The Bakers Arms Droxford

Having read all the rave reviews of this pub we went there for lunch today. We were presented with a menu consisting of one side of paper with about 6 starters, 6 mains, and some puds. Three of the mains were pork-based, one steak, one fish and one vegetarian option. The website says "see specials on blackboard" or words to that effect - the blackboard was empty. My wife chose the fish pie, the only available fish option. The pie was good, the accompanying vegetables were badly cooked and largely inedible. I chose the belly pork - the meat was well cooked but the crowning glory of belly pork for me is the crackling. This was presented as a thin sheet of rock-hard skin, somewhat akin to the sole of a Roman soldier's boot - my labrador would have struggled with it. As for the fish pie the veg were overcooked and largely inedible. The pub has a selection of local ciders, which is good, and the reason, together with the good fish pie, have given it an average of 2 stars. Unlike General MacArthur, we will not return.