Longstock Restaurant Guide

“Excellent and rather smart pub” on the River Test – a Mecca for fly fishing, where the Greyhound has its own ‘beat’ – with “an emphasis on fish, much of it (not surprisingly) from local rivers, on its really enjoyable menu”. Owner Lucy Townsend started her career as a pastry chef working for Marco Pierre White, Le Gavroche and Quo Vadis before setting up her own business.

“Outstandingly delicious French food” is “served by a talented duo in a comfortably quiet dining room” at this long-established outfit. Chef Maranda Jones and her maître d’ husband Garth worked under Gascon founder Germain Marquis at its original location in the old Leckford Hutt pub, before taking over the business and moving it into Stockbridge High Street.

“An urbane London-style restaurant out in the country” – “this is a pretty village and the hotel has been refurbished in recent times”; and fans say it is an “especially delightful place to eat outside in the good weather”. “Prices are fairly commensurate with London” and not everyone feels that it stacks up value-wise – “what is reliable food with willing and helpful service” to some is – to others – “pretty average”.

“Calling this a gastropub is doing it a disservice” say fans of this Victorian village pub, which was refurbed extensively in 2018. “Never once disappointed – it’s a little out of the way, but well worth the trip”. The menu is a roll call of upmarket gastropub dishes: alongside burger and fish ’n’ chips there’s Chicken Supreme, Creedy Carver Duck Breast and Hampshire 36 Day Aged Chateaubriand for two.