday, my birthday and our anniversary, and what a result! The roast lamb was proper cut slices, the steak pie was solid with meat and the fish pie a seafood delight. Great selection of beers and ales including plenty of 0% for the drivers. My wife had the lemon sponge and it was the real deal. Full marks to Mark and his team of attentive, friendly and fun staff. I even had Opera singer Poppy Neame @poppyneame serenade me with a classical version of Happy Birthday ! Full marks ….but avoid at all costs and leave it all for us ! LOL

We love love love this place. We are lucky enough to visit The New Forest once every 2months, travelling from Leamington Spa. We always make an effort to stop for lunch @ The Horse and Groom. Fantastic, fresh, tasty food. I did book and ask to put sat ' out of the way' as we have a slightly anxious dog. The staff always try their best to accommodate us, they are brilliant!! Thank you everyone here. We love your food and service!!

Staff was very attentive, food was exceptional, the atmosphere was amazing, nothing was to much,beautiful fire warm and inviting would definitely recommend

Very warm welcome and a lovely traditional New Forest pub. Fabulous menu with a great choice of dishes and some wonderful real ales available. Service was exemplary and the food was excellent with very generous portions. Ive been disappointed by many local pubs who since Covid have raised their prices but reduced the quality and size of their menus. It was so refreshing to find a pub that excels like the Horse & Groom. I can only give this establishment my highest recommendation and will definitely return. However I would say that you need to book a table to avoid disappointment as we visited mid week for lunch in January and it was very busy.

Perfect find mid-walk through the New Forest. Great service and really lovely food. We had the sausage & mash and beef lasagne and both were great! Would definitely recommend!

This a super pub set in the heart of the New Forest. The food was excellent and the service was outstanding. We had a super time here and will definitely go back the next time we are visiting the area.

An absolutely stellar find - a cosy local pub with a great atmosphere and good food. My partner had the fish finger sandwich which he loved and I had the roast beef sandwich on gluten free bread and it was delicious. We ended our meal with a few rounds of backgammon from the pubs game selection which was a real treat

The most wonderful experience and what a beautifully cooked Christmas dinner. Delicious! Wine all included. Outstanding service What an amazing family running this pub. The atmosphere was perfect and just the most brilliant place to visit summer and winter. Thank you Mark, Nicole and co.

Great little pub in the new forest, excellent food and really friendly service. We were walk ins on a Monday afternoon and the pub was fully booked but we’re able to accommodate us in the heated marquee which had blankets!

Excellent village pub with a good lunch menu, four real ales on draught and welcoming staff. What more could you ask for? We have already booked a return visit.

This is a great, friendly little boozer, offering great food, prepared by the head chef Pete. The staff are amazing, especially Diane! Well worth a visit, give it a try.

Our favourite place for a Sunday roast so far in Dorset. We wished we had known sooner. They used good quality ingredients and took care in the preparation to make the roast dinners so tasty. The belly pork is my favourite as it is cooked...

The lunch was delicious but even more so, were the staff. I phoned earlier today to ask if the fire was on in the restaurant/bar. The lady said that she would put it on for me for when I arrived. I think they are the...

We went to the horse and groom because we stayed near by. The food was great and the landlord and staff were very welcoming and helpful

Good evening everybody, my name is Rodney Davidson but my friends know me as Rodney Cucumber due to my success in cucumber growing competitions. To which I have been the South Wilthsire and Tear Valley champion 9 years out of the last 10, only missing...

Excellent food fresh and well cooked. Nice presentation. We went three nights. Extremely dog friendly with a bowl and water and treats. Friendly staff. We had the burger, extremely tasty especially the burger jam. Local ales were nice. I had sea bass, cooked to perfection....

My self and family are challenging our selfs to find the best Sunday roast dinners in our area. This pub/restaurant was recommended to us by a friend of ours and we were not disappointed. The food was amazing, we were also very happy with the...

Having been a regular (rather than frequent) diner over the years, this place is taking a downturn. Disappointed at small portion sizes, increased prices, and over-booking of tables. Things are going downhill since the recent change of ownership. Profit is definitely a higher priority than...

