The Ivy House in East Hampshire

What you would expect from Spoons, cheap, quick and good was good

Went for breakfast yesterday, 23/02/25, vastly improved on the last time we were there. Food was hot and presentable. Staff were friendly, and all areas were very clean and tidy.

The Ivy House Wetherspoon in Alton strikes a great balance between modern and traditional. From the outside, it has a sleek, contemporary look, but step inside, and you’ll find a classic pub setting with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Service here is efficient and friendly, ensuring a pleasant experience for visitors. The food is served hot and fresh, making it a reliable spot for a satisfying meal. Whether you’re stopping by for a drink or a bite to eat, The Ivy House offers a comfortable and enjoyable pub experience in the heart of Alton.

One of our fave spoons in the area.

Lovely building...good friendly and fast service and tasty snacks. Lots of vegan options. Toilets very nice. Sticky tables,menu's and floors not very clean...could definitely do with someone keeping an eye on that!

It's a Wetherspoon chain pub. - you know what you're going to get in terms of quality and environment even before you walk through the door. Food is reasonably priced (despite a recent 15% hike for my meal of choice) and drinks are the low end of pub prices. The service isn't bad here but the staff always appear rushed off their feet so the cleanliness suffers at peak times.

Quite a nicely decorated “Spoons”. Nice outside beer garden area, food standard fayre, very little wait

Died of thirst waiting at the bar Thursday evening, so left after 5 mins. Seemed to be lots of staff stocking up etc. but only one or two serving

The worst ever experience I’ve had with Alton - the ivy Wetherspoons. I’m a customer that comes here and there from London to Alton because my partner is from here, and we always go to this Wetherspoons for drinks and foods occasionally. The only time today I got food from somewhere else and ordered myself a cider to eat along with my food. There is a skinny dark blonde hair and bearded man that works there and told me to not have my food so then we decided to go to the beer garden outside instead. He then approached me and my partner again and said he told me ‘nicely’ to not have my food at first when he didn’t. When he approached he said we need to leave but I told him this time il put the food away but I’m going to first finish my cider that I paid for, he then proceeded to take my moneys worth cider and pour it on the floor right in front of my eyes. It’s pretty sad that I came all the way from London to Alton and was pretty much thirsty and for that to be poured down in front of my eyes was the worst experience. There was a nice lady working there who understood the situation. Honestly I’ve never had an experience like that in Wetherspoons back home in London. I would of never thought to think how harsh that guy was to pour my drink like that although I said I would put it away. That was totally wrong of him to do. Honestly it’s not the best Wetherspoons to go and instead better to go somewhere else. Never coming back just because of that man. Save your money and go somewhere else to drink or go to a better Wetherspoons.

Awful management! I used to be a regular at this establishment but got turned away by how the staff here handle situations. I went drinking here with my partner on the night of the 5th of feb and turned up eating a kebab. A man who looked to be in his early twenties with blonde hair, full beard and built like a twig approached our table telling us we can’t eat the kebab at our table. So we decide to take it outside and sit on one of the tables there as we only had a few more bites left and we thought he meant not to eat it in the pub. He came out a minute later and told us to leave and grabbed my partners drink which was paid for and emptied it in front of us which is our money wasted, he didn’t even give her 5 minutes to drink it up. My partner is mixed race and she felt targeted by this man for that reason so if you don’t want to be picked on by prejudice management drink in the other nearby pubs. This place clearly has a lack of customer service and we will not be coming back here again until things have changed.

Well where do I start I the man who wears the same shirt every day, called GEORGE was very very rude! Service took ages and when asked he was snappy about it even though it wasn't busy. Kept walking away whilst trying to talking to him. And even other customers were complaining about him! Not a happy customer, so will not be coming back

A historic and very characteristic building with a classic spoons within. Outdoor seating and indoor spaces with nooks and bar area. Toilets are upstairs. Regular weatherspoons service and menu. A very nice place to chill out.

