Watership Down Inn in Basingstoke and Deane

Firstly we could not fault the food it was delicious. 2 of us had the roast beef and 3 the vegan Wellington. Unfortunately the service was appalling. We repeatedly asked for the menu and 35 minutes later they came and asked us what we wanted to eat but hadn’t actually given us the menu. We asked for two Sherrie’s as it was on menu, they couldn’t find it on the till and they didn’t know if they had it. I pointed out where it was on their shelf. They then came and said could we pick another drink as they couldn’t put it through the till. I suggested they picked a drink of same cost and put it through the till as that, or if no similar value we were happy to pay an extra 20p and put it through as water! Everyone had finished their drinks and we hadn’t received the sherry! I went and queried this and they said they were waiting for the manager to sort it out, I suggested good customer service would be to pour drinks and sort out afterwards and not keep us waiting. She then appeared at the table plinked the drinks down and said they would sort it with manger later. We had to repeatedly ask for water. When we asked to have £6 of the £16 discretionary service charge taken off as we only wanted to pay £10 they said they couldn’t do it! But after I am guessing talking to someone else she came back and to,d us they could take it all off not part and we could leave cash! We definitely won’t be returning or recommending here.

We stayed here for one night only. It is the only pub/B&B within walking distance of the Bombay Sapphire Distillery which we were visiting that day. Our check in was very smooth - a lovely garden room built in the pub garden. A run of 5 chalet type rooms, very well appointed. Good lighting, the usual tea/coffee etc, toiletries,even a 1st Aid box. The bathroom was huge. I never could get the door to unlock, nor could I get out. Rather fiddly, and a round knob which my arthritic thumb could not manage. Lovely breakfast eventually. We had to find the waitress who was busy chatting in the bar area. More training needed. Service the night before was spot on, all orders taken on a tablet. Alas no electric charging points for the car, but plenty of parking near our room for easy unloading. Wish we could have stayed longer than one night.

Heard great things about the experience here and the food and the need to book! Booking duly made for Sunday Lunch at 1500 after the Bombay Sapphire Distillery Expierence, not a 5 minute drive away. On arrival told no roasts left only the Vegan option or a beef burger. Both of us not V but decided to go with this option as still came with delicious veges. Our disappointment....staff meals came out at this time...loaded!!! Surely if you've got bookings for a Roast, you cater for and not the staff?! Food was delicious but would we go back? No.

Very charming place with outside dining. We stopped for a sandwich lunch which were very generous however we were disappointed that the ham seemed to be thin sliced supermarket ham. However, that said, the staff were very welcoming and the outside seating area is great on sunny days. There is a car park which had plenty of spaces when we were there at lunch time on a week day.

Great lunch and friendly service. Was intrigued that a pub called Watership Down with its association with the famous book and film about RABBITS was absolutely full of pictures/paintings / wallpaper of HARES. Even the fabulous massive painting on the building outside was of a HARE WITH TYPICAL GIANT EARS . This has caused much hilarity and discussion as to the different characteristics of the animals involved. Watership Down was a story about a family of rabbits. Hares are larger, longer ears, walk ( not hop usually), live above ground, solitary. Sorry to bore all with this. Lovely meal

We booked a room here very last minute due to visiting Bombay Distillery next morning. As it was a rare warm summer evening we also decided to eat dinner at the Inn as the outdoor seating area was inviting and the menu looked good. Staff were friendly (Evie in particular) and helpful. We devoured one halloumi burger and one meat version plus desserts. Initially I thought the chip portion was a bit stingy but actually it ended up being exactly the right amount. I also enjoyed the variety of flavours available on the ice cream menu board. (Didn’t have breakfast as wanted a lie in.) Just the location is enough for me to recommend the Inn, but to be fair it was a really good place to stay and eat too.

As per many others, we we're visiting the Bombay Sapphire distillery down the road. Ideal location, literally 5 min drive around the corner. We stayed in one of the add on rooms, family room i think, spacious and the bathroom was huuuuge. It was actually warm for a change. Evening dinner outside, good old burger - nicely done and amazing cheesecake. Attentive staff and good selection of drinks. One downside, after 11pm, some local air base thought it would be fun to fly helicopters until midnight. Whilst out of there control, still a bit annoying. Didn't have breakfast, so couldn't comment. My one point, would be to tidy up some of the knackered chairs & clutter from the side of our residence, not the best to look at. Otherwise a lovely stay, would stay again.

