French Horn, Alton

A small two room traditional pub, one of the rooms being a restaurant , but the main drinking room was cosy and welcoming on a cold early winters day. Three beers were on, Hobgoblin Gold,St Austell Tribute and Timothy Taylors Landlord, the latter being the best I had tasted in a long time.

Ringwood Best, Butcombe Bitter, Pride, courage, Spitfire, Broadside. Large Inglenook at each end of long bar, handful of lunching customers in bar around 13:00 & seems geared toward food with large dining area set up in room to left of bar; on arrival I'd also passed an outbuilding which looked a likely venue for private functions (50-60pax). Mains £10-12, burgers/ribs £8/9, filled cobs £5.50(!), steaks from £15 (never understand the disproportionate stk mark-up), all this bizarrely countered by ‘Burts hand fried chips' at just 70p. Some of the diners sounded rather ‘hoorah' but, despite this, the bar is long enough to accommodate drinkers & the huge grassy beer garden with plenty of picnic sets must be a big pull in good weather, a smaller garden area at the front looks out over the green. The stunning french/danish barmaid deserves a mention.

A very traditional-looking pub (located opposite a large triangular green known as the Butts) which must once have been a true country inn but is now located at the suburban edge of Alton. Inside, the compact bar has fairly basic, semi-modern furniture but is very well maintained. Open fire. Side dining room. Annex across the access. Patio seating area by car park. Two grassed beer gardens, one with a small childrens play area. Six handpumps, offering Alton Pride, Doom Bar, Youngs Ordinary, Ringwood 49er, Bombardier and Arundel Sussex Gold (£3.50, in fine form and served in the right glass). Overall, well worth seeking out.

A very pleasant spot with a real country feel despite being on the edge of town. Sits back from the road in a kind of courtyard and in addition to the pub there is an outbuilding that looks suitable as a seperate venue for hire. The main bar has large inglenook fireplaces each end which would provide real warmth and atmosphere on a cold murky day. One of these has a series of horse brasses attached to the timber beam but also a collection of hats hanging from the brickwork above. The low black and white wonky ceiling enhances the feel of age as does the exposed brick bar back. Another area to the left beyond the bar was set up as a formal dining room but nobody was in there on my lunchtime visit. I assume the pub has a cricket team as there were a number of trophies displayed on a window cill. Traditional seating at light wood farmhouse style tables standard chairs and a couple of settles. A rack of newspapers hangs on the back of a settle near the door. External seating either in two grassy areas with bench tables or directly to the frontage at high tables and stools under cover. Decent beer range, six pumps; fff Alton's Pride, Kelham Island Pale Rider, Moorhouses Witches Brew, Doom Bar, Hogs Back TEA and Youngs Bitter. Highly recommended.