Tichborne Arms, Tichborne (From Daily Echo)

Tichborne Arms, Tichborne

12:31pm Thursday 21st January 2010 in Restaurant Reviews By Ash Bolton, Senior Winchester Reporter

IF ever you wanted an example of a typical English country pub, this would be it.

The thatched watering hole appears like a welcome beacon to lonely travellers after a seemingly endless drive down a narrow country lane on the way to Alresford.

One of the first things we noticed after popping into the pub for a meal one Friday night is the cosy, friendly atmosphere.

A roaring log fire kept the temperature nice and snug while the landlord’s dogs, Honey and Archie, slept in front of it.

Landlords Patrick and Nicky Roper display the menu on a large blackboard by the bar. It’s changed every week and features dozens of homemade, locally sourced and rustic-style food by the chef Stu Colborne.

Absolutely famished, we ordered and sat down at a cosy, candle-lit table in a snug corner of the dining area. It felt like we were sitting in someone’s living room rather than a pub with a relaxed ambience and laid back, friendly staff.

For starters I chose the baked brie and cranberry sauce and my partner opted for the chicken liver, watercress pate and red onion marmalade.

I had a large wedge of soft, melted cheese, accompanied by French stick. It was lovely, but I preferred the pate, which was delicious. For the main course the landlord recommended I try the 8oz rib eye steak, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms and potatoes. The steak was cooked to perfection and very succulent. My partner thoroughly enjoyed the pork medallions with a pear and cider sauce, which again was lavished with vegetables and potatoes.

The portion sizes were generous and didn’t leave too much room for desserts. But we found room somehow, and ordered a banoffee pie and spiced rumble (apple crumble).

The banoffee was very rich, sweet, and absolutely delicious. I could really taste the spiced apple in the crumble which rather than a traditional topping, was covered with a sprinkling of porridge oats to give it a more rustic taste.

Our food, minus the drinks, came to around £50, which for three scrumptious courses I didn’t consider it to be too expensive.

A lovely, family and dog-friendly country pub, a little bit off the beaten track but the food is well worth a visit.

Tichborne Arms,
Tichborne,
Alresford
SO24 0NA
01962 733760