Booked as was going to the Bombay Gin Distillery.warm welcome awaited us from the staff, nothing to much trouble for anyone. Enjoyed a lovely Sunday lunch served hot and good size potion. We stayed in the inn overnight. Rome clean and well equipped. Nice breakfast.

Lovely place to stay. Very personal touches from staff, very friendly and attentive. We arrived a bit early and we only waited a short time for our room to be ready - enough time for a drink in the garden. We booked dinner for the evening which was delicious, as was breakfast in the morning. We had a cosy double room which was ideal for what we needed for one night. There was water and tea and coffee in the room, hand wash shower gel and shampoo/conditioner. The room was very hot overnight, a fan was supplied, and we did stay on a warm weekend, another time of year would have been fine! :-) The bathroom had a musty smell but shower was perfect. Everything lovely and clean. We went to the Bombay Sapphire Distillery which was only about 14 minutes walk away. Would very much recommend.

Fabulous breakfast, great choice, endless coffee, lovely friendly staff, would definitely return. Stayed for BB, rooms very comfortable and clean and good value. Staff were very keen to ensure our stay coukd accommodate our plans at a bmnearby wedding, so helpful

Second time visiting. I was looking forward to coming back, as previously it was such an experience, everything was amazing. So naturally i was excited to be coming back. Unfortunately the pub was freezing cold, the staff were abrupt, not the welcome I was expecting. Hard to believe it’s the same place. No atmosphere, average food hugely overpriced and the whole place was freezing cold. I could not wait to leave to warm up in the car. Suffice to say I won’t be coming back.

A lovely place to stay, our room was faultless, friendly staff, and a great breakfast, will definitely stay here again if we're in the area.

A Really Pleasant Surprise. The waitresses and Waiters were on the ball. The chef produced good food, in a timely manner. The wine list was good and not too expensive. All in all a good experience.

We stayed here as it is only a 10 minute walk to the Bombay Sapphire cocktail masterclass tour we had booked. But we were not disappointed. We stayed in a pub room which was very quaint spotlessly clean and had everything you could want . Comfy bed good quality shower plenty of hot water and tea and coffee making facilities with plenty of tea bags and milk . The breakfast was great as was the evening meal we booked after our gin tour. Staff were friendly and service was good. I would definitely come back and stay again .

Disappointing visit. Cold and draughty table and no alternative. Server was new, but brought us a different table's drinks and had to come back to the table to correct our food order twice. This may explain why the food took over an hour to arrive, by which time our kids were so hungry and restless another customer brought over the pub's colouring activities that the staff hadn't thought to offer us. We were going to order dessert but a manager came and took away the kids menu (apparently they didn't have enough) without asking if we needed it or wanted to order, so we decided not to bother. The Sunday lunch main was actually nice but I was so cold and the service was so poor that I wouldn't recommend and won't be returning.

We stayed overnight in one of the garden rooms with our friends next door to us. A bite of lunch when we arrived before check in, evening meal & breakfast. Rooms were lovely food was exceptional and atmosphere and staff (especially Shelby) could not faulted. Would highly recommend for either just a nice evening meal or stay and explore local area.

Shelby absolutely made our stay. From the moment we arrived for lunch and checked in for our overnight stay she ensured our every need was met. Comfortable clean garden rooms and fantastic service - Thankyou again Shelby

Went for Sunday lunch yesterday in the Watership Down Inn restaurant with my wife and frienda. It seems it was done up recently and garnished with Halloween decorations. Looks lovely and clean with decent artwork. The food and service though were the stars of the show! We had the vegan Wellington, Venison and the Guinea Fowl which were all delicious, lovely roasted vegetables and divine roast potatoes [my wife loved them the most] but the gravy with juniper berries was just perfect. Apparently, the vegan gravy had "lots of taste" said my friend. The service was just right too, the very capable girl with blue hair and a lovely laugh gave the place a warm and friendly feel. Overall, it was very good value as it is clearly not a chain pub or a carvery, as the food, service and restaurant are top notch.

