Watercress Line Railway Dining in Winchester

Four of us went, we all thoroughly enjoyed it. The staff were very good/helpful/attentive. Really enjoyed the experience. The train was spotlessly clean. It was pouring with rain when we arrived and a member of staff walked us under his brolly from our car to the entrance. Had a great time

I had a really lovely suprise birthday meal with my family here. The staff were lovely. Train was comfortable and clean and the food was delicious! I even had a stunning bouquet of flowers too. Felt like a child again listening to the steam train going with a great big grin on my face, whilst seeing the countryside pass by as we talked and ate our lovely meal. Would definitely recommend and would go again. Many thanks to all who made it a lovely birthday memory.

One of life’s pleasures is to watch the scenery go past a train window while having a meal on board. My wife and I were bought a trip on the Watercress Line Countryman dining service as a gift. The train was clean, well appointed and very comfortable. The lay up with crisp linen and cutlery was impressive. The staff were very obliging and helpful. The food however was a different story. The menu was watercress soup, roast beef and all the trimmings, finishing with apple crumble and custard. The soup was reasonably good. It was not the best flavoured that I have had but it was hot and pretty good. The main course however was a disaster. The beef was topside or another cheaper cut and had obviously been precooked and then sliced paper thin. It had then been reheated in watery, tasteless gravy. We received three slices which cannot have weighed more than fifty grams. The Yorkshire pudding was soggy. There were roast and boiled potatoes to fill the plate, frozen peas with a bit of bacon and carrots without seasoning or butter. The crumble tasted like tinned apple with a commercial crumble topping. Custard by Birds. All in all a very disappointing meal experience and at whatever the price was, an outrage. I like the nostalgia of steam trains but I don’t miss 1940’s ration catering one bit. Avoid.

My son and I enjoyed a trip on the Real Ale Train (The RAT) which has become an annual pilgrimage to this historic preserved steam railway. We enjoyed an excellent evening with an excellent range of Real Ales and a hot curry, despite having to enlist the help of family to get us there and back as a result of industrial action by members of the RMT union, on the Main Line.

I'd booked the party train as a surprise for 3 friends & I on December 28th. The appalling wet evening definitely didn't dampen the evening. All of us thoroughly enjoyed the 2 hours we spent on board..Even ' Mr Voiceover Man' enhanced the fun🎉🎶. Definitely worth another 1st next Christmas, infact we all agreed it could become a new tradition.😊👍..🎉🎉

I am of the age where I just about remember steam trains. This was a great nostalgic day. The staff were all great. Each station had some form of refreshments at a reasonable price.

I was on an organised coach trip from Kent. We had the return trip from Alresford with lunch, including gluten free options. The train trip was beautiful. The staff, volunteers, were a delight. The ham and cheese ploughman lunches were well presented, and of good quality. Highly recommended.

If steam trains.harry Potter,railways , nostalgia are your interest then the Watercress Line has all of the above. I had a wonderful day out and enjoyed Arlesford which a beautiful place to wander around and enjoy all the shops.

The food and service was excellent especially given the staff are non paid volunteers. We had the vegetarian option all nicely prepared glugged down with a few glasses of wine. Definitely worth going. A big thankyou to those volunteers who looked after us so well.

A lovely morning travelling up and down the Watercress line. We even managed to ask questions of our train driver who was so knowledgeable. Yes it was hot but they are limiting numbers so we still managed to have space to spread and not feel uncomfortable too. So pleased we finally did the trip.

This is a spacious cafe, plenty of tables inside and a few out on the platform. The best catering operation on the mid hants railway. Hot drinks, snacks cakes etc. Friendly efficient service.h

They responded to 1 email stating the pricewas £18 but when booking it was £20 pp. They wouldn't respond to further emails or answer the phone. Whilst the train goes to Arlesford you can't get off it there. Their website and leaflet says explore the colourful town of Arlesford or walk along the River Aire. The staff whilst very polite said it's not a hop on hop off service any more and we had to stay on the train. The train doesn't stop at Medstead and Four Marks. The carriage restoration viewing gallery and loco shed viewing galleries are closed. The train was very dirty inside and outside. It was not worth the money and bitterly disappointed.

Beside pandemic, we've been served quickly, food and drinks were tasty and priced reasonably. Whole station takes you back to middle of 20th century:)

We were very impressed with this small, friendly cafe which provided us with a tasty, fresh lunch on a quiet weekday in October. The menu was limited (due to coronavirus-related issues, but there was still plenty of choice. The inside seating was not available, again due to COVID restrictions, so we had to sit outside which was fine. The staff members are very friendly which always makes a difference. The cafe, like the station, still has working gas lamps which makes the whole steam train experience even more authentic. We topped off the experience with a Watercress line ale and prosecco - what more could you want? Lovely!