Quick tea whilst in the area, nice and quite on a monday night, food nice and hot, will call again if in the area

Lovely modern building for a Weatherspoons - which tend to be in slightly more quaint older pubs and buildings - a nice surprise, great location fairly central to Alton, prices are as you'd expect pretty excellent for drinks and food, friendly timely service - couldn't ask for much more than that really. Nice front outdoor seating area, (not quite a garden) good indoor area.. good all-round really

Slightly better Spoons but still nothing special. Same old beers...

It's a beautifully decorated and maintained Grade ll listed building. Centrally located next to the High Street near the local car park. Staff are friendly and welcoming during our visit! Their lunch deals are great value, and food is freshly prepared. Plenty of seatings downstairs and nice clean toilets upstairs. Very popular place with the locals during meal times

We only stopped for one drink and a quick bite but the place is really well done. For a Wehtherspoons I was very impressed.

Genuinely surprised how good this spoons was.

Great place , lovely atmosphere. The food came quickly but the mushrooms and tomatoes are cold and uncooked, this is ongoing every time we have breakfast there, I'd happily rate them a 10 if they cooked the breakfast properly !

Nice cosy place, clean and efficient nice food.

A cosy Wetherspoons with an open fire and super friendly bar staff! What more could you ask for!

BEST WETHERSPOONS IN THE COUNTRY

Grubby and unloved. Hated the place as soon as we walked in, it was like a post-riot wasteland. The floors were strewn with discarded food scraps and awash with spilled drinks. The WC was grimy and smelled like it needed to be steam washed with boiling bleach. What was once an ok visit when it first opened has gone downhill faster than a greased go-cart. Will not be returning.

Nice curry. Arrived quickly and hot. A nice experience.

Popped in for a drink and fast friendly service and lovely and warm inside! Was staying at the other end of the town so didn't need food! Other family near us got food and seemed really content! Lovely place to visit very spacious and clean 👌 will pop in next time in the area 😀

Food was warm not hot what it should be this is not the first time .I've heard this needs a lot of improvements

It's a weatherspoons. Decent enough.

Food is rather decent but sometimes the rice can be clumped together almost like it has been reheated without enough water for the rice to absorb

We've always had a lovely meal here whenever we've been. Good food and good company, what more do we want?

It was my birthday, and my eldest son took me there with his family and my granddaughter .

A very clean and tidy establishment, with friendly, helpful staff and great, inexpensive food!! What’s not to like??

Food was quick, but pretty cold ... But Saturday night and busy, so I'll forgive them!!!

Always good , relaxed atmosphere but not dull , nice outside when the sun is out , cosy inside when it isn't with lots of different areas from open bar area through to cosy snugs

I recently visited this pub and found it to be quite basic. Unfortunately, the food quality was poor, and I wouldn't recommend it. If you're just looking for a simple meal, like a hamburger, you might find it acceptable, but it didn't meet my expectations. Overall, I don’t think I'll be returning.

Visited for vegetarian breakfast. Service good food lovely. Clean toilets would recommend a visit

Superb value for money. Quick service and helpful staff.

The nicest 'Spoons' I've been in.

It's a wetherspoons. Toilets are up some stairs. Then down some stairs. Then up some more stairs for the disabled cubicle...... make it make sense 🤷‍♂️

The best Witherspoon we have been to 👍😁

Choose the rib steak from the specials board, £2.00 discount on the book price, so really good value....added the peppercorn sauce to add some extra flavour, really disappointed that it had no peppercorns and whilst the colour was ok the texture was like wall paper paste! I will give them the benefit of the doubt on this one due to it's great value offerings throughout the country. Get it right guys, you only get one chance at a 1st impression.

The food was lovely and hot the only problem was that they had no salt and fir a big company you would think they would always have a back up plan if delivery doesn’t come but overall a lovely meal

Lovely place, great breakfast. Surprisingly big place with Lovely garden. Big pub for a small town

Very posh J Wetherspoon pub. Nice atmosphere and does not feel like a cheap chain pub!

