The Shoe Inn

I recently attended an Anglo-Dutch celebration here for the Dutch Queens birthday, there were 27 of us and we all spent an enjoyable night with great food, live music and a wonderful atmosphere. Owners Jeni and Aart are very friendly hosts who run their pub with an individual and homely style. Jeni has been in the catering business for some 30 years and is a fine chef who knows how to please her customers.

The original thatched inn dates back to 1420; in 1640 it was extended into the style that it is today and became a coaching inn. There have since been more recent upgrades but it still remains a quaint English style Inn with plenty of ambience. The Shoe Inn has accommodation (5 en-suite bedrooms), an outside seating area, caters for private functions and has live music on Friday & Sunday evenings. Being a "free house" they have a good selection of draught beers and lagers plus an extensive wine list. Being on the edge of the New Forest it is a good venue for a stopover or a weekend break with many small villages in the area to visit.

On arrival we relaxed in the cosy arm chairs with our drinks whilst we selected from the Bar Menu. They also have daily one course for £5 menu - with three choices. There is a evening specials menu, approx £14-15 per main course.

Our starters were: Shoe Inn prawn cocktail salad with coleslaw, Fillet of trout, panfried in dill butter served on a bed of mixed salad, Chilli pot of mixed vegetables with crème fraiche and nachos, Jeni's homemade chicken liver and smoked bacon mousse with red onion marmalade. Served with a basket of warmed granary rolls.

Our Mains were: Trio of assorted local sausages served on mustard mashed potatoes, peas and onion gravy, 8oz fillet of Beef, char grilled served with fresh vegetables and their famous homemade fries, char grilled breast of chicken served with fries and mixed salad, Mexican chilli beef wrap with grated cheddar served with homemade fries.

Desserts: Banoffee biscuit pie and warmed chocolate fudge brownie with vanilla ice-cream, very yummy.

We were all fully satisfied, well fed, ready for a nap and this was lunchtime!

The Shoe Inn quotes "We are not a fast food restaurant, but we cook good food as fast as we can" ..... I agree.

Quality of food 3/5

Variety of menu 4/5

Staff & Service 4/5

Ambience, setting and decor 4/5

Value for money 3/5

Total Yummy Factor 18/25

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