Yesterday lunchtime at this pub was abysmal. No buzz, few customers. Menu has been changed and is NOT as extensive as it used to be, though a member of staff said it had been extended. No specials. Only 5 choices each of starters, mains, and puddings. Mains comprised ,A pasta dish, fish and chips- which were excellent, the usual beefburger offering, a pie of the day...a puff pastry shell with chicken, ham and mushrooms in a white sauce and served with greens. Can't remember what the 5th choice was. Definitely not up to previous lunches we have enjoyed there. Very easy to book a table, perhaps that should have warned me. ! Have not had dinner there so can't comment on menu. Different staff to any we had seen previously. This begs the question:- HAS IT CHANGEDOWNERSHIP/MANAGEMENT.? Don't think we'll be going again, sadly,

Went on a Sunday so had the fish and chips, and the roast pork. Fish and chips was okay. Batter could have been crispier so could the chips. As for the roast pork, it was served with the string still around the pork. Roast potatoes were like rocks. They were replaced...by more rocks. Yorkshire pudding was overdone and all in all, a sad looking plate of food. Staff were friendly and reduced the bill accordingly. Our food looked NOTHING like any of the pictures. Judge for yourself. Went because I'm a fan of Watership Down and we had done a lot of walking around the mills and meadows so rounded off the day at the pub. The pub itself was very nice, full of character. Facilities were decent and dog friendly. A bit overpriced considering we had a similar meal at the Old Forge in Otterbourne which was amazing. A delightful pub with character, but the food was lacking today.

Good place to stay if visiting the Bombay Sapphire Distillery. Clean and friendly. Unusual dinner menu and pretty expensive. Lovely food though.

Perfect for our visit to Bombay Sapphire distillery with friends. We stayed overnight - lovely, clean rooms. Great food at dinner & friendly service.

Me and a friend stayed for the night as we were going to a wedding at clock barn nearby. The owner let us check in early so we could get ready before the wedding. He even offered to drive us to the venue when we were struggling with taxis. The breakfast was excellent and the bed was comfy. I would definitely recommend.

The pub was extremely quiet for a Saturday night and there was little or no atmosphere. The food was very distinctly average - especially given the price point (£20 for a burger). The chips with all meals were poor and my lamb chops came served...

Poor food and atmosphere. Been coming here for ages but really gone downhill. Too expensive and atmosphere is poor. Won’t be back.

It is a while since I last visited The Watership Down Inn, so have decided a new review & pleased to say everything is as good as previous visit from a couple of years ago. Met family here for lunch on one of the hottest...

Discovered this place a few years ago due to its vicinity to the Bombay distillery, now it's a staple stay every time we go past. It's a wonderfully welcoming pub, nice decoration, nice big rabbit mural outside. The staff are all very friendly, with the...

Lovely evening out, the Autumn menu is excellent and our Guinea Fowl very tasty! Service was great and it’s good to know they now have a permanent chef once again. Wouldn’t hesitate to dine here again.

Nice little pub with rooms close to the Bombay gin experience. Arrived for a decent lunch then off for gin tasting and back for supper on the terrace. Sadly on checking in we found our room had been overlooked by house keeper. Spoke to Shelby...

Please don't stay here. They are really not nice people. Refused to redeem a gift voucher for £200 received exactly 12 months ago.

We stayed while visiting the Bombay Sapphire Distillery and the local area. We had a brilliant time, staying in the lodge rooms, we were well looked after with excellent food in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.

We were a group of four for Sunday lunch. We each chose pork. Astoundingly there was no apple sauce and no apology. Waitresses spent a lot of time chatting to one another, yet a whopping great service charge was added to an already inflated bill....

We had a delightful evening, enhanced by the most delicious dinner. The staff were very friendly and attentive. We met the new chef, Bogdan who impressed us. From two very satisfied customers. Carolyn Sheffield

Beautiful place lovely friendly and welcoming staff. Stayed one night in one of the lodges. Absolutely fantastic. Extremely sizable room with tea/coffee facilities.....t.v......large bathroom with twin sinks and walk in shower. Enjoyed a superb lunch of freshly made food.....not necessarily the cheapest but the quality...

My husband and I loved our stay at Watership Down Inn! Beautiful property, great food and drinks at the pub, and the garden room was very spacious, comfortable and clean. We enjoyed the scenic walk to downtown Whitchurch via the local footpaths, and public transit...

