The House Martin, Barton-on-Sea in New Forest

Saying farewell to a loved one is stressful and emotional. But the team at The House Martin hosted the most lovely celebration of life for Mike's family and friends. Ashley treated us with compassion from the moment we called up to enquire, and he understood we didn't have exact numbers. He was an angel. Before the day, the awesome chef, Jason, spoke with us about the cakes he would bake and they were utterly delicious crowd-pleasers. On top of that, the beautiful setting gave us the room to talk and reminisce together. Outside of this, we've enjoyed lovely lunches in the recent past. The food and drinks are fab and all the crew are attentive. Thank you from the bottom of my heart <3

We called in lunchtime for a drink and probably lunch. We sat outside as a hot day. The tables outside the front of the pub were absolutely filthy. Didn’t look like they’d been cleaned in a long while. The pub was not at all busy and the bar staff could have easily cleaned these tables. We decided that if the tables were left in this state one wondered what state the kitchen would be in. Didn’t fancy taking the chance so left and went to the Walkford pub nearby. Which turned out to be a better place.

We had a really super meal. My chicken caeser salad was the best I’ve tasted. Great atmosphere, really kind attentive staff and a super chef.

We’ve been to many Hall & Woodhouse pubs for meals but this stood out with the quality of our meals which would have gone down well in any of top quality restaurants we’ve been to when travelling around the South West. The starter of salt and pepper squid was perfectly cooked and followed by sea bream with a side of vegetables which was an absolute pleasure to eat . Staff were friendly, attentive and met any request with a smile and exceptional service. One of the best experiences we’ve had in many years of eating out. Thanks to all at the House Martin

Pub was quite empty on a Saturday Lunchtime. Drinks seemed expensive but maybe its the same everywhere now. The food service was poor- very slow, cold plates and very casual staff who didn't interact well with customers. Food was disappointing. Too much on the menu I think and poorly cooked. Our salt and pepper prawns were in edible. The Halloumi was overcooked and very rubbery. One to We will avoid in future.

From the time we walked in the door we were made to feel extremely welcome We had our dog with us who was promptly given a bowl of water. Ordered drinks and food. Food arrived looked and tasted amazing. Our meals were good quality and piping hot. Tables cleared after eating promptly. Only one dessert ordered but it was presented beautifully and tasted very good too. Very welcoming, will definitely be back.

New to the area, we are trying out different pubs serving food. The House Martin pub is a lovely pub to visit. Friendly staff, lots of space with a great light filled dinning area. Good beer and we were all pleased with the tasty food served , at a reasonable price. See photos. We shall be back soon!

We were told they just served ordinary pub grub. We had a pleasant surprise when ordering sea bass - presentation excellent - quality good - great value

Came here for lunch with my Father during the week. Although it was Friday afternoon, was lovely to see the pub was not too overcrowded. There is a lovely eating area which is separate from the bar area, which is very spacious, with a lot of interesting paintings and unique ornaments to look at. One only very minor improvement, would be that is would be even nicer to have a bit of background music playing in this room. My Father ordered the venison, which he very much enjoyed, and also said was a very generous portion size. I ordered the bacon and cheese burger. The burger was incredibly tasty, succulent and a very generous size. Chips were very tasty too and quite thickly sliced. The tomato and lettuce were very fresh and it was wonderful to get a good sized gherkin with the meal too. The coleslaw with the sauce in it was so tasty, and really made a difference to the overall taste of the meal as well. Due to the very generous portions sizes, both our meals were very good value. The waitress that was attending to us, was incredibly polite, welcoming and very friendly. She was also very helpful and attentive and made our visit a real pleasure. She truly provided outstanding customer service.