We did have an enjoyable lunch on the train but were concerned at the lack of concern to stick to the government's rule in wearing face masks.our waitress didn't. The attitude of the two Male attendants was quite rude as when we asked for anything ,it seemed a problem. They were very short with us. It was a gift for our Golden wedding anniversary from our son and it happened to be his birthday too. As there were four dining it was quite an expensive treat. Our some bought us a bottle of Champagne and glasses for the occasion. We were told in an offensive way we would have to pay corkage, that's understandable, but were shocked at the bill of £18 . So be warned

Being a steam train fan I am fairly regular in attending this venue and usually choose the 'breakfast bap' - a delightful concoction of sausage,egg and bacon in a fresh roll. Messy to pick up so I usually use a knife and fork but comfort food all the same and a snip at the price. And you get to watch the trains roll by!

Doing the best in the circumstances with snacks and drinks on offer. Very limited choice but good to go.

Visited with a friend following some trips on the steam trains and viewing the Flying Scotsman; our lunch in traditional surroundings added to the day's outing; simple menu, well cooked and presented; friendly staff;

Treated friends for their birthdays well what a lovely idea...arrived at station had coffee in the buffet bar lovely staff. Then boarded the train for the train trip and lunch nothing was too much trouble lunch was lovely served by all volunteers and so friendly .. well worth the trip and would deffinately do this again.. ALL VOLUNTEERS YOU DO AN AMAZING JOB

Decided to do something completely different for my wife's birthday this year. We arrived dressed for the occasion, along with the vast majority of the other guests. The brilliant atmosphere created by the staff at the station carried on to the train. The ambience in the dining car was just perfect and the staff reflected this. Well done to all for a great night out.

We booked a table for Four on Friday December 20th this year (normally it's just the 2 of us) and as always thoroughly enjoyed it. Looking forward to Sunday Lunch in June when at long last we can get to Alton once more.

Fantastic experience,We were a party of four and we were having Christmas dinner on the 21st of December a evening journey. The staff on the train were fantastic as volunteers they really kept you amused and were on the ball and did silver service. The food was very good especially the main course . This was a great experience and really good fun.

Absolutely fantastic trip. Well organised and very friendly staff. Will definitely go again. Thank you

With the dark nights well and truly upon us, the four of us ventured to Hampshire. Our destination was to eat on The Watercress Belle. Of our group, I was the only one not to have eaten here before. From the menus published online, I think we had chosen the nicest. The lamb particularly worthy of a special mention. The meal was served at a relaxed pace as the train went up and down the line. The volunteer led team delivered a quirky and enjoyable evening.

What an incredible experience we had! The food was absolutely amazing, the atmosphere perfect and I would highly recommend this to anyone. Huge shout out to the dedicated volunteers who made this experience so special. They are the people who make this experience so unique so many thanks to them.

Correspondences via email or phone very clear and helpful. Dietary needs very well catered for. Food was tasty and plenty. Most staff were courteous and extremely helpful. Seats super comfy. Warm and cosy. Clean and tidy. Bar prices very reasonable. Roses for the ladies on arrival and sugared almonds at the end. After reading other people's posts those that had birthdays were greeted with a birthday card adding to making it that extra special. Nothing! Not even a happy birthday nor a candle. So I don't know what the point of asking us on the booking form and printing it on the ticket was for. Our group sang happy birthday to the birthday boy then we sang to another guest as it was her birthday too! Hope we made it memorable for them.Our arrival and first person to meet and greet us was as others have said, a bit stern. I felt like it was the kind of greeting you get at airport security! Please find a friendlier warming and welcoming greeter. This is why I scored the service lower than what it could have been. TipsWe booked 7 months ago for a birthday trip so do remember to book early! Seats are in twos and fours. We were 8 and couldn't interact with 4 of them very well as we couldn't see them as they were back to back with us. So if that is a problem to you then I suggest booking in 2, 4 or 6 if you want to be level with everyone in your group. Book for a lunch time if you want to enjoy the view during the winter months. In March I wasn't thinking of the dark evening added to that it was a very wet evening. Mother Nature. Food was plentiful and although tasty was average. Some biscuits were soft and we asked for a replacement. I know the staff are volunteers and that I appreciate but it's a lot of money to go up and down in the dark. We didn't even go the full length. Sometimes because it was so dark we didn't know if we were going forwards or backwards! So I don't feel it was real value for money. However I'm hoping the profits help to keep steam trains on the tracks! As much as our party enjoyed it I won't be doing an evening trip again during the darker months of the year. Hope that helps and do go if you've not done it before and make your own opinion.

Lovely experience, well worth trying. Excellent quality food but check menu several weeks beforehand as only choice available for dessert (especially if you are picky!) All staff are volunteers and are great. Do try and book on lighter evenings to enable better views when travelling. Would definitely recommend.

It was my daughter's idea to book the Belle Dining experience for her grandparents 60th wedding anniversary. Grandfather was in the merchant navy in the 1950s sailing from Southampton so the carriages used for Belle Dining had a special significance. Was like stepping back in time. The carriages were spotless, well maintained and extremely comfortable.