"We all know I love a Wetherspoon, But anyway, I visited Alton for a friend's wedding and stopped in a local hotel. As they didn't serve food, we used this place for breakfast most mornings and one evening meal We enjoyed lovely breakfasts on our three morning visits, with plenty of good-quality, unlimited teas and coffees. However, in the evening, the staff seemed indifferent to the place. There were a few issues going on, but mine was that the table was dirty. I asked the same staff member twice to clear and wipe it, we got also our food before our drinks. That wouldn't stop me from returning, as it's still value for money, and I know this isn't the usual Wetherspoon standard."

Had a great time here. Food was standard Wetherspoons fare (I’m a veteran!😊) but very good. Staff were especially hekpful when we presented my aunt with her birthday cake, which was really appreciated. Thank you! Hope to be back soon.

I always eat here and enjoy it so much. Good prices for the food you receive. Nice place to eat lunch and dinner with family friends or your partner.

Had both a dinner and drinks, and a breakfast, over the course of a weekend in Alton. This is probably the nicest spoons I've ever been to. Very nice outdoor areas, staff very great.

The menu is less varied than it used to be if you do not want a burger. If you do want a burger, there is more variety. It's basically something from the grill and not much of anything else. Great value, of course, and the food you do get is decent enough for a budget restaurant.

Just a quick drop in for a wonderful tall cold oj & lemonade.

Shocking poor service, incompetent kitchen staff and management. Clueless about service and rectifying issues. Handed back food that was not even lukewarm to be told it's fine it's been probed! Laughable behaviour. Handed partial refund with no ounce of an apology even after sending out a vegetarian plate with chicken on it. Avoid at all possibilities even if on a budget.

Very nice pizza, good beer, good service Thank you

Pizza burnt at the edges... Mixed Grill.a bit overdone. But still nice and excellent value for money.

Lovely pint of corona, cheap and very clean and tidy! 👍

Bar staff prompt and helpful but food was only just warm. Atmosphere was not conducive to staying for a relaxed drink after breakfast... but you get what you pay for, and prices are very reasonable

Great cheap place for breakfast Egg's are not the best but you get what you pay for

Literally had my food ripped away from me, even though I ordered my food half an hour before they told us we had to move inside Manager told us they could justify it because I was still eating whilst they were moving everyone inside. George, the manager, said that because we’d been asked to move inside that it was ok for the server to rip my food away. Awful establishment. Don’t bother.

A regular cycling coffee stop and bacon butty. Always good!

I have got use to eating breakfast at weatherspoons the price of the food is reasonable .

Very well modernised, comfortable, clean. Good service. Definitely worth a visit. Paid parking at the rear.

Go there with the grand kids ,food decent pricing good and loads of space

A great place to eat, drink and have a break with excellent food & service and great ambience.

Pleasent enough, cheap, but you'll need patience if you want to get served at the bar. Use the table service app and have a seat while you wait.

Good Real Ale Pub with an excellent food menu.

The best thing about this place is the outdoor area where is lovely to seat and relax. The food is not one of the best JDs I’ve ever tasted. The last time I have ordered the mixed grilled dish and the pork stake was not well cooked!

Nothing wrong with cheap but cheap and nasty… no! Probably the slowest serving bar I have ever had to suffer. I’ve made 3/4 visits at different times. Awful every time. Not even busy and still slow to serve. I will not be going again.

One of the nicest Wetherspoons I have visited and I’ve done nearly 4 hundred very clean nice food and quick service

Great vegan brekkie, scrumptious sausages - all curated on plate by chef like a work of art. Friendly staff, friendly atmos! ❤️

Food is cold, service dreadful and the place is filthy

Honestly, it’s cheap and it feels cheap. Food is cheap, cant stand at the bar, can’t take your dog in, can’t play table football, pool etc, no dartboard, no volume on the tv, no music, one star for cheap. The only reason it’s popular is it’s cheaper than other pubs buts it’s the no fun pub.

Quiet lunchtime, service a bit slow but staff friendly enough. Food was ok

Excellent service and top notch food , would come again (and have many times) good to see a well run spoons for a change

kicked us out for eating a dominos 💀💀 don’t go here rubbish food

Having not been for a while I did visit this time with some slight apprehension, my last visit was disappointing, however, taking aside it needs new carpets throughout the food has improved and that is possibly why the food area was very busy, the Beer selection was as usual first class fir whatever reason The Ivy has improved across the board.