Bring your own torch, wasp killer and be psychic. We were booked in for two nights bed and breakfast. Power cut just as we arrived. This lasted over 11 hours. We were booked in for evening meal but this couldn't happen because of power cut,...

Two night stay. Have waited nearly 2 weeks for a response from the management. No joy. Chosen because its dog friendly. Power supply issues. Room 4 probably still has a wasp nest above the door. You can't shut the bathroom door so only share the...

We stayed here for a couple of nights while visiting the area. We had a nice big room which was nicely furnished and had a big bathroom. It was in a block of 4 outside the pub. The breakfast was decent with a choice of...

My husband and I stayed here between 20 and 21 August as we were doing the nearby Bombay Sapphire Distillery Tour. During our stay (in their beautiful family room) we also had Sunday lunch and a fantastic breakfast (seriously the best Eggs Benedict I've ever...

Passing through, stopped for lunch. Hadn't booked but they fitted me in happily on a busy Sunday. Had a chicken Caesar salad, very good. Service was also good for a busy Sunday. Friendly, cheerful staff. Would definitely recommend a visit.

Lovely ambience, the beer is good, the staff are enthusiastic, helpful and attentive but what let the pub down was the menu. It used to offer a proper dinner with a variety of interesting dishes, but it has gone the way of all pubs in...

Stayed two night for a friends wedding. Rooms were large and comfy. Fantastic place overall. Staff were wonderful. Would highly recommend.

Very friendly and welcoming staff. Very attentive and personable. Food was good, beer lovely. Different pub since changing hands

This place was perfectly placed for our overnight stay being only 1/4 mile away from a well known distillery we wanted to visit. Our room was clean and very comfortable with all we needed . If I had to mention anything negative it would only...

We had an excellent lunch with our granddaughter and her partner. They had just toured the Bombay Sapphire Distillery a short distance away. Booking lunch at the Inn is advisable because it is rightly very popular. Good food, good service, easy parking on site.

We've been visiting this inn for over 10 years and have often used it for special family occasions because of its outstanding menu, service and ambience. Sadly, our visit for my partner's birthday lunch in June is year was a huge disappointment. The menu was...

Having recently had to forgo the much looked-forward-to opportunity to stay at the Watership Down Inn, I decided anyway to write my review of the visit we made at Easter this year, for Sunday lunch! ... which was - as we anticipated - delicious and...

My wife originally booked our two night stay back in September last year, my son then needed surgery on both feet, and as a result of his lack of mobility we rescheduled our stay to December. Unfortunately as December approached the venue had to reschedule...

This is a fantastic place to stay at. The garden annex is high spec, spacious and very comfortable. The food at the restaurant is delicious. The staff are polite and service is prompt. The pub and the garden around it are charming and relaxing. Recommend.

Staff not very experienced- they hung around when someone still eating. Not enough plant based vegan options- none for dessert and only one for main and that had no protein. Meat eaters in our party seemed to do better. They seem to think the reputation...

Stayed here in late june for a pre cruise overnight stay . Inn was not as nice as portrayed in the pictures, bar food was basic and not very exiting, staff very young and inexperienced . Place has been taken over and needs a good...

Met up with 12 family members for lunch here yesterday. What a gem! Lovely friendly staff , great food and a lovely setting. Well worth a visit 😊 Nicola

We chose to stay here as we had been gifted a tour of Bombay Sapphire. This pub is within walking distance so prime location! The staff we encountered were lovely and friendly! The room was great: clean, bright and comfortable. The amenities included in the...

Stayed here for a night whilst we went to the Bombay sapphire distillery and were hoping for a nice romantic weekend. Let me start with the positives, the venue is set in a beautiful village set only a couple of miles walk from the distillery...

Stayed the night before my wedding, and hardly slept as the boiler was making an incredibly loud noise at around 1 am and 4 am lasting at least 20 minutes on both occasions. This also disrupted the sleep of other guests from the wedding party,...

Lovely place to eat, drink and stay - food was excellent and the Chalet style room was very comfortable. The staff were first class and really friendly and helpful

Stay felt like a higher end premier inn rather than a boutique type stay we were expecting. Firstly what was included in the room on the website was not the case - states every room has a queen size bed, this is definitely not the...