Visiting the Watercress line has been an enjoyable experience like most heritage railways it is maintained by volunteers who are helpful hardworking and good humoured. Due to maintenance issues not by railway the full trip Alton was not available this did not stop the enjoyment. The stations are restored to a high standard and I found the mini exhibitions like the station masters lounge at Ropley Station informative. If you love steam trains and the nostalgia this era brings this is a must. We will go back to one the gala days or other events and the kids will love it to.

The Belle Dining experience is so popular you must book months in advance. Evening departure enabled free parking at Alresford station. Before boarding ladies were presented with a single rose.class. Drink prices were honest (get to the bar early to avoid the queue). A very enjoyable 5 course meal was professionaly served by the volunteers. Unfortunately the railway line is only passable from Alresford to Four Marks which mean't that the train had to make several back and forth trips during the three and a half hours onboard. Thank you to all the volunteers at the stations and onboard for a very enjoyable evening.

The volunteer waiting staff, chef's and dessert cook carried-out a wonderful professional job making our whole experience one never to be forgotten. From the moment we boarded the train, until we left, they catered to our every need. The waiting staff, all retired, served us drinks, wine, hot very appetising food which was also served on hot plates. The four course meal was amazing considering that it was being prepared and served on a moving steam train. We could not falter anything and look forward to going again. Thank you.

I have today celebrated my 80th Birthday with 23 guests having lunch on the Countryman. A traditional Sunday Roast which was delicious was served by a superb team of volunteers. The food and service could not be faulted with everyone enjoying the whole experience.

Popped in here for a coffee where we met friends who were travelling on the train. Great to be able to sit out on the platform with trains moving slowly past.

What can I say that is not already being highlighted by so many? Well let me try, we have been coming on the Watercress Belle for at least 10 years now. We love the atmosphere and the food is always exceptional. When you arrive at Alresford and see the train waiting at the platform and everyone dressed smartly it gives you a real buzz. Our only letdown is the very sombre greeting you get at arrival to hand in your tickets. There is no smile or warmth just your name ticked off and a rose handed to the ladies. Anyway as it’s the same person who has greeted us ever since we have been coming it is something we are used to and now expect. The train and carriages are fantastic! The volunteer staffs really make the whole experience and service exceptional. It cannot be easy to serve hot food on a moving train but they do it so well. One tip would be to keep your window above you closed when moving along! Now you may think WHAT! That’s a bad tip when the temp outside is stifling. The reason I say keep it closed is my friend sitting opposite me was given his soup and asked me for the pepper. Before he could even put any on it looked like his soup had already been peppered due to the gritty ash coming in through the window. In fact his whole are around him was covered in coal dust and ash so be aware. Our evening however went really well and we all really enjoyed the food as it was mouth-watering. Until September 2019 the train stops short and doesn’t go to Alton. Be wary of the Real Ale Train (RAT) as this passes by you when at a platform and this can be quite noisy and if they stop with a window level wit you there maybe some banter between the train guests. Anyway it is a great evening out and I would highly recommend this activity to anyone. They have ramps to make easy access on and off the train so this will assist many people. Thank you again for another memorable experience.

I was invited to my brothers eighty birthday lunch on board the steam engine on the Watercrest line. What lovely experience, not only the food was first class. The staff were what I call the old school, they were plight, jolly and above all they made every person feel special, and believe it or not they were mostly volunteers .

My wife booked the Watercress Belle for her birthday and to say this was memorable is an understatement.

The Watercressline is a great heritage railway and I’ve spent a lot of time here when my son was younger... but it’s also good just for lunch

5 *. A great atmosphere, great scenery, good cheap ales. What more would you want? Thank you Watercress Line

This place is a must for any train enthusiast in particular the youngsters.

What a great thing to do, worth thinking ahead & booking early to ensure you get this opportunity.

I treated my dad to a trip on this for his 60th birthday and it was a fantastic experience which I would do again. The food was fantastic and we had a good variety of food. The menu is on the website a few weeks before hand.

Had a thoroughly enjoyable evening in the Pullman dining car with excellent food and service (all from volunteers).

We chose to enjoy a fine evening meal on the 'Watercress Belle' with some friends who had not dined on the MHR before.

What a lovely experience, we arrived early, the waiting room had a real fire burning which was inviting, but we were able to go straight onto the train and had a drink in the bar carriage and then went to our table. The service was excellent everyone was friendly and attentive. We had a roasted sweet potato and carrot soup which was lovely. For the main was cranberry and orange glazed ham served with new potatoes, green beans and butternut squash. The ham was beautiful and very generous portions. It was all served up at your table which was a nice touch. For pudding I went for the kahlua chocolate cheesecake which was lovely and the cheese was incredible! We all left feeling very full! Wine was very reasonably priced. The heating did stop working half way through the journey which the staff apologised for but was out of their control.. This did not make any difference to the evening though. I recommend this experience.

