Pilgrim Inn - New Forest

Nice thatched inn on the edge of the New Forest. Decent enough menu and great service. Prices are fair too…

Excellent cup of coffee here around midday, on way to Buckler's Hard. Very quiet at this time but the pub was cosy with massive low beams festooned with fairy lights. We're not tall so OK but server was and he had to duck several times! The bar was constructed of brick in an attractive herringbone pattern. We were due to stop for dinner the next evening on the way home but had to cancel because the weather was so wet that we went home early. This was a pity, as the venue was charming, complete with thatched roof. There's a newer, thatched building facing the pub with hotel rooms available. Unfortunately, it's right next to a busy road, so could be noisy. But I'm sure other attractions make up for this.

I made a reservation for a table a week in advance for a music event tonight on the 29th. I specifically requested not to be seated in the restaurant, but rather near the music. Upon arrival, we were given a table in the restaurant farthest away from the music. After expressing our disappointment, we were informed that they do not reserve tables in the bar. If we had known this, we would not have traveled so far for the music. "Disappointed" doesn't even begin to describe how we felt - we were furious!

The pub has a stunning appearance both inside and out, with professional and attentive front of house staff. However, the quality of the food and kitchen operations left much to be desired. The pub was relatively quiet for a Saturday night, with my table of four experiencing disappointing dishes. The prawn cocktail consisted of a meager amount of prawns with minimal sauce, served with frozen bread that was difficult to spread. Another dish, the mushrooms, consisted of two small mushrooms that were served cold for a high price of £7. The main course, confit duck, was dry and overcooked, lacking in flavor and creativity. The accompanying cabbage and croquette were underwhelming, with the croquette being flat instead of the traditional cylindrical shape. Overall, it was a disappointing experience for someone with 15 years of experience as a chef. It seems that either the kitchen staff are not putting in the necessary effort or the management is unaware of what constitutes good food. As someone who only has one free night a week, I was highly disappointed with this dining experience.

My partner and I enjoyed a Valentine's Day meal at The Pilgrim. We were curious to see the changes after the pub had been closed for a refurbishment, and we were happy with the results. The restaurant had added more seating, updated the restrooms, and made improvements to the kitchen. We received warm and attentive service, our food was delivered promptly, and everything was good overall. The only downside was that the pork belly was overcooked on the outside, making the crackling tough and leaving a lot of fat in the layers. However, the evening was still a success and my wife even received a complimentary red rose, making me very happy. I'm sure The Pilgrim will be very popular again in the summer, and we definitely plan to return.