Hunters Lodge Inn

We were freezing from the moment we walked in for New Year’s Day lunch. The restaurant felt colder than outside, and we had to sit in our coats while looking at the menu. We asked them to turn the heating on, but were told they'd run out of oil. The fireplace was off too. Even with a pile of logs in sight, staff said they couldn't light it, and there were no hot drinks available because of the oil issue. I don't know how the food was cooked, but it was average, bland and boring. One person behind the bar looked visibly stressed and under pressure. The whole meal was uncomfortable and unpleasant, and none of us were happy with it. We won't return.

The staff were quick and helpful, both front of house and in the kitchen. My better half had the sirloin steak, while I went for the Hunters Burger with dirty fries. Even the salad was really tasty, and everything was amazing. We'll definitely come back.

We had the Stilton chicken, a cheeseburger 🍔 and the black and blue burger, all in generous portions, so bring a good appetite. The atmosphere was great and the service really good. It's easy to reach, just off the A303, and they serve the full menu even earlier in the day, when many other places have already closed their kitchens.

The room was comfortable, and there's a nice area out back for kids. We found the place less than a mile from the A303, and the staff were very friendly. On Saturday evening they had a large carvery on, which looked lovely, though we chose from the usual menu. The food was excellent, and breakfast included a full English you could help yourself to. We'd definitely recommend it and will be back.