We had booked to meet friends and waited for nearly a year to get on to dine on a Saturday night having paid £120 per couple and this was just for food. The train was freezing as no heating and no apologies for that fact or blankets to keep us warm, however we eagerly awaited our meal to be severely disappointed it was like a school dinner, the pumpkin soup to start was nice but main course Gannon was one huge chunk that was chewy, boiled potato, green beans and to save money more of the pumpkin we had had in the soup. Pudding tasted of nothing and they begrudge giving us any cheese. Everything was poorly served and presented. Don't get me wrong the we appreciated the staff are volunteers but for the price the meal was not acceptable. Sorry we were so looking forward to our trip but it was a real disappointment.

We had a wonderful Sunday lunch on the up and down and up and back again to Alton from Alresford yesterday. Tasty, well cooked home fare including delicious home baked apple tart; rustic, hearty and satisfying. The trip too was delightful, like stepping back decades, fascinating and I’m not even a train fan per se. But it was the restaurant staff who made the experience. Delightful, charming, chatty, engaging and making you feel nothing was too much trouble! They were brilliant. Thank you. Well worth a visit...

A Sunday roast on the train and it was brilliant. Very friendly service, drinks reasonably priced and the food was very good quality. The trip up and down the line was at a relaxed pace with a couple of stops at interesting stations with all the old signs and some magnificent topiary. Certainly worth a visit.

We had a lovely evening of Fine Dining on this beautiful train. The food was good, wine reasonably priced and service was great from all the wonderful volunteers! We had a really good time with great friends.

Try the afternoon tea they give you such good service plenty of scones ,jam , cream and cups of teas

Good food with the relaxing atmosphere of chuggging up and down a steam railway ,.Memories of quality travel on years gone by

Our group of four joined the Dinner train on 25th August. It was a very splendid time.

Having enjoyed an excellent meal on the Christmas Lunch train last year, my wife and I thought we would try Sunday lunch on The Countryman, we were not disappointed. The food was as good as before as was the service from the volunteer waiters, they are a credit to the railway

We dined on this train on a Sunday as a birthday ‘treat”.

.. we rode the 12:50 steam train from Alton Station to Alresford station with the idea of getting lunch there ... However when we got to Alresford station buffet @ 1;45pm we were told that due to the hot weather they had closed the food section early !! .. Posted closing of hot food was 2;30 ..Sadly all that was available were sandwiches .. They could have waited to close AFTER the Next train had arrived ..

The station buffet is very friendly, good menu and lovely food (I had chicken, orange and watercress salad). We made a point of eating there to give the railway some much needed income, and were pleasantly surprised. All the staff were very friendly and nothing was too much trouble.

If you like a leisurely lunch accompanied by steam train ride then this is for you. Have been on many steam dining experiences around the country - this is the longest in time spent on the meal. You go up and down the track twice but pause frequently at stations so you do sit stationery for a while. I am assuming this is to allow the schedule service to pass. This meant we got on the train for 1pm and disembarked back at Alresford about 4.30pm!

Great atmosphere and good food. Excellent service and lovely way to spend an anniversary celebration.

Fantastic dining experience tonight. I have a few allergies and it was no problem for them. Both mine and my partners dining experience was 5 star. The staff are so lovely too. I’d recommend this to any couple. Very romantic and beautiful views make the lovely meal with great service even better. Very sad it’s over.

Super food, super atmosphere and excellent service. Have dined many times on the railway and always good value and excellent quisine.

I had a balked potato with beans but it wasn't really baked and you could hardly find any beans. It can feed your stomach but don't expect anything special.

Similarly as below we haven't one negative comment about our Dec 2017 lunch. So good we have already booked for this coming December. Happy Christmas Watercress Line

I am not sure how to please some reviewers. It is not possible to pass a negative comment about dining on these trains - whether lunch or dinner. Our Christmas meal was superb and served with such enthusiasm by entirely volunteers. The food was hot and appetising. There was no rush and the jollity was infectious. The seating is very comfortable and everything is spotlessly clean - white tablecloths and silver service. The sun shone and we watched the countryside go by with a bottle of wine too - itself good value.

My partner and I chose to take our two boys (4 and 2) on this "magical train ride" and I cannot put into words how disappointing it was. I remember it very well from when I was a little girl and my nan used to take me, and in the eyes of a child it was absolutely breathtaking but now I wouldn't even go for free.

Having enjoyed excellent on board dining experiences at both the Great Central and Swanage railways, I decided to try the Mid-Hants offering.

A very large group of us had Christmas lunch on board this week and I cannot fault the experience in any way. Hard to believe they are all volunteers as the food was excellent and cooked on board I believe, with impeccable silver service too. We got into the spirit dressing up in our versions (!) of 1940/1950s outfits and had a great deal of fun. Thank you to all the volunteers for their hard work. A group of us have already booked evening dining next summer.