I don’t normally write reviews for places but my visit to the House Martin this afternoon left me with no choice but to share the exceptional experience I had today. I had visited in the past and whilst the cosy yet open atmosphere inside and the spacious gardens outside made it the perfect place to grab a drink, the food was nothing to write home about. When I heard that the pub was under new management and now offers a completely refreshed menu, I decided to pay a visit for lunch on a day off work. ‘Pub food’ doesn’t do their offerings justice! The meal I had today puts most restaurants to shame, who’d charge far more. No need to go to Bournemouth or Southampton when food of this quality is right on my doorstep. The halloumi fries for starters were the thickest I’ve ever seen. Should be called halloumi batons or something as the word fries completely undersells them. For mains I had the bacon and cheese burger with chunky chips. The burger was fantastic. Not too greasy, yet so thick and delicious. The coleslaw was evidently freshly made and a good portion too. And the chunky chips! Oh, the chunky chips! The best chunky chips I’ve tried, bar none. Perfectly cooked. Not too soft nor too hard. I usually go for sweet potato fries when available when I’m eating out as I’ve had too many cases of improperly cooked chunky chips. But these were perfect. Next time I’ll order another portion on the side. 😂 As I mentioned at the start of this review, the thing that made this the best pub in the area was the lovely cosy, yet open, atmosphere. The high ceilings and spacious floor plan create a space which stands in stark contrast to the dingy and claustrophobic feel of other local pubs. Staff are some the nicest bunch you’ll meet. Especially Ashley, who bent over backwards to make sure all my needs were met. He greets everyone with a warm smile and makes you feel like you’re at home away from home. The House Martin is undoubtedly not just a place to go for a drink anymore, but a destination for anybody looking for mouthwatering, hearty food in a delightful atmosphere. I know I’ll be coming back, again and again.

30 plus local ladies had a post Christmas lunch at The House Martin on the 16th January, 2024. Ian and his team were excellent hosts. Delicious food, very generous portions, great service and a great atmosphere. The extra touches; Christmas crackers, table decorations, etc. all added to the experience and a great time was had by all. A big thankyou to Ian and his team for a very enjoyable afternoon.

Lovely service , food and drink was excellent wouod recommend if visiting the area. Nothing was too much trouble they Definetly went the extra mile

Came here after walking at highcliffe, family of 5 with a dog, and we were made to feel very welcome. had 3 nice roasts and some other bits plus s good game of scrabble/connect 4 Won a few so not a bad way to end a sunday!

Live local and decided to try ' the local' for Sunday lunch , been a few years since last ate there , mainly as our previous visit the food wasn't very good. Our visit this time pretty much the same which is such a shame. Sunday roast - plates cold , food barely warm and flavourless lamb. Won't be visiting again , slow service too, not our table but could see other tables getting frustrated. We eat out twice a month at various pubs and some cracking food and service in the local area and around the new forest. Such a shame this one is a let down 😔

Stopped here whilst holidaying in the area. Chose here as they allow dogs. What a find. The food here was exceptional. Had the sirloin steak which was seasoned and cooked perfectly. So many times the meal is let down by what comes with the steak , not here good quality accompaniments. Wife had chicken which like the steak was cooked to perfection. Poor dog didn’t get anything! 👏👏 well done you

Had our annual friends Christmas party here and thought the food was delicious and the service was excellent ! Well done to the team at The House Martin, top work !!

Had a previous bad experience but as locals to the the area we gave it another chance and what a change the service was prompt and friendly and the food was in a word brilliant fresh vibrant and packed with flavour having spoke with the management we were told a new chef has taken the helm and the difference is ten fold I would say with out question it's the best meal I have eaten in a public house for a very very long time Highly recommended

Dropped in on a random lunchtime visit. It's a great looking place, beautifully decorated and very spacious. Great range of beers at the bar or anything else you might like. The food was excellent and more than enough portion size. The fish and chips and the steak, wonderful! The staff were most helpful but a special mention to Olivia, a bubbly character who was wonderful, an absolute asset to the House Martin. Get down there and find out for yourselves. I am going back.

Excellent food and great service. Would recommend it. We both had the Turkey Sunday roast which contained home made food. Much better than chain restaurants.

Really disappointed, always had great food & experience at The HouseMartin - don’t know what’s happened ! Had to ask for menus as only one on each table ( there were 6 of us), burgers were tasteless & overcooked , buns were rock hard. Service was poor- nobody asked if we were ok - you have to order at the bar now & then go to the bar to pay when your leaving. Didn’t give a copy of the bill .. sausage & mash a bit like a school dinner ! Come on get your act together - you are a great place for the locals & holiday makers - we want to support you but you need to improve !

