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Detail Pages
French Horn, Alton
Alton
GU34 1RT
Pub Type
Punch TavernsReviews (Current Rating Average: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about French Horn
A small two room traditional pub, one of the rooms being a restaurant , but the main drinking room was cosy and welcoming on a cold early winters day. Three beers were on, Hobgoblin Gold,St Austell Tribute and Timothy Taylors Landlord, the latter being the best I had tasted in a long time.
On 30th December 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about French Horn
An overdue revisit, we sat in the main bar area which was cosy with red carpet, board games and roaring fire. The larger room to the left through a small entrance was set entirely for formal dining. Board games. Noted that the landlady had mad turquoise-colour fake eyelashes. Five ales on; Tribute, Bays rugby beer, TT Landlord, Otter Bitter and Triple fff Altons Pride. In this day and age that’s not a particularly inspiring line-up over five pumps, all fairly samey. And sadly my Altons Pride was taking on sherry notes – I really should have taken it back, in retrospect. I can see why this has dropped out of the Good Beer Guide, a disappointment. Just scrapes a 7 on the hope it was a severely off day.
September 2009
A pub that feels that it’s in the country despite being on the edge of the none-too-glamorous Alton. Overlooking the Butts, a green which was used for medieval archery practice and not too far from Jane Austen’s house, it was built in the 1600’s and retains an air of historical interest within (large coal-fired inglenook fireplaces for example) despite having been modernised down the years. The pub is divided in two with a bar at the entrance and a restaurant area off to the left (the food looked a little expensive from what I saw of the menu). A slate of six ales were available; the choices perhaps a little safe for the hardened ale-hunter in these parts though Triple FFF’s Alton’s Pride was available so that was my default. A good drop it was too so I went back for an equally nice Ringwood. A lot of care has been taken over the grounds and the grassy garden area at the front was a beautiful place to sit and soak up the last few rays of the autumnal sun with views over the aforementioned archery butts. Not far from the Watercress line either so if you’re lucky you’ll hear the chuffing and tooting of a passing steam train. I really enjoyed this one and it should be sampled in high summer as part of any seasoned drinker’s repertoire. Rated 9
On 23rd February 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5089 recommendations about 5072 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The French Horn
A very traditional-looking pub (located opposite a large triangular green known as the Butts) which must once have been a true country inn but is now located at the suburban edge of Alton. Inside, the compact bar has fairly basic, semi-modern furniture but is very well maintained. Open fire. Side dining room. Annex across the access. Patio seating area by car park. Two grassed beer gardens, one with a small childrens play area. Six handpumps, offering Alton Pride, Doom Bar, Youngs Ordinary, Ringwood 49er, Bombardier and Arundel Sussex Gold (£3.50, in fine form and served in the right glass). Overall, well worth seeking out.
On 15th May 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The French Horn
A very pleasant spot with a real country feel despite being on the edge of town. Sits back from the road in a kind of courtyard and in addition to the pub there is an outbuilding that looks suitable as a seperate venue for hire. The main bar has large inglenook fireplaces each end which would provide real warmth and atmosphere on a cold murky day. One of these has a series of horse brasses attached to the timber beam but also a collection of hats hanging from the brickwork above. The low black and white wonky ceiling enhances the feel of age as does the exposed brick bar back. Another area to the left beyond the bar was set up as a formal dining room but nobody was in there on my lunchtime visit.
I assume the pub has a cricket team as there were a number of trophies displayed on a window cill.
Traditional seating at light wood farmhouse style tables standard chairs and a couple of settles. A rack of newspapers hangs on the back of a settle near the door. External seating either in two grassy areas with bench tables or directly to the frontage at high tables and stools under cover.
Decent beer range, six pumps; fff Alton's Pride, Kelham Island Pale Rider, Moorhouses Witches Brew, Doom Bar, Hogs Back TEA and Youngs Bitter. Highly recommended.
On 28th September 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The French Horn
This is a great pub run by a landlord who is very committed to real ale and and is very friendly and welcoming.Has up to 6 real ales on and unfortunatly it was only 10am and the pub does not open until 12 noon so I was not able to sample any.Perhaps next time.Well worth a visit.
On 6th August 2009
- rating: 10
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
train man left this review about French Horn
Ringwood Best, Butcombe Bitter, Pride, courage, Spitfire, Broadside. Large Inglenook at each end of long bar, handful of lunching customers in bar around 13:00 & seems geared toward food with large dining area set up in room to left of bar; on arrival I'd also passed an outbuilding which looked a likely venue for private functions (50-60pax). Mains £10-12, burgers/ribs £8/9, filled cobs £5.50(!), steaks from £15 (never understand the disproportionate stk mark-up), all this bizarrely countered by ‘Burts hand fried chips' at just 70p. Some of the diners sounded rather ‘hoorah' but, despite this, the bar is long enough to accommodate drinkers & the huge grassy beer garden with plenty of picnic sets must be a big pull in good weather, a smaller garden area at the front looks out over the green. The stunning french/danish barmaid deserves a mention.
On 6th July 2008
- rating: 7
[User has posted 412 recommendations about 411 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Carl Saunders left this review about The French Horn
Built in 1640, the French Horn is a delightful, historic pub & restaurant serving good food, beer, ales & wines. Just a short walk from Chawton & Jane Austen's House, overlooking the medieval archery butts and within sight and sound of the stream trains on the nearby Watercress line.
On 22nd November 2007
- rating: 10
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]