Having visited for the Sunday lunch (Countryman Dining) earlier this year, we have returned for the Saturday dinner (Watercress Belle). Just one word describes our experience - Fabulous!

This review is of the 'Whistle Stop' station buffet at Alresford in the Mid-Hants Railway station, not the on-train dining.

We had looked forward to this steam train evening ride combined with real ales. Unfortunately we only arrived 20 minutes before departure, way too late! All seats had already been bagged or occupied by one person saving seats for friends. As a result we squeezed ourselves into a couple of seats but felt sorry for those arriving later, mainly standing room only (was it overbooked?).

We came here whilst we were waiting for dad's driving experience to start. sadly we didn't know they breakfast here otherwise we could of had it! good range of food and other snacks. you feel like you gone back in time at the station which is refreshing. staff are friendly and helpful and great outside space on the platform. the car park is really cheap

Great food and atmosphere especially if you love the old Steam trains. A nice way to celebrate my parents Golden wedding anniversary. The food is great and the staff very helpful, my mum has a gluten free diet and they were able to help with this.

We have often enjoyed the Countryman Dining (Sunday Lunch) and the Watercress Belle (Saturday Dinner) trains, and as usual today's Sunday lunch was excellent! Today's lunch was vegetable soup, roast chicken with all the trimmings, trifle or rhubarb crumble & custard, followed by coffee/tea. A really nice lunch with the rolling Hampshire countryside and wildlife moving by, what's not to like?The menu varies from train to train, but is invariably a soup starter, meat main course (vegetarian option available by pre-booking) and a dessert with coffee/tea. The Watercress Belle (Saturday Dinner) train includes an extra cheese & biscuits course after dessert, definitely recommend the cheddar cheese for this, fabulous!The only improvement for me would be something (insulated sleeve?) to keep chilled wine cool as the bottle on the table soon warms up.Overall a fabulous way to enjoy a superb lunch/dinner in great surroundings. The staff on the trains do a simply amazing job in producing and serving the quality of food they do in the limited space, incredible and excellent!

My wife Carol bought this trip as a Christmas present, and I am glad she did from the moment we arrived at the station it began to feel like a special evening. Our tickets where checked at the entrance to the old station and Carol was presented with a rose. We were informed that we would be dinning in a coach called Sage. Them it was onto the platform for pre dinner drinks. Prior to entering our dining coach staff laid ramps from the platform to coach to make access easier for people especially for ladies in dinner dresses. During the trip we were served excellent food that was prepared on the train and served by volunteer staff using silver service skills. There was a reasonable selection of drinks that could be purchased from the bar via the wine waiter. We made friends with the people on the next table during the journey, though I felt under dressed being smart casual where they had dressed up for the occasion but this did only enhanced the experience. The train is staffed by volunteers who endeavour to ensure you get the best experience possible experience during your dinner trip on the line. We are looking forward to doing this again and I will do the whole dinner jacket experience the next time. I would recommend this for trip

Well done Watercress. Sunday lunch was a lovely experience. Why not sell visitor guides when taking lunch/drink orders or prior to departure. We missed out on some interesting info which would have enhanced the journey even more. We only found the guide in the shop as we were leaving. Maybe missing a valuable merch opportunity? Still a brilliant experience though. Great value for money.

This is a superb steam train - mainly operated by volunteers. A great experience for the whole family. There is a bar and buffet car on the train - and really does have echoes of a past that is sadly gone. There is something quite romantic about train travel - especially steam train travel.

We have been on the Watercress Belle now on 8 separate occasions. Every year in June we book up in advance and have the most wonderful experience, service & food. Absolutely excellent and a real treat to experience. The food was just mouth-watering, all five courses are just perfect. Everyone is there to have a good time and relax and absorb real nostalgia. We stay in Alresford at the Swan Hotel which is excellent as well. If however you don't want to stay and just want to drive home afterwards there is ample parking and just remember the latest they want you at the platform is 19:10. The train then departs at approx. 19:20 and stops at stations along the way before ending up at Alton. The train then heads back from Alton to Alresford and then subsequently does the whole trip a second time. You finally end up back at Alresford around 10:40 having had a very memorable and enjoyable time. If you have never been and are trying to work out if you should have a go? think no more about it and just book it up. Be sure to book well in advance as you will very quickly see that this is an extremely popular event. I believe that they have completely sold out for 2017. Tables on the train are for four people or two. You can if six of you want to go get a bay with four and a two opposite on the other side of the narrow isle.

Another evening enjoying a delicious, professionally served meal aboard the Watercress Belle. Could not get a better evening!

Staff all so committed to Service with a smile, Train companies would do well to send their staff here to gain experience on how to deal with customers, and get a reward for doing so.