Went for a Sunday roast meat was very tough couldn't cut it potatoes were hard our meal was not edible. No one asked if our food was OK nothing was said plates just taken away when we paid at the bar we said we couldn't eat our dinner no apology was given just smiled and took our payment. We will not be returning dreadful customer service when this was a Hall & Woodhouse the food and the staff were A1. What I don't understand it still has Hall & Woodhouse signs outside the pub and on their website but the bar tenders assured us it is no longer as it has been taken over

An absolute disgrace of a pub. Went in for a quiet lunchtime drink with my wife. Service was a shambles, took my money, walked away to serve another customer and I was still waiting for my drinks. A local football team then appeared and we had to listen to the foulest of language, along with belching. No consideration of other customers. Not that the pub was that busy, another sign of a pub going the wrong way. The pub was cold with little heating on. They have also flooded the pub with TV'S, it's more like a sports bar than a nice local pub to enjoy a drink in. As a local I will never enter this establishment again. An utter disgrace.

Possibly the nicest pub meal I’ve had in a long while. The service and quality of food was superb. I would definitely be returning. Lovely atmosphere and setting. Celebrating my Birthday here was definitely the right choice.

Came in on a very quiet Wednesday night. Maybe 7 tables in at a push. Food took over an hour to come out. Food wasn’t bad but too AGES.

Was refused entry to The Wheatsheaf because of dog even though said could bring dog during booking, we found The Martin House and were made welcome with dog for Sunday lunch. We had the Lamb with veg and were so pleased with quality of food. Service was good and staff friendly. We subsequently dined there next day and were again really pleased with food and service.

Just want too say a massive well done to Ashley and the team they are all very polite and well trained. I had a very good meal and very good service.

Ordered two coffees and a sandwich, waited 30 minutes and received two coffees. When asked where the sandwich was were told that we hadn’t ordered one. Checked bank account when we got home only to see they charged us for a sandwich. Called to complain only to be told they can’t refund us unless we go back. Very poor service and customer service. Will not be returning.

Sorry, as I really wanted this to be a lovely family dinner out. Haven’t been to the pub for a few years as we’d had a bad experience her, but decided to give it another go. Sadly has got worse. Staff were very nice but food was awful. Shame as it’s a nice building & location.

Shocking food. Expensive. Wasn’t worth even half of what we paid. Poor quality. Ordered fish and chips, fish was ‘empty’, with soggy batter. It came with around 9-10 chips. It was inedible. Husbands burger coated in black crunchy bits off the grill. Came with around six chips, no cheese despite paying £1,50 for cheese and he said it was awful meat. Daughter had tomato pasta. It was dried up and stuck together. No sauce. It was supposed to come with garlic bread. It didn’t. They told her a minute before it was being served to her. She had a handful of pasta in the bottom of the bowl. She left hungry. She would have had enough if she was maybe 6 years old, but she’s 19. The outing was £60. Dreadful food and spoilt our anniversary. Really wished we’d gone elsewhere. Will never return and will be emailing to complain. Save your money.

Popped in Saturday evening without booking. We were greeted by a lovely young lady who served us with our drinks. We found a table in the restaurant and went and ordered our food. The food was excellent. My husband and I both had the rump steak which was cooked perfectly to our choice. It really was a lovely evening meal out and we would both like to thank the lovely young lady that greeted us on arrival. Thank you.

Lovely pub grub. All the classics such as fish and chips, burgers, fish cakes with crab mayonnaise. Book tables in advance as they were booked up on a Wednesday half term evening, until past 8 pm. A longer than average wait of about 45 minutes before the food arrived. But it was worth the wait. Would recommend.

