The Shoe Inn — Restaurant in Winchester

Lovely food ... a bit different from everyday pub grub, which makes it stand out from the crowd. A very pleasing place to be, characterful decor, beautiful location, efficient staff, although smiles and eye contact would've been nice when we were being served. Definitely worth a visit.

Edit: Further to writing this review, I have to say, the staff now working here are excellent, and everything is now spot on. It is one of our favourite places to eat.

Edit July 2024: We love eating here but had never booked Sunday roast, so this was the first time. I booked a table online in the enclosed terrace (for a legitimate reason), paid the £20 deposit, and my table was confirmed. On arrival, I was really miffed because we were seated inside the pub because the lady whose table we were being given, saw a high chair placed at the adjacent table and told the staff she didn't want to be seated beside a young child, so she was given our confirmed table. How disgusting is that? The girl in charge, however, was very professional in her handling of the situation, so top marks to her. As a good will gesture, our desserts were taken off the bill, which, although appreciated, we would rather have sat where we were booked and paid for our full meal. We just felt that some random woman was treated favourably, and we were treated unfairly. It really put us off coming back here, and I'm really disgusted about it. The Sunday roast was poor in comparison to the weekday food, and we've definitely had better elsewhere. My beef was tough, and considering I buy my beef from Buckingham's and it's melt in the mouth when I do a roast at home, I can only blame the kitchen, because Buckingham's meat is exceptional quality. The roast potatoes weren't crispy, my Yorkshire pudding was overdone, and my cauliflower cheese was topped with black burnt bits. We won't be back for a roast, and until I stop reeling about the staff giving away our table for such a petty reason, I'll be avoiding a pub that I really did enjoy going to. Poor...

We came to the shoe due to really good reviews of yourselves for your Sunday roast. The actual roast dinner food was so nice and nicely cooked however, the gravy was SO salty like drinking a cup of sea water which spoilt the food. It wasn't just us either as I overheard the table next to us saying how salty it was.

The staff who served us at our table were very polite and very nice! However, when I went to pay at the bar on Sunday the member of staff was just a bit 'off' is the best way I can describe it. The person wasn't rude but wasn't that polite either. I asked about your bread and if you sell it and got a one word 'yes' then asked about purchasing some and they said you cant sell anymore today (which was absolutely fine) but why not just say 'Yes we sell our bread and unfortunately we are now sold out today' it just made me feel a bit awkward and uncomfortable about the interaction like I was bothering the person by asking.

I then got the bill and after the most salty roast dinner and a mixed interaction with the staff for it to be £80 I was shocked as that is expensive for 2.5 pints, 2 soft drinks, 2 roasts and 2 puds. I know it is exspensive to eat out these days and food prices have risen but just thought £80 was a lot.

I just feel your reputation is great and you get a lot of recommendations to come to the shoe but then its a disappointment when I got there. I wouldn't recommend you unfortunately and I used to come to the shoe years ago and it was so great! I potentially caught it on an 'off day' but I am not sure as I don't come out for dinner that often. I didn't say anything on the day as I had planned to when I paid but they had made me feel uncomfortable to decided against saying anything in person.

Presentation was great, the pub is beautiful and has a lovely garden with a stream and your waitresses who served us at the table were 10/10 so lovely, it was just the one member of staff I had an awkward...

What a great pub! I discovered the Shoe Inn a few weeks ago while walking the dog and stopped off there for a quick pint. The staff were very friendly and welcoming and pub itself is clean and laid out well. What really caught my attention was the the smell of the food being served..... I had to book a table for Sunday lunch immediately! When we went back for Sunday lunch we had the same great, friendly service and a really lovely meal. Two roast dinners, One battered Haddock and chips and Zero complaints from us. Everything was tasty and cooked well, dishes made fresh on the premises and I could sense the pride the manager took in the menu. They were able to cater for my friend who is a nightmare for restaurants due to her various allergies but she had a great time and loved her meal as did we all. Desserts were yummy, a good selection of homemade ice creams amongst other delights. It is a dog friendly pub too and I had no problem bringing my (rather large) dog with me to lunch as well. There is outside seating and a small garden area for when the weather is better.

I will be back again (soon) and have no hesitations in recommending it to...