Didn't know what to expect. Found an excellent evening. From the moment you arrive you are warmly greeted by people who want you to have a good time. The service was attentive the coaches luxurious and very clean. A real old world experience. Food was good and menu was interesting. Not your British Rail fare at all. My only complaint is going for an evening in March it was too dark outside to enjoy the steam train ride view of the countryside. On the plus side that gives me a good excuse to go again in the summer. Highly recommend.

good place to go to eat when visiting the mid hants railway a good menu with an authentic lswr building from lyme regis with a good view of the trains outside

Had an excellent journey on the Santa special train with our toddler. The staff were amazing and made the trip very special (mr Ed - in particular was great and spent time talking to my son about Thomas the tank engine). The train line is perfectly maintained and is a great day out.

We purchased a meal for 4 as a thank you for friends and we headed off on Saturday night. I wasn't sure what to expect as I know everyone are volunteers so it was a real leap of faith. We needn't have worried it was EXCELLENT. The staff were all so smartly dressed, the carriage was warm and cosy and the table settings lovely. The plates came out piping hot and the food was served to us (silver service) and again, lovely and piping hot. We did order a different pudding each so we could taste each others, but, sorry - when my poached pears came I scoffed the lot - delicious ! The drinks were very reasonable priced and our guests haven't stopped raving about it. DEFINITELY go again.

We travelled on the Watercress Belle for dinner on a Saturday evening as a birthday present, and it was a great experience. The train has a great ambiance, and it is wonderfully relaxing to be able to watch the countryside go buy whilst listening to the atmospheric noise of the steam train. The food was also particularly good - very well cooked and certainly on a par with what you would expect in a good quality restaurant. The service is entirely provided by volunteers who do a really good job of serving whilst the train travels between Alresford and Alton twice. Overall this is excellent value. drinks are available on board and the wine list is priced very reasonably - we paid around £14 for a pretty decent quality bottle of Chablis and there was also a good range of other spirits available.This is a great experience and particularly suited to a special trip out for 2 or 4 people, ideal for a birthday celebration or just a couple's dinner out.

We only had a cream tea here but it was pretty good with generous portions of everything . The surroundings are very interesting sitting in the station buffet full of railway paraphernalia and we were lucky enough to see the train stop by us. A real step back in time !

This was our fifth visit on the fabulous dinner train and it was still fantastic. From the moment you arrive you are made to feel special and the food is exceptional served by the wonderful volunteers. All this and travelling on a steam train makes it an evening not to be missed.

We were a party of about 20 and we asked for a buffet for all. This was no problem, good price and very good food.The station and surroundings are very well maintained and there is a picnic area overlooking the station. Recommend a visit. We didn't go on the railway but will next time we visit.

As always we enjoyed our day greatly. Parking in the Station Car Park on a busy day can be a nightmare, it isnt just a railway car park for those who haven't been before. Our first attempt at parking proved fruitless, completely full with a large area roped off for Coach parking. However having circled Alresford once to find a reserve car park, just in case, I couldn't believe my luck when in front of me 2 cars reversed out giving us the one space we required. Lunch was brilliant as it always has been for us. It is worth pointing out, as posted previously, that the staff are Volunteers. Sunday was our 6th lunch on the line since 2013 and we have never had the slightest complaint. An added bonus for many was everyone waving to the Bride and Groom on the 3.20 special "Wedding Belle". Best wishes to them if they or anyone on that train reads this. We are booked already for Xmas, the first of the three Fridays we are on and even better we now know we now know where the reserve car park is. .

Apologies watercress line but to be honest I was not expecting it to be as brilliant as it was! Honestly I had the most gorgeous night with husband and friends and will be booking next year as I have to do this again. Getting dressed up in nice frock and hat puts you in a good mood for starters, then being presented with a rose as you hand in your ticket is a lovely touch. The food was very good, really great cooking, from the soup starter to the chicken main. I had the biggest wedge of cheese too for the cheese course and loved the wine selection. I had a lovely bottle of Chardonnay for only £15 which was stunning considering the price. To all the volunteers and staff - you made our anniversary so much fun and so memorable and I look forward to next year!

The volunteers who run the Watercress Line have restored a set of 1960s-ish carriages into the "Watercress Belle". The steam-hauled train moves slowly through the Hampshire countryside, from Alresford to Alton and back, along ten miles of gloriously-restored railway.The food is excellent, the wine selection complements the food well and the service is remarkably professional.Sit back and imagine Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot dining on the next table.Magic! If you can, get on their gourmet evenings which run roughty every second year around the Summer Solstice.Mike

We were on the Watercress belle in Febuary this year and the whole experience was lovely the food the staff and of course the brilliant train ride, a really enjoyable event the atmosphere was great , Just how I imagined it would have been all those years ago . I would highly recommend this as a gift for anyone who is stuggling to think what to buy Us difficult Men , Even my brother and sister in law both enjoyed it .The staff are all volunteers and do a great job managing to serve hot food on a moving train can't be easy , I congratulate them , for without all thier dedication it would not be possible for us all to enjoy this event.

