This is a delightful looking pub situated very close to the M3 (junction 7) in Basingstoke.
The pub was built next to the Hatch Warren estate. The first time it was built, shortly afterwards it caught fire and burnt down. I think it was caused by an electrical fault. The pub was then rebuilt and opened for a second time around July 1997.
As you travel along Cliddesden Lane, you come across The Portsmouth Arms, which has a nice, fairly large, green grass frontage surrounded by a simple wooden fence.
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
There is ample parking in their spacious gravel laid car park which is surrounded by small shrubs and trees. The pub's gardens are also very well kept with shrubs and trees.
The pub itself is across from the car park and has a welcoming appearance. Upstairs in the pub are two flats for the staff. The image is of a cottage similar to the 'Snow white And The Seven Drawfs' one in Argos. The roof is thatched and new looking, the outside is painted cream, there are plenty of well kept hanging baskets and the windows are large and dark wood.
There are two main doors at the front of the pub which you get to down brick paved paths. The paths and entrance allow easy access for prams and wheelchairs.
The garden has two patio areas, one at the front and one at the side of the pub. These have very large canvas umbrellas which shelter you from the sun and rain. There are plenty of wooden picnic tables which are in good condition. You can also eat out here.
WHAT'S INSIDE LIKE?
Inside the pub the floor is laid with large grey slabs which give an earthy feel
to the place. The tables and chairs are of dark oak. Straight ahead is the bar which has food ordering to the left hand side with a selection of food on blackboards above your head and to the side. There are also menus for you to look at and menus on the tables. You can eat at these tables.
There are many tables in the bar area and there is only one section on the right hand side which allows smoking. This does not seem to cause a problem, but can be quite smoky on a Saturday night. You also have to go through the smoking part to get to one set of toilets.
To the left hand side of the bar is the restaurant eating with plenty of tables. There is room for buggies and wheelchairs, but sometimes when busy this space can be tight. You may ring and reserve a table, but the people dining has to be above 6, so I'm told. Highchairs are also available. There is no smoking in the restaurant.
There's also another set of toilets in this part with two doors to the outside patio seating area.
WHAT'S AT THE BAR?
There is a wide selection of optic spirits and beverages available at the bar, including fridges of bottled beers, fruit juices, and vodka drinks. Bottles of wine are on show. and there's a large range of draught beers and largers. You can also buy a variety of peanuts and crisps.
The bar area is clean and well kept, as is the rest of the pub.
By the food counter you can pick up your knives and forks which are wrapped in red serviettes. You used to be able to get a variety of sauces, but now they have hidden them and you have to ask. Why I don't know, hopefully this will change.
TOILETS
The ladies toilets are clean and well kept with a nice fragrance. Tiles are burgandy bottom and cream ones on top. I'm unsure about the mens as I have not been in there. There are also two sets of disabled toilets and baby change facilities. For some unknown reason they have a separate radio station in the toilets which plays radio 2 or something like that. In the bar the music is more of a pop theme, but not loud. In fact you can hardly hear it during the day.
THE MENU
During the day on the blackboards there is a range of baguettes, sandwiches, puddings and main courses different to the menu. Baguettes come cut in half with a choice of fillings such as tuna and mayo, chicken, ham and cheese, etc. They come with curly fries and salad. Sandwiches come with crisps and salad. There is also a wide variety of jacket potato fillings including bacon, cheese etc. These lunches are priced at around £4.95 each. There is also a specials board with many more appertising dishes.
The jacket potatoes come cut into slices with the topping tipped over the top. This looks well prepared with the accompanying salad and tastes delicious. (Especially the topping with cheese, bacon and mushrooms!)
On the menu itself, there is a starters range with soup, potato wedges, spicy chicken wings, mushroom bruschetta (which is chestnut mushrooms sauteed with garlic and spring onions in a rich cheddar sauce with toasted herb and tomato bread), prawn salad, roast vegetable and goats cheese tart, cornish crab and salmon fishcakes, pate.
The fishcakes are devine and come with yoghurt and herb dip and salad. I have tried many of the other starters and they are just as delicious.
Prices for the starters range from £2.99 for soup to £4.25 for fishcakes.
Main courses, should you prefer the chef's special potato or an alternative choice of potatoes, veggies or salad say when you order. Main courses - they include Gourmet burger (a posh burger with tomato and herb bun), honey roast ham and egg, fish and chips, lemon scented mackerel, vegetarian spinach, mushroom and brie tart, lasagne, chilli chicken tortilla, chicken and ham carbonara, shank of lamb, steak and tanglefoot pie, warm chicken and bacon salad, vegetarian spinach and pasta salad, chicken jalfrezi, sausage and mash, scampi, gammon, sussex smokey - blend of white and smoked fish with spinach and tomatoes in creamy cheese sauce and cheese crumble, tomato and mozzarella chicken, bbq ribs, roast salmon, veggie mediterranean pot and steak.
Side orders include chips, salad, garlic bread, onion rings, curly fries, garlic bread with cheese.
They also do starters and main courses suitable for people or children with smaller appetites.
These main meals start at around £4.95 to around £11.95 for a big 340g rump steak.
CHILDREN
May choose smaller appetite meals or starters. Also have chicken nuggets, breaded fish shapes or sausages. Served with chips and peas or beans. These meals are £3.75 each.
Puddings start at around £2.29 for 2 scoops of ice cream and go up to around £3.95.
Hot drinks range from tea at £1.25 ro liqueue coffee at £3.30. You can also purchase fresh ground coffee, cappuccino, cafe latte, espresso and hot choccy.
PLEASE NOTE: SOME OF THE DISHES MAY CONTAIN NUT TRACES, ASK FOR DETAILS. ALL DISHES ARE FREE FROM GM PRODUCTS.
There is a large selection of wines including white, red, rose, champagne and sparkling wines. These are priced by bottle, 250ml or 175ml. Prices range from £2.70 for a 175ml glass. Joseph perrier cuvee royale is priced at £24.95. (Not to be drunk too often).
A friend has asked me to mention that they no longer do 'cash back' in this pub.
MY OPINION
Service is usually very quick with freshly cooked food hot to the table. The food is nicely prepared and laid out well on the plate with a large salad garnish which includes peppers, tomato, cucumber, celery and salad leaves. It has that home cooked feel with dishes on the menu which are a little different to other pubs around the area.
I love the look of the cottage and the feel of the pub is traditional, clean and friendly and well kept.
I frequent this establishment fairly often and enjoy the food and service. I would thouroughly recommend this for a get together with friends or with the family as the garden also has a wooden climbing frame with bark flooring.
Even though I think the childrens menu is fairly limited.
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