The Inn on the Furlong, Ringwood

Conveniently situated near to Ringwood's bus station and on the edge of the town centre, this is a pub with several distinct areas that has been modernised a little too much for my liking. We sat in an area to the left-hand side of the entrance. The bar is set further back off to the right-hand side, with a further cocktail/gin bar at the rear. Most of the clientele inside seemed to be there for the food. However, there were quite a few drinkers in an outdoor yard to the left-hand side of the pub. Regular beers are Ringwood Best Bitter & Forty Niner & Hopback Summer Lightning. A guest beer was Sandbanks Wayward Son, a rather strong and bitter American IPA.

Still Ringwood's most prevalent outlet, this fine Georgian house was originally The Queen's Head. The interior layout is effectively a single large bar with various nooks and crannies created by the original walls, which creates pleasant spaces for drinking, eating or watching sports on the TV. There is a private function room available for hire. Busy and vibrant, the pub serves the town centre and market place well, providing a welcome drinking hole for passers by and locals. It opens at 09:30 on market days, serving hot drinks and breakfast. The young staff were pleasant and professional, while the ambience was healthy. Four ales on draft, all predictably from Ringwood. I had Boondoggle, which was fresh and in excellent condition, but that was no surprise. Food looked good but we didn't sample it. I'd be happy to come back here any time.

The staff of Ringwoods who we chatted to during the Brewery tour have a contradictory view to Nick below and do not describe the purchase by the Marstons stable as treacherous, but view it as having been very good for business whilst retaining their autonomy over what they brew. But one thing they did agree on was the Inn on the Furlong as this was their recommended hostelry in town to continue to sup their product. A large creamy white building facing the car park and close to the bus station, it is a collection of interlinked rooms, including a family area and a conservatory, served by a slightly raised central bar area and then outside there are a couple of patio areas one with an outside bar. There are a couple of flat screens dotted about which were silently showing music videos but largely ignored by the lively Saturday night crowd we encountered. The full range of the four standard Ringwood ales on plus one other from the Marstons stable and all the ones we tried were in good nick. Certainly seemed to be one of the better establishments to enjoy a pint of 49’er in town

Official page of the Inn On The Furlong at the Ringwood site - www.ringwoodbrewery.co.uk