Visited on the bank holiday Monday with my wife, Grandson, and his parents. A well organised and fun day which provided a memorable family day out. Alresford station is one end of the Watercress line (the other being Alton) with the mid way point being Ropley Station where the event was centred. On Sunday's and Bank Hoildays parking is free at both Alresford and Ropley, with an overflow free car parking in a field at Ropley when themed events are occurring. A small but annoying thing the member of staff supervising the Alresford car park watched my daughter pay for parking before informing her it was free fortunetly this childish act failed to spoil the day.The theme was Thomas the Tank Engine and the staff entered into things with gusto, unfortunately the day was cold and windy which ment a number of the rides could not operate as the conditions resulted in their being outside of operating limits. Nonetheless the day was fun with lots of things for the children and parents to do. The cost per adult is £18 which whilst it appears steep given the amount there is happening and no additional charge it is worthwhile.A particularly nice touch was the fat controller who mesmerised the children and even signed their forms. We ate in the buffet at Alresford, both my wife and I had baked potatoes, my daughter and son-in-law had Cornish paste, and whilst the food is not Michelin starred it is well cooked, tasty and filling my only suggestion would be to blast the food in the microwave before serving. All the food is reasonably priced.I would recommend getting there early as the main car parks fill up and I'm told Alresford is an enjoyable venue to visit. We will visit again.

This was organised for a 60th Birthday meal for my father-in-law who is a fan of Steam Trains. We were excited by the thought of spending a few hours on a steam train, in the days of old, eating fine food with great service and great company. I would really like to say this, but the service was slightly lacking.I understand that those working on volunteers, so I wont go too hard on them. On the whole, they were very good, but I do have some issues that could be improved on.I am a career minded person, who has two children (they weren't with us), and working in management. However, this seems to have been left at the door when I boarded, because from then on, I kind of got the feeling that the staff thought I was too young for this experience and because of this, I don't think we got the silver service as advertised. I feel because of this, we were treated a second class. Just to make a note, I am over 30, but accept I do look mid 20s.We boarded and were shown to our seats, there was a little confusion over seating arrangement, but it was sorted out with no issue. We were served by a gent called Keith, and I cannot fault him at all. He was friendly, attentive and up for a laugh.I cannot say this for the other staff. One of my party ordered a drink and it wasn't even opened or given to him, it was thrust in front of his face on the tray for him to remove. We also ordered a bottle of wine and it was dumped on our table without being opened, or poured or even acknowledged. I'm not a snob, so I want to add why this did cause me concern. On the tables around us, the same gent did give silver service, they had their bottles opened, a bit poured to try, then filled up. We did not, and I can't help but think it was an age issue. All those in my party were in their 20s.I enjoyed the food, however portions varied massively. It was roast chicken, one of my party had a huge full chicken breast, and I got one that was half the size. He got about 6 potatoes and I got 4. If it had been a restaurant, you would have questioned this, as we both paid the same amount of money.However, the food was delicious and the chicken was cooked perfectly. My only suggestion would be to dish it all out then hand it round, or hand round the meat on a plate and place vegetables in the centre for people to help themselves. Having chicken on a plate handed out, then coming round with veg and gravy and handing that out is a little inefficient and caused a large amount of waiters getting in each others' way.A small issue I did have with the waiters is they didn't seem to listen to you. One of my party asked not to have carrots, and it was ignored and handed out anyway. Had there been an allergy problem, it would have caused upset.Also I can't drink coffee, and it was given to me. I explained this and the waitress said, 'I leave it there anyway, someone will drink it.' when we all explained we didn't require coffee. So we asked for it to be taken away again, and she just walked off leaving the coffee on the table.Overall, I did enjoy this experience. Being on a steam train, eating really good food in classy surroundings and being waited on by Keith would have given me the perfect experience. He was nice enough to tell us the train we were on was going for a 10 year overhaul, and he probably would never see it again.I must say that the staff do have a lot of patience, and they needed it. Adjacent to us was a needlessly VERY high maintainence couple, so bad, I nearly went over have a word myself as I felt they had no gratitude to the hard working volunteers.They sent back, changed and swapped numerous foods and drink, although they were asked if they definitely wanted them, and they said yes, then complained. First they did want gravy, then they didn't, then they did and moaned because they didn't have any. The staff dealt with them so well and I know I wouldn't have been able to.I think this impacted on our meal, as they are volunteers and should be treated with respect, not like a servant, which this couple treated them like.I would go back for another meal, and I cannot say how satifiying it is eating a meal on a classic steam train is. It is also very good value for money, and although some of the points I raised you would accept in a restaurant, the volunteers' love of this far outweighs the niggly issues. When we finished our meal, they were preparing to do it all over again.Which is why I've given it 4 blobs.

