The Old Beams l Ibsley l Freehouse Pub & Kitchen — Restaurant in New Forest

10 ate out for my mum's 90th at 2.30. The place was extremely quiet, 2 or 3 other tables dining, so we expected good service. Food was, with the exception of the fish and chips, really good. We ordered drinks which arrived along with menus. Turned out some were lunch menus, others were evening. Once we sorted that out, we waited to order the starters and main courses. In the end we had to find a waitress who kindly took our order. Starters all arrived, unfortunately, with a lactose intolerant member of the family getting buttered bread, even though she had made the 2 waitresses aware of her intolerance. We tried to point this out and asked for it to be swapped out, but there was a language barrier. So the birthday girl and her friend swapped the toast for her pate, for the buttered bread with her friend's prawn cocktail. Requests for further drinks seemed to be ignored. Finally got an order taken, but this just sat on the bar. Brother helped himself to them after getting fed up waiting. Main courses arrived, well 9 did. The waiter who brought out the mains then took some chips out to someone sitting outside and had a long chat with them. When he finally came in, I caught his attention to ask where the last main meal was. His reply was, "It was just coming." It finally turned up, and we realised the first 9 meals were on one order sheet, but this last meal had been on a different sheet and had clearly become detached from the rest of the order. No apology for the delay. At this point, my brother, whose fish (battered) was really not very good at all, asked for the manager. After much tooing and froing, a lovely chap came out and was asked if he was the manager. He wasn't, as the manager was acting chef today. He was very helpful, accepted our complaints, and reduced the bill accordingly. He did also offer desserts on the house, but to be truthful, by then, everyone had got fed up with waiting. So we settled up and left. My brother did point out, prior to leaving, the revolting nappies outside together with overflowing ashtrays, too. Considering the waiting staff were standing around chatting, this could have been addressed, but nobody seemed bothered. Well done, young man, who had to face disgruntled customers, you were the saving grace. But we don't think...

I would like to start by saying I don't usually leave reviews, but on this occasion I though it necessary. Organised a birthday gift for my son at the near by Raptor centre so we travelled down from near Oxford on Sunday 3rd September. The reviews and photos for the old beam were good so decided to have dinner before we went on our experience day. To start with my son and I had whitebait, I thought that the fish smelt a bit funny but my son and I started it. We both could not eat the whole dish as I was beginning to feel unwell. Our main courses Wife had Gammon from the Carvery, the portions were massive the quality was not so good the potatoes were undercooked and the veggies were so over cooked that they were tasteless, left 80% of her meal. My fish and chips were just terrible I presume it was frozen and deep fried from a supermarket. Could not eat it. Two of my sons had scampi, chips and peas. I tried one of the scampi as I was hungry and although it was very hot on the out side it was raw on the inside. Both boys did not eat their dinner. My third son had a chicken slider and was happy with the meal. In my opinion it was bit small but he enjoyed it. He sneaked a few scampi off this brothers plate and ate them. One of the waitresses noticed that we did not eat out meals so came over and asked if everything was ok I explained that were were not happy with the scampi as it was raw and she said she would see what they could do. In fairness the restaurant refunded the scampi. So for a few drinks predominately coke and leaving feeling hungry and sick for £88 it was a bargin. Any way off to our day experience, on the way there I had to stop the car and was sick by the road side. At the centre two boys said they were unwell, the third was sick in the toilets. The whole day was a disaster. Now I am seeing the doctor for a bacterial stomach infection caused by either dirty prep or food, 7 days of antibiotics to follow. Looks like both my sons are on the same pathway.

I hope that the owners read this as I am sure its not a common occurrence reading the reviews.

Very...

What a let down, went for our Anniversary arrived and had a couple of drinks at the bar a nice young man with curly hair served us was very nice. Noticed in the kitchen there was only one person This should have rang alarm bells We were shown to our table and was told that someone will come and take our food order. We sat there for a while no one came we noticed that no one had a specific function they were doing bar, taking orders,clearing tables , going to the kitchen etc It was not organised or managed if they came near you you had to attract there attention Anyway they didn’t come so I went to the bar to advise we we’re ready to order The man working the bar left the bar unmannered and came and took our order.I ordered and he said we haven’t the Chicken Supreme I said why he said it’s popular I said it’s only 7-15 he shrugged After a bit of discussion he said I’ll get the manager for you She came over and I said how can you not have chicken it’s a simple dish and out of the 4 choices on the classics you haven’t got it She said no good having a go at me (I wasn’t) but you are the manager who do I go to Any way we left without eating and our evening was ruined What became apparent to me by looking what other people were ordering in my opinion was that because of lack of staff in the kitchen they were only serving food that was quite to prepare like Lasagna Fish Pie Burgers etc Chicken Supreme that needs a bit if attention was off the menu The whole restaurant needs to be properly managed it’s all a miss mash and you take a chance on how your served.Unfortunately I can’t comment on the food as I left Please be aware before you sit down what’s available Feel let down don’t think I’ll be...