Old Thorns Golf & Country Estate
Griggs Green
Liphook
Hampshire
GU30 7PE
Tel: 01428 724555

Website:
www.oldthorns.com

Vegetarian: Yes

Parking: Own car park

Wheelchairs: Easy

Loos: Above average

Old Thorns is primarily thought of as a golf resort but it is now becoming so much more. As soon as we arrived we were impressed with the buildings, such striking architecture!

The 400 acre grounds and in particular the golf course (designed by the club’s president Peter Alliss) are immaculate.

On entering the reception area you are faced with such a variety of artefacts and photos to enjoy it takes a while to focus on the actual reception desk.  The friendly staff will point you in the right direction!

For lunch there is the choice of the Sports Bar (showing top sporting events in 3D) where they serve bar snacks, it was full of golfers, or The Kings Brasserie.

We opted for the latter and found that at lunch time a carvery is on offer (in the evenings there is the carvery and a brasserie menu). There are some starters available ranging in price from the salad bar at £5.50 to chilli prawns at £7.50 but we knew we would have more than enough from the plentiful carvery.  We both opted for the gammon plus some very succulent beef, plenty of vegetables, roast potatoes and of course Yorkshire puds all covered in delicious gravy!
We were so full but of course made room for dessert…

I opted for Carrot Cake with soft ice cream and JI had Lumpy Bumpy – a vanilla mousse with chocolate topping. We had a lovely table overlooking the golf course and as it was sunny we enjoyed our coffee on the terrace.

The buildings really are of the very highest quality; the Shaw family who bought the estate in 2007 have transformed what was apparently a fairly run down estate into something that looks like a film set! Apparently Martin Shaw is the one that is responsible for the quirky items that are displayed around the 86 bedroom hotel.  We particularly loved the thrones and the rocking horse!

Recent additions are Eco Pods for people who love “glamping”. The existing pool looked inviting but a new larger and more glamorous one is planned to go with the new spa which is under  construction.

Old Thorns is well worth a visit, it is much more than just a Mecca for golfers! Do look at their website for photos, details of their Christmas events and of their band tribute nights. Cost inc Wine Spritzers ££££

Ladies Who Lunch Scoring:

Quality of food 3/5
Variety of menu 3/5
Staff and service 3/5
Ambience, setting & decor 4/5
Value for Money 4/5

Total Yummy Factor

5/5 = Cannot be improved upon, 4/5 = Very good, 3/5 = Good,
2/5 = Satisfactory, 1/5 = Poor, 0/5 = Terrible

The higher the "Yummy" factor, the better the food & service. The higher the number of £ signs the more expensive. (Roughly one £ sign = £5 per head)