We have just come home from a wonderful stay in a garden room. Outside the room is a lovely patio with chairs which we enjoyed using soaking up the sunshine. We had ordered in advance a bottle of prosseco which was delivered to us by...

I don't know where to start.... Firstly the staff tried to be helpful considering the situation they had been left in. We were there for my son's wedding for 3 nights. My son and daughter hardly slept due to the boiler type noise early hours...

Stayed at the Inn overnight in a family room. Three of us. Room is beautiful. Also had breakfast which was really great. Would recommend to all

In conjunction with a trip to nerby Bombay Sapphire, to celbrate a special birthday, had booked to stay in one of the garden rooms, but by pure chance, found that these are pet friendly rooms, which was unsuitable for my wife's pet allergy. We therefore...

Nice, friendly inn. Very welcoming. We stayed 1 night as was visiting the Bombay Sapphire distillery. Food was nice and staff friendly. Rooms were quirky. Fresh and clean bedding and towels. Slight downfall the room could have been cleaner in terms of edging and skirting...

Unfortunately we picked a time where the pub was undergoing a change of kitchen staff/menu so there was only a limited pub menu available. My steak was tough, very chewy & not great, did mention this to the staff but was glossed over. Parfait &...

This is a beautiful place to stay. The food is fabulous. The staff are welcoming, friendly and helpful. The room in the garden annex was very clean, comfortable and spacious with a comfy bed. Looking forward to going back soon.

Chose this place for a couple of nights stay whilst visiting the Bombay Sapphire Distillery. The rooms were beautifully presented, spacious and modern with everything you need. The inclusive breakfast was very good with a choice and staff were very helpful and attentive

Fabulous staff, and fabulous food. We were staying in one of the pub's very comfortable cabins, and greatly appreciated their wonderful breakfasts, and evening meals. Staff were very friendly, helpful and efficient. Will definitely call again.

Our stay at The Watership Down Inn was very comfortable. The room was very clean. The food was possibly the best we've had. Unbelievable is the only way to describe it. I highly recommend a stay in this unique little Inn

We arrived at 2 O'clock as we were going to Bombay Sapphire, which is just 10 minutes walk away, but we were able to check in. We were warmly welcomed and shown to our garden cabin. If you drive as far left through the carpark...

We stayed in the purpose built cabins which are beautiful and spacious. Fabulous bathroom and lovely natural gardens which are dog friendly. My daughter stayed in one of the traditional internal rooms in the property which had everything one can want but was very small....

My family and I stayed at this Inn, for 3 nights, at the end of April. We chose it due to its location as it is near to Highclere castle, which we were planning to visit, as well as other sites. The Inn was lovely,...

Stayed at the Watership Down as visited the Bombay Sapphire Distillery and it seemed the perfect option as only a 10 minute walk away. Food and accommodation was superb, all staff very welcoming and friendly. Overall a wonderful visit and would highly recommend staying here...

Stayed overnight after visiting Bombay Gin experience, Room was clean and comfortable, the food was exceptional, the evening meal was brilliant and a lovely breakfast. Would stop again if in that area.

This was booked for me as part of my 60th birthday present which involved a trip to Bombay Sapphire. It’s extremely well located for visiting the distillery. We drove, left the car overnight and walked back- about 15minutes max. We stayed in the main part...

A great and tasty Sunday lunch. A fantastic setting we had a table with a great view One of the best roast dinners ever. My wife had the meatball pasta which was equally tasty The staff were totalling delightful - couldn’t do enough for us...

Out for day and we decided to look for a pub for lunch and found the Watership Down Inn.. Lovely lunch and friendly people. It’s quite small and obviously popular so we were lucky to get in without booking.

What a lovely hotel our room was spotless the bed so comfortable. We had the evening meal and breakfast both was lovely. The staff are so friendly I would definitely stay again

Gorgeous mains and deserts. Spent more than we meant to but that's ok when the food is so delicious.

Lovely pub, location and food. Highly recommend! Came here with friends and main/desserts were amazing. Service also good too. Decor was lovely too.

Outstanding food! Beautiful spacious room. Excellent lighting and electrical points. Fabulous 😁 attentive service, car parking. Peaceful location. Stone floors and interesting modern decor.