Enjoyed a lovely Sunday roast here recently. I had the chicken and my wife the beef and we shared a side of cauliflower cheese. Food was excellent, with home made Yorkshire pudding and good roast potatoes. We asked for gravy to be heated and it was. Friendly service too and even our dog was given a treat. Very clean too - would recommend based on our experience

Has changed hands and is sooo much better. It is now clean, the staff are friendly and helpful and the food is good. I hope it continues

We live very nearby and decided to have dinner and a drink or two on Tuesday 13th June. On arrival we asked for a table for two and were told we could sit at any table in the main pub area. We took 10 minutes or so to choose from a specials board that had been written by a three year old and the menus on the table which had spelling mistakes (for heavens sake if you can’t spell escalope use spellchecker). I then went to the bar (at 7:25pm) only to be told they weren’t taking food orders. Should have been told when we asked for a table since it was pretty obvious we would be looking to eat. Won’t be going back in a very long time.

We had a fabulous Sunday roast at lunchtime here. I had lamb which was perfectly cooked, loads of different vegetables too. Perfect. Staff were really friendly and helpful. I'll definitely be back.

Hi there , just want to say a massive thank you to all the team at the House Martin I came in for lunch today with my elderly mum and wife we were welcomed by Ashley and the team. They were all very smiley and...

Lovely chilled pub, great food great service, has a lovely beer garden for the children to play in ….

We visited last night for a casual dinner out. There wasn’t much signage so we went to the bar and we’re greeted with a friendly member of staff who were able to show us to our table. Service was nice and fast, food and drinks...

Lovely looking pub but food service was terrible. Waited over and hour and half for food to arrive. Had to complain to staff before our food arrived. Other people also complaining about the wait. Looking around many tables were without food. When food did arrive...

Took partners Mum out for her birthday, had to wait 1hr 30 for the starters, Chicken wings was cold, vegetables, gravy were cold and all the meat dishes were just warm. The only saving grace is the young waitress who was very good but was...

Lovely clean pub/restaurant with friendly and helpful staff. Relaxing warm atmosphere and fabulous food, all beautifully prepared and great value. Good menu choice - something to suit all tastes! Dog friendly also. Will definitely come again 😀👍

We had our family visiting and decided to visit the House Martin for an early evening meal. We knew it had recently changed hands so as we are local we were keen to try it. The menu was much improved and plenty there for our...

The Housemartin has been a must visit when we stay at new milton. Usual high standard of food, food preparation and service. The staff are always friendly and helpful.

We had a tasty and well presented dinner , we had a great waitress. Inside looking beautiful We definitely come back.

Driven past this pub many times but never ventured in, always looked great on the outside. However decided to give it a go today, went for a later Sunday lunch, 3 of us and a dog. Appreciated we could only sit in the bar area...

Paid £60 deposit for 6 people and a dog to have a 3 course Xmas dinner at 3pm No table ready, No welcome drink as advertised, Finally led to a bare table. sat for 20 minutes before any drinks were served, then another 5 minutes...

I have stopped for food at the house Barton pub a few times now. Food always really good! Another bonus is that they were happy for me to pitched up and stay in my motorhome overnight. Dog friendly too! What more do you need!!!

Not very happy. I went for dinner with my boyfriend last night and we ordered starters, a burger and steak. Everything came accept my steak. We waited half an hour and eventually went up to ask where it was. The guy said that he forgot...

We visited The House Martin for a lunch time drink. Of the three beers advertised we asked for we were told none were available. Not what we expect from an establishment owned by a local brewery.

Good food, good atmosphere. The pork chop was especially good and there was a decent selection of beers available. Very dog friendly!

Nice enough venue however the service was very poor and the food was also not great. We arrived for our tablet booking on a Sunday to be advised there was no roasts left, no apologies offered despite our group being very disappointed. A few of...

This pleasant country pub is spacious and allows privacy without being claustrophobic or enclosed in any way. There is also plenty of outside seating with umbrellas and good parking. So why on an August Saturday night by the sea, was the place mostly empty? We...

On arrival we were greeted by a stand with some menus on and a notice saying please help yourself to menus find a table and then order at the bar. We had booked a table so we were a bit confused. There was a lady...

Standard cooking had the pie and mash , not a great deal of flavour basically your standard home cooking

I regularly come here when in the area, either as a couple for larger family with baby, dogs etc. The food, drink, service and general approach by Chelsea and the team is always very good. This is a very good food-led pub, it doesn’t pretend...