We booked to go on this many many months ago for a family members birthday, 8 of us in total. We were told our table numbers by a lovely friendly gentleman when we first entered the train station however when we then went to board the train the woman seeing people on and directing people where to go acted like everyone arriving was an inconvenience and there was no nice welcome aboard the train at all. The carriages were basic with a table cloth and lamp on each table; nothing spectacular. The lovely man serving us was named Keith and he was very friendly and happy to tell stories about the train and railway. Drinks menu is small but reasonably priced considering the cost of the meal! Average bottle of wine was around £14. The first bottle of wine that we had did have mould on the label but we didn't complain! And the second bottle we ordered wasn't opened for us (wine also wasn't poured).First course was soup which was ok, not the best I've had but not the worst either. One of our party didn't receive their soup until a good 5 minutes after everyone else but this was due to another passenger confusing the staff with their order.Main course was chicken, not particularly warm when it was served and the vegetables are dished out to your by the staff. Some of the people on our table didn't want particular vegetables but were still served them. Portion sizes varied from plate to plate, one of our group had a piece of chicken twice as big as someone opposite him. Another of our group had a different main due to dietry requirements but most of it was undercooked and inedible. I had also noticed that some of the chicken was pink around the edges where it hadn't been fully cooked and although that is perfectly fine to eat it's still slightly off putting.Dessert was very nice! Choice of two desserts however again portion sizes varied vastly. Last drinks orders are taken about 1 hour before the end of the journey however around 15 minutes later someone came around collecting glasses and we were told all glasses had to be handed back (we still had half a bottle of wine at this point!) there was no warning otherwise we would have finished the wine sooner. When one of our group asked if we could have 5 minutes or so to finish the bottle the staff member got agitated and was quite rude about it. What annoyed us the most was that we still had a 35 minute train journey back to Alresford so why the hurry for the glasses?! I get they are volunteers and want to get off the train asap when they get back but when you pay £50 per person you expect much better service. A few of them looked like their faces would've cracked if they'd tried to smile!If this had been in a restaurant I would have sent the main back, as would a few others that were with us but we felt we couldn't due to the fact that they are volunteers and all elderly.The train ride itself is enjoyable but I don't think we shall do the dining train on this particular line again.

Me, my parents & my partner recently had a meal on the Watercress Line Train and it was absolutely amazing! From the welcome to the leaving, everything was perfect! We received a rose on arrival which was a lovely touch, all the staff were lovely, talkative and very professional. The meal was beautiful, I couldn't fault the night at all! A lovely experience for family, friends or couples. Also all the staff are volunteers which made the evening even more lovely, thoroughly enjoyed it and will definitely be back!

What a wonderful treat arranged by my son, dinner on the Watercress belle on 12th September. Splendid Pullman carriages, well preserved stations and facilities, excellent food, attentive and friendly service and steam hauled - for me a real trip down memory lane.We boarded our train at Alresford station at 19.15, were shown to our seats by Margaret our carriage manager and departed on time at 19.25 for our three hour journey along the line to Alton and back (twice) returning at about 22.30. This was great as we would be able to enjoy a leisurely 4 course dinner in relaxing and opulent surroundings with about 30 minutes of daylight to enjoy the fabulous Hampshire countryside. Just before departure our waiter took drink orders and i was amazed at the very reasonably priced wine,Shortly after departure dinner service commenced. All four courses were very well presented, professionally served and the food was hot and extremely tasty, a great achievement considering all food is prepared and cooked on the train. Dinner was finished off with coffee and sweetmeats. We all had a truly fabulous evening.However, what made this so special is the fact that all staff are volunteers - engine drivers, guards, station staff, chefs, waiting staff - Without them there would be no Watercress line, no dining on these lovely trains and no nostalgia. It was a great evening made very special by those wonderful volunteers. Thanks to all for a very memorable and enjoyable time.

Lunch for two was a birthday giftTraditional roast beef plus all the trimmings was plentiful with a soup starter and crumble dessert.Add to this some 2.5 hours chugging up the line to Alton and back it was a delightful experience.

Food here is always good, you do not require a ticket to get into the platform to eat in the lovely restaurant. It's like going back in time. You can watch the trains come in while you eat, toilets available and also limited outside seating. Good variety of food all served promptly.

Went for meal with family and had done this one before and didn't remember much but this was great,three course meal and ride to Alton and back twice,meal was fantastic although picked for you apart from sweet.Service was very good considering you only have volunteers and the whole thing was great,you must try this one!!.One thing did niggle me as I paid cheaply for drinks apart from my wife's pint of soda and lime at £4.70 but don't let that put you of experience!!

What a hoot x OAP volunteers serving good food in a wonderful dinning carriage pulled by a steam engine! The whole event was special! You can get better food nicely served and presented better but you cannot get the nostalgia! Highlights were pulling up along side the RAT! (Real ale train) Rabble xx Great event and well worth the effort of getting to Arlesford!

We really enjoyed the whole experience on the fern.the train ride was very atmospheric. The food was good and the staff very friendly and knowledgeable about all aspects of railway travel. I would recommend this evening to anyone.

Had a very memorable meal on this train, the food was very good but the only thing that let it down was that it could have been hotter