Riverside Social — Restaurant in Fareham

Not much at all in the way of dairy free or vegan options for a modern day business. Shame really because they are situated in a nice location surrounded by a massive community and off a road which leads to several towns and the motorways.

It's a shame that the place wasn't snapped up by a company that is more inclusive and imaginative so that everyone in modern day society could make use of dinning experience and surroundings. Their menu options are outdated and overpriced for what the meals actually consist of.

If you are dairy free, vegan or mindful of what you are eating the best you will get is plumb tomatoes on toast and it costs a lot more than plumb tomatoes on toast because they drizzle some oil on top.

The vegetarian breakfast has a vegan burger with it instead of sausages and it's not a vegan breakfast because of the egg. Which I suppose can be removed, but it's 2025 and there is an absolute abundance of vegan sausages out there. Even Richmond vegan sausages. And tofu egg is so quick to make and tofu keeps for a long time. Silken tofu is great for vegan egg as well as being warmed up on a salad drizzled with Balsamic glaze. Tofu makes egg mayo sandwiches. And if it's mixed with veggies and or tomatoes it can be baked in a quiche pastry base.

Waitrose sell Vegan blue cheese and brie and smoked and camembert and mature cathedral city and many many more and vegan cold deli meats.

It is even possible to make vegan cauliflower cheese and even and vegan ham or chorizo to it.

Vegan scallops can be made from king oyster mushrooms and don't even need marinating to pick up the flavours of garlic, lemon or chilli or anything.

Oyster mushrooms can be used for calamari rings.

The list is endless and easy to make in seconds or upto 10 minutes at most. With several supermarkets and greengrocers nearby and online stores there's no excuse. There's even vegan chicken Kiev's in Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Iceland and m&s. Sainsbury's and Tesco sell giant vegan prawns which can be used in prawn cocktail. And they sell vegan scampi.

Lidil sell olives and artichokes really cheap and artichokes can be used on pizza, salad, with a cheese and olive board and in risotto and so many things.

Vegan chicken curry is easy to make. And Iceland sell great vegan chicken pieces for chicken curry which would be amazing on a jacket potato or with roast potatoes and salad.

There is probably more vegan options in the world than meat options and people who are dairy free can eat them too. Like a vegan chilli or beans on toast or jacket potato. Lots of pies too which could go with mash. And the mash never ever needs a dairy butter in it. Home bargains sell large tubs of Irish garlic butter which is as rich, but is basically churned oil and garlic. And that in mash with some smokey shallots and a marmite and mulled wine gravy would be great for pies and roasts and Xmas because I noticed vegans and gluten free are not included for the festive period.

And cakes and puddings and cheese cake and ice cream and creams and so much is available for vegans and dairy free and so quick and easy to knock up from scratch from pantry ingredients which lasts for ever. Vegan foods and ingredients last for ever. And any decent kitchen or chef would have the majority of vegan and dairy free...

RUDE & Unprofessional Manager

As a member of the NUJ & International Federation of Journalists, I am reporting a terrible experience my wife (also a member of the Press) and I had at the Riverside Social, Premier Universal Marina, last Friday evening mid-July.

We arrived at 8.50pm requesting only a main course, well within the restaurant’s advertised (Friday) hours - “kitchen closes at 10pm, restaurant closes at 11pm” - only to be told by the manageress that the kitchen was already closed. When I politely stated that this contradicted the kitchen open times on the restaurant’s own website, she told me I was wrong. Not once, but three times, talking down to us with an increasingly arrogant tone.

I politely showed her the restaurant’s website which states the kitchen closing time of 10pm. Rather than acknowledge the error, apologise, or simply offer us a menu, she escalated the matter further with overtly rude and derogatory demeanour. She failed entirely in her duty as a senior representative of the establishment.

When I then stated my disapproval and that I would leave this review (a completely legitimate recourse for every customer let alone a professional journalist), she accused me immediately of “blackmail”. That accusation alone is utterly absurd - what we wanted was simply to pay for a one-course meal during stated service hours. Labelling a guest in front of many others as threatening, for expressing an intent to share their experience, is not only grossly inappropriate - it is a clear case of defamation.

She then accused me of shouting despite my tone and volume being normal. Then, without a further word, she asked us to leave the establishment entirely. We were two senior journalists thrown out for asking to be served during operating hours. The experience was absurd, humiliating and completely uncalled for. Her conduct was unprofessional and completely at odds with hospitality standards and common decency.

I have shared our experience with relevant colleagues in the marine, hospitality and lifestyle media and will copy this report to the Managing Director of Premier Marinas, the owner of the site in which this restaurant is located. As a boat owner of some 40 years, 20 years of which has been at this marina, I consider this incident to reflect very poorly not only on Riverside Social but also on the high standards maintained by...

Visited Riverside Social yesterday and left genuinely impressed. The food was outstanding. Fresh, full of flavour and beautifully presented. You can tell the kitchen is led by someone with real skill and pride in what they serve.

While I haven’t met Andy (Andrew Taylor-Rose) personally, I’ve followed his career and eaten at places where he previously worked. The quality he is known for came through clearly here. Now, together with Marta, he’s brought that same attention to detail to Riverside Social and created something that feels both relaxed and refined.

My partner had the mussels, I had the Rump steak. Both dishes were excellent, and we made sure to try each other’s. The mussels were rich and tender, and the steak was cooked perfectly. Every element of the plates felt considered.

Service was fine, polite and efficient, but the real standout is the setting. Tucked away by the River Hamble, surrounded by trees, the location feels removed from the usual bustle. It’s not your typical riverside venue, and that’s a big part of its appeal.

Adding a DJ or curated music at weekends could lift the atmosphere even further. The place already has real charm, and that extra touch could round it off perfectly.

We’ll definitely be back to try more of the menu. If they keep this standard up, Riverside Social is set to become a very special spot for the...