IF you want to get away from the busy flow of life then this Hampshire waterside pub is guaranteed to help you chill out.
Fisher’s Pond, which is not far from Eastleigh, is in a picture postcard setting overlooking a lake teeming with wildlife.
It is so tucked away in the country that manager Sue Odam says: “The staff say we are the best kept secret because some people do not have a clue where we are!”
But Sue says that they want to shout the pub’s unique appeal from the rooftops.
That is why they recently held a tasting session to introduce potential customers to a new menu. More that 100 people attended and the feedback was good.
Sue, aged 33, said: “It is a stunning pub with stunning views. I have been manager here for just over a year and it is perfect. I just love it to bits. We have about 25 staff here and we are just like a little family!”
Whether it is summer or winter there is always a warm welcome at the Fisher’s Pond. On sunny days you can sit on the verandah and watch the ducks and swans float by.
There are roaring log fires to cure those winter blues.
The name of the pub is taken from the pond which provides such a tranquil location.
Originally planned as part of a garden city, the area was declared a green belt in 1937 which put a halt to further development.
Before it was converted into a pub it was a tea room called Fisher’s Café and there were genteel tea dances on the verandah.
On the day that the Daily Echo visited the pub was packed with diners sampling a mouth-watering menu which ranged from shepherd’s pie to spicy beef meatballs. I had a Scotch Broth which was more than a meal in itself.
There is a special lunchtime meal offer of £5.95 for one course and £7.95 for two courses.
And the Christmas Day menu, offering a veritable festive feast for £42.95, has already rolled off the presses.
The pub is open from 11am and food is served from Monday to Saturday from 11.30am to 10pm and Sundays, which includes succulent roasts, from 11.30am to 9.30pm. There is no need to book.
Although it is food orientated the pub, which is part of the Vintage Inns chain, is also the perfect watering hole for the lovers of good wines and ales.
It has a certificate from the prestigious Cask Marque Trust in recognition of its excellence in serving real ales.
On tap is Adnams Broadside, the multi-award winning Timothy Taylor’s Landlord ale and a very fine tipple from the Ringwood Brewery.