Another tick for Trip Advisor! We were staying in a nearby Inn, and had already dined there on the Friday night so we decided to consult Trip Advisor for a recommendation for an alternative for our Saturday night. Landed on The Watership Down Inn and...

The room was beautiful and very spacious. Our evening meal in the restuarant offered a good caried menu choice and the food was excellent. All the memebers of staff were extremely friendly and attentive. We couldn't have asked for better. The location was tremendous in...

Good location , within walking distance of the Bombay Sapphire Distillery, pleasant restaurant with good service, although pricey . Room available at 2pm, too cold to stay in until heating came on at 5. Shower disgusting and couldn’t use it as lots of black mould...

A fabulous time spent at The Watership Down Inn with our labrador Murray. From the moment we arrived we were so well looked after, our garden room was spacious, comfortable and very clean. We enjoyed lunch, dinner and breakfast - all delicious, the food is...

I and my husband stayed at The Watership Down Inn for Bed and Breakfast on 28.03.23 until morning of 29.03.23. On arrival we were made to feel very welcome by the General Manager and staff. Our room was nice with plenty of storage space if...

The accommodation was clean and nicely decorated, although only an overhead shower so difficult to shower without getting your hair wet! Saturday night dinner was disappointed. We knew the menu was limited but they had a burger and fish on the specials menu. However by...

Who would have thought when we sat down that I was about to eat the best steak and chips of my life, both cooked to perfection! the scallops were amazing, too, tender and soft and full of flavour. Service was delightful and there was a...

The team were super friendly & helpful. The food was very good quality. The raspberry & lemon jam on the crème brûlée was particularly yummy & would be lovely served with breakfast (we had an evening meal & were staying so could enjoy that too.).

An incredible visit with the best food I have ever eaten in a pub. The service was excellent and super friendly. I would not hesitate to recommend this inn.

We chose to stay at The Watership Down Inn as its easy walking distance from the Bombay Sapphire Distillery nearby that we had a tour of. The Garden room we stayed in was very spacious and warm and very comfortable. We didn't have dinner because...

We picked the Watership Down as we had a full day at the Bombay Sapphire Distillery, 10mins walk down the road. Our stay really made our weekend away even more special. All the staff were great. After a full day of G&Ts, we checked in...

Charming B&B with a pub attached. I wasn’t able to have lunch or dinner there due to schedule constraints but the breakfast was delicious. Staff is very welcoming and the room was clean and cozy. Perfect location if you want to tour the Bombay Sapphire...

Accommodation was spot on in this little pub, garden rooms large, warm, spotlessly clean and well laid out. Food both for dinner and breakfast was lovely, pity no yogurt or fruit at breakfast but that's a personal thing as I don't do big breakfasts. The...

We had the most delicious lunch at Watership Down pub last weekend. Extremely high standard of cuisine , excellent and friendly service all in the lovely ambience of this pub. A great treat Very much looking forward to going back . Sophie C

Surprise 70th Birthday party - Sunday lunch at Watership Down Pub. It was perfect. Delicious roast beef, perfectly cooked for 28 people. Mini cheese souffles to start with and melt-in-the-mouth chocolate puddings. Served by smiley helpful staff! Great atmosphere and some of the best pub...

Really excellent supper on Saturday night. Very well presented dishes, beautifully cooked and the staff could not have been more charming.

Clean and friendly. Great breakfast and restaurant food excellent. A little expensive for what it was though.

Friendly staff. Accommodation in annex was very modern and comfortable. Management very willing to address any issues raised. Would recommend. Food in restaurant was very good. All ‘fresh’ produce as witnessed in the restaurant kitchen.

We had our Christmas party at the Watership last Friday 16th December for around 25 people. The Room was set-up beautifully and the staff were very friendly. All the food came out piping hot and was of a great quality. Staff were very accomodating and...

Had a great stay at The Watership Down Inn - stayed in one of the purpose built cabin rooms in the garden which was fab - underfloor heating (which was great given the very cold weather). Huge bathroom was very well appointed and comfy bed....

We stayed in the cabins/lodges which are well equipped, comfortable and clean. Bed and line of a very good quality so we had a good nights sleep. We also ate at the pub. Food was very good and extremely well executed. Really, really nice. We...