By the numbers, cheap as chips JDW. It's not their best, but it's what you expect.

Went on a public holiday Food was served quickly, was delicious and great value for money.

Food is pretty standard. Can't complain too much though because the head chef is a microwave. The servers are always friendly and i haven't had my orders messed up. As a non drinker i don't like how the only way to enter is through the bar area.

Lovely Wetherspoons on the corner in Alton. Was amazed how the how the coffee was only £1.04 with free refills. The lady that served me was really nice and as I popped out to collect my car still allowed me the free refill. Great spot to get some sunshine as this place gets the sun all day and is popular in the summer. Huge pay and display carpark to the rear and right next to Sainsbury’s.

Breakfast hot 👍and the politest staff I've come across in a spoons.

Didn't have many items instock. Food was not very warm when it arrived. But staff were friendly.

Nice pub, great service, great prices

It was very busy as it was the Saturday half term ended. And it was 12.30. We had trouble ordering from the app as it took ages to load. After 10 mins ordered a burger and chips and a sirloin steak with extra onion rings. After over a half hour wait, the food arrived and the young server apologised for the delay. My partners chips looked like they were thrown on to the plate. But my food looked good until I ate the steak. It was very chewy and I has a job to get through it. I didn't request a new one as it would have taken a long time to come and you only get what you pay for. The red lion wetherspoons is the better one.

One of orders didn't make it to the kitchen. Whilst they apologised my children were left without their food for an unacceptable period of time.

I went with my friend for an early birthday meal and some drinks had a great time thank you

Somehow the eggs Benedict is always out of stock.

All day brunch lacklustre. Cold eggs overcooked. Small portion size. Good beer selection . Needs an injection of generosity on meal size and food temperature at the table.

Good grub, good prices, friendly atmosphere, nice staff. Good Saturday night out.

Great pub to meet greet eat and chill. Easy parking, not far from Alton Station town centre and next to Sainsburys, to have a pint after shopping. Plenty of seating some secluded and there are log fires in winter. What not to like, better place than the office to catch up on emails.

Such a lovely Wetherspoons, to bad I could hear the female staff member slagging of customers for sharing a kiss, sorry did you not get a kiss under the mistletoe this year girl. Jealous of a happy couple having a date night.

Very good pleasnt staff and great vfm

Visited today for lunch with friends. Very busy as you’d expect this time of the year & the schools on holiday. The food was fine & arrived promptly. However, the tables & seating were dirty. My chair was filthy & had what looked like years of grime, especially on the arms. The floor of the ladies toilets was sticky & I had to try 3 cubicles to find one with a serviceable door or lock. The place needs a thorough deep clean & toilets maintained before I think about returning. I’ve given good reviews in the past for this venue but standards have obviously slipped.

One of the better Wetherspoons. Food and service are good.

One of the better Wetherspoons.

No eggs!!!!!!,cold food,2 slices of bacon,1 sausage,1 hash brown,£4.95!!!!!!!. Definately not happy with the content or quality of food. Will never walk through the doors again,complete waste of money. If you want to be sure you have a full stomach when you leave then I advise eat elsewhere. If it was me that paid I would have demanded my money back. Last time I walk in there.

I am sure I'm just wasting my time writing this bad review because their head office clearly don't seem to care. this must be the worst establishment in the country , all the bad reviews I have read I concur with. this place needs a really good shake up ,but as long as they are making profits they won't care,won't be coming back or my friends and family

First time going very nice staff willing to help you out

Went in for a breakfast full English Stone cold. Was like eating hard rubber. Very disappointed.

Good seevice. Big place and pints they do are cheap..

The steak was so tough that im short of asking for a mincer/ grinder. Staff are not friendly.

The place is looking quite tired and the standard of food has also declined. 11.5 chips on the plate for a main meal? Come on! We know the booze is cheap, but don't let the food go down hill. Our server did go and fetch a bowl of chips as even he thought it was poor.

Typical whetherspoons fair. Quick service, ok food, it could've been a bit hotter. I would go here again though.