We have recently moved into the area and have thought for a while that we should try the House Martin. So, last night we took the opportunity to visit with the family - 6 adults and 6 children. We booked before hand and so we...

advised to book but place was empty - prices average - service slow - Food Fish and chips but could not find much fish batter hard - asked for a cheese burger well done with No cheese and nothing on it but when it came...

Stopped off here as it’s always been one of our favourites and close to home. Stopped for a drink and just some chips but thought we would try the new cauliflower wings as we are both vegetarian. They were tasty although the oil seemed fairly...

Apon arrive we were told last orders were being called soon , as they closed at 10pm on a sunday i understood that and ordered two pints for me and a friend we then took a seat outside and enjoyed our drinks looking at the...

Myself and a friend came in before and after a concert tonight at the chewton glen. Before the night started we had a lovely time there. After the concert we popped in to meet our friends who were picking us up from this venue as...

Very very disappointed by the food and service here this evening. Barely greeted when I arrived, and my disabled father and sister not greeted at all on their arrival - they had to find the table and their own menus. Booked a table of 5...

We arrived at 12.15 lunches start being served at 12 noon , we were a party of 6 but shown to a table for 5 the young girl said she would get us a chair but we asked if we could sit at one of...

Stopped by The House Martin for lunch with friends whilst on a day out in the forest. I had the steak and tanglefoot ale pie for main and the sticky toffee pudding for a cheeky dessert. Both absolutely delicious and I could tell they were...

Stopped by the House Martin tonight for a dinner with hubby. Atmosphere was good with plenty of people enjoying drinks and dinner without feeling too crowded Able to choose where we sat which was nice and order via the QR code however they did have...

I had left a poor review about a previous visit, and the response I had from the team was way beyond expectation. They responded on here apologising, emailed me with apologies, agreed that our experience was below standard, and gave us £40.00 in vouchers to...

It was yummy, good food, lovely atmosphere, nice people I would recommend. The drink was good to, pleased with it all.

The worst roast I ever had! I do understand it is 5 pm on a Sunday, but if you can't serve a decent roast at this time then don't! Just don't serve me microwaved Yorkshire pudding and roast potatoes with two teaspoons of gravy! Shocking!!!

We ate there on a Tuesday night and the food was so poor that we won't be eating there again. The plant burger is not at all the 'meaty texture' that the barmaid had promised - soggy and tasteless. With a random burnt (literally black)...

Went for two Sunday roast meals. Nice greeting on entry shown to lovely table for two. We ordered whitebait & a beef roast & parsnip & cranberry nut roast with pigs in blankets & cauliflower cheese as extras. We waited longer than we should for...

Quite disappointed really the meat was tasty but very well done as were the potatoes and the veg was too. Nice friendly pub

We had steak and chips and ale and tanglefoot pie. Both delicious and well cooked. All the staff were lovely - friendly and efficient. We asked if the pub provided crayons and paper for children. They don't - but the staff went out of their...

We came with friends last weekend and it was lovely, we hadn’t been since before lockdown and we aware it had had a change of management, but it was lovely going back and all the staff were really friendly and the food was good, no...

The wings are still great and whilst the bacon & Brie Cobb is messy it’s tasty. Steven & the crew work hard to make you visit enjoyable. Nothing is too much bother and they are polite, helpful & attentive.

Very welcoming pub, pleasant and inviting staff. Menu looked good but reality didn't completely match up. My wife ordered a rum and coke which turned up without ice - they had run out by 6pm. We both plumped for the steak and Tangle Foot pie....

It's a pub, so I don't expect Michelin-star quality. With that said, the food came out way too quickly to even have been freshly prepared, and it showed. Dried out, and food was hot and cold in places. It felt like it was sat around...

Such a welcoming, friendly pub - all the staff were super friendly and welcoming. We were all impressed with our delicious meals and the portions - great value for money. The fish pie was incredible and was full of fish. Will definitely return when in...

Lovely friendly and helpful staff. Very on the ball and attentive. Excellent food too. Couldn’t decide what to have so had a mix of light bites none of which disappointed. Thank you for making a dreary rainy day a much nicer one.

We had a nice meal, a good time, sat in this very cool part of the restaurant where there were bird cages and things above us, it was a very country local feel place! They could do with more of a dessert selection, personally but...

