The King's Head, Wickham — Restaurant in Winchester

We visited here yesterday for Mother’s Day, this was my suggestion as we had lovely food here previously for my Nan’s wake. Unfortunately we were all quite disappointed. There was a very small selection of food to choose from, there were also things on the menu that they didn’t have which resulted in some of us not ordering dessert and my grandad nearly only ordering a starter. We had pre booked a month ago so this was disappointing.

I was displeased by the service we received yesterday, there were only three tables having dinner and yet we were left for very long periods of time before being asked if we wanted to order, if we wanted drinking or anything else. I felt that the staff were not overly friendly. We were rarely asked if we wanted anymore drinks and we were left with empty glasses at times. My grandad also received a full pint when he only asked for a half.

Most of us had a roast, myself and my mum were disappointed with the lack of chicken that we had, the chicken was on the bone and there was not much chicken on it at all. We were also given two very small strips of chicken to go alongside it. No one asked how our food was until we had finished and when I mentioned the chicken, but said it was nice apart from that, the man said ‘that was good’ and nothing more was offered or mentioned before he walked away. We all felt that our chicken roasts were not worth the money unfortunately and the Yorkshire puddings were overdone for everyone who had one. The rest of the food on the plate was really lovely.

Finally, I do not like being given the bill before asking for it and the bill was put on our table before we had asked for it, but we were told not to rush. Unfortunately, it does feel like you are being rushed to leave at this point.

Overall, I was disappointed with the lack of service and food quality/choice today. My family said that they would not return here. It was planned that they would come here for a brithday meal, but they will not be...

Edit to this review. The response from the pub was amazing. The manager called me, profusely apologised, took full responsibility and offered us another Sunday lunch to show that their service and food was not normally as bad as our experience. We returned last Sunday and had one of the best Sunday pub lunches. The pub was packed as it was jubilee Sunday but the staff were friendly, competent and professional. A completely different experience and atmosphere to our earlier visit. Without a doubt we will be returning and can highly recommend them for not only the food but their professionalism and service.

Original review: We visited the Kings Head in Wickham for Sunday Lunch. The roast potatoes were so bad so to be inedible. They were like a boiled potato that had been left under a heat lamp until they formed a skin. The carrot was so al dente it was pretty much raw. The pork was dry and tough and the crackling was slimy soggy strips of fat. (The menu specifically mentioned roast pork and crackling) and when we asked for actual crackly crackling we were told that they couldn’t bring more out as each customer only got what was attached to their slices. The beef was chewy but at least the dog ate that. For nearly £20 a plate it was the poorest offering we have yet had at a Fullers Pub. The previous week we had eaten Sunday lunch the Cromwell Arms near Romsey and it was absolutely outstanding. By far the best roast we’ve had so you can imagine our immense disappointment when another Fullers pub failed to deliver as dramatically as The Kings Head did. We sat at our table listening to the poor staff having to deal with complaint after complaint and the supervisor had an attitude so bad that he wouldn’t even come over to us when we asked to speak to the shift manager. Absolutely disgusting. Complete waste of a...

I'd just like to preface this by saying I was invited here by a good friend's wife for his surprise birthday meal, so I didn't want to complain at the time and ruin the mood, this sentiment was echoed by a few other people in our party that I spoke to afterwards. I did fill in the online survey upon finishing up and asked to be contacted by the pub regarding my feedback but I've had nothing so I'm letting my feelings be known here instead.

3 of us ordered the mushroom arancini as a starter, this consisted of three pieces, 1 of mine was just rice no mushroom at all, an unlucky member of our party had only one of the three that contained mushroom.

My main, one of the more expensive items on the menu the ribs, they were the most gristle ridden and inedible ribs I've ever encountered. They were served with coleslaw and 'barbecue beans' which were just baked beans, not a hint of any other flavour.

The person I was sat opposite had the fish and chips with curry sauce, the sauce was so bad we were all invited to try it out of morbid curiosity. Watery cumin is the best description I can offer.

The service in contrast was good, and the establishment itself clean and tidy. These factors bumped it up to a two star for me.

Most of our party of 10 agreed the food was way below par, all of us having eaten here a few times in the past with positive...