What a lovely place! I had one of the best roast dinners I’ve ever had and the service was just perfect; so friendly and attentive. Will definitely be back!

This pub is a hidden jem in the village. The food was hot, very tasty and plentiful. I can highly recommend this place for family or a haven for a delightful lunch.

What a lovely find! Staying close by, we visited for evening meal on our first night. The staff made us welcome on an obvioulsy busy night. The food was great, ample portion size, fresh, and presented well despite them being a chef down that night....

As regulars at the H&G for food, we were really disappointed on Sunday evening. The live music inside was too loud, that's ok (but not for us) so we went outside to dine in the marque - nope 'live' rugby on the new big screen,...

We went for a family 90th birthday meal. Table was booked for 19:30 and starters and mains had been pre-ordered, at the pubs request as there was 17 of us, two weeks beforehand. Everyone on our party had arrived and were seated by 19:30. We...

We’ve been here many times but this lunch was not great, food very mediocre Stilton sauce tasted of cheddar they took my dinner back to the kitchen and brought it back out saying I was wrong it was the right sauce…….a big no no taking...

Fantastic setting, food, staff and very well managed. A hidden gem of the New Forest. I’ve been many times and I’ll be coming back soon!

Great find! We planned to stop off for lunch at The Horse and Groom half way on our 4 hour walk. We arrived 15 minutes before they opened but they didn’t mind at all and happily welcomed us in (dog friendly too). Great selection of...

Friendly service. Had pesto pasta which was pretty tasteless and very oily, not nice. Nice surroundings, we sat in the garden.

First meal under new management. Have known the pub for a long time and the Chef Pete. Probably one of the best meals I have had there. Tuna steak off the specials menu. Great taste, great presentation. Really good value for money.

We were staying in the village and this pub came recommended. We were advised to book a table as we planned on having dinner on a Saturday evening. I had the Braised Lamb Shank as it was on the specials board. All our meals were...

A great afternoon, wonderful food and beer , a truly lovely pub with great service , I can recommend the Babotie

We are visiting the atea and staying in Fordingbridge. I looked up the Bat and Ball as we.past it each day. However Tripadvisor gave us nearby Horse and Groom. The photos of food looked better and we wete glad we picked that gor our Sunday...

This pub is very welcoming with efficient staff, excellent food at a reasonable price. Large garden with varied seating arrangements.

A beautiful location with helpful friendly owner and staff. Great value good quality food. A charming atmosphere with both space inside and outside to dine.

Friend recommended this pub and what a top recommendation. Lovely large beer garden which welcomes dogs on leads. Child friendly. Excellent shade provision. No loud music. There was 14 of us of mixed ages for a family reunion. All different tastes catered for - an...

Had a lovely meal here whilst on holiday in the New Forest, surprisingly busy pub in small village with a friendly atmosphere. I had the Steak pie which was lovely and comforting as a pie should be. Staff great and attentive.

Staying with a group of 13 friends and children at the local campsite, Harry’s meadow. We called the day before to book a table for lunch. The menu was extensive, top quality food, gorgeous venue and the staff couldn’t have been more helpful. All 13...

Pretty village, countryside location, character pub, friendly, well organised staff and clearly very popular from the reviews and the number of people enjoying themselves. We ordered the Sunday roast beef. Nice to see a side dish of 4 x mixed veg as well as the...

Brilliant food at this lovely pub, staff really friendly, our dog loved it as was spoilt with treats, best Sunday roast we have had! Thankyou so much for a lovely end to our weekend break.

We booked a table for five people to celebrate my mums 90th birthday. We had a wonderful time, the food was delicious with plenty to choose from on the menu and a specials board too! We all had something different and everyone agreed the food...

I knew as soon as I stepped through the front door we were in for a family treat. Instant, excellent bar service followed by excellent food and service in the Marquee. Already booked again for 2 days time for our ladies lunch. There were 6...

