Oast & Squire, Catisfield, Fareham

A Beefeater in a grand Georgian house set in its own grounds on the main road through Fareham. The carpark is a good size but easy to miss, while the garden is smaller, consisting mainly of a paved terrace with tables and chairs, some sheltered. The ground floor has been turned into a single large bar/restaurant area, irregular in shape and subtly divided into compartments to give the illusion of privacy, while at one end a rotunda-style room with a raised floor and a very large modern open fireplace makes for a more open social area. As Beefeaters go, it’s quite pleasant. Sadly the food is the usual cheap fast food this chain pushes. The staff were helpful, there is free WiFi and a bunch of gaming machines provides entertainment for the socially challenged. There is a jukebox which was being modestly inoffensive when we visited. There was only one ale on, Ringwood Best, which was in very good condition. It’s not a bad place to drop in for a quiet pint when passing, but I don’t think I’d include in a crawl.