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Beer of the Week (w/e 14th September 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by E TA
Submitted on Saturday, 19th July 2025
With picture contributions to 781 other pubs
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Detail Pages
The Fighting Cocks, Fordingbridge
Godshill
Postal town: Fordingbridge
SP6 2LL
Served areas
Reviews of The Fighting Cocks (Average Rating: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
E TA left this review about The Fighting Cocks
A large roadside pub on one of the main roads through the New Forest, a former royal hunting lodge surrounded by countryside. Gangs of ponies and donkeys surround the actual pub, meaning the walk across the sizeable unmade car park brings the danger of treading in fresh manure. The pubs garden has, of necessity, horse-proof locks on its gates to prevent the garden, with its children’s play area, suffering the same dumping. In addition to the play apparatus, the garden at the front contains table and benches from which to enjoy the New Forest’s atmosphere when traffic and the weather allow. Inside, there are three main areas, with the bar in the centre. The other two areas are primarily dining areas, the smaller one of which looks like a traditional children’s room. These areas are mainly open plan, having been knocked through, though the original chimney breasts are still present and have working fireplaces in them. The staff were functional rather than welcoming, but I can understand that as they did have a lot of tiresome tourists in. There were a couple of locals in, but there wasn’t a great pub feeling to it. On draft were Exmoor Ale in excellent condition, plus Otter Oak IPA, which we didn’t have time to try. Also available were Rosa Blanca lager, Meantime IPA, Grolsch, Asahi, Peroni, Guinness, two from Cornish Orchards and Aspall’s cider. Prices were higher than justified by the location, exploiting the tourist trade. Despite the prices and tourists I’d be happy to come back as it’s a nice place to visit and the beer we had was most enjoyable.
On 7th August 2025
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3614 recommendations about 3577 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
glenda philpott left this review about The Fighting Cocks
Love this pub, my mum & I found it a few years ago when an elderly aunt was in Fordingbridge hospital, we stopped here with another friend many times after our hospital visits.
There was always a warm welcome, a brilliant menu with wonderful food, even for me, a self confessed fussy eater who is not only vegetarian, I also have lots of allergies. The staff are great and the manager or maybe the owner, I'm not sure is fantastic, if there is nothing I can eat on the menu, they are more than happy to whip me up an omelette, without moaning about my fussy ways.
I am always accompanied by meat eaters, and we all have different meals, & the standard of food is always first class.
I have raved about this pub so much to friends and family that we even drove from my home in Eastleigh via Bitterne to pick up motherinlaw, then drive out to the Fighting Cocks for motherinlaw's 80th birthday, she loved it as did my partner & said they would definitely like to go again, despite not being local.
I'm also a wheelchair user in a large electric wheelchair, each time I have been, it has been is easy to park, easy to get the wheelchair in the building & once in fairly easy to move around, but the staff are more than happy to move chairs, tables etc if need be. If you are a wheelchair user it might be worth phoning ahead to book if you go during a busy time & also to find out if toilets are accessible, as I have not used them.
It is a family friendly & dog friendly pub.
I thoroughly recommend the pub, its staff and the excellent food, the only thing I would say for an all veggie party you might not find it the best place, the veggie options are pretty basic, sausages, burgers, I think some other maybe spicy dishes etc I think (memory not great).
There are a lot of home made options for mains & desserts which is great, lots of real ales I believe, lots to look at in the pub & through the windows.
I will definitely be back with family and friends in the future.
On 16th March 2012
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
LMKI LMKI left this review about The Fighting Cocks
Went here yesterday, the pub is in a lovely location but the food is disappointing. I ordered the "home cooked" turkey baguette, there was not much turkey and it was not home cooked!! My dad had the steak burger which was tough and over cooked, yet the chips were under cooked. I Would not go back.
On 28th August 2010
- rating: 3
[User has posted 11 recommendations about 11 pubs]
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Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 30 June 2022 by paulof horsham
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 18 July 2025 by E TA
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 18 July 2025 by E TA
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 30 June 2022 by paulof horsham
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 18 July 2025 by E TA
- Car Park : Yes last updated 16 March 2012 by hondo .
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 16 March 2012 by hondo .
- Darts : No last updated 18 July 2025 by E TA
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 16 March 2012 by hondo .
- Function Room : No last updated 18 July 2025 by E TA
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 16 March 2012 by hondo .
- Jukebox : No last updated 18 July 2025 by E TA
- Karaoke : No last updated 18 July 2025 by E TA
- Live Music : No last updated 18 July 2025 by E TA
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 18 July 2025 by E TA
- Micropub : No last updated 30 June 2022 by paulof horsham
- Pinball : No last updated 18 July 2025 by E TA
- Pool Table : No last updated 18 July 2025 by E TA
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 16 March 2012 by hondo .
- Real Cider : Yes last updated 18 July 2025 by E TA
- Wheelchair Access : Yes - "If you are a wheelchair user it might be worth phoning ahead to book if you go during a busy time & also to find out if toilets are accessible, as I have not used them" - last updated 16 March 2012 by hondo .
- WiFi : Yes last updated 18 July 2025 by E TA
