The Running Horse

The bar and restaurant were inviting, with a good range of food and drinks. The place has a modern, motel-like layout, and the rooms are comfortable and easy to heat. There’s a good selection of drinks, including a coffee machine, plus a mini fridge with fresh milk. Parking is plentiful and free. Winchester is about 15 minutes away by car, or a walk takes around an hour and a half. There’s a local bus stop, but buses aren’t very regular. It was generally quiet, though it could get noisier in the warmer months when people are outside enjoying the pub. The main issues were the lights randomly dimming and brightening, which the owners have looked into many times without resolving, and dusting that could be better, especially under the beds. The place had a good feel overall, and I’d recommend it and consider staying again, here or at another place in the company chain.

The Running Horse is a beautiful pub, with classy decor and a lovely countryside setting. The staff were friendly when we arrived, the menu looked fantastic, and we were looking forward to dinner. Sadly, the meal fell far short of what the menu promised. We ordered starters and mains but left before dessert. My husband’s hanging Lamb Kebab was awful. The kebab was overcooked, the mushrooms undercooked, and the flatbread looked good until we turned it over and saw that the underside was burnt black and inedible. I’m surprised it was sent out that way. Our son’s Chicken tenders tasted horrible, clearly cooked from frozen and overcooked. I had to get up for cutlery and napkins after the starters arrived. My husband left the burnt side of the flatbread facing up, but nobody said anything when the plates were cleared. The service was awful, which was a shame because the team had been very friendly. There seemed to be only two staff working. It wasn’t busy, but they appeared to be struggling. I could hear the kitchen calling for service while both staff were serving at the bar, and the food sat on the pass for a while, not a good look with an open kitchen. There was a nearby table that both staff kept going over to, giving them more attention than the diners. Maybe they were staff members who weren’t working. When I asked for the bill, the young chef brought a portion of Calmari to someone at that table, and she seemed surprised to receive it. We were checked on, but didn’t raise our concerns because the service didn’t feel genuine. For three people, one a child, and one alcoholic drink, the bill came to just under £90, including £9 service. We were very surprised. When we paid, a team member asked again if everything was okay, so he’d clearly cottoned on, but the damage was done and we just wanted to leave. It’s such a shame. The pub is beautiful and the staff were friendly, but there seemed to be no leadership or management, and it looked like youngsters were running the place. The menu promised so much, but the delivery missed in so many ways. With someone who cares in the kitchen, it could be a brilliant menu if executed properly. Much more could be done to make this a great place.

A very comfortable, cosy booth, and our dog was happy with the seating too. The venue provided water and snacks, as did we. We had Sunday lunch and a great afternoon, with excellent food, good beer and fantastic service. Staff were professional and polite, and when the wrong drink arrived, they sorted it quickly and efficiently. They’ll soon have board games to play after eating. We’ll definitely be back. Well worth visiting, and you can bring the dog!

The pub is way out in the sticks, yet it was full, which tells me things are going well. The food was superb, and the staff were friendly and knew their jobs. The decor suits the pub’s name, though it’s a bit quirky for me. We’ll definitely be back. Well done.