The New Forest, Ashurst — Restaurant in New Forest

I used to enjoy coming this pub restaurant and after a while of not coming my friend and I decided to venture out.I called around midday yester day 11.12.2021 to see if there were any bookings available for food and the young man who answered said they could do a table for 2pm.When we arrived we informed one of the young ladies that we had a table booked for 2pm.She went to check and then another young man came to ask us again if he could help and I reiterated we had a booking. The server we spoke to first then tried to tell another person who I assume was some sort of supervisor that we had a booking for food.She abruptly said she didn't have anything in the restaurant.The server then said we did have a booking and the same was repeated.. with no apology to us as we were within earshot.This other person went on to tell the server we could sit in the bar area.The last thing said to us was that we could order from the bar.That was the last communication we had.Another party of 6 arrived...they had a table booked in the bar area and they were greeted with a lovely welcome.They were all so told what was not available on the special menu.After much deliberation, my friend and I decided to leave.No acknowledgement thete either and the young server who had tended to us at first saw us leave.We decided to try the New Forest Inn just down the road where suffice to say we were welcomed and the experience was a polar opposite of what we had just had experienced..Suffice to say we will definitely be going back there again.To add to that we didn't have a booking.This is extremely disappointing considering how tough the pandemic has affected employment for those in the hotel/pub/restaurant industry.This experience has resulted in us not wishing to...

Nf visit for birthday celebrations. Dropped in for a spot of lunch on our bike ride. Very large food area, lots of outdoor seating undercover. Complicated discussion upon arrival regarding dog friendly areas, not very friendly welcome as clearly busy with private function, although only 30% full tables. Told to order at the bar, when we tried to order, we were very rudly told to "get in the queue", not that it stated there was a queing system for ordering. Asuming she was the person in charge, her deminor wasn't very nice. She spoke to us rudly, then was dismissive of the private party organiser when he was trying to sort food options next to us, while we 'waited in the queue'

Although ordering separately in succession at the same table number as instructed! Our food came out at completely separate times which didn't suit, as we sat at the same table. Shouldn't of been an issue paying separately and seated together in this economic climate, systems in place to facilitate aren't difficult to organise from personal experience working in hospitality trade myself!

Food was quite bland and overpriced for the quality.

Our visit was very tainted by the attitude of the staff, felt like we were an inconvenience to them on what was a peak season weekend, so easy to plan ahead for and not even a half full...

Stayed at the campsite just round the corner and thought, looks like a nice pub within walking distance. Approached the bar and said we have a reservation. Barman said just stand by that sign and someone will come and see you. He then said would you like any drinks, so we ordered. Then found we had to pay straightaway, it couldn’t go on our food tab. After about ten minutes and being totally ignored by the waitress who was too busy wrapping cutlery in napkins she came and spoke to us. We reiterated we had a reservation, she then said I’ll go find out where we are putting you. Another wait then she returned and showed us to our table. Can’t see what the problem with where to sit was, because there were only 4 other tables out of at least 20 being used. We finally ordered, then had nearly an hours wait for pie, chips and chopped cabbage. When it eventually arrived it didn’t look much but the chips were very tasty, the pie tasted better than it looked and the cabbage was cold. Oh and I nearly forgot a minuscule jug with a couple of spoons of gravy in it. Considering how empty the restaurant was service was painfully slow. Decided to go all out and have a dessert, didn’t have the first two choices. Not a venue I’ll return to, even though Fullers pubs...