We booked a birthday dinner last minute as we had all been unwell and they found us a table. We love this pub, roaring fire, so full of character beautiful decor. The service is friendly and welcoming, Jason is always around and drops by to...

Excellent meal and service at this delightful pub. Steak and Stilton salad, fish pie and toast dinner were all delicious with Real ale, alcohol free beer followed by New Forest Ice cream and coffees. Entertained by a talented guitarist, the atmosphere was warm and friendly....

What a great pub. Good beers, very friendly proactive staff and owners and exceptional pub food. Both the fish pie and steak and kidney pud were well above pub average.

Went for Sunday lunch last week and was told our table was in the marquee. Once shown to the marquee we were completely ignored for at least 20 minutes, We complained and a polite member of staff found us a table in the bar area....

Such a disappointing visit. We had a lovely dog walk around the New Forest and we were really looking forward to our Sunday Roasts. Upon arrival we were taken to our booked table in the Marquee as we had our dogs. The waitress placed by...

Had lunch here and the staff were very good and the food was delicious. The starters were different and really tasty, we had the Beef Bobotie Spring Roll and the Crispy Chilli beef. The best ribs I have had out and the portions are large....

What a pleasure to receive such a lovely welcome from the guy I imagine must be the owner . Made sure we were happy with our table and everything thereafter . Capable and friendly waitress . It’s very rare these days , so often we...

Lovely dinner here. We had vegan curry and the vegetable fajitas. Both delicious. The lady who served us was so friendly and welcoming and made a fuss of our dogs, bringing them treats. See you again soon.

Pubs should take a leaf out of this well run establishment. The greeting as we walked in was genuine and very welcome. So often we are ignored and treated with disinterest, what a pleasure to be acknowledged and valued. Four friends having a few drinks...

We had lunch today and it was absolutely fantastic. The staff are so friendly too. Can't recommend this place highly enough. We will be back.

On a weekend break in area with elderly relative. On arrival the pub was busy with diners. We had only popped in for a drink. The landlord could not have been kinder and sorted out some seating for us. Looking around the food looked delicious....

Without out a doubt the best. We were in the UK for 17 days and this was the best food, best service, best atmosphere, and best experience of our entire trip. Jason was amazing. He remembered us when we came in. Service with a smile....

We booked a table for my daughter’s 30th Birthday as the reviews were all really good and dogs are allowed in the pub. On arrival we were shown to our table, we asked for a high chair, which seemed to be a chore for the...

I booked on the spur of the moment only a few hours before arrival, turned up a bit earlier than booked and was made to feel so welcome. Staff were attentive and friendly but not pushy. I believe there had been recent refurbishment. I can...

We were visiting the area and I chose this pub based on the Tripadvisor reviews, so glad I did! A warm welcome in a cosy and stylish pub was just what we hoped for and the Sunday roast certainly lived up to its reputation. The...

Have previously visited here and always been very satisfied but not on my recent visit for lunch with a friend. My Battered Fish was well presented and beautifully cooked. However I found four bones in the first two mouthfuls of fish! This was rather disconcerting...

On our annual holiday to New Forest staying in a cottage nearby, Monday was liver & bacon, liver melted, mash superb!! Tuesday was Gammon steak cooked to perfection and the eggs were sooo!! fresh and tasted yummy, Wednesday was the Fish Pie, the amount of...

The evening started so well ,the starters were good ,then came the main course!! The Steak Pie had inedible pastry on which was so hard I don’t think a hammer would of gone through it .when we complained we were offered one portion refund with...

We have been to this pub a couple of times over the last 6/8 months and the food has always been excellent. Four of the family went out for a meal. Starters comprised crispy chilli beef, bobotie spring rolls and cheesy garlic bread . Mains...

Fantastic setting. Warm and cozy little country New Forest pub. Owner was polite, courteous and made us feel very welcome. Now the food…one word, SIMPLY STUNNING. The presentation was outstanding and I am quite fussy and particular about food being hot when served and I...

Fabulous food, superb service and incredible value! Best meal we’ve had in a very long time. Very rarely do I feel compelled to leave a review but this was one such occasion. Can’t wait to come back…thanks for a lovely evening!

