Spruce Goose Beefeater — Restaurant in Basingstoke and Deane

Its OK, relatively cheap and cheerful, good service and ok pub grub but hoo boy its in need of a deep clean and renovation.

I went with a friend of mine wanting a cheap and easy lunch. Walking in, it gives a classic feel of a beefeater / harvester. Its quite dark in there, with decor that needs a update. It took over a minute to be greeted and sent to the table. As always with these places I'm always initially offered the crappiest table, but I asked if we could be seated in a comfy booth and our waitress kindly obliged. There was a few old timers in there at 1pm Monday afternoon, but it was probably 10% full.

Service was good, prompt taking of our drink order and perfect timing of order taking and lunch being served. I had a surf and turf for over £20 and it was pretty average, I would say overpriced, but it was certainly edible. Steak was cooked medium rare how I like it but they should of trimmed the fat off as it wasnt nice all grisly and tough. The 2 king prawns were excellent, but the calamari was a bit over fried and greasy. The triple cooked chips were standard frozen McCains Home Fries style - why proper chips cut from fresh potatoes are never sold at these places I dont really understand. Presentation of the food was nice with a bit of salad garnish and garlic mayo.

However, the cleanliness of the place was not good. It felt dirty and unkept with wallpaper stained and peeling off the ceiling. The front doors glass was smeary and fingerprinted all over. Carpets seemed filthy and dirt and grime was everywhere, even on the ramekins that they serve ketchup and mayo in, yuck! It is in need over a deep clean and better cleaning regime to encourage people like me to return.

I guess if I was a travelling salesman and had a stopover in the Premier Inn next door I'd take a english breakfast in there, but as for choosing to go there, it really needs to be renovated and relaunched. The Harvester down the road is better place to eat for the same price and I know its bit more pricey but Miller and Carters is in another league compared to...

Nestled in a convenient spot, The Spruce Goose Beefeater offers a dining experience that truly exceeded our expectations. From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere was welcoming, and the service was attentive and genuinely friendly throughout the evening. ​To kick things off, we decided on a sharing portion of the nachos, and they were a perfect choice. Often, nachos can be overwhelming or undersized, but these were just right. A generous pile of crisp tortilla chips was loaded with a delicious melted cheese sauce, vibrant salsa, creamy sour cream, and a good amount of chillies and spring onions. Each bite was a satisfying blend of textures and fresh flavours, a fantastic way to begin our meal. ​For the main course, I opted for the Chicken Skewers, a decision I did not regret. The chicken was cooked to absolute perfection—succulent and tender with a beautiful char from the grill. It was coated in a subtle yet flavourful marinade that was truly amazing, complementing the natural taste of the chicken without overpowering it. Served with perfectly seasoned fries and a fresh side salad, it was a complete and highly satisfying dish. ​My wife's choice, the smothered Chicken melt, was equally impressive. The presentation alone was enough to get us excited, but the taste truly delivered. A juicy chicken breast was piled high with melted cheese, all brought together with a tangy BBQ sauce. The ingredients worked in harmony, and every forkful was met with a chorus of textures and a rich, smoky flavour. We were both thoroughly impressed with the quality and execution of her dish. ​Beyond the food, the service was a standout element of our visit. The staff were efficient and personable, ensuring we had everything we needed without being intrusive. Their genuine care for our experience made the evening even more enjoyable. ​Overall, the combination of fantastic food and excellent service makes The Spruce Goose Beefeater a place we would highly recommend. It’s an ideal spot for a relaxed and delicious meal, and we can’t...

IF YOU ARE MUSLIM JEWISH OR ANY OTHER FAITH WHICH DOES NOT EAT PORK DO NOT COME HERE I came to eat here and viewed the menu after checking the menu I found most menu items had pork or bacon after looking carefully made sure I ordered a burger with no bacon upon arrival of the burger without realising I ate half the burger only to realise I found bacon in the burger which shouldnt of had bacon in it to say I was fuming and in my life bacon had never touched my lips I was mortified regardless I was staying at the Premier Inn for the week next to the restaurant and breakfast and dinner was pre paid for came to breakfast and every morning I found at the breakfast buffet there was only one pair of tongues for the bacon pork sausages mushrooms and tomatoes to find such a big food chain that didn't concern themselves with cross contamination for the people who didn't eat pork was upsetting and then the same night I ate I asked the waitress if it was possible to get the mixed grill without pork or bacon as I am a muslim she said that's fine so I ordered the mixed grill with no pork and for starters I got the cheesy potatoe dippers (add bacon for an extra 0.99) upon ordering that obviously without the add on after 20 mins or so my food came out no pork on the mixed grill but they added sprinkles of chopped bacon on my potato dippers which then I told the waitress I've just told you I'm a muslim and I don't eat pork why would you think its OK to add bacon on the starter without even asking me let alone me telling u I don't eat pork she apologied and took my plate and had a new one made when it came to leave she said I had an outstanding bill I said what for and cheekily enough she told me for the bacon I added onto...