Just pooped In this convenient watering hole for a nice cool beer after work!!! They sell nice ales like Fursty ferret and Golden Hen really good!!! The Martin is very much geared for food and eating however I sat with my cool golden ale right...

Nice restaurant, good service and lovely atmosphere. I was just a bit disappointed with the limited choice of food on the menu.

Our family chose The Housemartin for Sunday lunch as it was adjacent to Fawcett Fields where we had just watched the circus. All the staff were very welcoming and very nice. The mains were good. Well portioned and came out quickly. The only disappointment was...

My partner and I have just come home from our 8pm booking today (Friday) and have nothing but good words to say. Not only was the food absolutely incredible (steak and ale pie & beef burger), the staff were polite and attentive. The gentleman serving...

Visited today for an evening meal while on holiday in the area. Would highly recommend a visit here as the service was incredibly friendly and the food was spot on. Watched a table being throughly cleaned between guests. Great place!

Enjoyed our meal here. My wife and I had different burgers (I had the beef burger, my wife had the chicken burger) which were both very good. Our son had the southern fried chicken. He's not a fan of spicy food, and to be honest...

Exactly what we wanted on a Sunday evening, they had sold out of roast dinners (which was perfect for us) but still had their full menu on. Friendly staff, delicious food, lovely setting. Masks didn’t appear to be worn by staff - appreciate this could...

Attended on the hoof without a reservation but they found us a table despite being very busy. Staff were very friendly and attentive and made us feel very welcome. Food was very good and piping hot ........can't fault the place to be honest

We visited this very nice pub for a Sunday roast and enjoyed the ambiance. The service was good but the meat was undercooked,we pointed this out and was offered a free desert which we declined as that was not the purpose of the complaint.

Can’t fault this place. Cheap and ok. If you want good stuff, go somewhere lease and pay £100 per person, this was £25 per person and was more than ok for that - I’d come back every time.

We booked to eat here over the phone and when we arrived we felt so unwelcome. We understand that covid has hit businesses hard but it’s not an excuse to make people feel unwelcome. This place needs to do some research as to how other...

Have used the housemartin several times over the years on our trips down south to visit family, always had very good service and meals, but on this occasion I'm afraid to say, we were very disappointed, gentleman that seated us was also the greeter on...

Went with friends for Sunday Lunch very clean and covid safe. Staff very helpful and friendly nothing to much trouble. Although it was Sunday we did not have to wait long for the food to arrive. Everything tasted great. One small concern is that they...

We arranged to meet up with family for birthday catch up, and chose here as near to one of the party living nearby. Obviously the covid restrictions made for a different dining experience, my understanding listening to the media that all hospitality are struggling and...

My husband & I went out on our own for the first time since Oct 2019. We decided on the house Martin as it’s walking distance from home and the menu looked good. Neither of us were disappointed! Couldn’t fault any of it, absolutely brilliant...

Really good meal. Covid friendly. I love Badger Beer so an ideal venue. Plenty of parking, clean. Varied menu

We had a great night tonight at the House Martin. Service was excellent and so was the food. The staff were so helpful and welcoming and we had a lovely relaxed evening. Thank you to everyone for making it a wonderful experience.

We visited The House Martin last time we stayed at Hoburne Naish. Its a firm favourite with our family. Between us we ordered fish and chips, roast dinners etc We all enjoyed the food and service was excellent. We will be back. Its also literally...

Lovely atmosphere, the pub was obviously busy but the staff were attentive and working hard. Food was tasty and came out exactly as ordered by my fussy eater. We really enjoyed our visit.

Excellent service from Emma, an amazingly cooked fish and chips and the General Manager was very welcoming, great COVID talk, he’s got a good sense of humour, great red DMs and a lovely bum 😉😁😁

We have been going to the House Martin for years during our stay at a local holiday park. This time we made two visits, one for dinner and one for Sunday lunch. Overall, we were happy. The guy who served us the first time for...

My partner and I had booked for our Saturday night evening meal and were looking forward to visiting. After a lengthy pep talk on arrival regarding covid rules etc, we were shown to our table. We had decided to order our starter and main meal...