The Foresters Arms, Fordingbridge

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A New Forest country pub which disappoints on many levels. It’s mostly a village local, not so much due to its location as to its lack of tolerance of strangers, high prices and poor beer quality. There is a gravel car park at the side from which you enter the pub through an outside seating area at the front, and a token attempt at a garden. As with many New Forest pubs, horses are present and take priority over access, and you have to make a conscious effort to avoid stepping in their manure. Inside, there is a main bar which has eclectic rural and other bric-a-brac, plus agreeable soft jazz on the sound system. It’s comfortable in that respect, but not in others. On approaching the bar we had to stand between two unwelcoming characters, one of whom turned out to be the landlord. The staff, university students on their Summer holiday, were indifferent to our presence, until they eventually decided to serve us. Five handpumps on the bar, four of them clipped with Wadworth beers (Swordfish, 6X, Henry’s and Horizon), the fifth Old Rosie. We asked for each of the ales in turn as we were told they were not available, but eventually the incompetent barman managed to produce some 6X which didn’t taste like 6X. Prices were extraordinarily high for the area, which, when we made the observation thereof, was denied. Food was also very expensive, pretentious special and very ordinary pizzas. Even as we left, the landlord’s mate was trying to stare us out. Don’t bother as there are several other, much more agreeable, pubs nearby.

On 8^th August 2025 - rating: 5
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