Latest Newsletter

What a busy month! We have FOUR brand new reviews for you and two major updates.

At the beginning of April there was lunch at the sophisticated Waterfront Brasserie at Gunwharf Quays. Sadly the day we were there it was pouring but we intend to revisit on a sunny day, its the perfect venue for al fresco dining, its on the upper level and has wonderful views. Regulars will know we don't need much excuse to visit Gunwharf, the shopping is fab, but now we have yet another reason to go!

Then sadly SM had two bad eating experiences, first The Bold Forrester and then The Three Horseshoes . It made us remember why we started the site in the first place, amazingly it was almost 7 years ago now! (I wonder how many calories we have consumed on your behalf?) If anyone has enjoyed either of these pubs then please, in the interests of fairness, put words of support in the Guest Book.

Her faith was restored when we ate at The Plough. Very yummy food, great service and a choice of lunch menus guaranteed to satisfy every taste. The exterior, picturesque olde worlde pub, the interior modern wow! It was busy even on a Monday so always a good sign, we highly recommend. Good news for Privilege Card holders, The Plough has signed up to our discount scheme, check out their offer in the Discount Directory . Whilst there find out how to buy yourself a card and note all the other discounts on offer.

We chose Westover Hall when trying to impress a visitor to Hampshire, what a find! He was very impressed and so were we. The food and service were excellent, the surroundings stunning, its such a beautiful old house, well worth a visit. May 1st, delighted to add MORE good news for Privilege Card holders, Westover Hall have just joined our discount scheme so do visit the Discount Directory to read their generous offer!

Finally JI enjoyed her revisit to Beresfords at the Balmer Lawn, pleased to say that it is still of a very high standard. Another beautiful setting!

Its not in Hampshire but whilst talking of beautiful surroundings we can thoroughly recommend Lake Vyrnwy Hotel ,its on the fringe of Snowdonia, for a relaxing break and have agreed a super 'ladies who lunch' deal with the spa and general manager for all of you, not just Privilege Card holders, which includes:

Weekday bed, breakfast and 5 course dinner, sharing a room
two spa treatments and use of spa during your stay, overlooking the lake and mountains
half bottle of champagne

The current offer price for the above is £125 per person, if you wish to stay longer you can add another spa day at the same price or just pay for accommodation. Contact details on their web site, enjoy your stay!

Peter of The Bronze Gallery in Hartley Wintney got in touch to invite us to view the exhibits if we were passing. He described his gallery thus.... "it is unusual in that it has a large and diverse selection of bronze sculpture more usually found in a London gallery. The bronzes are all the work of some of the UK's leading sculptors and are all cast by Monumental Art at their foundries in Basingstoke and Lasham. Current projects at Monumental include a life size horse for the Saudi Royal family and an eight foot high Marlin. At the moment the gallery is filled with African wildlife paintings and sculpture and we're busy preparing for our next show which is a charity event in aid of 'Help For Heroes' but we've always got time to make new friends and to arrange for tour visits to the foundries for anyone who has an interest. www.thebronzegallery.co.uk " Thought you may all be interested in a little culture, food for the eyes for a change!

Yet another recommendation for you if you are off to Gatwick! The Cowdray Pub & Dining in Balcombe, West Sussex, has relaunched after an extensive refurbishment. Husband and wife team Andy and Alex Owen are the proud new owners of this prettily-situated pub within easy reach of Balcombe, Haywards Heath, Crawley and Gatwick.

Looks like Southampton's Dalmeny Leisure is further increasing its restaurant group; they have acquired the former Langley's in Bedford Place and plan to re open it as another Puccini's. We enjoyed the original one in Shirley though haven't revisited since its been under the Dalmeny umbrella but as it always looks busy it must be good. They are also planning a new Banana Wharf, another favourite of ours, at Port Hamble. Casa Bodega, their Romsey restaurant, has just reopened as a "gastro pub" called the Cromwell Arms, we hope to review soon !

The Smugglers pub in Milford-on-Sea is having a complete re-fit after the last management allegedly did a midnight flit! Should be re-open by May Bank Holiday.

And absolutely finally we have just heard the Glasshouse Restaurant in Lyndhurst has now been awarded 2 AA rosettes!

Enjoy May, enjoy the Bank holidays and hopefully some sun too!

PS Last September we went to a Dine with Davina Charity Lunch at the De Vere Hotel. What a great atmosphere, we had 2 tables and have asked to reserve them again for this year, its in October, as we all enjoyed ourselves so much! I have heard from the organisers that plans are underway for next year, read all about them here and if you think you would like to join us then do let me know; even though its so far ahead I think that as last years was such a success places will go very quickly! A lot of money was raised last year but I know they are looking for sponsorship for the next event so if you think you could help then do get in touch.