A family get together thoroughly enjoyed because of the excellent service and food. As a table of 5 we all chose different items from the great menu. All dishes were hot well-presented and large portions. We had Pie of the day, Ribs, Liver and bacon,...

Excellent food and great service,have been with friends and family 3 times over the last 2 months. Wether it was just 6 if us,to 14 of us had no issues whatsoever.

Visited twice during the last week as we were staying in the area. Very friendly reception and the food was superb. Thoroughly recommended.

Returned again for an evening meal with the family! Jason has definitely turned this pub around can't fault the service or meal in any way again it was superb even when busy! Fantastic range of food for adults and kids which is good quality and...

Visited for a family dinner. The food and service were excellent, and very good value. Would highly recommend.

Sat outside under an open sided marquee and enjoyed a lovely south african dish. I can't remember what it was called but I lived it! beautifully presented as well. Some great beers on tap in the bar and New Forest ponies in the car park,...

My ex colleague and I lunched here today for the third time this year. We used to go to the Bat and Ball……but it changed hands and no longer hits the mark! And that’s because the landlord and staff have moved to this quality country...

Yesterday seven us including one toddler went to the Horse and Groom for lunch and had a fantastic meal. Three of our party are vegetarians but this was not a problem as the menu included a number of dishes that were suitable for them including...

We were treated to a sumptuous and delightful tasty Sunday lunch menu at the Horse and Groom. The variety on the regular menu were very extensive and really good value, and our party were not disappointed with the quality and quantity of their portions. The...

We had a great family Sunday lunch today for our son's birthday. The food was AMAZING, all nine meals came out beautifully presented and piping hot. The service was friendly and efficient even though they were super-busy. Would definitely highly recommend to anyone wanting a...

Great pub, fabulous food and good service! What more can you ask for. We visited the New Forest for a few days and were so impressed with our first visit we went again.

We arrived, having called ahead to book a table, and were greated and seated, and our drinks order taken. That it took over 30 minutes for the drinks to arrive was our first indication that there may be service issues. It then took a further...

My family and I popped in here a few times whilst down here in holiday and had one take away too. On all occasions the food was delivered very very quickly, it was piping hot and delicious. All of the staff were very friendly and...

at 1000 hours 3 weary walkers stopped at the pub desperate for a coffee and use of the toilets.Despite the fact that the pub didn't really open until 1200 the staff were accommodating enough to supply great coffee and allowed us use of the facilities.

This was our first visit to the Horse and Groom, although we have been to the new forest many times, a hidden gem, we were very welcome with our 3 dogs and us had great food in the pretty garden

Had a Top Notch Sunday Lunch today, I chose the lamb because I never cook it at home and it was cooked to perfection and served with my absolute favourite cauliflower cheese along with carrots , broccoli , sugar snap peas, Yorkshire pudding and the...

Our walking group (20 people) visited The Horse and Groom on 11th June. Despite arriving over half an hour early we were welcomed, our table was waiting, drinks orders taken and our food arrived very quickly and efficiently. Everyone thought the standard of service and...

Excellent pub, with great atmosphere. Myself and my husband had the fish pie with crayfish and scallops and it was delicious! Both of our boys enjoyed a meal from the children’s menu. Would highly recommend.

Came for lunch following a recommendation from someone at Sandyballs. We are in agreement. Lovely pub and such yummy food. We had burgers and steak. Both were so yummy and such good sized potions. Well worth a visit!

Located on edge of New Forest in very nice village, this pub is excellent. As a pleasant day sat in beer garden to eat. Food was excellent.. decided to have specials and had a Guinea Fowl with mash, green beans and mushroom sauce. Food came...

Only stopped for lunch whilst out on a long dog walk (a long walk and a shortish dog). Food was lovely (did I detect a South African link?). Staff were bright and friendly. Summer Lightning was the best I have ever tasted. Dog was happy....

I would definitely visit again. The food was amazing, great service and wonderful atmosphere. I’d highly recommend eating here.