The Bugle Inn — Restaurant in Eastleigh

We were ignored for an hour despite asking 4 times to be served. My husband, daughter, son in law and grandaughter visited the Bugle on Saturday 12th February 2022 at 1.30pm. The place was not busy at all and we found a table easily. My baby grandaughter was asleep in her pram, so we were keen to eat while she was settled. The waitress told us to stay there and she would come over to take our order. We were then ignored for 25 minutes. My son in law went over to ask when we would be seen and she said she would be with us shortly. She came over and said a very gruff "what do you want", followed by a cursory apology for the delay. We gave our drinks and food order immediately. We were then ignored for another half an hour, while minimal visible activity was going on. The waitress spent several minutes tapping away at the till, and served one group drinks who arrived at the bar to order. She also brought one lot of food out to people who had arrived after us. Other than that she spent the whole time looking fed up and annoyed, and when we went over twice to ask her how long it would be we got a very short "two minutes" and were then ignored again. After an hour in this fairly quiet pub without being served even a jug of water, we decided to leave. The people on the table next to us, who were served food shortly after we arrived, commented that had they not started their meals they would leave too as they were still waitng to be served their next course. The waitress watched us leave, without a comment, a smile, let alone an apology. My daugther is moving to Botley and this was our first attempt to find a regular place to eat with them when we visit. We will most emphatically not be going back. The service was non existant and we were ignored to the point of rudeness. There was not even an excuse that the place was busy, and even then a smile takes no time at all. If this waitress worked for me she would have been dismissed. As a post script, we finally found somewhere to eat at 3.30pm and my grandaughter had to be held and jogged while we ate one handed. Shocking, shocking "service"...

With friends looking for a bite to eat last night and drove to Botley to go to Dolphin but it was full so we crossed the road and went into the Bugle and so pleased we did , far better than the Dolphin or the Shamblehurst Barn which we had tried earlier but the chef walked out and it was chaos🤣🤣🤣 . The Bugle is a traditional old coaching Inn with a vast menu, superb food, piping hot, between us we had the pie and veg, hunters chicken, gammon and tikka masala and have to say absolutely brilliant food, tasty well served with good portions and lovely and hot and the chips, well l don’t think any of us have had chips as good as these anywhere, fantastic. And the desserts, a huge choice and delicious, cannot fault the food in anyway, all excellent.

The staff, Louise and other colleagues were fabulous, chatty and knowledgeable and we were told that the new management had only been there from about the beginning of the year and was already doing lots of improvements to turn the pub around because it had been closed for a long time and the new owner is absolutely lovely.

Also a big surprise but very welcome the 20% off from Monday to Friday all day and evening, and it is dog friendly and they are very welcome with dog treats , what a special place to go. The difference with the bugle to any other pub is that it is a traditional pub, bare floorboards , wooden tables, comfy chairs but not loud in colour, not dressed to perhaps please everyone but it was a lovely pub to eat and drink in, and sadly not many pubs like this around anymore, so well worth a visit, you won’t be disappointed.

This pub is obviously now being run by a competent and knowledgable landlord who knows his business and we will definitely be back on a regular basis and have been told the Sunday carvery is excellent which we will try very soon. Thankyou for an excellent meal and hope your business goes from strength...

Standing opposite to the Dolphin, this is an older, more traditional looking coaching inn, built in the 1600s. It still retains the feel of a traditional pub inside. On the left is a dining room, and on the right is a pub room with a fireplace, and a gloomy interior. I found it quite charming, but also just a little depressing. On my visit there was only one other customer, whereas the other two pubs in the village were quite busy.

Four casks on offer, including one from the brewery in the village, Botley Berry. This was either poorly made, infected, badly kept, or off. It inclined more toward cider than beer. The barman had vanished out the back, and was taking his time to return, and I was in a hurry, so I left the beer, and left the pub. These things do happen from time to time in pubs, but it wasn't an encouraging experience. However, I think this place has much to offer, and I'd be happy to try again for lunch.

Botley is an interesting looking village, and the three pubs are all acceptable, and serve food. Being close to the Hedge End shopping complex, any of them would be OK for a quick lunch before shopping. But not for anything special. The Dolphin is probably the most down to earth and family friendly, the Bugle the most upmarket and characterful, and the Brewery Bar the freshest and...