Cob & Pen, Fareham

A community focussed Village Inns pub which tries to be all things to all people. It is a large house sitting in its own chaotic grounds, with two car parks and a children’s play area in addition to the garden seating. There are various tables, benches and shady bowers, though the route to the back door still managed to be blocked by smokers, most of whom were young women with babies. Inside there is a large U-shaped bar, lengthened on one side by a recent extension named ‘Rogues’ Gallery’. The floors are mainly tiled or stone, differing throughout the building. The extension has a TV screen, gaming machine, dart board and large brick hearth with an open fire, while there is a second dartboard in the rear lobby. The main bar shows exposed brickwork and a few old timbers, while there is a mix of seating types throughout. There is free WiFi. They host regular live music and other entertainments, and food comes in the form of barbecues, buffets and the usual downmarket table fodder; the latter is not particularly good value for money. It is a family focussed pub, with various feeding mothers, young children and aged relatives trying to look like punk rockers. There were four ales on, I had a pint of St Austell’s Proper Job, which was a little too cold but otherwise fine. It’s OK to drop in if you’re in the area, but it’s not somewhere I’d swan around too often.